His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

The honorific title “Prabhupada” is properly used for designating those exceptionally great spiritual master who have made an outsdanding contribution of literature or preaching to the world. Examples are Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhupada, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada.

When members of ISKCON speak of “Prabhupada” they refer to His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta SwamiPrabhupada, who is also correctly addressed as “Srila Prabhupada,” for he occupies a unique position in the religious history of the world.

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.11) Srila Vyasadeva states that the Bhagavatam is “meant to bring about a revolution in the impius life of a misdirected civilization.” Learned Vaisnava scholars have discerned that this statement of Vyasadeva’a must refer to the preaching mission brought about by Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It was he only who, five thousands years after Srila Vyasadeva’a compilation of the Bhagavatam,wrote his Bhaktivetantapurports on Bhagavatam as his most important contribution towards the revolutionary respiritualization of the entire human society, which was lost in the darkness of materialism.

Also, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu predicted that His holy name would be broadcast in every town and village of the world. Acaryas of His sampradaya predicted that the spread of Krishna consciousness would usher in a ten-thousand-year Golden Age within the dark Age of Kali. And in the Caitany-mangala , Lochana Dasa Thakura foretold that a great senapati(general) would appear in order to widely and powerfully preach Lord Caitanya’a message. That confidential task of spreading Krishna Consciousness all over the world was entrusted to His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta confirms that only who is empowered by Krishna can infuse Krishna consciousness into the hearts of the masses. The great Vaisnava acarya Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (1838-1914) predicted that “very soon a great personality will appear who will spread Krishna consciousness all over the world.”That person is clearly His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura also said that Vaisanava’a greatness can be inderstood by seeing how many nondevotees he converts to Vaisnavism. To bring even one highly qualified person to Krishna consciousness is difficult. But Srila Prabhupada was so empowered by Krishna that he among the most unlikely candidates- the hedonistic youth of the Western countries – and made devotees by the thousands. No one can fully understand the extra ordinary Srila Prabhupadaperformed. He went alone alone among persons who are far removed from vedic culture, who had no idea of how to receive a sadhu, and who had been raised in asociety that vigorously promotes meat-eating, illict-sex, gambling and intoxication. They almost completely unqualified as candidates for spiritual life.

Yet Srila Prabhupada not only went among such people, but he gradually managed to train many of them to such an extent they are accepted everwhere as first class Vaisnava and preachers, qualified to impart Krishna consciousness to others.

There were certainly many Vaisnavas in India who were devoted, learned, and renounced. But the fact remains that only Srila Prabhupada was sufficiently to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world. Only he had sufficient faith in Lord Caitanys instructions, he spiritual masters order and Krishnas holy name to The significance of Srila Prabhupada seriously attempt spreading Krishna Consciousness outside India. Only he had that much compassion and vision to preach the message of Lord Caitanya to those who most needed it. Only one of Krishnas topmost confidential devotees could perform such an extraordinary task. From his unparalleled achievements it is clear that Srila Prabhupada occupies unique position in the history of Vaishnavism.

Srila Prabhupada was empowered to spread Krishna consciousness in a practical and straight forward way, just suitable for the modern world. Without compromising the teaching of Krishna consciousness even slightly , he preserved its esoteric truths in a clear manner suitable for both the lay man and the scholar.

Srila Prabhupada personally over saw the development of ISKCON. He personally set up the programmes that were to form the basis of ISKCON ‘s expancations-production and distribution of transcendental books, Harinama- sankirtana, temples and ashrams, prasadam distribution, transcendental farm communities, gurukulas, preaching to scientist and scholars, etc.

Srila Prabhupada gave comprehensive directions in every aspect of Krishna consciousness: sadhana, preaching, Deity worship, cooking for Krishna, mantra recitation. He even demonstrated such details as how to wear a dhoti.

Srila Prabhupada is thus the founder- Acarya of ISKCON. What ever standards and instructions we have in ISKCON come from him. Therefore , Srila Prabhupada will always remain the main siksa-guru and acarya of ISKCON.

Both scripture and tradition of a various approches to Krishna consciousness, but followers of Srila Prabhupada execute Krishna consciousness as he showed them, knowing that Srila Prabhupada as faithful follower of his guru and the previous acarays, presented Krishna consciousness in the best way fro the modern age. Srila Prabhupada’s success indicated that his endeavors are ordained and blessed by Supreme Lord Krishna Himself.

Srila Prabupada gave certain instructions that are absolutely necessary for initiated disciples to follow if they at all wish to clean to be serious devotees.fro instance, Srila Prabhupada demanded that initiated devotees rise my 4-00 am attend Mangala-arati, chant at least sixteen rounds of the maha-mantra every day, and undeviating follow four regulative principles.

All such standards that Srila Prabhupada clearly defined are the standards to to be followed in ISKCON. Rightly situated, successful follower of Srila Prabhupada is simply a faithful standard bearer. He does not try to change or interpret the standards and programmes Srila Prabhupada gave, for he knows that what Srila Prabhupada gave us is completely perfect for the respiritualization of the entire human society-not only now, but for the next ten thousand years.

You can worship Srila Prabhupada every day, or if time does not permit, at least on the week-ends by singing the guru puja and performing an arati to his photo or Murti(Deity) placed on a special seat called Vayasasana. You can arrange this Vyasasana even on a small table and place a nice decorative cloth.