The dear most friend and ever well wisher of one and all, who travelled the world to share the transcendental bliss of Krishna Consciousness that he constantly relished.
"His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature, and culture."
A Life of Service
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appeared in this world in Calcutta, India.
He first met Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī, founder of sixty-four Gauḍīyа Maṭhas, who convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge. He became his formally initiated disciple in 1933.
Without assistance, he started an English fortnightly magazine, writing, typing, proofing, and distributing it single-handedly. It continues today, carried on by his disciples.
At fifty-four he retired from married life to devote himself to study and writing, settling in humble circumstances at the historic Rādhā-Dāmodara temple in Vṛndāvana. He accepted the renounced order of life in 1959, beginning his life's masterwork: a multivolume translation and commentary on the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Practically penniless on arrival by freighter in New York City, he spent nearly a year in great difficulty before establishing the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in July 1966.
He founded the gurukula school in Dallas, introducing the Vedic system of education in the West, and inspired major centers at Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, Vṛndāvana, and Mumbai.
Before passing away on November 14, 1977, he had guided the Society to a worldwide confederation of more than one hundred āśramas, schools, temples, institutes, and farm communities.
Lasting Impact
Srila Prabhupada's most significant contribution is his books \u2014 highly respected by the academic community for their authoritativeness, depth, and clarity, and used as textbooks in numerous college courses. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, which he established in 1972, has become the world's largest publisher of books in the field of Indian religion and philosophy.
