His Divine Grace, Prabhupada A.C. Bhaktivedanta (1896 Calcutta - Nov. 14 1977) is a major figure of Vedantic History. Prior to taking Hindu Vanaprastha vows in 1950, he was a succesful husband, father, businessman and industrialist. In July 1966 he founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON, in New York City. By the time of his death 11 years later, ISKCON was the most visible proselytising movement of the twenteth century and the most wideky known expression of Hinduism in the West.
Upon first meeting with his Spiritual Master, Srila Bhakitisiddhanta Sarsvati Thakura, in 1922 it was requested that Prahhupada spread Vedic knowledge throughout the English langauge. In 1933 he became a formally initiated disciple. Starting in 1944 and without assistance he started Back to the Godhead an English language fortnightly for which he acted as publisher, editor and copy editor. In 1947 the Gaudiya Vaisnava Society recognising Prabhupada's scholarship with the Honourific Bhaktivedanta (Trans: Devoted Lover of Vedanta. See Bhakti and Vedanta ). Beginning in 1950 he lived at the medieval Temple of Radha-Damodara in the holy city of Vrndavana. After taking sannyasa vows in 1959 and publishing his 30 volume translation of and commentary on the 18,000 verse Srimad-Bhagavatam, he left India to fulfill his Master's Spiritual Mission. Arriving in New York virtually penniless by freighter in New York. He was first helped and made his first converts amongst the dirty Hippies who were openly searching for Truth in the most material places, the United States of America, during the most materialist age of all the cycles of Vishnu, the Kali Yuga. Hare Krisnas, and other spiritual observers see the Finger of God operating through Prabhupada's pure devotee life for in the 12 years from his arrival in New York til his death on Nov. 14 1977 he:
- circles the globe 14 times on lecture tours that take him to 6 continients.
- introduces Vedic gurukula education to a western audience.
- directed the founding of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, the worlds largest publisher in the field of Indian religous texts and commentary.
- founded New Vrindaban
- authored 60 authoritative and widely respected books on Vedantic philosophy, religon, literature and culture. Including 4 in Bengali.
- watched ISKCON grow to a worldaround confederation of more than 100 schools, temples, institutes, farm communites and ashrams.
Prabhupada followed the teachings of Qutub Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and introduced Bhakti yoga to a wide Western audience. His spiritual impulse is still manifesting on the Earth.