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Kali Yuga (Devanāgarī: कलियुग [kəli juɡə], lit. "age of [the demon] Kali", or "age of vice") is the last of the four stages the world goes through as part of the cycle of yugas described in the Indian scriptures. The other ages are Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga. The duration and chronological starting point in human history of Kali Yuga has given rise to different evaluations and interpretations. According to one of them, the Surya Siddhanta, Kali Yuga began at midnight (00:00) on 18 February 3102 BCE^[1] in the proleptic Julian calendar, or 23 January 3102 BC in the proleptic Gregorian calendar. This date is also considered by many Hindus to be the day that Krishna left Earth to return to his abode. Most interpreters of Hindu scriptures believe that Earth is currently in Kali Yuga. Many authorities such as Swami Sri Yukteswar,^[2] and Paramhansa Yogananda^[3] believe that it is now Dvapara Yuga. Many others like Aurbindo Ghosh have stated that Kali Yuga is now over. The Kali Yuga is sometimes thought to last 432,000 years, although other durations have been proposed.^[4]

Hindus believe that human civilization degenerates spiritually during the Kali Yuga,^[5] which is referred to as the Dark Age because in it people are as far away as possible from God. Hinduism often symbolically represents morality (dharma) as a bull. In Satya Yuga, the first stage of development, the bull has four legs, but in each age morality is reduced by one quarter. By the age of Kali, morality is reduced to only a quarter of that of the golden age, so that the bull of Dharma has only one leg.^[6][7]

Kali Yuga is associated with the apocalyptic demon Kali, not to be confused with the goddess Kālī (read as Kaalee) (these are unrelated words in the Sanskrit language). The "Kali" of Kali Yuga means "strife, discord, quarrel, or contention."

Attributes of Kali Yuga[link]

A discourse by Markandeya in the Mahabharata identifies some of the attributes of Kali Yuga:

In relation to rulers[link]

• Rulers will become unreasonable: they will levy taxes unfairly.
• Rulers will no longer see it as their duty to promote spirituality, or to protect their subjects: they will become a danger to the world.
• People will start migrating, seeking countries where wheat and barley form the staple food source.
• "At the end of Kali-yuga, when there exist no topics on the subject of God, even at the residences of so-called saints and respectable gentlemen of the three higher varnas [castes] and when nothing is known of the techniques of sacrifice, even by word, at that time the Lord will appear as the supreme chastiser." (Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.7.38))

In human relationships[link]

• Avarice and wrath will be common. Humans will openly display animosity towards each other. Ignorance of dharma will occur.
• People will have thoughts of murder with no justification and will see nothing wrong in that.
• Lust will be viewed as socially acceptable and sexual intercourse will be seen as the central requirement of life.
• Sin will increase exponentially, whilst virtue will fade and cease to flourish.
• People will take vows and break them soon after.
• People will become addicted to intoxicating drinks and drugs.
• Gurus will no longer be respected and their students will attempt to injure them. Their teachings will be insulted, and followers of Kama will wrest control of the mind from all human beings.

A special 10,000 year period within Kali Yuga[link]

The Brahma Vaivarta Purana mentions a ten thousand year period, starting from the traditional dating of the Kali Yuga epoch of February 18, 3102 BC/BCE, during which bhakti yogis will be present.^[8]

A special 10,000 year(Golden Age) period within Kali Yuga only in this Maha Yuga Cycle.

In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana has words spoken by Lord Krishna to Mother Ganga just before the beginning of Kali yuga (the age of quarrel and strife). Kali yuga began approximately five thousand years ago, and it has a duration of 432,000 years, leaving us with 427,000 till the end of the present age. Within this 432,000 year period, there is a period of 10,000 years that will be a golden age. That golden age is being described below by Lord Sri Krishna.

Predicted in Brahma-vaivarta Purana 4.129. The fourth part of the Brahma-vaivarta is called Krsna-janma-khanda. Chapter 129 is called Golokarohanam, because it describes how Krsna returns to His abode. This specific dialogue is between Lord Krsna and Mother Ganga. Verse 49 is a question by Ganga, verses 50-60 are Krsna's answer.

