A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

"Bhaktivedanta" redirects here. For the college under same name, see Bhaktivedanta College.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Swami Prabhupada.jpg
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
In Devanagari अभयचरणारविन्द भक्तिवेदान्त स्वामीप्रभुपाद
Religion Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Hinduism
Other name(s) Abhay Charanaravinda, Abhay Charan De
Personal
Born September 1, 1896
- Calcutta, Bengal, British India
Died November 14, 1977(1977-11-14) (aged 81)
Vrindavan, India
Senior posting
Based in Vrindavan, India
Title Founder acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Period in office 1966 - 1977
Predecessor Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Successor The Governing Body Commission
Religious career
Initiation Diksa–1932, Sannyasa–1959
Post Guru, Sannyasi, Acharya
Website ISKCON Worldwide

Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Sanskrit: अभयचरणारविन्द भक्तिवेदान्त स्वामीप्रभुपाद, abhaya-caraṇāravinda bhakti-vedānta svāmī prabhupāda, Bengali: অভয়চরণারবিন্দ ভক্তিবেদান্ত স্বামীপ্রভুপাদ (September 1, 1896 – November 14, 1977) was a Gaudiya Vaishnava teacher and the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness,[1] commonly known as the "Hare Krishna Movement".[2] His mission was to propagate the Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a form of Hinduism that had been taught to him by his guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, throughout the world.[3] Born Abhay Charan De in Calcutta,[4] he was educated at the prestigious local Scottish Church College.[5] Before adopting the life of a pious renunciant (vanaprastha) in 1950,[6] he was married with children and owned a small pharmaceutical business.[7][8] In 1959 he took a vow of renunciation (sannyasa) and started writing commentaries on Vaishnava scriptures.[9]

In his later years, as a traveling Vaishnava monk, he became an influential communicator of Gaudiya Vaishnava theology to India and specifically to the West through his leadership of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), founded in 1966.[3][10] As the founder of ISKCON, he "emerged as a major figure of the Western counterculture, initiating thousands of young Americans."[11] Despite attacks from anti-cult groups, he received a favorable welcome from many religious scholars, such as J. Stillson Judah, Harvey Cox, Larry Shinn and Thomas Hopkins, who praised Prabhupada's translations and defended the group against distorted media images and misinterpretations.[12] In respect to his achievements, religious leaders from other Gaudiya Vaishnava movements have also given him credit.[13]

He has been described as a charismatic leader, in the sense used by the sociologist Max Weber, as he was successful in acquiring followers in the United States, Europe, India and elsewhere.[14][15][16] After his death in 1977, ISKCON, the society he founded based on a type of Hindu Krishnaism using the Bhagavata Purana as a central scripture, continued to grow and is respected in India, though there have been squabbles about leadership among his followers.[17][18]

Prabhupada is sometimes criticized by Neo-Vedantic relativistic philosophers, mainly due to uncompromising and 'unkind remarks' against non-Vaishnava systems, particularly 'the mayavadis'.[19] This may be taken in the perspective of general underlying hostility of Neo-Vedantists towards fundamental truth of bhakti, devotion, and orthodox Vedanta system presented by Prabhupada being in conflict with heterodox views of mayavadis.[19][20]

Contents

Biography

Early life

Born on September 1, 1896, the day after Janmastami, one of the most important vaishnava holidays, in a humble house in the Tollygunge suburb of Calcutta, he was named Abhay Charan, "one who is fearless, having taken shelter at Lord Krishna's feet." Since he was born on the day of Nandotsava ("the celebration of Nanda," Krishna's father, a traditional festival in honor of Krishna's birth) he was also called Nandulal. His parents, Sriman Gour Mohan De and Srimati Rajani De, were devout Vaishnavas (devotees of Vishnu). In accordance with Bengali tradition, his mother had gone to the home of her parents for the delivery, and only a few days later Abhay returned with parents to his home at 151 Harrison Road in Calcutta, where he was brought up and educated.[5]

He received a European led education in the Scottish Church College, Calcutta. This school was well reputed among Bengalis; many Vaishnava families sent their sons there. The professors, most of whom were Europeans, were known as sober, moral men, and it is believed that the students received a good education. The college was located in north Calcutta, not far from Harrison Road where Abhay's family lived. During his years in the college, Prabhupada was a member of the English Society as well as that of the Sanskrit Society, and it has been suggested that his education provided him a foundation for his future leadership.[5][7] He graduated in 1920 with majors in English, philosophy and economics.[21] However he refused to accept his diploma, being a devout follower of Gandhi at the time. His refusal to accept the diploma he had earned was in protest of the British. He also wore the homespun cotton cloth the followers of Gandhi wore in protest of British clothes.

