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Founder-Acharya

For millennia the teachings and the rich culture of bhakti-

yoga, or Krishna Consciousness, had been hidden within the borders of India. Today, millions
around the globe express their gratitude to Srila Prabhupada for revealing the timeless wisdom of
bhakti to a world.

Born as Abhay Charan De on September 1, 1896, in Calcutta, as a young man he joined

Mahatma Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement. In 1922, a meeting with the prominent scholar
and spiritual leader, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, proved to be most influential on young
Abhay’s future calling.
 Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was a leader in the Gaudiya Vaishnava community, a monotheistic tradition
within the broader Hindu culture. At their very first meeting, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta asked Abhay to
bring the teachings of Lord Krishna to the English-speaking world. Deeply moved by his devotion
and wisdom, Abhay became a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta in 1933, and resolved to carry out
his mentor’s request. Abhay, later known by the honorific A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada, spent the next 32 years preparing for his journey west.

In 1965, at the age of sixty-nine, Srila Prabhupada begged a free passage and boarded a cargo
ship, the Jaladhuta, to New York. The journey proved to be treacherous and he suffered two
heart attacks aboard. After 35 days at sea, he first arrived at a lonely Brooklyn pier with just
seven dollars in Indian rupees and a crate of his translations of sacred Sanskrit texts.

In New York, he faced great hardships and began his mission humbly by giving classes on
the Bhagavad-gita in lofts on the Bowery and leading kirtan (traditional devotional chants) in
Tompkins Square Park. His message of peace and goodwill resonated with many young people,
some of whom came forward to become serious students of the Krishna-bhakti tradition. With the
help of these students, Bhaktivedanta Swami rented a small storefront on New York’s Lower
East Side to use as a temple.

In July of 1966, Bhaktivedanta Swami established the International Society for Krishna
Consciousness (ISKCON) for the purpose he stated of “checking the imbalance of values in the
world and working for real unity and peace”.

In the eleven years that followed, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe 14 times on lecture tours
spreading the teachings of Lord Krishna. Men and women from all backgrounds and walks of life
came forward to accept his message. With their help, Srila Prabhupada established temples,
farm communities, a publishing house, and educational institutions around the world. And, he
began what has now become the world’s largest vegetarian food relief program, Hare Krishna
Food for Life.

With the desire to nourish the roots of Krishna consciousness in its home, Srila Prabhupada
returned to India several times, where he sparked a revival in the Vaishnava tradition. In India, he
opened dozens of temples, including large centers in the holy towns of Vrindavana and
Mayapura.

Srila Prabhupada’s most significant contributions, perhaps, are his books. He authored over 70
volumes on the Krishna tradition, which are highly respected by scholars for their authority,
depth, fidelity to the tradition, and clarity. Several of his works are used as textbooks in numerous
college courses. His writings have been translated into 76 languages. His most prominent works
include: Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the 30-volume Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the 17-volume Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada passed away on November 14, 1977, in the holy
town of Vrindavana, surrounded by his loving disciples who carry on his mission today.

Timeline
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