This text is taken from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana [14]

Text 59:

kaler daSa-sahasraaNi

madbhaktaaH saMti bhu-tale

ekavarNaa bhaviSyaMti

madbhakteSu gateSu ca

"For 10,000 years of Kali such devotees of Mine will be present on earth. After the departure of My devotees there will be only one varna [outcaste]."

The above is supported in 4.90.32-33:

kalau dasa-sahasrAni

haris tiSThati medinI

devAnAM pratimA pUjyA

sAstrANi ca purANakam

"(Sri Krsna said:) Lord Hari will stay on this earth for the first ten-thousand years of Kali-yuga. For that time the deities of the demigods will be worshiped and the Puranas and scriptures will also be present."

The end of Kali Yuga[link]

"When flowers will be begot within flowers, and fruits within fruits, then will the Yuga come to an end. And the clouds will pour rain unseasonably when the end of the Yuga approaches." Then Lord Vishnu in the form of infant Krishna on a leaf will come to earth and again everything will start producing from the beginning. Many prominent Hindu scholars believe that we have either crossed the era of Kali Yuga or are approaching it, arguing for the repeated invasions on Hinduism in the last millennium in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Indo-China, Central Asia etc. as the proof of the height of Kali Yuga.

Personification[link]

Kali (right) wielding a sword.

Kali is the reigning lord of Kali Yuga and the nemesis of Sri Kalki, who is the tenth and final Avatar of Lord Vishnu. According to the Vishnu Purana, Kali is a negative manifestation of Vishnu who perpetually operates in this world as a cause of destruction, along with his evil extended family.^[9] Kali also serves as an antagonistic force in the Kalki Purana. It is said that towards the end of this yuga, Kalki will return riding on a white horse to do battle with Kali and his dark forces. The world will suffer a fiery end that will destroy all evil, and a new age, Satya Yuga, will begin.

Kali Yuga in Sikhism[link]

In Sikhism, it is believed that one should meditate on God as much as possible because of the world being in Kali Yuga. Because of Kali Yuga it is stressed that one should meditate as much as possible to reach the state of Nirvana and be liberated or be one with God. Guru Granth Sahib Ji on Ang:1185 says:

ab kaloo aaeiou rae

Now, the Dark Age of Kali Yuga has come.

eik naam bovahu bovahu ||

Plant the Naam, the Name of the One Lord.

an rooth naahee naahee ||

It is not the season to plant other seeds.

math bharam bhoolahu bhoolahu ||

Do not wander lost in doubt and delusion.^[10]

Brahma Kumaris[link]

According to the Brahma Kumaris and Prajapita Brahma Kumaris, there are also five ages or yugas in a single cycle or Kalpa of 5,000 years in which the Kali Yuga or Iron Age is the lowest, most impure, vicious and where ignorance rules. It lasts for 1,250 years at the end of which a fifth age of only 100 years exists called the Sangum Yuga (Confluence Age or meeting with God) during which time the Iron Age is destroyed and the Golden Age re-created. Every 5,000-year kalpa cycle repeats identically the same.^[11]

Notes[link]

See also[link]

• Metrics of time in Hinduism
• Kali (Demon)
• Vamadeva
• List of numbers in Hindu scriptures

External links[link]

Look up Kali Yuga in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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An article related to Hinduism
Hindu • History
Deities Trimurti Brahma • Vishnu • Shiva Devis and Devas Saraswati · Lakshmi · Parvati Shakti · Durga  · Kali Ganesha · Subrahmanya · Ayyappa Rama · Krishna Hanuman Prajapati · Rudra Indra · Agni · Dyaus Bhumi · Varuna · Vayu
Philosophy Concepts Brahman · Om · Ishvara Atman · Maya Karma · Samsara Purusharthas (Dharma · Artha · Kama · Moksha) Nirvana Schools Astika-Orthodox Samkhya · Yoga Nyaya · Vaisheshika Purva mimamsa Uttara mimamsa (Vedanta) (Dvaita, Advaita, Vishishtadvaita) Nastika-Heterodox Charvaka Buddhism Jainism Other Orthodox Schools Pasupata · Saiva Pratyabhijña · Raseśvara Pāṇini Darśana
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Yuga (Devanāgari: युग) in Hindu philosophy is the name of an 'epoch' or 'era' within a cycle of four ages. These are the Satya Yuga, the Treta Yuga, the Dvapara Yuga, and finally the Kali Yuga. According to Hindu cosmology, life in the universe is created, destroyed once every 4.1 to 8.2 billion years,^[1][2] which is one full day (day and night) for Brahma. The lifetime of a Brahma himself may be 311 trillion and 40 billion years.[1] The cycles are said to repeat like the seasons, waxing and waning within a greater time-cycle of the creation and destruction of the universe. Like Summer, Spring, Winter and Autumn, each yuga involves stages or gradual changes which the earth and the consciousness of mankind goes through as a whole. A complete yuga cycle from a high Golden Age of enlightenment to a Dark Age and back again is said to be caused by the solar system's motion around another star.^[3]

