Srila Prabhupada

At various times people have called him a scholar, a philosopher, a cultural ambassador, a prolific author, a religious leader, a spiritual teacher, a social critic, and a holy man. In truth, he was all these things and more.

Over five hundred years ago, Lord Sri Krishna appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Navadvipa, a village in West Bengal. The purpose of His appearance was to inaugurate the Sankirtana Movement, the Yuga Dharma for this age of Kali. He declared that the chanting of His holy names would spread beyond the shores of India to every town and village in the world. He predicted that His commander-in-chief would appear to accomplish this mission.

Yes… Srila Prabhupada appeared to fulfill this prophecy.

On September 01, 1896, the day after Janmashtami (the auspicious appearance day of Lord Sri Krishna) in a little house in the Tollygunge suburb of Calcutta, a male child was born. His father, Gour Mohan De, and his mother Rajani, named him Abhay Charan (one who is fearless – having taken shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna).

An astrologer prepared the horoscope for the baby and revealed: When this child reaches the age of seventy, he will cross the ocean, become a great teacher of religion and establish 108 Krishna temples.

And this is exactly what happened.

Srila Prabhupada set out to America in 1965 and established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness at the age of sixty-nine. He travelled around the world fourteen times, established more than 100 temples of Krishna and initiated more than 10000 disciples into Krishna consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada’s attempts to propagate Krishna Consciousness were not received well by the people in India. At the age of 69 (in the year 1965) he went to the United States of America and incorporated the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). In the next 11 years, he circled the globe fourteen times inspiring his followers, delivering lectures, and discussing the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness with all interested persons.

Srila Prabhupada arrived in the US during the decade of discontent; there was widespread dissatisfaction with America’s war with Vietnam. The American youth created their counter-culture popularly known as hippie culture. They were trying to break away from the status quo, searching for an alternative. Srila Prabhupada presented this alternative.

Srila Prabhupada brought the Hare Krishna Movement to the public eye by:

§  chanting in the parks,

§  distributing the Back to Godhead Magazine,

§  conducting love feasts,

§  delivering lectures from the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam in a rented store-front.

Thus, he attracted many youngsters, who gradually became his disciples. Srila Prabhupada trained his disciples in the tradition of Deity Worship, to help them advance spiritually. The Supreme Lord appears in the form of Deities to give us an opportunity to serve Him; and by rendering services to the Deities with utmost care one can advance spiritually. When we are attracted to the beautiful form of the Deities, we will forget our attraction to material things; and by serving the Deities we will develop pure love of God and thus our lives will be successful.

To revive the Krishna conscious tradition, he envisioned God-centered self-sufficient farm communities based on the principles of Simple Living, High Thinking. In 1972, he started a gurukul in Dallas, Texas – an educational institution set up according to the traditional Vedic model. He established more than 108 temples and instructed his disciples that no one should go hungry within a 10 mile radius of an ISKCON temple.

Srila Prabhupada and His Books

Of all his contributions, Srila Prabhupada considered his books to be of utmost importance. These books present the timeless wisdom of Vedic scriptures in modern English with startling clarity and a convincing, simple eloquence that proves the relevance of the science of self-realization to our modern world and our own lives. These books have changed the lives of millions.

The transcendental knowledge in his books forms the basis of the Hare Krishna Movement. Srila Prabhupada encouraged the devotees to distribute this literature profusely. These books are translated in most of the major languages and are widely distributed across the world.

Teachings of Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada is the spiritual ambassador who visited our planet to give us the message of Godhead and invite us to come back home – back to Godhead. We publish various articles on our blog on different aspects of his teachings. However, we realize our limitation in capturing all the teachings of Srila Prabhupada in a few pages of a website.

According to Srila Prabhupada, Krishna Consciousness is not an arm-chair philosophy or a part-time religion; it is a way of life. He presented the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness very extensively in his books and we request you to make it a habit to read Srila Prabhupada’s books and be benefited by them.

Srila Prabhupada Books

Srila Prabhupada met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in Vrindavana. In a private meeting Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master told him in 1935, “I have a desire to print some books. If you ever get money, print books.” Srila Prabhupada always stressed this point and with the help of his disciples he published many books in English which includes the commentary on Indian classics like Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and Chaitanya Charitamrita.

