December 23, 2024

Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivendanta Swami was born as Abhaya Charan De in Kolkata in September 1896. He was the founder-preceptor of ISKON and an Indian spiritual teacher. Swami Prabhupada was known as Abhaya Charan De during his childhood. He was born in a family of Vaishanvites and later became Swami Prabhupada for millions of his devotees.

At a very tender age he developed deep devotion for RadhaKrishna. He became Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Goswami Maharaj’s disciple at the age of twenty eight. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Goswami Maharaj belonged to the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition, a tradition which had its Lord Krishna himself directly.

Swami Prabhuda had abandoned the world at the age of fifty and spent a lot of time travelling from one place to another in India, spreading Krishna consciousness and preaching Lord Krishna’s message to people. Swami Prabhuda started the ISKON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Movement also called the Hare Krishna Movement.

At the age of 69 in the year 1965, he was determined to spread Krishna consciousness to people across the world also and so he left for America. While getting his activities organized he experienced a lot of financial difficulties and early setbacks also, but finally he was successful in attracting a lot of followers to the Hare Krishna Movement. Gradually along with his committed followers and millions of devotees he developed this movement into a world-wide organization.

Swami Prabhupada has written a number of books which have been translated into English in 30 volumes of Bhagavatam. His uncompromising approach is seen in the Bhagavad Gita interpretation in which he would not tolerate any divergence from the established Vaishnava tradition. He died in Vrindavan on November 14th, 1977.