Kalki[link]

Lord Vishnu has many avatars and in each yuga,he has revealed all of them except-the last avatar(tenth)-Kalki.It is said that in the last yuga Lord Vishnu will reveal this avatar too and the Kalki avatar will lead to the end of the world.The main reason is to destroy the wicked,to restart the new creation,and to restore the purity of conduct in people's life. This avatar will be seated in a white horse with a drawn sword blazing like a comet.

Durations of four yugas[link]

According to the Laws of Manu, one of the earliest known texts describing the yugas, the length is 4800 years + 3600 years + 2400 years + 1200 years for a total of 12,000 years for one arc, or 24,000 years to complete the cycle (one precession of the equinox). There is no mention of a year of the demigods or any year longer than the solar year, which is consistent with description in The Holy Science.^[3] However, the more recent and popular interpretation from the Srimad Bhagavatam states the following: "The duration of the Satya millennium equals 4,800 years of the years of the demigods; the duration of the Dvāpara millennium equals 2,400 years; and that of the Kali millennium is 1,200 years of the demigods... As aforementioned, one year of the demigods is equal to 360 years of the human beings. The duration of the Satya-yuga is therefore 4,800 x 360, or 1,728,000 years. The duration of the Tretā-yuga is 3,600 x 360, or 1,296,000 years. The duration of the Dvāpara-yuga is 2,400 x 360, or 864,000 years. And the last, the Kali-yuga, is 1,200 x 360, or 432,000 years in total." (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.11.19) [2]. These 4 yugas follow a timeline ratio of (4:3:2:1).

The ages see a gradual decline of dharma, wisdom, knowledge, intellectual capability, life span, emotional and physical strength.

• Satya Yuga:- Virtue reigns supreme. Human stature was 21 cubits. Average human lifespan was 100,000 years.
• Treta Yuga: - There was 3 quarter virtue & 1 quarter sin. Normal human stature was 14 cubits. Average human lifespan was 10,000 years.
• Dwapar Yuga: - There was 1 half virtue & 1 half sin. Normal human stature was 7 cubits. Average human lifespan was 1000 years.
• Kali Yuga: - There was 1 quarter virtue & 3 quarter sin. Normal human stature was 3.5 cubits. Average human lifespan will be 100 years. Towards the end of the Yuga this will come down to 20 years.

Hindu Time Chart

While the long yuga count is the most popular it does not correlate to any known celestial motion found in the Astronomical Almanac. The value of 24,000 years is within 7% of the modern astronomical calculation of one full precession of the equinox of 25,772 years. This phenomenon is observed as the stars moving retrograde across the sky at about 50 arc seconds per year and is thought to produce periods of warm ages and ice ages known as the Milankovitch cycle, thus the yuga cycle may have some basis in known terrestrial cycles. The more modern interpretation of "years of the demigods" is holistically pessimistic in that it keeps us in the era of moral destitution that is Kali Yuga for the forseeable future- the effect of such a statement of affairs upon the human psyche and consequent religious adherence might be compared with that of Catholic doctrine upon the population of pre-Lutheran Europe.^{[citation needed]}

Sri Yukteswar's teachings on the yugas[link]

The long count view of the yuga cycle with its vast time scale was challenged by the 19th/20th-century Indian yogi Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, guru of Paramahansa Yogananda.^[3]

