Srila Prabhupada

He was born Abhay Charan De on 1 September 1896 in Calcutta. In 1922 he met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who asked him to spread Lord Krishna's teachings in the English language. He received formal initiation in 1933.

In 1944 he began the magazine Back to Godhead. He accepted sannyasa in 1959. In 1965, at the age of 69, he travelled to New York aboard the cargo ship Jaladuta with very little money, and in July 1966 founded ISKCON there.

In the following eleven years he circled the globe fourteen times, established more than one hundred temples, ashrams and farm communities, and inspired the Ratha-yatra festivals now held in cities worldwide.

He translated and commented on the essential Vaishnava scriptures, including Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita. In 1972 he founded the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust to publish his works, now available in many languages.

Srila Prabhupada left this world on 14 November 1977 in Vrindavan. His teachings continue to guide ISKCON communities, including ISKCON Palghar, in chanting the holy names, studying the scriptures and serving prasadam.