Srila Prabhupada – A Visionary

“Prabhupada commissioned his artist disciples to produce hundreds of illustrations of Krishna’s pastimes based on his meticulous instructions and the descriptions in his books”

A visionary is defined in the dictionary as a farsighted and creative thinker. By listing just a few of his long list of achievements, let us understand whether the word, ‘Visionary’ actually does justice to the phenomenal achievements of Srila Prabhupada.

He instituted the brahmacarini ashram, something previously unheard of in vedic culture, to give shelter to single women wishing to practice Krishna consciousness.

He instructed his disciples in 1967 to start an incense business to provide financial support for the temples. Within four years the business, Spiritual Sky Incense, generated an annual revenue of one million dollars (equivalent to $4,600,000 in 2004).

He created the world’s first chain of vegetarian restaurants

He had scores of interviews and philosophical discussions with news reporters, scientists, religious leaders and politicians, as well as meetings with world-renowned dignitaries and celebrities like Indira Gandhi, Allen Ginsberg, Ravi Shankar, Alice Coltrane, John Lennon and George Harrison. He published the monthly magazine, Back to Godhead, which he called the backbone of his movement. At the height of its circulation in the mid seventies, over a million copies per issue were sold. He launched the ISKCON Life Membership Program that enrolled tens of thousands of members.

He built major temples in Bombay and Vrindavana, and founded a spiritual city at Mayapur. All became international sites of pilgrimage.

He established primary schools to provide education in the principles of devotional service

He founded the Bhaktivedanta Institute to advance Krishna consciousness within the scientific community, engaging serious academics in the consideration of the science of self-realization.

He formed the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust to unearth and renovate the holy places of Lord Chaitanya’s pastimes.

He set up farm communities to teach “simple living and high thinking”, emphasizing cow protection and dependence on God and nature.

He commissioned his artist disciples to produce hundreds of illustrations of Krishna’s pastimes based on his meticulous instructions and the descriptions in his books.

He directed some of his followers to learn the Indian art of “doll making” to present Vedic philosophy through dioramas. This project became the FATE. He counseled his disciples on complex managerial, philosophical and personal issues in more than 6,000 archived letters.

Srila Prabhupada – Vision speak
“Anyway please try to save temple of Jiva Gosvami because in very near future many people from all parts of the world will come to see the Temple and Samadhi of Jiva Goswami and Rupa Gosvami.”

– Letter to Nripen Babu, San Francisco, March 18, 1967

Srila Prabhupada seemed to know that he would have temples filled up with devotees. He would look out and say, “I am not a poor man, I am rich. There are temples and books, they are existing, they are there, but the time is separating us from them.”

– Mr. Ruben, (subway conductor who met Prabhupada in 1965)

The Shrimad Bhagavatam Mahatmyam (The Glories of Shrimad Bhagavatam) is a section of the Padma Purana. It tells the story of how Bhakti can be revived in kali-yuga through recital of Shrimad-Bhagavatam. It is also significant that Srila Prabhupada instituted daily recitation of the Bhagavatam as the foundation of the temple program, and that Shrimad Bhagavatam (in the form of Krishna Book) was the first of Srila Prabhupada’s books to be distributed in large quantities.

(by ISKCON Bangalore)