| Srila Prabhupada |
| Vande Guroh Sri Caranaravindam "I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities." |
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| His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada 1896 - 1977 |
| Srila Prabhupada has been predicted of His appearance to this material world by several sources. Srila Prabhupada has been predicted in the following vedic scriptures, also predicted by the Supreme Lord Krsna Himself 5000 years ago,by Narada Muni, by vaishnava spiritual masters & others as well. 1. Brahma Vaivarta Purana - Lord Krsna to Ganga Devi - Mantra Upasaka 2. Padma Purana - Narada Muni to Tulasi Devi - Bhagavat Mahatmya (Ch. 2.5 - 7) 3. Caitanya Caritamrta 4. Caitanya Bhagavata - Sloka Antya 4.126 5. Caitanya Mangala 6. Jaganatha Dasa Thakura 7. Bhaktivinoda Thakura 8. Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji Maharaj 9. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvathi Thakura 10. Astrologer 11. Prabhupada's father 12. Srila Rupa Goswami 13. Godbrothers of Srila Prabhupada Srila Prabhupada was born by the banks of the Ganges river in Tollygunge, Calcutta. It was the time of the British Raj in India, September 1st 1896, the day after Sri Krishna Janmasthami (the birthday of Lord Krishna). Srila Prabhupada's mother and father were both devoted to Lord Krishna, especially in His form of Lord Chaitanya. His family line descended from the great sage Gautama. In BhagavadGita, Lord Krishna states: atha va yoginam eva kule bhavati dhimatam etad dhi durlabhataram loke janma yad idrsam One who takes birth in a family of transcendentalists who are surely great in wisdom, certainly such a birth is rare in this world. According to the custom, on the occasion of his birth an astrologer was called. He calculated the birth-chart and predicted, to the joy of all present, that when Srila Prabhupada would reach the age of 70 he would cross the ocean, become a great exponent of religion and open 108 temples in the world. Srila Prabhupada's father always treated him with great affection as a most special person and saw to it that his son learned the practice of Krishna consciousness from his very birth. He gave Srila Prabhupada Radha-Krishna deities for his childhood play. He also made sure his son learned sanskrit, the practically inaccessable language of the vedic scriptures that he would later translate for all the world to understand. When Srila Prabhupada was five years old, he decided to hold a Ratha-Yatra (chariot festival of Lord Krishna) cart festival like the religious one held annually in Jagannath Puri, attended by millions. When he heard his father could not afford a new cart, his subsequent crying attracted the attention of a passing Bengali woman who kindly let him buy her old cart. Srila Prabhupada enlisted the help of the neighbourhood children and their mothers in an elaborate eight-day spiritual festival that he continued annually during his boyhood. Srila Prabhupada's father believed that with a British education his son would have a more promising career, thus in 1916 he arranged for him to attend Scottish Churches' College, then the top British college in Calcutta.Srila Prabhupada was neither enamoured of western education or ambitious for scholastic achievement. He would sometimes confide he did not like it there and felt like leaving. When his friends would ask him why, his reason would always be: "...something religious, something philosophical or devotional about God." - Rupendranath Mitra (school friend) However Srila Prabhupada was a good student and described his Scottish teachers kindly gentlemen and he took part in College activities. When he passed his final examinations, he supported Mahatma Gandhi's call to boycott all things British and refused his diploma. A friend of Srila Prabhupada called Naren Mullick took him to hear a scholarly and reputable devotee of Lord Krishna, the "Lion Guru" of Bengal, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati.Although somewhat skeptical of "holy men" in general, Srila Prabhupada was very impressed by this saintly person's lecture on the topic of spreading Lord Chaitanya's message of Krishna consciousness to everyone. Srila Prabhupad felt obliged to challenge him in the light of Indian nationalism: "Who will hear your Chaitanya's message? We are a dependent country. First India must become independent. How can we spread Indian culture if we are under British rule?" Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswathi Goswami countered: "Krishna consciousness doesn't have to wait for a change in Indian politics, nor is it dependent on who rules India. Moreover, Krishna consciousness is so important - so exclusively important - that it can't wait." Srila Prabhupada later said he felt happy to have been defeated, and at that meeting had already accepted Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sawaswati as his spiritual master. However, it was to be many years before he formally took initiation from him. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta made a prophetic request to Srila Prabhupada at that first meeting in 1922: "Why don�t you preach Krishna Consciousness throughout the whole world?" And in 1936, just two months before quitting this world Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, by now Srila Prabhupada�s spiritual master, again requested in a letter: "I am fully confident that you can explain in English our thoughts and arguments to the people who are not conversant in the language (Bengali and Hindi).... I have every hope that you will turn yourself into a very good English preacher." Srila Prabhupada did not wait idly for the success predicted in his old age to arrive. He worked throughout his life to fulfil his Guru�s words. While running a business to meet family responsibilities, he wrote, published and distributed periodicals and booklets on Krishna Consciousness. Overcoming the paper rationing of the war years, he determinedly managed to keep on publishing. Srila Prabhupada's original "Back to Godhead" magazine is still published today by his ISKCON movement. In 1952, Srila Prabhupada formed a devotee group called "The League of Devotees" in Jhansi. His friend, Dr. Sastri comments: In his heart, always it was burning that the whole world was suffering in the materialistic view - everyone is busy in eat, drink and be merry. He was having iron-will and determination about his mission. "He was not doubtful at all. Actually, he was always preaching that there was no other way except the Hare Krishna mantra. So, always discussing, sometimes the whole night he was discussing with me, and sometimes I was fed up. I was requesting, 'Please don't disturb me. Please let me sleep.' And he - the old man missionary worker - he was just like a young man." Srila Prabhupada's preaching work caught the attention of prominent personalities, including the Indian Prime Minister, Bahadur Lal Shastri, who wrote him: Dear Swamiji, Many thanks for the letter. I am indeed grateful to you for presenting a copy of the "Srimad Bhagavatam" to me. I do realise that you are doing valuable work. It would be a good idea if the libraries in the Government Institutions purchase copies of this book.The intellectual and political leaders of India were increasingly influenced by Western ways and rejecting Vedic culture. By 1958, circumstance and destiny were calling him to the more fertile preaching grounds of the West.Srila Prabhupada moved to Vrindavan, south of Delhi to translate the "Srimad Bhagavatam" into English to prepare for his mission. "The glories of Krishna nobody can understand, similarly with Vrindavan. As Lord Krishna is worshipable, so His place Vrindavan is as good as Krishna. It is also worshipable". While others leave their worldly affairs to retire in the sacred place of Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada�s intention was to bring Vrindavan with him to all countries of the world. "With great difficulty I got out of India. Some way or other by Krishna�s grace I got out so that I could spread the Krishna Consciousness movement all over the world. Otherwise, to remain in India - it was not possible. I wanted to start a movement in India, but I was not encouraged." - Srila Prabhupada Srila Prabhupada got a free passage to America from the Scindia Steamship Navigation Company, whose owner, Srimati Morarji, was a devotee of Lord Krishna. With very few personal possessions and a crate of his newly-published "Srimad Bhagavatam" books, Srila Prabhupada set off from Calcutta for New York. "When he left Calcutta harbour for New York there was no one on the shore to bid him goodbye. He was alone. A lone fighter. No friend, no supporter, no disciple. I was the only person standing on the shore to say him goodbye. No one was with me. I could not know it was such an important event." - Mr. Battacharya On Friday the 13th of August, 1965, the Jaladuta set sail. Although Captain Bandia said that never in entire career had he seen such a calm Atlantic crossing. Srila Prabhupada suffered two heart attacks on the journey, but in good company. Srila Prabhupada cried and prayed to Lord Krishna "O! My dear Lord Krsna. If you want me to die without preaching your message to the whole world just let me die on my next third heart attack." Srila Prabhupada had a dream. Lord Krishna in His many forms was rowing a boat, and He told Prabhupada that he should not fear but come along. After this dream, his health much improved. At 5:30 a.m. on September 17, 1975, the Jaladuta briefly stopped at Boston Commonwealth Pier before proceeding to New York harbour. There Srila Prabhupada passed through Immigration, and wrote a Bengali poem, some of which translates as follows: My dear Lord Krsna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me. But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place? Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of ignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Krishna. I do not know how they will be able to understand it. How will I make them understand this message of Krsna consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified, and the most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own. O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your message. So if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable for their understanding. Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure. I am sure that when this transcendental message penetrates their hearts, they will certainly feel gladdened and thus become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life. O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord, make me dance as You like. I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krsna. I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, and now, if You like, You can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta. Signed: the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, on board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Dated 18th September 1965. Srila Prabhupada entered the anonymity of the Manhattan metropolis during the freezing American winter of '65-'66. He roomed at 100 West 72nd Street, helped initially by a Dr. Ramamurti Mishra. He was invited to speak at meetings such as the Tagore society on 64th street. He also lectured on Bhagavad Gita from his unfurnished room. Without wealthy patronage, Srila Prabhupada made a living selling his Srimad Bhagavatam books. "Srila Prabhupada was living in a fairly narrow room and we were closely packed. We wouldn't chant. We just came, and he would lecture. I was really just a listener, and this seemed right - hearing the Bhagavad Gita - so I kept coming. It seemed as if things would grow from there." - James Green In spring 1966, thieves stole the typewriter and tape-recorder from Srila Prabhupada's room on West 72nd street. Friends replaced the stolen items, but he wanted to move. Srila Prabhupada did not want to follow the example of other "swamis" who found patrons in the fashionable uptown areas. A student called Harvey Cohen assured him he would have a more interested following if he preached in the Bowery in dangerous downtown New York. Srila Prabhupada accepted his offer of a flat there. Word spread about the Indian saint in the Bowery with his chanting of Hare Krishna. He asks for Indian assistance. Feeling optimistic about the prospects of training his students, Srila Prabhupada tried for Indian help. He wrote to his Indian contacts requesting financial aid and man power to facilitate his preaching. However, the Indian Embassy in Washington informed him: "Due to existing conditions of foriegn exchange stringency, it is not possible for the government of India to accede to your request for release of foriegn exchange". A fellow sannyasi in India was reluctant to allow an eager disciple to join Srila Prabhupada, referring to the hope of turning westerners into vaishnavas as "ludicrous", prompting the reply: "In the absolute field both success and failure are glorious for all parties concerned" However disaster struck again when his roommate became crazy after taking dangerous drugs and despite the successful preaching, Srila Prabhupada was forced to flee his Bowery rooms. Just nine months after arriving in New York, Srila Prabhupada became as homeless as any derelict in the street. Srila Prabhupada, however, was always confident. Srila Prabhupada was undeterred by all these difficulties.At this point his hopes for Indian finance were dashed and not even a lone brahmachari was coming to help him. Frozen, penniless and suddenly homeless, Srila Prabhupada could surely have considered returning to the holy land of Vrindavan. However, after 9 difficult months in America, he was finally getting a regular attendence to his chanting and lectures, and some young Americans were trying to understand. He would fight on. Having made this resolve, he approached two of his students to help him find suitable premises. Srila Prabhupada had a mission, and the Bowery was not the best base for it. His friends all agreed: he should move more into the centre of things. They wanted to help, and found him a property located in the New York "Greenwich Village" area, where there were many spiritually-minded teenage boys and girls, and a center becomes established in New York. Srila Prabhupada was now in the very active area where the youth gathered and many were able to attend the programs at his new centre. As his followers began to understand his teachings and their respect for him grew, they tried to follow his instructions and help him . They took up regularily chanting the "Hare Krishna" mantra, giving up intoxication and meat-eating. They helped with the cleaning, the typing and so on. A more dedicated following was beginning to develop around Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada felt the time was now right to incorporate his movement. Srila Prabhupada preached vigorously from his 23rd Street Temple. On September 11th, after two months there, he initiated eleven young American boys and girls as his disciples. Srila Prabhupada due to heart disease would have to go to India to receive Ayurvedic medical treatment, but he continues his preaching. Before leaving for India Srila Prabhupada insisted on flying to San Francisco to oversee the arrangements for his first Ratha-Yatra (chariot festival of Lord Krishna) in the West. "The Ratha-yatra festival was just performed with great pomp. More than five hundred people followed the procession to the beach, and there were about two dozen cars. They distributed thousands of chapaties and at last Sri Jagannath, Subhadra and Baladev kindly came to stay in our house." -Srila Prabhupada (in a letter) Within the next ten years, Srila Prabhupada held Ratha-Yatra festivals in many major cities around the world. Srila Prabhupada preached so selflessly to benefit everyone with Krishna consciousness that it was common for comparative newcomers to become very attached to him. Out of love for him, his disciples were giving up sinful life and accepting Lord Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and had even opened new centres in San Francisco and Montreal. In just 12 years, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe 14 times on lecture tours that took him to 6 continents. Before his passing away on 14 November, 1977 he guided the society and saw it grow to a worldwide confederation of more than one hundred asramas, vedic schools, temples, vedic institutes and farm comunities. He fulfilled the mission of His guru and the Supreme God. Srila Prabhupada's birth-chart & astrology has been gone through by great astrologers & saints of India. The calculations of Srila Prabhupad's birth-chart which contains 127 pages, gives very clear statement that Srila Prabhupada is not an ordinary human but a Shaktyavesh avatar who descended from the spiritual world to preach Krsna's message. His birth-chart says 'he haven't born before & will never be born again'. Today every part of the world the chanting of the 'Hare Krsna' mantra being heard as predicted by vaishnava acaryas like Sri Ramanujacaryar, Madhavacaryar, even Lord Krsna & his incarnation as Lord Caitanya 500 years ago. Lord Krsna Caitanya predicted 500 years ago : prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama In all the villages and towns all over the world, everywhere this sankirtana movement will be preached. |
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