In his book, The Holy Science, Sri Yukteswar explained that the descending phase of Satya Yuga lasts 4800 years, the Treta Yuga 3600 years, Dwapara Yuga 2400 years, and the Kali Yuga 1200 years. The ascending phase of the Kali Yuga then begins, also lasting 1200 years. The ascending phase of the Kali Yuga began in September 499 AD. Since September 1699, we have been in the ascending phase of the Dwapara Yuga, according to Sri Yukteswar.^[3]

In The Holy Science, Sri Yukteswar wrote that the traditional or long count view is based on a misunderstanding. He says that at the end of the last descending Dvapara Yuga (about 700 BC), "Maharaja Yudhisthira, noticing the appearance of the dark Kali Yuga, made over his throne to his grandson [and]...together with all of his wise men...retired to the Himalaya Mountains... Thus there was none in the court...who could understand the principle of correctly accounting the ages of the several Yugas."^[3]

According to Sri Yukteswar, nobody wanted to announce the bad news of the beginning of the ascending Kali Yuga, so they kept adding years to the Dvapara date (at that time 2400 Dvapara) only retitling the epoch to Kali. As the Kali began to ascend again, scholars of the time recognized that there was a mistake in the date (then being called 3600+ Kali, even their texts said Kali had only 1200 years). "By way of reconciliation, they fancied that 1200 years, the real age of Kali, were not the ordinary years of our earth, but were so many daiva (or deva) years ("years of the gods"), consisting of 12 daiva months of 30 daiva days each, with each daiva day being equal to one ordinary solar year of our earth. Hence according to these men 1200 years of Kali Yuga must be equal to 432,000 years of our earth."^[3]

Sri Yukteswar explained that just as the cycle of day and night is caused by a celestial motion (the earth spinning on its axis in relation to the sun), and just as the cycle of the seasons are caused by a celestial motion (the earth with tilted axis orbiting the sun) so too is the yuga cycle (seen as the precession of the equinox), caused by a celestial motion. He explained this celestial motion as the movement of the whole solar system around another star. As our sun moves through this orbit, it takes the solar system (and earth) closer to and then further from a point in space known as the "grand centre" also called 'Vishnunabhi', which is the seat of the creative power, 'Brahma', [which]...regulates...the mental virtue of the internal world." He implied that it is the proximity of the earth and sun to this grand centre that determines which season of man or yuga it is.^[3]

Quoting from The Holy Science, Sri Yukteswar states that our sun revolves round a grand center called Vishnunabhi, which is the seat of the creative power, Brahma, the universal magnetism. Brahma regulates dharma, the mental virtue of the internal world. Sri Yukteswar states: ...the sun, with its planets and their moons, takes some star for its dual and revolves round it in about 24,000 years of our earth.... Essentially, When the sun in its revolution round its dual comes to the place nearest to this grand center, the seat of Brahma...the mental virtue, becomes so much developed that man can easily comprehend all, even the mysteries of Spirit." Further, ...when the sun goes to the place in its orbit which is farthest from Brahma, the grand center...the mental virtue, comes to such a reduced state that man cannot grasp anything beyond the gross material creation. Paramahansa Yogananda, devotee of Sri Yukteswar, dates his forward in the book as 249 Dwapara (1949 AD). The period of 2400 years during which the sun passes through the 2/20th portion of its orbit is called Dwapara Yuga. Dharma, the mental virtue, is then in the second stage of development and is but half complete; the human intellect can then comprehend the fine matters of electricities and their attributes which are the creating principles of the external world.

The four yugas and Brahmajnana[link]

It should be obvious that the life style in the four Yugas is the same as life style of people of the four Hindu Varnas.

• Krita Yuga - Brahmana Varna
• Treta Yuga - Kshatriya Varna
• Dwapara Yuga - Vaishya Varna
• Kali Yuga - Shudra Varna

The Varna of a person is determined by the two attitudes, Positive and Negative,

• Brahmana Varna - Positive and Negative attitudes merge to become one and the same
• Kshatriya Varna - Positive and Negative attitudes are separate
• Vaishya Varna - There is just Positive attitude and no negative attitude
• Shudra Varna - The two attitudes are absent.

Brahmana Varna gives best quality of life and authority but can be used under ideal conditions only. All activities of life are interlinked and eternal. This forces Brahmana to be honest. Shudra Varna gives maximum freedom but least quality of life. In this Varna all activities are independent of each other and transient. The enormous flexibility makes it the ideal Varna for chaotic conditions. The Varnas were banned because Hindus tried to have both the authority of Brahmana Varna and the freedom of Shudra Varna. The Varnas were therefore, replaced with the Virtual Yugas.

