Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura appeared in Purusottam Ksetra, Jagannatha Puri, Orissa, on February 6, 1874. He was born in the family home next to the Narayan-chhata of Sri Jagannatha Temple, which always reverberated with the chanting of the Holy Name. Named Bimala Prasad, He was the fourth son of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srimati Bhagavati Devi.
By the age of twelve, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was well versed in astronomy. Hearing news of this, Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji summoned him one day and instructed him to make a Vaishnava calendar that included the appearance and disappearance days of all Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s and Visnupriya Thakurani’s associates. Following these instructions, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati made the necessary calculations and began publication of “Sri Nabadvipa Panjica”.
So his method of preaching is just according to the, strictly according to the rules and regulation of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. And as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was called by Advaita Prabhu, similarly, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, when he saw this condition of pseudo Vaishnava all over the country, he also prayed to Lord Chaitanya that “You kindly send somebody from Your personal staff so that I can start this movement.” You see? So by the grace of Lord Caitanya, as we pray, sri-gaura-karuna-sakti-vigrahaya namo’stu te. Gaura… He is mercy representation of Lord Caitanya. And he appeared as the son of this Bhaktivinoda Thakura. At that time he was known as Kedaranath Datta. Ken Datta. And he appeared in 1867 as the child of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. And the house is still preserved in Jagannatha Puri. At that time Jagannatha Puri, he was district magistrate in Jagannatha Puri. And in February 1867, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura appeared. And when he appeared, his Umbilical cord was coiled around him like a brahmin thread. That means he was a brahmana from the beginning.
So when he was six months old, the Ratha-yatra festival was held. And by chance the big cart stopped in front of thier house. And they had some difficulty to push it again. And mother of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, took the opportunity, and because she was manager’s wife, so everyone respected with the child. So she put the child on the leg of Jagannatha. And as there are so many garlands, one garland immediately fell on the child. Yes, automatically. So in this way Bhaktivinoda Thakura could understand that “This child is not ordinary child,” and he knew that “I prayed to Gaurasundara to send me somebody. So this boy, this child, is sent by Him.” So he took care of him very carefully. And in this way his name was Bimala Prasada, Bimala Prasada Datta.
So when he was three years or four years old, he took one mango from the Deity room and ate it. So Bhaktivinoda Thakura said, “Oh, you have done a great wrong thing. You have taken the mango of the Deity before offering Him? It is a great offense.” The child took it very serious, and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura never took mango throughout his whole life. Whenever mango was offered, he would say, “Oh, I am a offender. I cannot take that.”
He was a great astrologer, and he opened an astrological school when he was young man. And he had many big students as his disciples still practicing. At that time there was a meeting in Midnapur district. The subject matter was “Brahmanas and Vaishnavas.” In that meeting Bhaktivinoda Thakura was invited. At that time he was not in a good healthy condition, so he asked Sarasvati Thakura that “You go and speak there.” So he spoke on the distinction between brahmanas and Vaishnavas, and he defeated so many learned panditas. Then the whole audience began to touch his lotus feet and touch with water and drink it.