His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada or ‘Srila Prabhupada’ as called affectionately is the founder-acharya of the worldwide Hare Krishna movement. Through numerous temples, farming communities, etc., Srila Prabhupada built a house in which the whole world could live. All this was achieved in a span of just 12 years flying 14 times around the earth.
Born on 01 September 1896 in the Tollygunge suburb of Kolkata, India to father Gour Mohan De and mother Rajani, Srila Prabhupada was named Abhay Charan. He was the darling of his parents and very much devoted to Lord Krishna from birth.The astrologer who prepared his birth chart said “When this child will reach the age of 70, he shall cross the ocean, become a great teacher of religion and open 108 Krishna temples around the world. This astrological reading turned out to be true when Srila Prabhupada achieved this feat in just a span of 12 years beginning from the age of 70.
Born on 01 September 1896 in the Tollygunge suburb of Kolkata, India to father Gour Mohan De and mother Rajani, Srila Prabhupada was named Abhay Charan. He was the darling of his parents and very much devoted to Lord Krishna from birth.The astrologer who prepared his birth chart said “When this child will reach the age of 70, he shall cross the ocean, become a great teacher of religion and open 108 Krishna temples around the world. This astrological reading turned out to be true when Srila Prabhupada achieved this feat in just a span of 12 years beginning from the age of 70.
Little Abhay conducted his first ratha yatra at the age of six by getting together people living in the neighborhood, especially the children. During the years of his college life at Scottish Churches College in Kolkata, India, he was inspired by great leaders like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi. In response to the call for a complete boycott of foreign goods, young Abhay renounced his diploma.After young Abhay met his spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada in the year 1922 CE and later got initiated in the year 1933 CE, there was no looking back. Before registering the ISKCON society in New York city, USA in the year 1966 following his arrival there in 1965, he had started the reputed ‘Back to Godhead’ magazine in 1944 CE.Since the inception of ISKCON in 1966, there has been no turning back. The movement grew in leaps and bounds globally, enchanting the masses with true devotion through street sankirtans, book distribution, chanting sessions, Sunday love feasts, Ratha Yatras and much more. During this period, Srila Prabhupada founded the BBT (Bhaktivedanta Book Trust) in 1972 to print and distribute the works of His Divine Grace.
Srila Prabhupada went on to build 108 temples around the globe before entering samadhi on 14 November 1977.
Srila Prabhupada’s legacy is unparalleled in the history of the modern world. He met countless leaders from different walks of life globally, talking, debating and introducing them to Krishna Consciousness. At the very first sight of Srila Prabhupada’s books, India’s famed Prime Minister Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri commented that these books were very much important for the salvation of mankind and that they should be placed in all the libraries of India.
Srila Prabhupada went on to build 108 temples around the globe before entering samadhi on 14 November 1977.
Srila Prabhupada’s legacy is unparalleled in the history of the modern world. He met countless leaders from different walks of life globally, talking, debating and introducing them to Krishna Consciousness. At the very first sight of Srila Prabhupada’s books, India’s famed Prime Minister Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri commented that these books were very much important for the salvation of mankind and that they should be placed in all the libraries of India.