Srila Prabhupāda

Biografía

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) was a renowned spiritual teacher in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition and the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Born in Calcutta, India, as Abhay Charan De, he developed deep devotion to Lord Krishna from an early age. In 1922, he met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who instructed him to spread the teachings of Krishna consciousness throughout the English-speaking world. At the age of sixty-nine, Srila Prabhupada traveled alone to the United States aboard the cargo ship Jaladuta. Despite facing many hardships and possessing little material support, he began teaching the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. His message of bhakti-yoga, centered on loving devotional service to Krishna and the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, attracted sincere seekers from many backgrounds. In 1966, he established ISKCON in New York City. Under his guidance, the movement rapidly expanded across the globe, leading to the creation of temples, educational institutions, farms, and spiritual communities dedicated to devotional service. Srila Prabhupada's most enduring contribution is his extensive body of spiritual literature. His translations and commentaries on sacred texts such as Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Sri Caitanya-caritamrita are widely respected for their fidelity to the disciplic succession and their practical application of bhakti. Through his books, teachings, and personal example, he introduced millions of people to Krishna consciousness and fulfilled the mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu on a worldwide scale.