Swami Srila Prabhupada
The life journey of Swami Srila Prabhupada
Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada is a divine person and a spiritual teacher who was born on September 1, 1896, to a religious Hindu family in Calcutta (now called Kolkata). As growing up in British-controlled India, Abhay Prabhupada was also involved with Mahatma Gandhi’s civil revolution movement to achieve independence for his nation.
He entered the port of New York City in 1965 on September 6. Being a well-known personality he was recognized by a few Americans who took notice but he was not another immigrant.
He went on a mission to introduce the ancient teachings of Vedic Indian Puranas into the mainstream of America. Before Swami Prabhupada passed away on November 14, in the year 1977, at the age of around 81, his purpose on which he traveled America proved successful.
Abhay became the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and contributed to its growth resulting in a worldwide confederation of more than 100 temples, ashrams, Math, and many other traditional centers that promote Hinduism.
In the year 1922, a meeting with a leading scholar, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, proved to be the most important event that contributed towards Abhay’s future calling.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was a great leader in the Gaudiya Vaishnava group, a monotheistic tradition in the vast Hindu culture and tradition, and asked Abhay to deliver the teachings of Lord Krishna to this English-speaking world and the people of America.
Prabhupada became a pupil of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta in the year 1933 and decided to carry out his mentor’s request and promises. He, later known by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who spent the next 32 years preparing for his journey in the western country.
In the year 1965, at the age of 69, Prabhupada traveled to New York City in a cargo ship. The journey was difficult, and he has suffered two heart attacks on the ship.
Landing in the United States with just 7 dollars in Indian currency in his pockets and along with his translations of divine Sanskrit texts, Prabhupada began to share the wisdom of Krishna awareness.
His words of peace resonated with many young people, some of whom came forward to become earnest students of the Lord Krishna tradition. With the help of these amazing students, Prabhupada leased a small storefront on New York’s City of Lower East Side to use as a temple and holy place.
In the year 1966, he officially registered his organization in the state of New York City, founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
In the eleven years that passed, Srila Prabhupada circled his name and fame across the globe 14 times on lecture tours, bringing thousands of people on six continents for his teachings on Lord Krishna.
Men and women from all experiences and ways of life came forward to accept his message, and with their help, Abhay established ISKCON centers and projects throughout the globe.
Considering him as an inspiration, Lord Krishna devotees installed temples, educational institutions. With the wish to nourish the roots of Lord Krishna’s knowledge in its home, Prabhupada returned to India several times in his journey, where he sparked a service in the Vaishnava tradition.
In India, he opened many temples, including large centers in Vrindavan and Mayapur.
Srila Prabhupada’s most significant contributions are his books. He authored more than 70 volumes on the Krishna culture, which are highly respected by scholars for their prestige, depth, truth to the tradition, and clarity.
Some of his works are used as textbooks in numerous colleges as courses. His scripts have been translated into nearly 76 languages. His most noticeable works include Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the 30-volume Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the 17-volume Sri Caitanya-caritamrita.
This was all about his journey and activities which he managed to do that made India proud.
