Who Is Srila Prabhupada? – The Spiritual Ambassador Who Brought Bhakti to the World

His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the Founder-Acārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). He is revered by millions as the one who brought the ancient wisdom of Krishna bhakti (devotion to Krishna) from India to the rest of the world.

He appeared in this world in 1896 in Calcutta, India. Srila Prabhupada was a pure devotee of Lord Krishna from his early life. On the instruction of his spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, Srila Prabhupada accepted the divine mission to share the message of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with the entire world.

In 1965, at the age of 69, Srila Prabhupada boarded a cargo ship, Jaladuta, and journeyed alone to New York City, with no money and only a trunk full of books. In spite of immense challenges, he successfully established ISKCON in New York City in the year 1966 and began teaching the science of Krishna consciousness in a simple yet profound way — through kīrtana, prasāda, satsanga, and philosophy.

He translated and wrote over 70 volumes of books, that are now available, notably:

• Bhagavad-gītā As It Is

• Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (18,000 verses)

• Caitanya-caritāmṛta

His writings are now studied in temples, homes, universities, and spiritual communities around the globe. To date, more than 800 million volumes have been distributed in 85 languages of the world.

Srila Prabhupada’s life was a perfect example of humility, wisdom, and total dedication to the service of God and humanity. He didn’t come to the West to take — he came to freely give the greatest, most rare gift, and highest knowledge, love of God.

Today, his legacy continues through more than 800 temples, schools, farms, restaurants, schools, and communities worldwide, what to speak of the millions of lives transformed by the power of chanting:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare HareHare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare