his Spiritual master
About Srila Prabhupada
Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami
( 1 September 1896 - 14 November 1977 )
” A sincere soul is helped by the Lord through meeting a bona-fide spiritual master, the representative of the Lord. By the instruction of such a spiritual master, one gets the seed of bhaki-yoga.”
– Srila Prabhupada
Srila Prabhupada appeared in this world to fulfill the prophecies of Srila Vyasadeva, Lord Chaitanya and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur by laying the foundation for the revitalization of Bhagavata Culture. Srila Vyasadeva wrote in the Padma Purana that Bhaktidevi after being rejuvenated in Vrindavan would be carried to the Western countries. In Chaitanya Mangala, it is stated that Lord Chaitanya while speaking to Narada Muni said, “Even if a sinful person tries to hide by going to a far off country, My devotee-general will go to that distant place, find him, and distribute love of God to him.” Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, in the latter part of the 19th century, in his book Navadwipa Dham Mahatmya, also indicated that a great acharya (spiritual preceptor), who was going to appear very soon, would spread the chanting of the holy name all over the world. Fulfilling the prophecies of Srila Vyasadeva, Lord Chaitanya and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Srila Prabhupada appeared in this world on Nandotsava day, September 1st, 1896. He appeared at 151 Harrison Road (now known as Mahatma Gandhi Road) in Calcutta, India. His father, Sri Gour Mohan De, a pure devotee of the Lord, and his mother, Srimati Rajani Devi, named him Abhayacharan and raised him in the tradition of Bhagavata Culture.
Srila Prabhupada first met his spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, in Calcutta in 1922. At their very first meeting, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta asked Abhayacharan, “You are an educated young man, why don’t you present Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s message throughout the whole world?” Abhayacharan replied, “Who will hear your Chaitanya’s message? We are a dependent country. First, India must become independent flow can we spread Indian culture if we are under British rule?” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur replied, in a very grave voice, that Krishna Consciousness did not have to wait for a change in Indian politics. Krishna Consciousness was so important, so exclusively important, that it could not wait for a political change. Whether one power or another ruled India was a temporary situation. However, the eternal reality of the true self, the spirit soul, was Krishna Consciousness and that should be the ultimate goal of life. Therefore, no man-made political system could actually help humanity, only Krishna Consciousness could help. Abhayacharan was very impressed with these words. From that day he accepted Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur as his spiritual master. He was formally initiated by him eleven years later in Allahabad and was given the name Abhayacharanaravi Dasa.
MY lord and master
A poem by Srila Prabhupada offered to his
Spiritual Master and published in The Harmonist, 1936
Adore, Adore ye all the happy day,
Blessed than Heaven, sweeter than May,
When he appeared at Puri, the holy place,
My Lord and Master, His Divine Grace.
Message of service thou hast brought
A healthful life as Chaitanya wrought.
Unknown to all, it’s full of brace,
That’s your gift, Your Divine Grace.
Oh! my Master, evangelic angel,
Give us the light, light up thy candle.
Struggle for existence a human race
The only hope, His Divine Grace.
Absolute is sentient thou hast proved,
Impersonal calamity thou hast moved,
This gives us a life anew and fresh
Worship thy feet, Your Divine Grace.
Misled we are all going astray,
Save us Lord, our fervent pray,
Wonder the ways to turn our face.
Adore thy feet, Your Divine Grace.
Had you not come, who had told
The message of Krishna, forceful and bold?
That’s your right, you have the mace.
Save me a fallen, Your Divine Grace.
Forgotten Krishna, we fallen souls,
Paying most heavy, the illusion’s toll.
Darkness around all untrace,
The only hope, His Divine Grace.
The line of service as drawn by you,
Is pleasing and healthy like morning dew.
The oldest of all, but in new dress,
Miracle done, Your Divine Grace.
Abhayacharanaravinda Dasa was very dear to his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, who could foresee his bright spiritual future. On one occasion, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was so impressed by an article and poem written by Abhayacharanaravinda Dasa that he instructed the editor of The Harmonist (the Journal started by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur), “Whatever he [Abhayacharanaravinda Dasa] writes, publish it!”
On another occasion, when the disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur suggested that Abhayacharanaravinda Dasa move into the ashram in order to assist the Gaudiya Math’s preaching, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur commented, “Don’t worry about him, when the time comes, he will do everything by himself.” By studying the manifestation of ISKCON and its worldwide activities one can realize how this prophecy of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur has come true.
