To write the life and teachings of one of the greatest reformer of time, Srila Prabhupada who is the Acharya and Founder of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISCON) is difficult but I have tried to gather information about one of the most spiritual reformer of time, which gives an insight of the enlightenment he had in his lifetime. To understand his teachings and philosophy we have to look back at what Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said about 500 years ago.. He said that His name will be preached worldwide in times to come. As Sri Chaitanya was an incarnation of Lord Krishna so his words are to be believed. Mahaprabhu predicted that the preaching of ‘Harinam Sankirtan’ will be echoed throughout the world and this is a reality.
As Sun is immortal, similarly the purity of God and his true disciples are also immortal in consequence of time. Srila Prabhupada was a true disciple of God. Prabhupada was born in 1896 1st September, in Kolkata, named Abhaycharan De. His father GourMohan was a businessman. His mother was Rajani Devi. The location was Harison Road, in Kolkata. They lived in a rented house of the Mallick’s who ran their family business. Opposite side was a Radha Govinda temple of the Mallick’s where GourMohan and his family used to visit with Abhaycharan. GourMohan was a true Vasihnav and was vegetarian. The spiritual enlightenment was there from childhood and Abhaycharan inherited that in himself. He was fascinated during the Rathayatra festival in Kolkata and used to be present, the Mallick’s Rath Yatra was largest in Kolkata. He decided to have his own Rathyatra and his father arranged that. That was the beginning Abhaycharan along his playmates celebrated Rath Yatra, he influenced her sister Bhavatarini to participate as well, and local people also participated, there was kirtan along with playing the mridangam. When he was six years age he asked for a deity of Radha Krishna from his father and his father kept his word. He started worshiping the deity from an early age.
He studied in Motilal Shil free school. He was excellent in studies and all activities he performed. After his school he studied in Scottish Church College in Kolkata. His talents diversified as he grew up. He also intensified his spiritual path along with his studies. He was a prolific writer as well. Though he passed his University exams, he refused to take his degree due to pre-independence disasters like the Jallianwala Bagh massacre where many were killed.
Through one well-wisher of the family Dr. Kartick Chandra Bose Abhaycharan got the job in his laboratory as a manager.
At last the day came when he first met the glorified Vaishnav Acharya Srila BhatiSidhanta Sarawati Thakur in 1922 when one of his friend took him to introduce him. It was an auspicious moment which was going to change the course of life for Abhaycharan. At a first meet The Guru and his future disciple were mesmerized at each others intellect. Bhati Siddhanta Thakur said that why aren’t they preaching the words of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur explain that the words of Mahaprabhu and the Teachings of Lord Krishna does not need any situation of the society to improve and it does not depend whether the country is independent. Independence is a short term. Bhakti Siddhanta Sarawati Thakur was son of the great learned teacher of Vainava cult Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur. Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur had created 64 branches of Gaudiya Math with the mission to preach the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In 1932 Abhaycharan moved to Allahabad and the next year he became a disciple of Bhakti Sidhhanta Saraswati Thakur. His business in Allahabad did not pursue well and he moved to Mumbai and with his effort a center in Mumbai for Gaudiya Math was established. In 1936 Bhakti Shiddhanta Sarawati Thakur left this world and before that he gave few instructions to Abhaycharan which he fulfilled during his lifetime. One of them was to translate books into English and to preach the teachings of the Lord. Next few years were the toughest time for Srila Prabhupada suffered financially and still managed to publish a magazine ‘Back to Godhead’. He decided and went to Vrindavan to carry on his writing. At last he took Sanyaas in 1959 15th September in Mathura at Keshav Ji Gaudiya Math under Keshav Maharaj and became BhaktiVedanta Swami Maharaj. Then he started the major work that is translation of Bhagavad Gita.
Srila Prabhupada decided to visit the West and he came in contact with the Chief of Scindia Shipping Company, Srimati Morarji who arranged a ticket in Ship Jaladut in 1965 13th August. With almost nothing and taking the blessings of the Almighty he left for the United States and the rest was history. 19th September he reached New York. His journey was tough and he had heart attack during his journey but Sri Krishna protected him. He started preaching the name of the Lord in small communities in parks, on roadside. He gave speech in English in various gatherings and started coming into picture and Newspapers started reporting about him. He fulfilled the wishes of his Guru.
He created the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust in 1970. He travelled worldwide from 1970-1975. He left this world in 1977 14th November. His greatest creation is the temple at Mayapur the International center for ISKON. Prabhupada was a absolute child of God and he preached teachings of Mahaprabhu and utter the mahamantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare” to save mankind from corruption and to unite with God Head. In Kaliyug it is his revolution he was able to preach world wide the great religious reformation that we see.
Reference : From various books and articles from ISKON.