Religious career

In 1922, when Prabhupada first met his spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he was requested to spread the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the English language.[22] Later in 1932 Prabhupada became a formally initiated disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta. In 1944, (from his front room at Sita Kanta Banerjee, Calcutta), Prabhupada started the publication called Back to Godhead,[23][24] for which he acted as designer, publisher, editor, copy editor and distributor. He personally designed the logo, an effulgent figure of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the upper left corner, with the motto: "Godhead is Light, Nescience is darkness" greeting the readers.[25] In his first magazine he wrote:

“ Under the circumstances since 1936 up to now, I was simply speculating whether I shall venture this difficult task and that without any means and capacity; but as none have discouraged me, I have now taken courage to take up the work. ”
 
— A.C.Bhakivedanta Swami, Back to Godhead magazine(Vol.1, 1-4, 1944)[25]

In 1947, the Gaudiya Vaishnava Society recognised Prabhupada's scholarship with the title Bhaktivedanta, (bhakti-vedānta) meaning "one who has realised that devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the end of all knowledge"[26] (with the words Bhakti, indicating devotion and Vedanta indicating conclusive knowledge).[27] His later well known name, Prabhupāda, is a Sanskrit title, literally meaning "he who has taken the position of the Lord" where prabhu denotes "Lord", and pāda means "position."[28] Also, "at whose feet masters sit".[7] This name was used as a respectful form of address by his disciples from late 1967 early 1968 onwards. Previous to this, as with his early disciples, followers used to call him "Swamiji".[29]

From 1950 onwards, Prabhupada lived at the medieval Radha-Damodar mandir in the holy town of Vrindavan, where he began his commentary and translation work of the Sanskrit work Bhagavata Purana.[30] Of all notable Vrindavana's temples, the Radha-Damodara mandir had at the time the largest collection of various copies of the original writings of the Six Gosvamis and their followers - more than two thousand separate manuscripts, many of them three hundred, some even four hundred years old.[31][32] His guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, had always encouraged Prabhupada that "If you ever get money, print books",[33] referring to the need of literary presentation of the Vaishnava culture.[8]

Renunciation

Keshavaji Gaudiya Matha was the place where Prabhupada used to live, he had written and studied in the library of this building, here he edited the Gauḍīya Patrikā magazine and this is the place where he donated the murti of Lord Chaitanya who stands on the altar beside the Deities of Radha Krishna (named Śrī Śrī Rādhā Vinodavihārījī). During his visit in September 1959 he entered the doors of this matha dressed in white, as Abhay Babu, but would be leaving dressed in saffron, a swami.[9] In this matha, in Mathura Vrindavana, Prabhupada took Vaishnava renunciate vows,sannyasa, from his friend and godbrother Bhakti Prajnana Keshava Maharaja , and following this he singlehandedly published the first three volumes covering seventeen chapters of the first book of Bhagavata Purana, filling three volumes of four hundred pages each with a detailed commentary. Introduction to the first volume was a biographical sketch of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu.[32] He then left India, obtaining free passage on a freight ship called the Jaladuta, with the aim and a hope of fulfilling his spiritual master's instruction to spread the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu around the world. In his possession were a suitcase, an umbrella, a supply of dry cereal, about eight dollars worth of Indian currency, and several boxes of books.[34]

Mission to the West

Main article: International Society for Krishna Consciousness
A message from Jaladuta Diary Journal kept by Prabhupada. Between August 25, 1965 and August 30, 1965, the Jaladuta Journal falls silent for six days. On the seventh day, August 31, the silence is broken with these simple words, “Passed over a great crisis on the struggle for life and death.”

Prabhupada sailed to USA in 1965. His trip to the United States was not sponsored by any religious organization, nor was he met upon arrival by a group of loyal followers.[35] As he neared his destination on the ship, the Indian freighter Jaladuta, the enormity of his intended task weighed on him. On September 13 he wrote in his diary, "Today I have disclosed my mind to my companion, Lord Sri Krishna."[36] On this occasion and on the number of other, Prabhupada, called on Krishna for help in his native Bengali. Examining these compositions, academics regard them as "intimate records of his prayerful preparation for what lay ahead" and a view on "how Bhaktivedanta Swami understood his own identity and mission."[37]

“ I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me. But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place? How will I make them understand this message of Krishna consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified and most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own.[36][37] ”

By journeying to America, he was attempting to fulfill the wish of his guru, possible only by the grace of "his dear Lord Krishna".[37] It is in July 1966 "global missionary Vaishnavism" was brought to the West by Prabhupada, "the soul agent",[1] founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York City. Prabhupada spent much of the last decade of his life setting up the institution of ISKCON. Since he was the Society's leader, his personality and management were responsible for much of ISKCON's growth and the reach of his mission.