In December 1936 Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur wrote a letter to Abhayacharanaraviflda Dasa stating, “I am fully confident that you can explain in English our thoughts and arguments to people who are not conversant with the languages Bengali and Hindi… This will do much good to yourself as well as to your audience. I. have every hope that you can turn yourself into a very good English preacher if you serve the mission to inculcate the novel impressions of Lord Chaitanya’s teachings in the people in general as well as philosophers and religionists.” (compiled from Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita)
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur left this world on January 1st 1937.
To honor his spiritual master for all the mercy and affection shown to him, Srila Prabhupada, the personification of Bhagavata Sevarpanam, took Srila Bhaktisjddhanta Saraswatj Thakur’s instructions as his very life and soul. He meditated constantly on how to fulfill the instructions of his spiritual master, in fact, from his very first meeting with his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada always remembered the instruction to present Bhagavata Culture to the English-speaking people of the West. He always remained concerned how to fulfill this instruction and took it as his life’s mission. He sought every possible way to translate it into action. After numerous attempts and after overcoming many difficulties, at the advanced age of 70 years, with a trunk full of books and only a few dollars to his name, Srila Prabhupada sailed to the United States aboard the ‘jaladuta’ to begin his life’s mission — fulfilling the instruction of his spiritual master.
In this regard Srila Prabhupada wrote, “After being initiated and receiving the orders of the spiritual master, the disciple should unhesitatingly think about the instructions or orders of the spiritual master and should not allow himself to be disturbed by anything else.” This is also the verdict of Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, who, while explaining verse 2.41 of the Bhaga va d-gita (vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana), points out that the order of the spiritual master is the life substance of the disciple, In the purport of Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.2.4.15 Srila Prabhupada further asserts that the disciple should not consider whether he is going back home, back to Godhead; American youths to the path of transcendence in the l960s his first business should be to execute the order of his spiritual master.
Srila Prabhupada traveled extensively from 1965 to 1977, meeting and inspiring many scientists, religious leaders, educationists, intellectuals and youths around the world. He presented the science of spirituality based on the conclusions of the Vedic teachings, specifically the teachings of the Bhagavadgita, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Chaitanya Charitamrita. He wrote over sixty volumes of scholarly books and established a worldwide spiritual organization known as ‘The International
Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)’.
“… it was he [Srila Prabhupada] who held as his life and soul the orders of his Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, and carried them out without the slightest tinge of personal motivation.”
– Srila Prabhupada
ISKCON is unique in the history of civilization, especially due to the fact that it has manifested in the present age of quarrel and hypocrisy known as Kali Yuga. Its platform of unity, harmony and peaceful coexistence among all, irrespective of caste, creed, color, position or nationality is its uniqueness. This platform of commonality is only possible when everyone is educated to understand that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna is the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities as well as the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities.
Srila Prabhupada’s position is unparalleled in the history of spiritual traditions. Sripada Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja expressed the view that Srila Prabhupada is the representative of Vyasadeva, messenger of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and representative of Narada Muni in the 20th century. In his 1981 Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada, he wrote, “He was a champion in every aspect of transcendental activities. It was Srila Rupa Gosvami who said about Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, ‘namo maha vadanyaya krishna prema pradaya te krishnaya krishna chaitanya namne gauratvise namah’— Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya is more magnanimous than any other avatara, even Krishna Himself, because He is it was he bestowing freely what no one else has ever given— pure love of Krishna. I can very boldly proclaim that Srila Prabhupada is even more magnanimous than Lord Chaitanya because he was the who one who picked up even the most rotten souls, like myself, and freely gave us golokera premadhana, which no one had done before. He gave us Krishna consciousness, the most sublime confidential knowledge. it was he who crossed the oceans and mountains sacrificing all personal comforts at such an advanced age to distribute freely this golokera premadhana to everyone all over the globe for the welfare of all. He was compassion personified. It was he who followed in the footsteps of Narada Muni; it was he who followed in the footprints of Prahlada Maharaja; it was he who fulfilled the prophecies of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu; it was he who followed in the footsteps of the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan; it was he who fulfilled the out without the desires of Bhaktivinoda Thakura; it was he who held as his life and soul the orders of his Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, and carried them out without the slightest personal tinge of personal motivation. His unlimited courage and glories cannot be described fully by any form of expression.” By his own life, Srila Prabhupada demonstrated a perfect example of Bhagavata Sevarpanam in fulfilling the order of his spiritual master.