"He was a genuine holy person with enormous integrity and compassion, and he had a powerful impact on those who met him. He never claimed authority and respect for himself; what he said and did was always in the name of Krishna…"
— Dr. Thomas J. Hopkins, Professor of Religious Studies (Emeritus), Franklin and Marshall College
Arrival in the West & Sacred Calling
When His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (who later became known as Śrīla Prabhupāda) entered the port of New York City on September 17, 1965, few Americans took notice — but he was not merely another immigrant. He was on a mission to introduce an ancient religion, which originated in India, into mainstream America. Before Śrīla Prabhupāda passed away on November 14, 1977, at the age of 81, his mission proved successful. He had founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and saw it grow into a worldwide confederation of more than 100 temples, ashrams and cultural centers.
Śrīla Prabhupāda was born Abhay Charan De on September 1, 1896 to a practicing Hindu family in Kolkata. As a youth growing up in British-controlled India, Abhay became involved with Mahatma Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement. A 1922 meeting with a prominent scholar and religious leader, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, proved most influential on Abhay’s future calling. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta asked Abhay to bring the teachings of Lord Kṛṣṇa to the English-speaking world. Abhay became a disciple of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta in 1933 and spent the next 32 years preparing for his journey to the Western world.
Founding ISKCON & Global Expansion
In 1965, at the age of 69, Śrīla Prabhupāda travelled to New York City aboard a cargo ship. The journey was treacherous, and the elderly spiritual teacher suffered two heart attacks aboard ship. Arriving in the United States with just 7 dollars in Indian rupees and his translations of sacred Sanskrit texts, he began to spread the teachings of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Renting a small storefront on New York’s Lower East Side, he officially registered ISKCON on July 11, 1966.
In the 11 years that followed, Śrīla Prabhupāda circled the globe 14 times on lecture tours, bringing the teachings of Lord Kṛṣṇa to thousands of people on six continents. Under his guidance, devotees established temples, rural communities, educational institutions, and started what would become the world’s largest vegetarian food relief program. In India, he opened dozens of temples, including major spiritual centers in Vrindavana and Sri Mayapur Dham.
Transcendental Literary Contributions
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s most significant contributions, perhaps, are his books. He authored over 70 volumes on the Kṛṣṇa tradition, which are highly respected by scholars worldwide for their authority, depth, fidelity to tradition, and clarity. Several of his works are used as standard textbooks in university courses, and his writings have been translated into 76 languages.
His most prominent works include Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, the multi-volume Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and the multi-volume Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.