When it was suggested to Bhaktivedanta Swami at the time of founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1966 that a broader term "God Consciousness" would be preferable to "Krishna Consciousness" in the title, he rejected this recommendation, suggesting that name Krishna includes all other forms and concepts of God.[38]

After a group of devotees and a temple had been established in New York another center was started in San Francisco in 1967.[21][39] From here Prabhupada traveled throughout America with his disciples, popularizing the movement through street chanting (sankirtana), book distribution and public speeches.

One of 108 worldwide temples opened by Prabhupada by 1977, was dedicated to Krishna-Balarama (pictured above) in Vrindavana, India

Once ISKCON was more established in America a small number of devotees from the San Francisco temple were sent to London, England. After a short time of being in London they came into contact with The Beatles, of whom George Harrison took the greatest interest, spending a significant time speaking with Prabhupada and producing a record with members of the later London Radha Krsna Temple.[40] Over the following years Prabhupada's continuing leadership role took him around the world some several times setting up temples and communities in all of the major continents.[17] By the time of his death in Vrindavan eleven years later in 1977, ISKCON became a widely known expression of Vaishnavism on an international basis.[21]

In the twelve years from his arrival in New York until his final days he:

Through his mission, Prabhupada followed and communicated the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and introduced bhakti yoga to an international audience.[17][45] Within Gaudiya Vaishnavism this was viewed as the fulfillment of a long time mission to introduce Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings to the world.[48][49]

In his discussion with a historian Arnold J. Toynbee in London, Prabhupada is quoted as saying: "I have started this Krishna Conscious Movement among the Indians and Americans and for the next ten thousand years it will increase."[50]

Books and publishing

Photograph of selected books by Prabhupada, published by Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

It is believed that Prabhupada's most significant contribution are his books.[51][52][53] Within the final twenty years of his life Prabhupada translated over sixty volumes of classic Vedic scriptures (such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam) into the English language.[43] For their authority, depth, and clarity, his books have won praise from professors at colleges and universities like Harvard, Oxford, Cornell, Columbia, Syracuse, Oberlin, and Edinburgh,[54] and his Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is was published by Macmillan Publishers, in 1968 and unabridged edition in 1972,[55][56][57] and is now available in over sixty languages around the world and some other books by Prabhupada are available in over eighty different languages.[23][45]

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust was established in 1972 to publish his works, it has also published massively researched multivolume biography, Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta, that in opinion of Larry Shinn will "certainly be one of the most complete records of the life and work of any modern religious figure".[1][58] Prabhupada reminded his devotees before his death that he would live forever in his books, and through them would remain present as a spiritual master or guru.[59] Prabhupada had instilled in his followers an understanding of the importance of writing and publishing not only with regard to his works, but also their own initiatives. His early disciples felt Prabhupada had given them Back To Godhead for their own writings from the very start.[59]

A prominent Gaudiya Vaishnava figure, Shrivatsa Goswami, who as a young man had met Prabhupada in 1972, affirmed the significance of book publishing and distribution in spreading the message of Chaitanya in an interview with Steven Gelberg:[59]

“ Making these Vaisnava texts available is one of Srila Prabhupada's greatest contributions. Apart from the masses, his books have also reached well into academic circles and have spurred academic interest in the Chaitanya tradition ... The significance of making these texts available is not merely academic or cultural; it is spiritual.[60] ”

Views on other religious traditions

Prabhupada considered Moses, Jesus, and Mohamed to be empowered representatives of God, describing them within his writings as pioneers of the same essential message of dedication to God with love and devotion.[61]

“ "Actually, it doesn't matter – Krishna or Christ – the name is the same. The main point is to follow the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures that recommend chanting the name of God in this age." [62] ”

