SRILA PRABHUPADA’S INCONCEIVABLE PERSONALITY

IN PRAISE OF SRILA PRABHUPADA ESSAY 9: JULY 1, 2025

- Govinda Dasa

When we are very close to a mountain, it is difficult to perceive and understand the greatness of it in its full size and capacity. It needs a certain distance or perspective to grasp its voluminous form and gigantic impact on the nature and habitation of the surrounding scenery. Similarly, Srila Prabhupada has graced this planet just some decades ago, so timewise we are very close to Srila Prabhupada. This temporal proximity, on the other hand, might causes difficulties for us to understand Srila Prabhupada's extraordinary position as Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness, as Jagad-guru, savior of the three worlds, who has been specially sent by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna.

We are very fortunate to witness the inauguration of the worldwide Sankirtan movement, predicted and started by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, 500 years ago, and to participate in it, yet in order to do so and receive the full benefit, it is of utmost importance to understand the magnanimity and glory of Srila Prabhupada’s personality. It has been stated in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya 7.11):

kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana

Unless empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot propagate the saṅkīrtana movement

In one of the purports Srila Prabhupada quotes Srīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, that unless one is directly empowered by the causeless mercy of Kṛṣṇa, one cannot become the spiritual master of the entire world (jagad-guru). … The true ācārya presents Kṛṣṇa to everyone by preaching the holy name of the Lord throughout the world. … The true ācārya, the spiritual master of the entire world, must be considered an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. Indeed, he is personally embracing Kṛṣṇa. From these statements we can understand how special Srila Prabhupada’s position must be.

Once Srila Prabhupada was asked by one of his disciples to reveal his spiritual identity. His answer was: “If I would tell you, you would faint.” In this connection Srila Bhakti Charu Maharaja commented, that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur as well as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur revealed their spiritual identity as Kamala Mañjarī and Nayana Mañjarī respectively, but knowing this we did not faint, so how special and intimate Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual identity must be. Once we qualify ourselves again to go back to the spiritual world, we will definitely find out.

Our spiritual life actually depends on our understanding and appreciation of Krsna’s mercy in the form of the true Acharya, who is preaching the holy name of the Lord throughout the world. The more we are endeavoring to understand Srila Prabhupada and his mission, the more we will make progress towards the spiritual realm. Srila Narottama Thakur states:

golokera prema-dhana, hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana

This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, saṅkīrtana movement, is nothing material. It is directly imported from the spiritual kingdom known as Goloka Vṛndāvana.

When we factually start to understand the inconceivable gift, Srila Prabhupada has given us in the form of his transcendental books, as his instructions, and ISKCON, as his institutional ‘body’, we will naturally become grateful and we will feel obliged to reciprocate with Srila Prabhupada by following his instruction and serve his institutional ‘body’, ISKCON and its devotees. Then success in our spiritual life is guaranteed and progress becomes steady and tangible.

All glories to Jagad-guru Srila Prabhupada, savior of the three worlds.