His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Founder-Acharya of ISKCON (1896–1977)

Born on 1 September 1896 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, Srila Prabhupada — then known as Abhay Charan De — came from a family devoted to spiritual life. In 1922, he met his spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who instructed him to spread the wisdom of Lord Krishna in English for the benefit of the world.

While managing family responsibilities and business, he deeply studied the Vedic scriptures. In 1944, he launched the spiritual magazine Back to Godhead, dedicating himself to translating and sharing Vedic wisdom with sincere seekers.

In 1965, at the age of 69, Srila Prabhupada embraced the renounced order of life and embarked on a historic journey — leaving India with a trunk of books, a small sum of money, and a mission to bring Krishna consciousness to the Western world. His voyage marked the beginning of a global spiritual renaissance.

In July 1966, he formally founded ISKCON in New York City, with the objective of revitalizing ancient Vedic wisdom through the practice of Bhakti-Yoga: preaching the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, congregational chanting (Sankirtana), devotional service (Seva), spiritual education, and community worship.

From 1966 until 1977, Srila Prabhupada traveled tirelessly across six continents, inspiring thousands of sincere seekers, and laying the foundation for over 100 temples, farm communities, educational institutions, and humanitarian projects worldwide.

His literary contribution remains unparalleled. Srila Prabhupada translated and provided commentaries on core Vedic scriptures, producing over 70 volumes — including the renowned Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, the 30-volume Srimad Bhagavatam, and the 17-volume Sri Caitanya-caritamrita. These works are celebrated for their clarity, depth, and fidelity to the original spiritual vision.

Through ISKCON and affiliated institutions such as the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) and the Food for Life program, his mission continues to uplift millions — spreading spiritual wisdom, compassionate service, and the timeless call to reconnect with the Divine.

Srila Prabhupada departed this world on 14 November 1977 in Vrindavan, India. Yet, his legacy lives on — not only in the temples and communities he established, but in the hearts of millions who seek truth, peace, and divine love. His life demonstrates that with faith, perseverance, and selfless devotion, one soul can transform the spiritual destiny of the world.

srila prabhupada

The Prophecy

nama-guna-sankirtana vaisnavera shakti
prakasa karibe ami nija prema-bhakti
ei mate kali-papa karibe sanhara
sabe cala age pache na kara vichara
ebe nama sankirtana tikshna khadga laiya
antara asura jivera phelibe katiya
yadi papi chadi dharma dure dese yaya
mora senapati-bhakta yaibe tathaya

Chanting of the name & qualities of Krsna is the life & energy of the Vaisnavas. I will reveal these activities & rejuvenate pure devotional service unto Myself. In this way, I will destroy all the sins in Kali Yuga. So all of you, My associates, go ahead and take birth on the earthly planet before My advent and don’t remain behind. Taking the sharp sword of the congregational chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, (nama-sankirtana) I will root out & destroy the demoniac mentality in the hearts of all the conditioned souls. If some sinful people escape and giving up religious principles go to far-off countries, then my Senapati Bhakta will come at that time to give them Krsna consciousness. (senapati – a military field commander, bhakta – a devotee.) Lord Caitanya will empower His own devotee to spread Krsna Consciousness around the world.

– Caitanya Mangala (Sutra-khanda, song 12, texts 562-565)

The Senapati Bhakta

In the final two decades of his life, Srila Prabhupada undertook the translation of more than sixty volumes of classical Vedic scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam, into the English language. His books received acclaim for their authority, depth, and clarity, earning praise from professors at prestigious universities like Harvard and Oxford. Notably, Macmillan Publishers published his Bhagavad-Gita As It Is in 1968, with an unabridged edition in 1972. This masterpiece is now accessible in over sixty languages worldwide. Additionally, Srila Prabhupada’s other works are available in more than eighty languages, and over 500 million copies of his books have been distributed to date.

