Our Acharyas
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada
Divine Appearance & Mission
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada (1896-1977) appeared as a radiant saint in the ancient Gaudiya-Vaishnava tradition. Born in Calcutta on 1 September 1896, he came in the unbroken disciplic succession of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya paramparā and took up the sacred mission of reviving Sanātana Dharma in its fullness.
The Saint-Scholar of Vedic Wisdom
Possessed of profound realization of the Vedas, Upanishads and Puraṇas, Srila Prabhupada manifested the teachings of bhakti-yoga — loving devotion to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. His translations and commentaries are not mere academic works but divine revelations, offered in the mood of a humble servant. Through his books, he opened the eternal nectar of the Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta to seekers of all lands.
Global Messenger of Sanātana Dharma
Obeying his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, Srila Prabhupada embarked in 1965 from India to the West at the age of 69. With nothing but faith, books, and the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, he kindled a spiritual reawakening across six continents. Tens of thousands were touched by his love, purity and unwavering devotion.
His Divine Literary & Missionary Achievements
He dictated approximately 22,000 pages of transcendental text between 1968 and 1977.
He translated and wrote purports to 18,000 verses of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam – reading one verse daily would require about 49 years.
He translated and wrote purports to 700 verses of the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is – one-verse-per-day would take 2 years.
He translated and wrote purports to the 17 volumes of Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta (2,170 pages or 11,555 verses) – one verse per day: ~31 years, one page per day: ~6 years.
Authored key works including Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Nectar of Devotion, Teachings of Lord Kapiladeva, Śrī Īśopaniṣad.
Founded the Back to Godhead magazine, which reached over one million copies monthly at the peak.
Wrote 7,000 letters to his disciples (published in 5 volumes).
His lectures on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam compiled into 11 volumes, Bhagavad-gītā lectures into 7 volumes, and his conversations into 42 volumes.
Published 147 books – reading one book a month would take 13 years.
Established 108 temples globally; traveled around the world 14 times; personally initiated over 10,000 disciples.
All this in only 11 years (ages 70–80).
Ever-Living Presence
Srila Prabhupada’s life is a luminous testament to divine service. Though outwardly a humble mendicant, his influence transcended nations and generations. His books continue to guide souls, his temples stand as beacons, and the paramparā he spearheaded remains vibrant. The guru’s promise remains: “He lives forever in his books, and his followers live with him.”