His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) is the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). At the age of 69, he journeyed from India to America on a cargo ship, carrying only a few rupees and his translations of sacred Vedic texts.

Born as Abhay Charan De in Calcutta, India, Srila Prabhupada met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, in 1922. At their first meeting, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati requested him to spread the teachings of Lord Krishna in the English language to the Western world.

After decades of preparation, Srila Prabhupada arrived in New York City in 1965. Within a year, he established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). In the following eleven years, he circled the globe fourteen times, establishing over 100 temples, farm communities, and schools worldwide.

Srila Prabhupada's most significant contribution is his books. He authored over 70 volumes on the Krishna tradition, which have been translated into more than 80 languages. His translations and commentaries on Vedic scriptures like Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Chaitanya-charitamrita are highly respected for their authenticity, clarity, and fidelity to tradition.

Despite his advanced age and in poor health, Srila Prabhupada accomplished an extraordinary amount of writing, teaching, and establishing the Krishna consciousness movement globally. His legacy continues through his books, his disciples, and the worldwide movement he founded, which continues to grow and spread the teachings of Lord Krishna around the world.