Srila Prabhupada

I bow down crores of times to the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON His Divine Grace Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada on this occasion of his 125th birth anniversary celebrations. He spread the culture of Sanatan dharma all over the world based on the teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita.
- CM Yogi Adityanath
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is doing great work, and his books are significant. Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON took up this great responsibility of propounding Bhakti Yoga to the world. He worked to connect Bhakti Vedanta with the consciousness of the world. This was no ordinary task. He started a global mission like ISKCON at the age of about 70, when people become inactive. This is a huge inspiration for our society and for every person.
- PM Narendra Modi
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is doing great work, and his books are significant contributions to the salvation of mankind.
- Former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri
I am eternally grateful to Srila Prabhupada for illuminating my path with the timeless wisdom of Krishna consciousness. His tireless dedication to sharing these teachings with the world has transformed countless lives, including my own. Through his guidance and example, I have found profound meaning and purpose, and I am deeply indebted to him for his boundless compassion and wisdom.
- Alfered Ford
I didn’t have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends’ rooms. I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with. And I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it.
- Steve Jobs
I bow down crores of times to the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON His Divine Grace Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada on this occasion of his 125th birth anniversary celebrations. He spread the culture of Sanatan dharma all over the world based on the teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita.
- CM Yogi Adityanath
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is doing great work, and his books are significant. Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON took up this great responsibility of propounding Bhakti Yoga to the world. He worked to connect Bhakti Vedanta with the consciousness of the world. This was no ordinary task. He started a global mission like ISKCON at the age of about 70, when people become inactive. This is a huge inspiration for our society and for every person.
- PM Narendra Modi

Founder Acharya : His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada was known by many titles - scholar, philosopher, cultural ambassador, prolific author, religious leader, spiritual teacher, and social critic. But he was much more than that.

Over five hundred years ago, Lord Sri Krishna appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in West Bengal to inaugurate the Sankirtana Movement for this age of Kali. He predicted that His commander-in-chief would appear to spread His holy names worldwide. Srila Prabhupada fulfilled this prophecy.

Born on September 01, 1896, in Calcutta, he was named Abhay Charan, meaning one who is fearless by taking shelter at Lord Krishna's Lotus Feet.

Srila Prabhupada embarked on this journey when he traveled to America in 1965 at the age of sixty-nine. He established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), traveled the world 14 times, founded over 100 Krishna temples, and initiated more than 10,000 disciples into Krishna consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada: The Ocean of Qualities

Self Realized

Srila Prabhupada dedicated his life to serving God, achieving remarkable accomplishments and transforming people's consciousness through his highest state of self-realization and divine empowerment. Such self-realized souls are rare

Fearless

At birth, Srila Prabhupada was named Abhay Charan, meaning 'fearless under God's shelter'. Despite personal hardships, he exemplified unwavering trust in God, teaching that fear arises from misunderstanding the illusory nature of the material world.

Bonafide

Srila Prabhupada was an authorized spiritual teacher in a lineage traced back to God Himself, with his appearance predicted. This lineage, including sages like Vyasa and Chaitanya, has preserved and shared God's wisdom for millennia.

Simplicity

Srila Prabhupada exemplified humility, truthfulness, and purity in his lifestyle and teachings. He promoted 'simple living, high thinking', inspiring others to adopt a straightforward lifestyle. Despite his movement's success, he remained modest and credited others.

Revolutionary

Srila Prabhupada initiated a global spiritual and cultural revolution, inspiring many to embrace god consciousness. He began this movement in New York, believing that intelligent young people there would be open to the timeless teachings of the Vedic scriptures.

Teacher

Srila Prabhupada was a teacher of teachers for the modern age, translating over 70 Vedic books into English and earning recognition from leading scholars. He embodied the knowledge he conveyed, known as 'Prabhupada' – revered by other masters.

Compassionate

Srila Prabhupada cared deeply for all living beings and taught that compassion for the material body alone is not enough. He identified suffering as a symptom of our misidentification with the temporary material body and enlightened us about our true identity: the soul.

Devotional

Srila Prabhupada epitomized and taught bhakti yoga, the path of pure love for the Supreme Lord. As a traveling monk, he extended his compassion to all society, circling the globe twelve times to spread the message of devotion.

GLorious Journey of Srila Prabhupada

1896
Born as Abhay Charan De on 1st September 1896 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, at about 4pm to father Gaura Mohan De and mother Rajani Devi.
1918
Enters married life with Radharani Datta.
1922
Meets for the first time His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura – his future initiating spiritual master – who asks him to preach Lord Chaitanya’s mission in the Western countries.
1925
Visits Vrindavan (the holy land where Lord Krishna spent his childhood) for the first time and hears more from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami.
1933
Receives formal initiation from his spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami.
1935
Travels to Vrindavan to see his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, who gave him two essential instructions: to print books and build temples.
1944
Starts writing and publishing ‘Back to Godhead’ magazine.
1947
Receives the honorary title of ‘Bhaktivedanta’ from his God-brothers in the Gaudiya Math.
1959
Awarded sannyasa (the renounced order of life) in Mathura by one of his God-brothers, His Holiness B.P. Kesava Maharaj.
1965
Voyage to the USA aboard the Jaladuta ship lasting one month, during which time he suffers two heart attacks.
1965
Historic arrival in America. The ship Jaladuta docks at Commonwealth Pier, Boston.
1966
Incorporates the International Society for Krishna consciousness (ISKCON)
1968
Bhagavad-gita As It Is abridged edition published by Macmillan
1970
Establishes the Governing Body Commission, the ultimate managing authority of ISKCON.
1972
Establishes the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT)
1974
Completes the translation of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita into English
1975
Opens Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Temple in Vrindavan - Later to be his final resting place.
1977
Departs from the mortal world - at the age of 81, in Vrindavan, India.

Srila Prabhupada's Priceless Gift to the World

Established

108

temples.

Travelled the Globe

14

times in 10 years.

More than

5000

initiated disciples.

Created world's

First

chain of vegetarian restaurants.

Over

3500

recorded lectures.

Distributed over

A Million

free meals.

Penned over

6300+

letters to their disciples.

Published over

80

books

Shrines And Memorials

Vrindavana Samadhi

Srila Prabhupada spent his final days with devotees in Vrindaban, India, absorbed in thought of Krishna. After his departure here, his body was placed in samadhi adjacent to ISKCON's Krishna-Balarama temple. The samadhi mandir is a beautifully designed, marble-clad building.

Mayapur Pushpa Samadhi

Traditionally, a garland worn by a spiritual master is placed in the ground to dedicate a site in his honor. Srila Prabhupada’s followers built a magnificent domed samadhi on the ISKCON campus at Mayapur, West Bengal, over garlands that he was wearing when he left his body.

Palace of Gold

The New Vrindaban community, near Moundsville, West Virginia, USA, is home to Srila Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, an ornate hilltop structure decorated with stained-glass windows, gold-leafing, intricate carving, and marble work.

Matchless Gifts

At 26 2nd Avenue, Manhattan, New York, you'll find the first temple Srila Prabhupada established in America and the Western world. This small storefront—the previous tenants had named it “Matchless Gifts”—became the first home of the Hare Krishna movement.

Srila Prabhupada Birthplace

Prabhupada’s birthplace, in the Tollygunge neighborhood of Kolkata, was inaugurated as a memorial site in 2001, on the 125th anniversary of Prabhupada’s birth, by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Bhaktivinode Asan

In the Ultadanga neighborhood of Kolkata, the building, known as Bhaktivinode Asan where Prabhupada first met his guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, has also been restored as a heritage site.