In New York, he faced immense hardship, lacking both money and a stable place to live. He began his mission with great humility, holding classes on the Bhagavad-gita in lofts on the Bowery—a notorious area for the homeless in New York—and leading the chanting of *kirtan* (traditional devotional songs) in Tompkins Square Park. His message of peace and goodwill resonated deeply with many young people, some of whom chose to become devoted students of the Krishna-bhakti tradition. With their support, Bhaktivedanta Swami rented a small ground-floor space on the Lower East Side to serve as a temple. In July 1966, after months of struggle and sacrifice, he founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), with the aim of addressing the imbalance of values in the world and fostering genuine peace and unity among people. He taught that every soul is an integral part of the divine nature and that true happiness is attained by leading a simpler, more natural life—dedicating one’s energies to the service of God and all living beings.
After beginning to confer the first initiations upon his American followers within the Gaudiya Vaishnava lineage, Bhaktivedanta Swami traveled to San Francisco. In the heart of the burgeoning hippie community in the Haight-Ashbury district—during the famous "Summer of Love" in 1967—he taught that the experience of devotion, lived through *kirtan*, represented an authentic spiritual elevation, infinitely superior to any pleasure derived from material sources such as wealth, fame, or intoxicating substances. In the months that followed, many others came forward to join him. Wishing to address him with the reverence due to an authentic spiritual master, his disciples began calling him Srila Prabhupada, which means "he at whose feet the masters bow."
Over the eleven years that followed, Srila Prabhupada traveled around the world fourteen times, bringing the teachings of Bhakti to thousands of people across six continents. Men and women from all walks of life embraced his message. With their help, Srila Prabhupada established centers and projects across the globe, including temples, rural communities, educational institutions, and what would become the world’s most extensive vegetarian food distribution program. Wishing to nourish the roots of Krishna-bhakti in his homeland, Srila Prabhupada returned to India several times, sparking a true revival of the devotional tradition. In India, he opened dozens of temples, including major centers in the sacred cities of Vrindavana and Mayapur.
Perhaps the most significant contribution of Srila Prabhupada lies in his literary work. He authored over seventy volumes on Bhakti-yoga, which are internationally esteemed for their authority, depth, clarity, and faithfulness to tradition. His writings have been translated into seventy-six languages. Among his most celebrated works are *Bhagavad-gita As It Is*, the thirty-volume *Srimad-Bhagavatam*, and the seventeen-volume *Sri Caitanya-caritamrita*.
For millennia, the teachings of Bhakti-yoga remained confined to Sanskrit and various Indian vernacular languages, and this extraordinary culture of devotion stayed within the borders of India. Today, millions of people across the globe express deep gratitude to Srila Prabhupada for revealing the timeless wisdom of Bhakti to a humanity immersed in materialism and self-destructive patterns. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada departed from this world on November 14, 1977, in the sacred city of Vrindavana, surrounded by his devoted disciples, who continue to carry forward his universal mission to this day.
