Founder-Acharya

Gaur Sundar’s own elect Shrila Prabhupad made his graceful appearance in this world as a worthy son of Shrila Bhakti Vinod Thakur on the 6th of February, 1874, at `Narayan Chhata’ near Sri Jagannath Temple at Puri Dham. His mother Sri Bhagavati Devi named him `Bimala Prasad’ at the time of the first-rice-giving ceremony with the prasadam of the goddess `Bimala’. After some days, during the Ratha Yatra festival, Lord Jagannath showered His mercy upon him with His own garland. As a student, he studied all kinds of spiritual books in the library. From childhood, he was devout, religious, and honest in his activities. At a young age, he became adept in Astrology. He Did not pursue material education much long, he joined a job in the estate of Tripura and by the mercy of Shrila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, he met his spiritual master. Shrila Gaur Kishore Das Babaji tested him critically and finally gave him Bhagavata Diksha (initiation) on January 10, 1900. After initiation, he fulfilled the desire of Shrila Bhakti Vinod Thakur by preaching the message of Lord Chaitanya. He visited many holy places in Orissa with his father for some time.

  

  Shrila Saraswati Thakur was always a fearless exponent of truth. He made a strong protest against varieties of doctrines which are contradicting pure devotion and practiced rules not enjoined in the scriptures. In the name of religion, there were several unauthorized cults doing wrong practices. Shrila Prabhupad logically Defeated them and preached about pure devotion in this world. With the instruction of Shrila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, he performed one thousand-millions names sacrifice (Naam Yagna) during the observation of Chaturmasya (four months of Vaishnava Vrata).

 

After the disappearance of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur and Shrila Gaur Kishore Das Babaji, due to his broken heart, he was disappointed about preaching pure devotion. During that time, one day Lord Gaur Sundar and other predecessor Acharyas appeared in his dream in transcendental form and instructed him to go ahead in preaching with full vigor. All of Them promised to help him from behind. On March .27, 1918, Shrila Prabhupad accepted the renounced order Tridanda Sannyasa and after this, he was called Shrila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati. After this, he established Sri Chaitanya Math and 64 other branches of Gaudiya Math. To publish books on devotion, he established Thagavat press’ and within a short period he published many Vaishnava kinds of literature and published magazines in different languages. This made a huge impact on the Gaudiya- Vaishnava religion in the whole world. There is no comparison of his glorious preaching activities including installing Vigrahas (Deities), footprints (pada- 414 pitha) of Sriman Mahaprabhu and organizing spiritual I exhibitions at various places.

Significant Events

1916 — 27th March, the First printing press was established as an instrument for spreading Kirtan.

1918 — Founded Sri Chaitanya Math at Sri Dham Mayapur.

 — In November, the first Gaudiya Math in Kolkata was established in a rented house at No-1, Ultadingi Junction Road. At that time it was named Sri Bhakti Vinod Asan.

1928 — On 18th April, Shrila Prabhupad met Sri Rabindra Nath Thakur at his house in Jorasanko.

1930 — Bagbazar ‘Sri Gaudiya Math’ established.

1931 — Thakur Bhakti Vinod Institute’ founded at Sri Dham Mayapur to disseminate transcendental knowledge.

1934 — On 24th April, ‘ London Gaudiya Mission Society’ was established under the chairmanship of Lord Jetland.