Who Is A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada?
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement, was founded by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896–1977). He was a scholar of the Vedas, having translated and produced commentaries on more than 80 volumes of sacred writings, including the Bhagavad Gita.
In the context of Bhakti yoga — the way of devoted service to Krishna, the supreme being — Prabhupada was regarded as the leading authority in the 20th century. Despite this, he was allegedly reported as remarking, “Actually, it doesn’t matter – Krishna or Christ — the name is the same.”
Know About A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Prabhupada, an Indian born in Calcutta, joined Mahatma Gandhi’s liberation cause. Later, he became a follower of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a monotheistic Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual teacher and scholar. Bhaktisiddhanta inspired him to impart Krishna’s teachings to the English-speaking world.
He ultimately made the trip to New York City in 1965 after years of planning, when he started teaching what has been referred to as ‘global missionary Vaishnavism’ and later founded ISKCON.
Famous adherents of Prabhupada’s movement include George Harrison of the Beatles (who mentioned Krishna in his song “My Sweet Lord”), musician Boy George, poet Allen Ginsberg, and actress Hayley Mills. In addition, Prabhupada’s organization rose to prominence in the counterculture movement of the 1960s.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Education
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada graduated with a B.A. in chemistry at the Scottish Churches College in Calcutta in 1920; by then, his family had set up a marriage for him, and he had started a pharmacy. His instructor, a spiritual figure from the Vaishnava Hindu sect, asked him to spread the teachings of Krishna throughout the West in 1922. Following that, Bhaktivedanta devoted much time to serving as a lecturer, author, editor, and translator for the Vaishnava movement. Finally, in 1933, he was formally initiated as a disciple at Allahabad.
Life
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada resigned all family ties in 1954 to dedicate his whole time to religious activities because his family did not support his religious pursuits. He did this because his family had no interest in religion. Then, he sailed for Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States in 1965 after receiving the title of swami. He relocated to New York City a few months later, setting up the Hare Krishna movement’s main office on the Lower East Side. He gave Vedic culture lectures out of a storefront, arguing that it may change people’s perspectives in a world where materialism is life. Educators read many of swami’s publications on college and university campuses as the movement gained much traction among young people.
Bhaktivedanta created over 100 centers worldwide and produced over 50 volumes of old Vedic culture books by his death, despite his deteriorating health.
Following their encounters with him and exposure to his writings, many academics and professors now recommend Srila Prabhupada’s works as required reading for universities. They hold him in high esteem as a sincere, wise, and learned bhakti teacher. Moreover, he continues to excite a global audience with his authoritative yet approachable exposition of the Vedas.
He established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness with his pupils’ assistance (ISKCON). Due to its followers’ widespread habit of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra in public, ISKCON is also called the “Hare Krishna” movement. ISKCON continues to advance the goals that Srila Prabhupada set forth for it: to enable the affiliation and instruction of bhakti-yoga practitioners.
Hare Krishna Movie
“Hare Krishna!” is a biopic about Srila Prabhupada, an Indian Swami who was 70 years old when he arrived in America without assistance or funds and started the Hare Krishna Movement. This spiritual movement has spread throughout the world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada practiced Hinduism religion under the denomination of Vaishnavism. He belonged to the Gaudiya Vaishnavism sect.
Due to Shrila Prabhupada’s comprehension that “the conclusion of all knowledge in the Vedas is Bhakti,” his god-brothers gave him the title of ‘Bhaktivedanta.’ Prabhupada also means the Master at whose feet all other masters tend to sit.
Who is founder of ISKCON?
A. C. Bhaktivedanta, also known as Swami Prabhupada, was an Indian religious leader and author born in Calcutta on September 1, 1896, and died in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India, on November 14, 1977. He founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, also known as the Hare Krishna movement, in 1965. A. C. Bhaktivedanta.
At what age Prabhupada went to us?
Srila Prabhupada set sail for New York City on a cargo ship in 1965 when he was 69 years old. Unfortunately, the old spiritual teacher had two heart attacks on the ship because of the dangerous travel.