Other typical expression presents a different perspective, where Prabhupada would point out that "today I may be a Hindu, but tomorrow I may become a Christian or Muslim. In this way faiths can be changed, but dharma" is a natural sequence, a natural occupation or a connection and it can not be changed, because it is permanent, according to him.[43] While ISKCON theology of personal god is close to Christian theology, both personal and monotheistic, being a preacher of bhakti and a missionary he sometimes would add, that "already many Christians have tasted the nectar of divine love of the holy name and are dancing with karatalas (hand-cymbals) and mridangas (drums)."[63] Prabhupada's approach to modern knowledge is also seen in sectarian Orthodox Judaism, where the skills and technical knowledge of modernity are encouraged, but the values rejected. Prabhupada stated "devotees should not be lazy, idle...we are not afraid to work. Whatever our engagement is, by offering the result to Krishna we become Krishna conscious".[35] Some of his representations are believed to affect women adversely and are male-centred, others are tender and celebratory. Prabhupada himself taught a dualism of body and soul and that of the genders. Similar to many traditional religions he considered sexuality and spirituality as conflicting opposites.[64] However among some liberal male followers there is a positive recognition of Prabhupada's own example in applying the spirit of the law according to time, place, person and circumstance, rather than literal tracing of the tradition.[65]

In line with traditional Vaishnava theology, Prabhupada was critical of the monist philosophies of Hinduism representing the Gaudiya Vaishnava devotional point of view and often calling the Neo Vedanta adherents of monism with 'unkind words'.[19] In the view of some, the Gaudiya-Vaishnava philosophy he followed is neither fully dualistic nor monist (this is known as Achintya Bheda Abheda). As a devotional path, Gaudiya Vaishnavism has much more in common with the Dvaita, as opposed to the Advaita schools. It can be specifically noted that Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, mentions in Indian Philosophy that Nyayakosa includes Samkhya and Advaita Vedanta under naistika, i.e. unorthodox systems, due to the absence of concept of devotion.[20]

Within India

ISKCON temple, in Bangalore, India
ISKCON temple, in New Delhi, India
ISKCON Temple in Tirupathi, India

Initially, Srila Prabhupada began his public preaching mission in India. He founded the League of Devotees in Jhansi in 1953.[66]

Following the establishment of temples and centres in the United States and Europe, Prabhupada returned to India in 1971, holding many public programs which were well attended. From 1971 onwards, the movement became increasingly popular and spread throughout the country, Prabhupada was particularly eager to see the progress at "the impressive temple project in" Mumbai which he and his disciples had fought very hard to establish,[67] with large temples in Mayapur and Vrindavan to follow in mid 1970s.

In 1996, the Government of India recognized Prabhupada's accomplishments by issuing a commemorative stamp in his honour as a part of Prabhupada Centennial celebrations.[68][69]

Speaking at the inauguration of ISKCON's cultural center in New Delhi on 5 April on occasion of Ramnavmi in 1998, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then India's prime minister, said:

“ If the Bhagavad Gita, the holy text of the Hindu traditions, is printed in millions of copies and scores of languages and distributed in all nooks and corners of the world, the credit for this great sacred service goes chiefly to ISKCON. For this accomplishment alone, Indians should be eternally grateful to the devoted spiritual army of Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the Hare Krishna movement, and to his followers. . .

The arrival of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the United States in 1965 and the particular popularity his movement gained in a very short span of twelve years must be regarded as one of the greatest spiritual events of the century.

 ”
 
— Atal Bihari Vajpayee - April 1998 [70][71][72]

Monuments

ISKCON Prabhupada's Palace of Gold in West Virginia, USA photo dated 2007

A number of memorial samadhis or shrines to Prabhupada were constructed by the members of ISKCON in his remembrance. The largest of which are in Mayapur, Vrindavan and at the larger sized temples in America. Prabhupada's Palace of Gold was designed and constructed by devotees of the New Vrindavan community and dedicated on September 2, 1979. Back in 1972 it was intended to be simply a residence for Prabhupada, but over time the plans evolved into an ornate marble and gold palace which is now visited by thousands of Hindu pilgrims each year, visiting this centerpiece of the community strongly relying upon tourist trade.[46][73]

