His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appeared in this world at 1,896 years in Calcutta India. First time he met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent theologian and sixty-four Gaudiya Mathys (Vedic institutes) founder, liked an educated young man, and he persuaded the latter devote his life to spread Vedic knowledge. Srila Prabhupada became a follower of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and after eleven years (1933, Allahabad) – became his initiated disciple.
At the first meeting Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to publish Vedic knowledge in English. In subsequent years, Srila Prabhupada wrote a comment to Bhagavad-gita, contributes to the Gaudiya Math activities, and in 1944 begins to publish a biweekly magazine in English – “Back to Godhead” ( “Back to God”), which now in the West his disciples continue to publish in more than thirty languages.
In 1947, recognizing Srila Prabhupada’s rare sophistication and dedication to the Lord, the Gaudiya Vaishnava community gives him “Bhaktivedanta” title. In 1950 at the age of fifty-four, Srila Prabhupada refuses his family life and becomes vanaprastha – gives a hermit vows to designate more time to study and write books. He goes to the holy city Vrindavan and settles in the historic medieval temple of Radha-Damodara. Here, in the modest surroundings, few years he immerses himself in studying and writing. In 1959 Srila Prabhupada gives sannyas vows. At Radha-Damodar temple Srila Prabhupada begins to create his life’s masterpiece – multivolume 18 000 verses Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) translation with commentary. Also he writes Easy Journey to Other Planets (in Lithuanian “Beyond time and space”).
At 1965, after the publishing of three Bhagavatam volumes, Srila Prabhupada had come to the United States to implement the mission entrusted to him by his spiritual master. Later, he published more than sixty volumes of authoritative translations and studies showing the Indian religion and philosophy classics.
In 1965 he arrived in New York City on a cargo ship practically with no funds. He experienced great difficulties and only one year later in July, he established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. When in 1977, Srila Prabhupada left this world (November 14)., his organization has already grown into a worldwide confederation of more than one hundred ashrams, schools, temples, institutes and farm communities.
In West Virginia, Srila Prabhupada founded the first ISKCON`s agricultural community. In addition, the Western countries, he introduced the Vedic system of education – gurukula.
Srila Prabhupada as well was an initiator of several large international cultural centers in India. It is envisaged that around Sridhama Mayapur center of West Bengal will encounter spiritual city.
To happen this huge ambition will require more than ten years. At Vrindavan (India) he has built the magnificent Krishna-Balarama temple and hotel for guests from all over the world. He opened large cultural and educational center of Bombay and also created centers in most important places of India.
However, the most valuable Srila Prabhupada’s contribution is his books. Scientists extremely appreciated their authority, depth and clarity of thought. They are used as textbooks in many academic colleges. Srila Prabhupada’s writings have been translated into more than 50 languages. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, established by him in 1972, currently is the largest Indian religion and philosophy, literature publisher in the world.
While still at a respectable age, twelve years Srila Prabhupada with lectures fourteen times traveled the planet, visited six continents. Nevertheless, he was very busy all the time because he wrote a lot. His writings constitute a whole Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture library.