Early life
Born on September 1, 1896, the day after Janmastami, one of the most important Hindu holidays, in a humble house in the Tollygunge suburb of Calcutta, he was named Abhay Charan, "one who is fearless, having taken shelter at Lord Krishna's lotus feet." Since he was born on the day of Nandotsava (the day of legendary Krishna's father, Nanda, a traditional festival in honor of Krishna's birth) he was also called Nandulal. His parents' names were Sriman Gour Mohan De and Srimate Rajani De, and they were devout Vaishnavas (devotees of Krishna). In accordance with Bengali tradition, his mother had gone to the home of her parents for the delivery, and only a few days later, Abhay returned with parents to his home at 151 Harrison Road in Calcutta, where he was brought up and educated.[5]
He received European lead education in a well reputed amongst the Bengalis Scottish Churches College, Calcutta, as many Vaishnava families sent their sons there. The professors, most of whom were Europeans, were known as sober, moral men, and it is believed that the students received a good education. The college was located in north Calcutta, not far from Harrison Road where Abhay's family lived. During his years in the college, Prabhupada was a member of the English Society as well as that of the Sanskrit Society, and it has been suggested that his education provided him a foundation for his future leadership.[7][5] He graduated in 1920 with majors in English, philosophy and economics.[22]
Religious carrier
In 1922, when Prabhupada first met his spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta requested that Prabhupada spread the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the English language.[23] Later in 1932 Prabhupada became a formally initiated disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta and in 1944 started the publication of Back to Godhead,[24][25] an English language fortnightly, for which he acted as publisher, editor, copy editor and distributor. From his front room at Sita Kanta Banerjee, Calcutta, he conceived, wrote, edited, and typed the manuscript for the magazine. He himself designed a logo, a long rectangle across the top of the page. In the upper left-hand corner was a figure of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, effulgent with rays of light like rays from the sun and first editions greeted his readers by the motto: "Godhead is Light, Nescience is darkness".[26] In his fist magazine he wrote:
“ Under the circumstances since 1936 up to now, I was simply speculating whether I shall venture this difficult task and that without any means and capacity; but as none have discouraged me, I have now taken courage to take up the work. ”
— A.C.Bhakivedanta Swami, Back to Godhead magazine(Vol.1, 1-4, 1944)[26]
In 1947, the Gaudiya Vaishnava Society recognised Prabhupada's scholarship with the title Bhaktivedanta, (bhakti-vedānta) meaning "one who has realised that devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the end of all knowledge"[27] (with word Bhakti, indicating devotion and Vedanta indicating conclusive knowledge).[28] His later well known name is Prabhupada. It is a Sanskrit title ( prabhupāda), literally meaning "he who has taken the position of the Lord" where prabhu denotes "Lord", and pāda means "position"[29] that is also explained to mean "at whose feet masters sit".[7] This name was used as a respectful form of address by his disciples from late 1967 early 1968 onwards. Previous to this, as with his early disciples, followers used to call him "Swamiji".[30]
From 1950 onwards, Prabhupada lived at the medieval temple in the holy town of Vrindavan, where he began his commentary and translation work of the Sanskrit work Bhagavata Purana.[31] Of all notable Vrindavana's temples, the Radha-Damodara mandir had at the time the largest collection of various copies of the original writings of the Six Gosvamis and their followers - more than two thousand separate manuscripts, many of them three hundred, some even four hundred years old.[32][33] His guru in the sampradaya, tradition, of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had always encouraged Prabhupada, "If you ever get money, print books",[34] referring to the need of literary presentation of the Vaishnava culture.[8]
[edit] Renunciation
Keshavaji Gaudiya Matha was the place where Prabhupada used to live, he had written and studied in the library of this building, here he edited the Gauḍīya Patrikā magazine and this is the place where he donated the murti of Lord Chaitanya who stands on the altar beside the Deities of Radha Krishna (named Śrī Śrī Rādhā Vinodavihārījī). During his visit in September 1959 he entered the doors of this matha dressed in white, as Abhay Babu, but would be leaving dressed in saffron, a swami.[9] In this matha, in Mathura Vrindavana, Prabhupada took Vaishnava renunciate vows,sannyasa, from his friend and godbrother Bhakti Prajnana Keshava Maharaja , and following this he singlehandedly published the first three volumes covering seventeen chapters of the first book of Bhagavata Purana, filling three volumes of four hundred pages each with a detailed commentary. Introduction to the first volume was a biographical sketch of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu.[33] He then left India, obtaining free passage on a freight ship called the Jaladuta, with the aim and a hope of fulfilling his spiritual master's instruction to spread the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu around the world. In his possession were a suitcase, an umbrella, a supply of dry cereal, about eight dollars worth of Indian currency, and several boxes of books.[35]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._C._Bhaktivedanta_Swami_Prabhupada