Selected bibliography

Translations with commentary

Prabhupada's Palace of Gold in 1982

Summary studies

Prabhupada's Samadhi in Vrindavana

Other works published within Prabhupada's lifetime

Prabhupada's pushpa Samadhi in Mayapur

Bengali writings

Published posthumously

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Srivatsa_Goswami 1983, p. 986
  2. ↑ Melton, John Gordon. "Hare Krishna - Encyclopedia Britannica". www.britannica.com. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9039249/Hare-Krishna#218723.hook. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Klostermaier 2007, p. 217
  4. ↑ Goswami 2002, Vol.1 Chapter 1
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Goswami 2002, Vol.1 Chapter 2
  6. ↑ Goswami 2002, Vol.1 Chapter 6
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Rhodes 2001, p. 178
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Goswami 2002, Vol.1 Chapter 4
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Goswami 2002, Vol.1 Chapter 9
  10. ↑ Ekstrand & Bryant 2004, p. 23
  11. ↑ Klostermaier 2007, p. 309
  12. ↑ Vasan & Lewis 2005, p. 129
  13. ↑ Paramadvaiti, Swami B. A.. "Branches of the Gaudiya Math". www.vrindavan.org. http://www.vrindavan.org/English/Books/GM/GMII.html#BranchesGM. Retrieved 2008-05-30. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja surprised the entire world as well as his godbrothers with his outstanding achievements. He single handedly fulfilled the prediction of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: "The Holy Names of Krishna will be sung in every town and village in the world."
  14. ↑ "Unrecognized charisma? A study and comparison of four charismatic leaders: Charles Taze Russell, Joseph Smith, L Ron Hubbard, Swami Prabhupada" by George D. Chryssides. Paper presented at the 2001 International Conference The Spiritual Supermarket: Religious Pluralism in the 21st Century, organised by INFORM and CESNUR (London, April 2001)
  15. ↑ "in an evaluation of the nature of the guru, Larry Shinn, a scholar of religions, utilised Max Weber's analysis of charisma in order to understand Prabhupada and the issue of leadership in ISKCON..."status as charismatic leader" Knot 1997, Chapter: Prabhupada and role of guru
  16. ↑ Shinn 1987, p. 49
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 Smith, David Nichol (2003). Hinduism and modernity. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Pub. pp. 178. ISBN 0-631-20862-3. 
  18. ↑ Cole & Dwayer 2007, p. 64
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Surya, Gerald. "Book Review A Critique of A. C. Bhaktivedanta". ICJ, Vol 7, No 2 December 1999. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Klostermaier 2007, p. 561 He specifically quotes the sentence: mayavadivedanti api naistika eva parvasana sampadyate ("In the end also the Vedantin holding the opinion of illusionism, mayavada, turn out to be nastika, i.e., non-believer in the Veda") This sentence was not found in the fourth edition, revised by V.S. Abhyankar.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Vasan & Lewis 2005, p. 128
  22. ↑ Goswami 1984, page xv
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 Cole & Dwayer 2007, p. 34
  24. ↑ Goswami 1984, page xviii
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Goswami 2002, Vol.1 Chapter 5
  26. ↑ Bhaktivedanta 2003, Ending Glossary
  27. ↑ A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Satsvarupa dasa Goswami (1998) Narada-Bhakti-Sutra: The Secrets of Transcendental Love, ISBN 0-89213-273-6, page 73: The spiritual harmony of knowledge and devotion is well expressed in the phrase bhakti-vedanta
  28. ↑ Dr Aparma (2004). Pearls of Spiritual Wisdom. Pustak Mahal,India. pp. 37. ISBN 81-223-0858-9. 
  29. ↑ Goswami 2002, Vol.1 Chapter Planting the Seed
  30. ↑ Charles S. J. White (2004). A Catalogue of Vaishnava Literature on Microfilms in the Adyar Library. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 81-208-2067-3. 
  31. ↑ Mukherjee, T.; Wright, J.C. (1979). "An Early Testamentary Document in Sanskrit". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London 42 (2): 297–320. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00145859. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0041-977X(1979)42%3A2%3C297%3AAETDIS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-5. Retrieved 2008-05-29. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Goswami 2002, Vol.1 Chapter This Momentous Hour of Need
  33. ↑ Goswami 2002, Vol.1 Chapter 4 "Āmār icchā chila kichu bai karānā: "Standing by Rādhā-kuṇḍa and beholding his spiritual master, Abhay felt the words deeply enter his own life - "If you ever get money, print books."
  34. ↑ Knot 1997, "Bhaktivedanta Swami, by journeying to America, was attempting to fulfill the wish of his guru, possible only by the grace of his dear Lord Krishna."
