The Godruma Kalpatavi (The Desire-tree Groves of Godruma) was a newsletter produced by Srila Bhaktivinoda thakura to guide the leaders and members of his new preaching movement. I was able to secure five issues of this newsletter. I do not know if any more are extant. I obtained these five issues when, at the beginning of our preaching in West Bengal, His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami gave me a copy of the Gaudiya
Patrika, a magazine that had been edited by “Abhaya Carana Bhaktivedanta.” The magazine contained an article that cited five issues of the Godruma Kalpatavi. I translated those issues into English and, in 1979, presented the work as a small book. Coincidentally, at the time I had been considering to call our congregational preaching movement the “ISKCON Sankirtana Organization,” but when I discovered that the name “Nama Hatta” derived from Bhaktivinoda thakura and Lord Nityananda, I realized that this same traditional name was applicable also to our initiative. Consequently, I considered that this name Nama Hatta was actually given by Srila Prabhupada himself, since he had been the president of the Gaudiya Patrika magazine.
From the Godruma Kalpatavi newsletter, we have gathered that Bhaktivinoda thakura established at least five hundred Nama Hatta groups and was actively preaching amongst grhastha devotees. By his personal guidance and preaching example, he was able to revive Lord Nityananda’s Nama Hatta preaching program. In the Godruma Kalpatavi, Bhaktivinoda thakura dealt with the practical circumstances encountered in the course of his preaching. Therein he gave his followers various practical instructions, most of which are still relevant today. His purpose was practical in principle—such as his authorizing any kind of music provided that the lyrics were Krsna conscious. Similarly, in ISKCON we have writers of music, art, and so on, all of which can be used in devotional service if the end result is Krsna consciousness. We see how those instructions of Bhaktivinoda thakura’s were applicable not only for his time but also for the future. It is significant to witness the direct guidance and words of one of our Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas to the devotees of that day, regarding how they should apply Krsna consciousness in the preaching field. This is the speciality of the Godruma Kalpatavi.
Written approximately 120 years ago, these Godruma Kalpatavi newsletters describe a transcendental market wherein the Lord’s holy names are systematically distributed to faithful customers who are willing to accept such a spiritual product. Based upon the “currency” of one’s faith and devotion for the Supreme Lord, everyone—regardless of cast, creed, color, or religion—is eligible to purchase the holy name. Specific descriptions of roles and duties, as well as cautions and guidelines, are provided by Bhaktivinoda thakura to his Nama Hatta “employees,” the distributors of the holy name amongst the general populace.
By the mercy of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the previous Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas, Lord Caitanya’s message of service to Lord Krsna is certainly spreading far and wide all over the world—and this was predicted more than a century ago by Bhaktivinoda thakura. Today we are witnessing the fulfilment of that prediction, for Krsna consciousness is reaching to people in every country and is tangibly benefiting their lives through the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and the practice of devotional service. Attempting to follow in the footsteps of our spiritual predecessor Bhaktivinoda thakura, who was the great–grand–spiritual-master of ISKCON’s founder-acarya, Srila Prabhupada, we most sincerely desire to share Bhaktivinoda thakura’s instructions regarding Nama Hatta preaching.