Of all his contributions, Srila Prabhupada considered his books to be of utmost importance. He insisted that his disciples read these books, discuss among themselves, understand it and practically apply it in their lives. He considered these books to be the basis of the Krishna Consciousness Movement and the distribution of these books to be the most important preaching activity.

In 1970, Srila Prabhupada founded the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT), now the world’s largest publisher of Vedic literature. Srila Prabhupada wanted his books to be translated in all languages and today they are available in more than 80 languages. 

The Krishna Consciousness Movement is firmly based upon the conclusive truths found in the books of Srila Prabhupada. Bhagavad-gita As it is, Srimad Bhagavatam (Canto 1 – 9 and 13 chapters of Canto 10) and Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita are the three major texts that contain the essence of Vedic knowledge. Srila Prabhupada also wrote a commentary on Sri Isopanishad, the most important of the 108 Upanishads. He wrote Nectar of Devotion, a summary study on Srila Rupa Goswami’s Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu and Nectar of Instruction, which contains the purport to Upadeshamrita, the 11 verses written by Srila Rupa Goswami to guide the beginners in Krishna Consciousness.

He also wrote many other small books like Easy Journey to Other Planets, Message of Godhead, Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, etc. The compilations based on Srila Prabhupada’s articles, lectures and conversations are published with titles such as Science of Self Realization, Journey of Self Discovery, Quest for Enlightenment, Renunciation Through Wisdom, etc. Other interesting collections from the conversations of Srila Prabhupada are Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, Civilization and Transcendence, Beyond Illusion and Doubt, Life Comes From Life, etc.

Based on Srila Prabhupada’s lectures on Bhagavad-gita, BBT has published Beyond Birth and Death, Raja Vidya, The Path of Perfection, The Perfection of Yoga, The Topmost Yoga System, The Matchless Gift, Elevation to Krishna Consciousness, On the Way to Krishna, etc. Based on Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavatam Lectures, BBT has published Teachings of Lord Kapila, Teachings of Queen Kunti, Transcendental Teachings of Prahlada Maharaja, A Second Chance – The Story of Near Death Experience, Dharma – The Way of Transcendence, etc.

Over the years, hundreds of scholars who read his books have expressed keen appreciation for the contribution his teachings have made to humanity.

Please read a small Life history of Srila Prabhupada

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6kP8_r5YSGddmJSck80Zng5Qlk

Predictions about Srila Prabhupada In the scriptures and by other Acaryas

By Demian Martins

Srila Prabhupada’s appearance and accomplishments are a turning point not only in Gaudiya Vaisnavism, but in the very history of human civilization, so it is not surprising that they were predicted many centuries ago. In several ancient religious traditions, the sacred scriptures usually include passages or whole sections dealing with predictions. Some of these passages are marked by a veiled language and are often interpreted in different ways. Interpretations are subjective and may be relatively taken as correct according to time, place and circumstance, but they are conclusive when properly substantiated by sufficient evidences. The meaning of some of the following verses and statements might have been previously obscure or misunderstood, but since Srila Prabhupada’s deeds were self-evident, unprecedented and matchless, there is hardly any scope to doubt that he is the personality who is being directly or indirectly pointed out here. From diverse sources there is a general prediction that Vaisnavism would be spread throughout the world, so it is also implied that there would be a pioneer preacher. I am sure that there must be many more verses like these and it is just a matter of time until we have a much longer list. This is a short compilation with the original texts and exact references of what we have found so far.

In his Tiruvaymoli (5.2.1), a section of the Divya-prabandha, Nammalvar speaks about a vision he had:

poliga poliga poliga! poyitru valluyir ccapam

       naliyum naragamum nainda namanukkingu yadonrum illai

kaliyum kedum kandu kolmin kadalvannan budangal manmel

       maliya ppugundisai padi adi ulidara kkandom

“Victory ! Victory ! Victory ! I behold something wonderful: all the inauspiciousness of the living entities is destroyed, no one is going to hell, Yamaraja has no more any work, and the effects of Kali yuga ceased to exist. This is because all over the world an increasing number of Lord Visnu’s devotees sing His names while dancing and playing musical instruments.”