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Selengut, C. "Charisma and Religious Innovation: Prabhupada and the Founding of ISKCON". ISKCON Communications Journal - ICJ. http://content.iskcon.com/icj/4_2/4_2charisma.html. Retrieved 2008-05-31. 
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Goswami 2002, Vol 1. Ch 1
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Knot 1997, Introduction
  38. ↑ Ekstrand & Bryant 2004, pp. 120–122
  39. ↑ Cole & Dwayer 2007, p. 22
  40. ↑ Cole & Dwayer 2007, p. 23
  41. ↑ "Babaji initiation, Chicago, July 11, 1975". prabhupadabooks.com. http://prabhupadabooks.com/?g=160357. Retrieved 2008-10-19. 
  42. ↑ Cole & Dwayer 2007, p. 221
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 Cole & Dwayer 2007, p. 25
  44. ↑ "About Bhaktivedanta Book Trust". www.Krishna.com. http://www.krishna.com/node/71. Retrieved 2008-05-30. 
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 "The matrix of principal published translated works. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust offers a June 2009 summary PDF file showing which books translated in which languages" (PDF). www.bbt.info. http://www.bbt.info/files/languages/Books_in_Print_JUN09.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-05. 
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Shinn & Bromley 1987, p. 124 now a tourist attraction. "New Vrindavan in West Virginia, on the other hand, is a close-knit community, has a strong sense of common purpose."
  47. ↑ Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. "Bhaktivedanta VedaBase Network - Last updated: 8 September 2007". vedabase.net. http://vedabase.net/. Retrieved 2008-05-31. 
  48. ↑ Cole & Dwayer 2007, p. 5
  49. ↑ Maharaja, Sridhar. "Branches of the Gaudiya Math". www.vrindavan.org. http://www.vrindavan.org/English/Books/GM/GMII.html#BranchesGM. Retrieved 2008-05-30.  "What was announced by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, conceived of by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, started by Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Goswami was fulfilled by Swami Maharaja (Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami)."
  50. ↑ Goswami, S.D. (1983). Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta: Let There Be a Temple 1971-5. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. ISBN 0892131195. Ch. 6, p. 161
  51. ↑ Sharma 1981, p. 971
  52. ↑ "I think the best feature of the Hare Krishna movement is that it is providing scholars with excellent translations of the rarest books on Krishna-bhakti [love of Krishna]." - Dr.Larry Shinn, President of Berea College, Kentucky.
  53. ↑ "Scholars reviews of Srila Prabhupada's books". www.acbspn.com. http://www.acbspn.com/reviews.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-31. 
  54. ↑ "Summary, Academic reviews of Srimad-Bhagavatam". www.krishna.com. http://www.krishna.com/node/275. Retrieved 2008-05-31. 
  55. ↑ Maheswar Neog Professor Maheswar Neog Felicitation Volume (1990)
  56. ↑ Bhaktivedanta Swami, A. C. (1968). The Bhagavad-gita As It Is, first edition. New York: Macmillan.
  57. ↑ Rosen, S. "The Macmillan Miracle". www.krishna.com. http://www.krishna.com/en/node/1523. Retrieved 2008-06-02. 
  58. ↑ Shinn & Bromley 1989, p. 53
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 59.2 Knot 1997, Prabhupada, Books and Publishing
  60. ↑ Gelberg 1983, p. 247
  61. ↑ Schmidt, P (2002). Krishna meets Jesus – A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada's Interpretations and Conclusions about Christianity.. BoD. ISBN 3831135703. p.146
  62. ↑ Bhaktivedanta 2003
  63. ↑ Cole & Dwayer 2007, p. 6
  64. ↑ Cole & Dwayer 2007, p. 224
  65. ↑ Cole & Dwayer 2007, p. 223
  66. ↑ prabhupadaconnect.com - League of Devotees article
  67. ↑ Cole & Dwayer 2007, p. 27
  68. ↑ krishna.com see "Commemorative Stamp" section, including image
  69. ↑ "Centennial 1996 Events". www.afn.org. http://www.afn.org/~centennl/centeve3.htm#International%20Events%20in%20India. Retrieved 2008-05-31. 
  70. ↑ "Speech by Atal Behari Vajpayee, April 18, 1998.". www.vnn.org/ also Salt Lake Tribune - Apr 11, 1998. http://www.vnn.org/world/9804/07-1732/index.html. Retrieved 2008-05-31.  the website, however, gives the speech a wrong date -1988 instead of 1998.)
  71. ↑ Intelligencer (Newspaper) - April 5, 1998, Doylestown, Pennsylvania "Today, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will open the newest Hare Krishna complex, which includes a temple and a cultural center."
  72. ↑ Daily Herald (Newspaper) - April 6, 1998, Chicago, Illinois, Hare Krishna center makes debut in India, NEW DELHI, India's prime minister inauguration. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said the message of Bhagavad Gita...
  73. ↑ "Prabhupada's Palace of Gold". www.palaceofgold.com. http://www.palaceofgold.com/. Retrieved 2008-05-31. 

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