Srila Prabhupada was born Abhay Charan De
on September 1, 1896 to a pious Hindu family in Calcutta. As a youth
growing up in British-controlled India, Abhay became involved with
Mahatma Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement to secure independence for
his nation. It was, however, a 1922 meeting with a prominent scholar and
religious leader, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, which proved most
influential on Abhay’s future calling. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was a
leader in the Gaudiya Vaishnava denomination, a monotheistic tradition
within the broad Hindu culture, and asked Abhay to bring the teachings
of Lord Krishna to the English-speaking world. Abhay became a disciple
of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta in 1933, and resolved to carry out his mentor’s
request. Abhay, later known by the honorific A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada, spent the next 32 years preparing for his journey west.
In 1965, at the age of sixty-nine, Srila
Prabhupada traveled to New York City aboard a cargo ship. The journey
was treacherous, and the elderly spiritual teacher suffered two heart
attacks aboard ship. Arriving in the United States with just seven
dollars in Indian rupees and his translations of sacred Sanskrit texts,
Srila Prabhupada began to share the timeless wisdom of Krishna
consciousness. His message of peace and goodwill resonated with many
young people, some of whom came forward to become serious students of
the Krishna tradition. With the help of these students, Srila
Prabhupada rented a small storefront on New York’s Lower East Side to
use as a temple. On July 11, 1966, he officially registered his
organization in the state of New York, formally founding the
International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
In the eleven years that followed, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe 14
times on lecture tours, bringing the teachings of Lord Krishna to
thousands of people on six continents. Men and women from all
backgrounds and walks of life came forward to accept his message, and
with their help, Srila Prabhupada established ISKCON centers and
projects throughout the world. Under his inspiration, Krishna devotees
established temples, rural communities, educational institutions, and
started what would become the world’s largest vegetarian food relief
program. With the desire to nourish the roots of Krishna
consciousness in its home, Srila Prabhupada returned to India several
times, where he sparked a revival in the Vaishnava tradition. In India,
he opened dozens of temples, including large centers in the holy towns
of Vrindavan and Mayapur.
Srila Prabhupada’s most significant
contributions, perhaps, are his books. He authored over 70 volumes on
the Krishna tradition, which are highly respected by scholars for their
authority, depth, fidelity to the tradition, and clarity. Several of
his works are used as textbooks in numerous college courses. His
writings have been translated into 76 languages. His most prominent
works include: Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the 30-volume Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the 17-volume Sri Caitanya-caritamrita.
Śrīla Prabhupāda: The Founder-Ācārya of ISKCON,
authored by Ravīndra Svarūpa Dāsa, is officially endorsed by ISKCON’s
Governing Body Commission (GBC). The GBC requests all devotees and
friends of ISKCON to give deep and careful attention to this work. To do
so will broaden our collective understanding of, and appreciation for,
the position of Śrīla Prabhupāda and his unique role in the
International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
