Celebrating 50 years of Krishna consciousness
His Divine Grace now has 10s of thousands of initiated followers of all races and ages
As 2016 marks 50 years of the Hare Krishna Movement’s existence, centres around the world are celebrating. To commemorate this milestone, the Hare Krishna Movement Ladysmith will also be celebrating this momentous occasion in December.
History is replete with examples of good conquering evil. Lord Buddha, it is said, vanquished the demon Mara, Jesus Christ was victorious over Satan, Allah defeated Iblis and in the Vedic literature, Krishna destroys the enemies of the righteous – Putana, Aghasura and finally Kamsa.
But perhaps the greatest example of righteous victory has occurred in our own day and age.
His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada – through writing books, establishing temples and training disciples in the detailed science of Krishna consciousness – has created a formidable shelter from the world of illusion and ignorance.
Srila Prabhupada was born in Calcutta, India, in 1896. He had pure Krishna conscious parents.
In 1922, he met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakura, who immediately encouraged Srila Prabhupada to spread the teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu throughout the English-speaking world.
Despite numerous obstacles and setbacks, Srila Prabhupada always kept his spiritual master’s order close to his heart.
In 1965, at age 69, His Divine Grace left India for America with only 40 rupees.
In 1966, he founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in New York City and in the decade that followed, he established some 108 temples in major cities around the world.
Many thus revere Srila Prabhupada as India’s greatest scholar, philosopher, prophet and cultural ambassador.
According to the 1976 Encyclopedia Britannica Book of the Year, he “astonished academic and literary communities worldwide by writing and publishing 52 books on the ancient Vedic culture… in the period from October 1968 to November 1975”.
What Srila Prabhupada achieved in 12 years is unparalleled in all of world history.
His Divine Grace now has 10s of thousands of initiated followers of all races and ages.
By 1977, in the brief span of 12 years, the International Society had spread to six continents.
During that period, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe 14 times – writing, translating, lecturing and personally guiding his disciples all the while.
By his instruction and his example, he showed them how to become self-realised and how to place Vedic knowledge within easy reach of every man, woman and child on this planet. To date, 50 years later, Srila Prabhupada’s achievements continue, numbering 650 temples, schools and colleges worldwide, and growing.
The Hare Krishna Movement Ladysmith will be celebrating 50 years of the Hare Krishna Movement’s existence on Sunday, December 11, at the Hare Krishna Temple, 19 Azalea Drive, at 9.30am sharp.
All are welcome and lunch will be served.
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