See also[link]

• List of numbers in Hindu scriptures
• Time in Vedas

References[link]

4. http://veda.wikidot.com/vedic-time-system

External links[link]

• How many kinds of Yugas are there?

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Jenna Gibbons, better known as Jenna G, is a singer, songwriter, actress, producer, and radio presenter from England.

She cooperated with Future Cut to form Un-Cut, with some releases for Warner Music.

For Lost Friends[link]

1. "In Love"
2. Healing"
3. "Ooo"
4. "Woe"
5. "Don't Bury Me"
6. "You"
7. "Quick Love"
8. "Pleasure Ride"
9. "For My Lost Friends"
10. "Cry Solitaire"
11. "Super Sounds"
12. "Silent Wonder"
13. "Oh No"
14. "Mic Check"

Albums featured on[link]

• Bloodlines EP (CD)
• Obsession / Tear Out My Heart (12")
• Midnight (12")
• Goldie.co.uk (2xCD)
• Soul:ution Series 1 Part 1 (2x12")
• Soul:ution Series 1 Part 2 (2x12")
• Beautiful (12")
• Beautiful (Remixes) (12")
• Feel It Out (CD)
• Soul:ution Volume 1 (CD)
• Still Dreaming EP (2x12")
• The Uncalculated Some (CD)
• In at the Deep End (CD + DVD)
• In at the Deep End (Album Sampler) (12")
• Something Extra (12")
• No Way / Clarity (12")
• Good Game (4xLP)
• Playlist - Dance & Urban (CD)
• Big Bad Bass - The Next Level (CD)
• Liquid V Club Sessions Vol 1 (CD)
• "Sound Advice (CD)
• Say You Love Me (12")
• "Pusher (CD + 12")
• "New Day (CD + 12")
• Rock This Style/One of a Kind (12")
• DJ Marky & XRS - In Rotation (CD)
• Netsky - Self titled (CD)
• The Qemists - Join the Q (CD)
• The Qemists - Spirit in the System (CD)
• Kubaki - Warrior's Soul (CD)
• Camo & Krooked - Cross The Line (CD)
• Blame - The Music(CD)

External links[link]

• Jenna Gibbons at BBC Online
• Jenna Gibbons at the Internet Movie Database
• Jenna Gibbons on Myspace

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
In Devanagari	अभय चरणारविन्द भक्तिवेदान्त स्वामी प्रभुपाद
Religion	Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Hinduism
Other name(s)	Abhay Caranaravinda, Abhoy Charan De
Personal
Born	Abhoy Charan De (1896-09-01)1 September 1896 Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died	14 November 1977(1977-11-14) (aged 81) Vrindavan, India
Resting place	Bhaktivedanta Swami's Samadhi, Vrindavan
Senior posting
Based in	Vrindavan, India
Title	Founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Period in office	1966 - 1977
Predecessor	Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Successor	The Governing Body Commission
Religious career
Initiation	Diksa–1932, Sannyasa–1959
Post	Guru, Sannyasi, Acharya
Website	ISKCON Worldwide

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Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Bengali: অভয চরণারবিন্দ ভক্তিবেদান্ত স্বামীপ্রভুপাদ, Sanskrit: अभय चरणारविन्द भक्तिवेदान्त स्वामी प्रभुपादः, abhaya-caraṇāravinda bhakti-vedānta svāmī prabhupāda) (1 September 1896 – 14 November 1977) was a Gaudiya Vaishnava teacher and the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness,^[1] commonly known as the "Hare Krishna Movement".^[2] His mission was to propagate Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a form of Hinduism that had been taught to him by his guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, throughout the world.^[3] Born Abhay Charan De in Calcutta,^[4] he was educated at the prestigious local Scottish Church College.^[5] Before adopting the life of a pious renunciant (vanaprastha) in 1950,^[6] he was married with children and owned a small pharmaceutical business.^[7][8] In 1959 he took a vow of renunciation (sannyasa) and started writing commentaries on Vaishnava scriptures.^[9] In his later years, as a traveling Vaishnava monk, he became an influential communicator of Gaudiya Vaishnava theology to India and specifically to the West through his leadership of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), founded in 1966.^[3][10] As the founder of ISKCON, he "emerged as a major figure of the Western counterculture, initiating thousands of young Americans."^[11] Despite attacks from anti-cult groups, he received a favorable welcome from many religious scholars, such as J. Stillson Judah, Harvey Cox, Larry Shinn and Thomas Hopkins, who praised Bhaktivedanta Swami's translations and defended the group against distorted media images and misinterpretations.^[12] In respect to his achievements, religious leaders from other Gaudiya Vaishnava movements have also given him credit.^[13]