In 1972, Srila Prabhupada established The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) to facilitate the publication of his works. The BBT also produced his multi-volume biography, Srila Prabhupada-Lilamrta, which renowned scholar of religion Larry Shinn described as “undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive records of the life and accomplishments of any modern religious figure.” Before his departure, Srila Prabhupada assured his devotees that he would endure through his writings, serving as an eternal spiritual master and guru. He instilled in his followers an appreciation for the significance of writing and publishing, not only concerning his own works but also their own initiatives.

srila prabhupada on morning walk with devotees by lake 620x350

Timeline of Major Events

 
1896

Appearance

Srila Prabhupada appeared in this material world.
1922

Met Guru

Met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura for the first time.
1932

Initiation

Received initiation from his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
1939

Title “Bhaktivedanta”

Was bestowed the honorary title “Bhaktivedanta”.
1944

Back to Godhead

Started publishing the “Back to Godhead” magazine.
1953

League of Devotees

Formed the League of Devotees in Jhansi.
1956

Moved to Vrindavan

Shifted residence to Vrindavan.
1959

Sannyasa Initiation

Entered the renounced order of life.
1960

First Book

Published “Easy Journey to Other Planets”.
1965

Journey to America

Traveled to USA on Jaladuta.
1966

ISKCON Founded

Formed the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
1967

First US Flight

First airplane flight to San Francisco.
1967

First Western Ratha Yatra

Inspired the first Ratha Yatra in the West.
1968

Macmillan Gita

Published his Bhagavad-Gita translation through Macmillan.
1969

LA Temple

Established first Radha-Krishna temple in Los Angeles.
1969

London Temple

Established Radha-Londonisvara temple.
1970

BBT Established

Founded Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
1971

Kolkata Temple

Established first ISKCON India temple.
1972

Mayapur Project

Performed Bhoomi Pujan for Mayapur temple.
1974

Chaitanya Charitamrita

Published the complete 17-volume set.
1975

Vrindavan Temple

Opened Krishna-Balaram Mandir.
1977

Disappearance

Left this world in Vrindavan.

 

Srila Prabhupada’s Achievements

  1. Between 1968 and 1977, he dictated a total of 22,000 pages of text.
  2. He translated and wrote purports to 18,000 verses of Srimad Bhagavatam. Reading one verse with purport daily would take 49.31 years to complete.
  3. He translated and wrote the purports to the 700 verses of the Bhagavad Gita. Reading one verse with purport daily would take two years to complete.
  4. He translated and wrote the purports to the 17 volumes of Caitanya Caritamrita, in total 2,170 pages or 11,555 verses. Reading one verse with purport daily would take 31.6 years, and reading one page daily would take 5.9 years to complete.
  5. He also wrote Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Nectar of Devotion, Teachings of Lord Kapiladeva, Sri Isopanisad, and more.
  6. He created Back to Godhead magazine, which was distributed monthly in 1 million copies.
  7. He wrote 7,000 letters to his disciples, published in 5 volumes of books.
  8. Only Srimad Bhagavatam lectures he gave are compiled in 11 volumes of books.
  9. Bhagavad Gita lectures are compiled in 7 volumes of books.
  10. His conversations have been compiled in 42 volumes of books.
  11. He produced innumerable recordings.
  12. He established 108 temples worldwide.
  13. He published 147 books. Reading one book monthly would take 13 years.
  14. He travelled around the world 14 times.
  15. He transformed the lives of at least 10,000 initiating disciples and millions of followers worldwide.
  16. All of this Srila Prabhupada accomplished in only 11 years, at the age of 70–80!

His Literary Contributions to Humanity

Srila Prabhupada authored and published over eighty volumes of spiritual literature, which is his greatest contribution to humanity. Despite the immense responsibility of establishing and managing a worldwide spiritual movement, he rose daily at 2:00 AM to write and translate with utmost care. His purports retain the exact meanings of the original Vedic texts while providing practical relevance for modern readers. Due to the clarity, authenticity, and potency of his works, they have been translated into over sixty languages and are studied and cherished by devotees and scholars worldwide.

Some of his most prominent works include:

  • Bhagavad-gita As It Is
  • Srimad-Bhagavatam, cantos 1-10 (29 vols.)
  • Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (17 vols.)
  • Teachings of Lord Caitanya
  • The Nectar of Devotion
  • Sri Isopanisad
  • Easy Journey to Other Planets
  • Krishna Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System
  • Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (3 vols.)
  • Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers
  • Dialectical Spiritualism — A Vedic View of Western Philosophy
  • Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahuti
  • Transcendental Teachings of Prahlad Maharaja
  • Teachings of Queen Kunti
  • Krishna, the Reservoir of Pleasure
  • The Science of Self-Realization
  • The Path of Perfection
  • Life Comes From Life
  • The Perfection of Yoga
  • Beyond Birth and Death
  • On the Way to Krishna
  • Raja-vidya: The King of Knowledge
  • Elevation to Krishna Consciousness
  • Krishna Consciousness: The Matchless Gift
  • Back to Godhead magazine (Founder)
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