In the Bhagavata-mahatmya in the Uttara-khanda (194.57) of the Padma Purana, bhakti personified tells Narada muni that after travelling through several places in India, she reached Vrndavana. Then she declares her resolution of leaving from Vrndavana to go to foreign countries:

idam sthanam parityajya  videsam gamyate maya

“Leaving this place, I will go abroad.”

By the end of the Brahma-vaivarta Purana (Krsna-janma-khanda, chap. 129, 49-51) we find the narration of the departure of Lord Krsna from this world and how all the holy rivers headed by the personified Ganges approached Him:

bhagirathy uvaca
he natha ramana-srestha yasi golokam uttamam
asmakam ka gatis catra bhavisyati kalau yuge

Ganga Devi said: “O Lord, best of lovers, now that You are going to the supreme abode, Goloka, what will be our situation here in this age of Kali?”

sri bhagavan uvaca
kaleh panca sahasrani varsani tistha bhutale
papani papino yanti tubhyam dasyanti snanatah

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “Sinful people will come to you and upon bathing will give you their sins. You must remain like this on earth for 5,000 years of the age of Kali.”

man-mantropasaka-sparsad bhasmi-bhutani tat-ksanat
bhavisyanti darsanac ca snanad eva hi jahnavi

“O Ganga, then there will be many devotees worshipping Me by My mantra, and merely by their touch, glance and bathing all those sins will be immediately burnt.”

In the Sri Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya, 4.126), Lord Caitanya declares:

prthivi paryanta yata ache desa grama

sarvatra sancara haibeka mora nama

“In every town and village of the world, the chanting of My name will be heard.”

In the Caitanya Mangala (Sutra-khanda, song 12, texts 564-565) Lord Caitanya clearly mentions that He will send His leading preacher abroad:

ebe nama sankirtana tiksna khadga lana

               antara asura jivera pheliba katiya

yadi papi chadi dharma dura dese yaya     

               mora senapati-bhakta yaibe tathaya

“Taking the sharp sword of the congregational chanting of the Holy Name, I will root out and destroy the demoniac mentality in the hearts of the conditioned souls.”
“If some sinful people escape and giving up religious principles go to
far off countries, then My commander in chief (Senapati Bhakta) will appear to chase them and distribute Krsna consciousness.”

In more recent days, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati also predicted the propagation of the sankirtana movement. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote in the Sajjana-tosani volume of 1885:

“Lord Caitanya did not advent Himself to liberate only a few men in India. Rather, His main objective was to emancipate all living entities of all countries throughout the entire universe and preach the Eternal Religion…. There is no doubt that this unquestionable order will come to pass…. Very soon the unparalleled path of hari-nama-sankirtana will be propagated all over the world…. Oh, for that day when the fortunate English, French, Russian, German, and American people will take up banners, mrdangas, and karatalas and raise kirtana through their streets and towns! When will that day come? … That day will witness the holy transcendental ecstasy of the Vaisnava dharma to be the only dharma, and all the sects and religions will flow like rivers into the ocean of Vaisnava dharma. When will that day come?”

Devotee (1): We can understand all of your instructions simply by reading your books.

Prabhupada: Yes. Anyway, follow the instruction. That is required. Follow the instruction. Wherever you remain, it doesn't matter. You are secure. Follow the instruction. Then you are secure anywhere. It doesn't matter. Just like I told you that I saw my Guru Maharaja not more than ten days in my life, but I followed his instruction. I was a grhastha, I never lived with the Matha, in the temple. It is practical. So many Godbrothers recommended that "He should be in charge in this Bombay temple, this, that, that…" Guru Maharaja said, "Yes, better he lives outside. That is good, and he will do what is needed in due course of time."

(Morning Walk, February 3, 1975, Hawaii)

Prabhupada: And in my horoscope there was written there, "After seventieth year this man will go outside India and establish so many temples.(…) I could not understand. "What is this, that I have to go outside India? That is not…" And Guru Maharaja foretold. He told my Godbrothers, Sridhara Maharaja and others, that "He'll do the needful when time comes. Nobody requires to help him." He told in 1935. And after all, this was true(?). Guru Maharaja told. And in the beginning, first sight, he told, "You have to do this."

(Room Conversation, June 17, 1977, Vrndavana)