He has been described as a charismatic leader, in the sense used by sociologist Max Weber, as he was successful in acquiring followers in the United States, Europe, India and elsewhere.^[14][15][16] After his death in 1977, ISKCON, the society he founded based on a type of Hindu Krishnaism using the Bhagavata Purana as a central scripture, continued to grow and is respected in India, though there have been disputes about leadership among his followers.^[17][18]

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Born on September 1, 1896, the day after Janmastami, one of the most important Vaishnava 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 feet." Since he was born on the day of Nandotsava ("the celebration of Nanda," Krishna's father, a traditional festival in honor of Krishna's birth) he was also called Nandulal. His parents, Sriman Gour Mohan De and Srimati Rajani De, were devout Vaishnavas (devotees of Vishnu). 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 a European led education in the Scottish Church College. This school was well reputed among Bengalis; 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 Abhoy's family lived. During his years in the college, Abhoy Charan De 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.^[5][7] He graduated in 1920 with majors in English, philosophy and economics.^[19] However he rejected his diploma in response to Gandhi's independence movement.^[20] His refusal to accept the diploma he had earned was in protest of the British. He also wore the homespun cotton cloth the followers of Gandhi wore in support of home industry and protest of British rule in India.^{[citation needed]}

Religious career[link]

In 1922, when Abhoy Charan De first met his spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he was requested to spread the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the English language.^[21] Later in 1932 Abhoy Charan De became a formally initiated disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta. In 1944, (from his front room at Sita Kanta Banerjee, Calcutta), Abhoy Charan De started the publication called Back to Godhead,^[22][23] for which he acted as designer, publisher, editor, copy editor and distributor. He personally designed the logo, an effulgent figure of Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the upper left corner, with the motto: "Godhead is Light, Nescience is darkness" greeting the readers.^[24] In his first magazine he wrote:

Srila Prabhupada

In 1947, the Gaudiya Vaishnava Society recognised Abhoy Charan De'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"^[25] (with the words Bhakti, indicating devotion and Vedanta indicating conclusive knowledge).^[26] His later well known name, Prabhupāda, is a Sanskrit title, literally meaning "he who has taken the position of the Lord" where prabhu denotes "Lord", and pāda means "position."^[27] Also, "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".^[28]

From 1950 onwards, Abhoy Charan Bhaktivedanta lived at the medieval Radha-Damodar mandir in the holy town of Vrindavan, where he began his commentary and translation work of the Sanskrit work Bhagavata Purana.^[29] 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.^[30][31] His guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, had always encouraged Bhaktivedanta Swami that "If you ever get money, print books",^[32] referring to the need of literary presentation of the Vaishnava culture.^[8]

Renunciation[link]

Keshavaji Gaudiya Matha was the place where Bhaktivedanta 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 Abhoy Babu, but would be leaving dressed in saffron, a sannyasi.^[9] He received the sannyasa name Swami (स्वामी Svāmi), not to be confused with the title Swami. In this matha, in Mathura Vrndavana, Abhoy Charan Bhaktivedanta took Vaishnava renunciate vows,sannyasa, from his friend and godbrother Bhakti Prajnana Keshava, and following this he single-handedly 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 Caitanya Mahāprabhu.^[31] 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 Caitanya 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.^[33]

Mission to the West[link]

A message from Jaladuta Diary Journal kept by Prabhupada. Between August 25, 1965 and August 30, 1965, the Jaladuta Journal falls silent for six days. On the seventh day, August 31, the silence is broken with these simple words, “Passed over a great crisis on the struggle for life and death.”

