Srila Prabhupada: Our Founder Acharya

Our only business is to love God, not to ask God for our necessities.

- Prabhupada

Religion without philosophy is sentiment, or sometimes fanaticism, while philosophy without religion is mental speculation.

- Prabhupada

First-class religion teaches one how to love God without any motive. If I serve God for some profit, that is business-not love.

- Prabhupada

Devotional service is more or less a declaration of war against the illusory energy.

- Prabhupada

The art of focusing one’s attention on the Supreme and giving one’s love to Him is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

- Prabhupada

One who takes shelter of the Supreme Lord has nothing to fear, even in the midst of the greatest calamity.

- Prabhupada

Satisfaction of the soul can only be obtained by questions and answers on the subject of Kṛṣṇa.

- Prabhupada

As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all reactions to material activities.

- Prabhupada

If by studying Bhagavad-gītā one decides to surrender to Kṛṣṇa, he is immediately freed from all sinful reactions.

- Prabhupada

To chant the holy name under the direction of a pure devotee is offenseless chanting.

- Prabhupada

If children are given Krishna Conscious education from early childhood then there is great hope for the future of the world.

- Prabhupada

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Srila Prabhupada was born Abhay Charan De on September 1, 1896 to a practicing Sanatani family in Kolkata. Abhay became a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta in 1933 and resolved to carry out his Spiritual Master’s request, which were two main instructions. One is “preach to the western world” and second is “if you get money, print books” Abhay, who became known worldwide as A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, spent the next 32 years preparing for his journey to the Western world.

In 1965, at the age of 69, Srila Prabhupada travelled to New York City aboard a cargo ship. The journey was treacherous, and Srila Prabhhupada suffered 2 heart attacks aboard the ship. Arriving in the United States with just 7 dollars in Indian rupees and his translations of sacred Sanskrit texts, he began to spread the teachings of Krishna consciousness. His spiritual message resonated with many young people, some of whom came forward to become serious students of the Krishna tradition. With the help of these students, Srila Prabhupada rented a small storefront on New York’s Lower East Side to use as a temple. On July 11, 1966, he officially registered his organization in the state of New York, formally founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

Within the final twenty years of his life Srila Prabhupada translated over sixty volumes of classic Vedic scriptures (such as the Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta) into the English language. For their authority, depth, and clarity, his books have won praise from various scholars, and his Bhagavad-Gita As It Is was published by Macmillan Publishers in 1968 and the unabridged edition in 1972, and is now available in over sixty languages around the world. Other books by Srila Prabhupada are available in over eighty different languages. Over 500 million books of his have been distributed to date.

In just twelve years, despite his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe fourteen times on lecture tours that took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature, and culture. Srila Prabhupada spent several years in Vrindavan before going to America. Through his travels and preaching he revealed the glory of Vrindavan-dham to the whole world.

At the age of 70, he started the mission to bring Lord Krishna’s name to every household. In a very short span of 9 years, he made 5000 devotees and established 108 ISKCON temples worldwide by which millions of devotees are finding their way BACK HOME BACK TO GODHEAD!