Journeys
Circled the globe
Travelled around the world more than a dozen times in his final years to guide his disciples and share Krishna’s message.
FOUNDER-ACHARYA
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896–1977) is the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Born Abhay Charan De in Kolkata, he met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, in 1922 and was asked to share the message of Lord Chaitanya with the English-speaking world.
At the age of 69, with a trunk of his books and a few rupees, he sailed to New York aboard the cargo ship Jaladuta. Within a year he founded ISKCON, and in the twelve years that followed he established temples on six continents, initiated thousands of disciples and wrote about seventy volumes of translation and commentary on the Vedic scriptures.
Every class, kirtan and plate of prasadam at ISKCON Brahmapur continues the mission he began — bringing the wisdom of the Bhagavad-gītā and the chanting of the holy name to everyone.
- Founder-acharya of ISKCON, established in 1966
- Author of about seventy volumes of Vedic wisdom
- Guided the opening of 108 temples worldwide
A LIFE OF DEVOTION
Milestones of Srila Prabhupada’s life
From a childhood Ratha Yatra in Kolkata to a worldwide society — the journey of the founder-acharya, year by year.
- 1896
Birth in Kolkata
Born Abhay Charan De on 1 September 1896 in Kolkata, to Gaura Mohan De and Rajani Devi.
- 1922
Meets his spiritual master
Meets Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura for the first time, who asks him to share Lord Chaitanya’s message in the English-speaking world.
- 1933
Formal initiation
Receives initiation from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in Allahabad.
- 1944
Back to Godhead
Begins writing, editing and publishing the magazine Back to Godhead single-handedly.
- 1947
Title ‘Bhaktivedanta’
Honoured with the title Bhaktivedanta by the Gaudiya Vaishnava society in recognition of his learning and devotion.
- 1959
KEY FACTS
A legacy that continues today
What Srila Prabhupada achieved in the twelve years after founding ISKCON continues to shape every ISKCON centre, including Brahmapur.
Temples
108+ temples
Established more than a hundred temples, ashrams, schools and farm communities across six continents.
Books
Seventy volumes
Translated and wrote commentaries on the Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Chaitanya-charitāmṛta and more — about seventy volumes in all.
Compassion
No one hungry
Instructed that no one within ten miles of an ISKCON temple should go hungry — the seed of today’s prasadam distribution.
HIS LEGACY LIVES ON
Read his books, chant the holy name, visit the temple
Srila Prabhupada’s books and teachings are at the heart of every class and kirtan at ISKCON Brahmapur. Come, listen, chant and experience them for yourself.
