Srila Prabhupada Honored as 'Vishwa Guru' at Maha Kumbh Mela

At the Maha Kumbh Mela, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, was awarded the title of 'Vishwa Guru' by the Akhila Bharatiya Akhara Parishad. Sources confirm that this is the first time in history that anyone has received this title. The Vishwa Guru title was celebrated on February 11, 2025, Nityananda Trayodashi.

Witnesses of the Grand Ceremony

The ceremony was graced by the presence of several important figures:

• HH Mahant Ravindra Puri Ji Maharaj, President of the Akhara Parishad
• Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kailashanand Giri Ji Maharaj of Niranjani Akhara
• Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Avadhoot Arun Giri Ji Maharaj of Awahan Akhara
• Sri Mahant Rajendra Das Maharaj of Nirmohi Akhara
• Sri Mahant Murli Das Maharaj of Nirvani Akhara
• Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa, Chairman and Mentor of the Global Hare Krishna Movement and President of ISKCON Bangalore
• Shri Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice Chairman and Co-Mentor of the Global Hare Krishna Movement and Senior Vice President of ISKCON Bangalore
• Thousands of saints, devotees, and pilgrims

During the event, Srila Prabhupada’s deity was honored with an elaborate abhisheka, a sacred flower shower (pushpa vrishti), a grand arati, and devotional chanting.

Voices of praise

Speaking on the occasion, revered Sadhus and personalities shared thier feelings and emotions:

• Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa said, “It brings me and the entire ISKCON community immense joy and happiness to see that Srila Prabhupada, our Acharya, has been offered the title of Vishwa Guru in the divine atmosphere of Maha Kumbh Mela. It is a matter of pride for us that Srila Prabhupada has been recognised and honoured for making people accept Sanatana Dharma, our timeless ancient wisdom, Bharatiya culture and way of life beyond the shores of India. His pioneering efforts to propagate the message of Lord Krishna have transformed lakhs of people all over the world.”
• Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kailashanand Giri Ji Maharaj remarked, “The title ‘Vishwa Guru’ finds its true significance today as it is being conferred upon Srila Prabhupada. His dedication to spreading the teachings of Bhagavad Gita and Sanatana Dharma is nothing short of divine grace. Though this honor should have ideally been given to him much earlier, it is our great fortune that we are able to do so now, in this sacred confluence of Triveni. The entire Sanatani community worldwide celebrates this moment.”
• HH Mahant Ravindra Puri Ji Maharaj added, “Honoring Srila Prabhupada with the title of Vishwa Guru is like offering a lamp to the sun. His relentless efforts in making the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and Vedanta accessible to the world are unparalleled. I call upon the youth to carry forward his legacy and spread the divine teachings of the Gita far and wide.”
• Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Avadhoot Arun Giri Ji Maharaj shared his reflections, “At a time when India faced numerous challenges, Srila Prabhupada took it upon himself to carry the light of Sanatana Dharma across the globe. It is our privilege to bestow this title upon him in the presence of revered saints and leaders of the Akhara Parishad.”

Srila Prabhupada: A Brief Journey

Born in Kolkata in 1896, Srila Prabhupada showed a deep devotion to Lord Krishna from an early age. As a dedicated disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, he embraced sannyasa and committed to spreading Krishna consciousness worldwide, as instructed by his spiritual master. At 69 years old, he embarked on a journey to the West to share the teachings of Bhagavad Gita and the practice of bhakti-yoga. Despite immense hardships, he remained focused on his mission.

Srila Prabhupada’s Achievements

Even though one may be unqualified to fully describe them, some of Srila Prabhupada's major achievements include:

• Established ISKCON, uniting people from all walks of life in Krishna consciousness.
• Translated and commented on sacred Vedic scriptures, including Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, making them accessible to a global audience.
• Constructed over a hundred temples, creating centers for spiritual learning and community.
• Inspired millions to embrace Sanatana Dharma, transforming lives worldwide.
• Pioneered Krishna prasadam distribution, ensuring sanctified food was available to all, embodying compassion and care.
• Authored more than 70 volumes on Vedantic philosophy & religion.
• Circumnavigated the world 14 times.
• Distributed over 503,385,383 Krishna Consciousness books worldwide in 87 languages.
• Delivered approximately 1,989 discourses on Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita, etc.
• Established more than 108 temples, institutes, and farm communities.
• Established 1000+ ashrams, schools, temples, organizations and cow protection farming societies across the world.
• Wrote 6,341 personal letters to his disciples.
• Founded Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, which claims to be the world's largest publisher of ancient and classical Vaishnava religious texts.
• Introduced Vedic gurukul education to a Western audience.
• Initiated thousands of disciples, awarding sannyasa initiations.
• Founded the religious colony New Vrindavan in West Virginia.
• Introduced Jagannatha Ratha Yatra in the West.

Srila Prabhupada's Hardships for Propagating Krishna Consciousness and Delivering Fallen Souls

Despite his achievements, Srila Prabhupada faced numerous hardships in his mission to spread Krishna consciousness:

• Initial Struggles in America:
  • He arrived in America at the age of 69 with limited resources.
  • During his ocean passage to the U.S. on a cargo ship, he suffered two severely painful heart attacks.
  • He faced a challenging winter in New York City with inadequate cooking facilities and experienced "night starvation".
  • His office was robbed, and his typewriter and tape recorder were stolen.
  • He shared a refrigerator with someone who kept meat in it, which was deeply disturbing to him.
• Health Issues:
  • Prabhupada's health was not always good, and he often had disturbed sleep and buzzing sounds in his brain.
  • In his final days, he was physically weak and could barely speak, yet he continued to share Krishna's message.
• Determination Despite Challenges:
  • Srila Prabhupada was determined to carry out the instructions of his spiritual master, even when faced with financial difficulties and lack of support.
  • He showed persistence in seeking support, such as waiting for hours to meet Srimati Sumati Morarji to secure funding for printing books.
  • Even when devotees advised him to rest due to illness, he insisted on continuing his service to Krishna.
• Compassion for Others:
  • Srila Prabhupada was determined to suffer for others and to take away their suffering so they could chant Hare Krishna.
  • He saw the whole world as a place of suffering and encouraged his followers to tolerate and forgive in order to serve a higher cause.
• Struggle for Land in Bombay:
  • Srila Prabhupada struggled to acquire land and build a temple in Juhu, Bombay.
  • Despite facing discouraging remarks, he remained resolute in his mission.

A Lasting Legacy

This honor confirms Srila Prabhupada’s role as a spiritual ambassador of India. His teachings and movement continue to guide millions, promoting the timeless wisdom of Sanatana Dharma. Even in his final days, Srila Prabhupada remained dedicated to sharing Krishna's message, emphasizing the importance of book distribution, stating, "As long as Book distribution goes on, I will never die". He was determined to spread Krishna Consciousness, even when he was not feeling well physically.

We heartfully thank the most renowned Akhila Bharitya Akhara Parishad for bestowing the special honor of Vishwa Guru on Sri Srimad om vishnupad 108 A.C. Bhaktivedant Swami Srila Prabhupada celebrated on 11th February Nityananda Trayodashi 2025.