Founder Acharya
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Srila Prabhupada
When His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (who later became known as Srila Prabhupada) entered the port of New York City on September 17, 1965, few Americans took notice — but he was not merely another immigrant. He was on a mission to introduce an ancient religion, which originated in India, into mainstream America. Before Srila Prabhupada passed away on November 14, 1977, at the age of 81, his mission proved successful. He had founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and saw it grow into a worldwide confederation of more than 100 temples, ashrams, and cultural centers.
Srila Prabhupada was born Abhay Charan De on September 1, 1896, to a practicing Hindu family in Kolkata, India. As a youth growing up in British-controlled India, Abhay became involved in Mahatma Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement, which aimed to secure independence for the nation. A pivotal meeting in 1922 with the prominent scholar and religious leader Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati significantly influenced Abhay’s future calling. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was a leader in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, a monotheistic sect within the broader Hindu culture. He encouraged Abhay to bring the teachings of Lord Krishna to the English-speaking world.
Abhay became a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta in 1933 and committed himself to fulfill his mentor’s request. He became known worldwide as A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and Shrila Prabhupada, dedicating the next 32 years to preparing for his journey to the Western world.
In 1965, at the age of 69, Shrila Prabhupada traveled to New York City aboard a cargo ship. The journey was challenging, and the elderly spiritual teacher suffered two heart attacks during the trip. Upon arriving in the United States with only seven dollars in Indian currency 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 became dedicated students of the Krishna tradition. With their support, Shrila Prabhupada rented a small storefront on New York’s Lower East Side, which he used 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).
In the eleven years that followed, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe 14 times on lecture tours, sharing the teachings of Lord Krishna with thousands of people across six continents. Individuals from diverse backgrounds came forward to accept his message, and with their assistance, Shrila Prabhupada established ISKCON centers and projects worldwide. Under his inspiration, Krishna devotees created temples, rural communities, and educational institutions, and initiated what would become the world’s largest vegetarian food relief program. To nourish the roots of Krishna consciousness in its homeland, Shrila Prabhupada returned to India several times, sparking a revival of the Vaishnava tradition. In India, he opened numerous temples, including major centers in the holy towns of Vrindavana and Mayapur.
Shrila Prabhupada’s most significant contributions are his writings. He authored over 70 volumes on the Krishna tradition, which are highly respected by scholars for their authority, depth, fidelity to the tradition, and clarity. Several of his works are used as textbooks in university courses, and his writings have been translated into 76 languages. Among his most prominent works are “Bhagavad-gita As It Is,” the multi-volume “Srimad-Bhagavatam,” and the set of “Sri Caitanya-caritamrita” books.