Divine appearance of Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada appeared on 1st September 1896 in Calcutta, India. He appeared as the son of Gour Mohan De, a cloth merchant, and Rajani, his mother. According to Bengali traditions the parents called for an astrologer to calculate the horoscope of the child and the astrologer made a unique remark which made everyone jubilant. He said, “The child will cross the ocean at eighty years of age and would vastly preach religion. He will open 108 temples of Lord Krishna across the globe.” Later on, also another palmist remarked that Srila Prabhupada would build a house where the whole world could live.

Srila Prabhupada was named Abhay in childhood and since he was born on the Nandotsav day he was also lovingly called ‘Nandu.’ His father was a pure devotee and would always invite sadhus to his home and would request them to bless the child to become a devotee of Srimati Radharani. He would visit and offer prayers for many long hours before the local Sri Radha-Govinda deity and organize the annual rath yatra with children which is currently expanded into the worldwide festival.

Srila Prabhupada met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Maharaj in 1922 and became his formally initiated disciple in 1932. He incorporated ISKCON in 1966 and wrote a commentary on Srimad Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, and Sri Caitanya Caritamrita. Srila Prabhupada is a remarkable contributor, he authored more than 70 books on Krishna consciousness translated into more than 80 languages.