Celebrating 50 years of Krishna consciousness
To date, 50 years later, Srila Prabhupada's achievements continue, numbering 650 temples, schools and colleges worldwide, and growing.
The Hare Krishna Movement held a celebration on Sunday morning at the temple in Centenary Road. This is because 2016 marks 50 years of existence of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Centres around the world are celebrating.
Many devotees from out of town also attended this auspicious occasion, which featured talks and a biography of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
After a well-planned programme, a scrumptious lunch was served to all.
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 Encyclopaedia 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. His teachings definitely continue to touch many people’s hearts.
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