#Prabhupada
For millennia, the teachings of bhakti-yoga, or Krishna consciousness, and its rich culture were kept within India. Today, millions of people worldwide are grateful to Srila Prabhupada for the timeless wisdom of bhakti, which he spread throughout the globe.
Abhay Charan De was born on September 1, 1896, in Calcutta. As a young man, he joined Mahatma Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement. In 1922, a meeting with the prominent scholar and spiritual leader Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had the greatest influence on the young Abhay’s future calling.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was the leader of the Gaudiya Vaishnava community, a monotheistic tradition within the broader context of Hindu culture. During their very first meeting, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta asked Abhay to spread the teachings of Lord Krishna in the English-speaking world. Deeply moved by the devotion and wisdom of the spiritual master, Abhay became a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta in 1933 and resolved to fulfill his teacher’s request. For the next 32 years, Abhay prepared for his journey to the West, translating “Srimad-Bhagavatam” into English. In 1959, Abhay took the vows of renunciation and, in recognition of his learning, was titled A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.
In 1965, at the age of sixty-nine, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada requested a free ticket and boarded the cargo ship “Jaladuta” bound for New York. The journey proved treacherous, and he suffered two heart attacks on board. After 35 days at sea, he arrived at a lonely Brooklyn pier with only seven dollars in Indian rupees and a crate of his Sanskrit scripture translations.
In New York, he faced great difficulties and began his mission by humbly giving lectures on the “Bhagavad-gita” in a Bowery loft and singing kirtan (traditional devotional songs) in Tompkins Square Park. His message of peace and goodwill resonated with many young people, and some of them decided to become serious disciples of the Krishna-bhakti tradition. With the help of these disciples, Bhaktivedanta Swami rented a small storefront in New York’s Lower East Side and turned it into a temple.
In July 1966, Bhaktivedanta Swami incorporated the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) with the aim of “checking the imbalance of values in the world and achieving real unity and peace.”
Over the next eleven years, Srila Prabhupada traveled around the world 14 times giving lectures and spreading the teachings of Lord Krishna. Men and women from all social backgrounds and walks of life heard and accepted his message. With their help, Srila Prabhupada established temples, farming communities, a book trust, and educational institutions worldwide. He also began what would later become the world’s largest vegetarian food relief program, “Hare Krishna Food for Life.”
Desiring to nurture the roots of Krishna consciousness in the homeland of bhakti-yoga, Srila Prabhupada returned to India several times, where he sparked a revival of the Vaishnava tradition. In India, he opened dozens of temples, including large centers in the holy cities of Vrindavana and Mayapur.
Srila Prabhupada’s most significant contribution, however, is his books. He wrote more than 70 volumes on the Krishna tradition, which are highly respected by scholars for their authority, depth, fidelity to tradition, and clarity. Some of his works are used as textbooks in various college courses. His writings have been translated into 76 languages. Among his most prominent works are “Bhagavad-gita As It Is”, the 30-volume “Srimad-Bhagavatam”, and the 17-volume “Sri Chaitanya-Charitamrita”.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada passed away from this world on November 14, 1977, in the holy city of Vrindavana, surrounded by his loving disciples, who continue his mission today.