A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, born in India in 1896, was a spiritual teacher who dedicated his life to disseminating the philosophy of Krishna consciousness worldwide. Following the instructions of his spiritual teacher, he traveled to New York City in 1965 at the age of 69. With minimal resources, he began sharing the Hare Krishna mantra and teachings, eventually founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1966. His teachings emphasized the eternal spiritual nature of the self and the revival of a relationship with Krishna, the supreme being, through practices like chanting and devotional service. He also instituted strict guidelines for his followers regarding diet, intoxicants, and sexual conduct. Prabhupada presented the Absolute Truth as personal, contrasting with some earlier Indian teachers in the West who focused on an impersonal ultimate reality. He translated and wrote extensive commentaries on important Sanskrit texts, making them accessible in English for the first time and authoring over eighty books. While ISKCON faced criticism and was labeled a cult by some, scholars and courts generally recognized it as a legitimate branch of Hinduism. Prabhupada is regarded as a significant figure in spreading Hindu philosophy internationally.

In 1965, Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada embarked on a journey from India to New York City, fulfilling a directive from his spiritual mentor to spread the teachings of Krishna consciousness in English. Arriving at age 69 with few possessions, he initiated his mission by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra in a public park and conducting classes. His efforts led to the establishment of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1966, with the support of early disciples. ISKCON has since expanded to include centers across the globe, facilitating the practice and study of Krishna consciousness.

Prabhupada's teachings focus on the concept of the soul as an eternal spiritual entity, distinct from the temporary material body. The aim is to reawaken an individual's innate connection with Krishna, the supreme living being. This spiritual realization is pursued through practices such as deeply listening to authoritative spiritual texts, chanting mantras composed of Krishna's names, and engaging in devotional service. To maintain spiritual focus, Prabhupada instructed his initiated followers to abstain from meat, fish, eggs, gambling, intoxicants, and illicit sexual activity. A key philosophical point was his emphasis on the personal nature of the Absolute Truth, distinguishing his approach from those who presented the ultimate reality as impersonal.

A central aspect of Prabhupada's mission was making Vedic scriptures accessible to a wider audience. He believed a guru's role was to faithfully convey the message of Krishna as found in foundational texts. To this end, he produced "Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is," a translation with commentary. He also translated and provided extensive commentaries for significant Indian works like the Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Chaitanya Charitamrita, which were previously little known outside of India. These efforts resulted in over eighty published books, significantly contributing to the availability of Indian philosophical and religious literature in English. In 1944, he began publishing the magazine "Back to Godhead" to further disseminate these teachings.