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami sailed to the USA in 1965. His trip to the United States was not sponsored by any religious organization, nor was he met upon arrival by a group of loyal followers.^[34] As he neared his destination on the ship, the Indian freighter Jaladuta, the enormity of his intended task weighed on him. On September 13 he wrote in his diary, "Today I have disclosed my mind to my companion, Lord Sri Krishna."^[35] On this occasion and on a number of others, Bhaktivedanta Swami, called on Krsna for help in his native Bengali. Examining these compositions, academics regard them as "intimate records of his prayerful preparation for what lay ahead" and a view on "how Bhaktivedanta Swami understood his own identity and mission."^[36]

By journeying to America, he was attempting to fulfill the wish of his guru, possible only by the grace of "his dear Lord Krishna".^[36] It is in July 1966 "global missionary Vaishnavism" was brought to the West by Bhaktivedanta Swami, "the soul agent",^[1] founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York City. Bhaktivedanta Swami spent much of the last decade of his life setting up the institution of ISKCON. Since he was the Society's leader, his personality and management were responsible for much of ISKCON's growth and the reach of his mission.

When it was suggested to Bhaktivedanta Swami at the time of founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1966 that a broader term "God Consciousness" would be preferable to "Krishna Consciousness" in the title, he rejected this recommendation, suggesting that name Krishna includes all other forms and concepts of God.^[37]

After a group of devotees and a temple had been established in New York another center was started in San Francisco in 1967.^[19][38] From here Bhaktivedanta Swami traveled throughout America with his disciples, popularizing the movement through street chanting (sankirtana), book distribution and public speeches.

One of 108 worldwide temples opened by Prabhupada by 1977, was dedicated to Krishna-Balarama (pictured above) in Vrindavana, India

Once ISKCON was more established in America a small number of devotees from the San Francisco temple were sent to London, England. After a short time of being in London they came into contact with The Beatles, of whom George Harrison took the greatest interest, spending a significant time speaking with Bhaktivedanta Swami and producing a record with members of the later London Radha Krsna Temple.^[39] Over the following years Bhaktivedanta Swami's continuing leadership role took him around the world some several times setting up temples and communities in all of the major continents.^[17] By the time of his death in Vrindavan eleven years later in 1977, ISKCON became a widely known expression of Vaishnavism on an international basis.^[19]

In the twelve years from his arrival in New York until his final days, he:

• circled the globe fourteen times on lecture tours that took him to six continents^[17]
• initiated many disciples, awarding sannyasa and babaji initiations.^[40]
• introduced Vedic gurukul education to a Western audience^[41]
• directed the founding of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust,^[42] which claims to be the world's largest publisher of ancient and classical Vaishnava religious texts^[43][44]
• founded the religious colony New Vrindavan in West Virginia,^[45]
• authored more than eighty books (with many available online^[46]) on Vedantic philosophy, religion, literature and culture (including four published originally in Bengali)^[17][44]
• introduced international celebrations in the capitals of the world like that of Jagannatha processions^[17]
• watched ISKCON grow to a confederation of more than 108 temples, various institutes and farm communities^[42]

Through his mission, Bhaktivedanta Swami followed and communicated the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and introduced bhakti yoga to an international audience.^[17][44] Within Gaudiya Vaishnavism this was viewed as the fulfillment of a long time mission to introduce Caitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings to the world.^[47][48]

In his discussion with a historian Arnold J. Toynbee in London, Bhaktivedanta Swami is quoted as saying: "I have started this Krishna Conscious Movement among the Indians and Americans and for the next ten thousand years it will increase."^[49]

Books and publishing[link]

It is believed that Bhaktivedanta Swami's most significant contribution are his books.^[50][51][52] Within the final twenty years of his life Bhaktivedanta Swami translated over sixty volumes of classic Vedic scriptures (such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam) into the English language.^[42] For their authority, depth, and clarity, his books have won praise from professors at colleges and universities like Harvard, Oxford, Cornell, Columbia, Syracuse, Oberlin, and Edinburgh,^[53] and his Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is was published by Macmillan Publishers, in 1968 and unabridged edition in 1972,^[54][55][56] and is now available in over sixty languages around the world and some other books by Bhaktivedanta Swami are available in over eighty different languages.^[22][44]

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust was established in 1972 to publish his works, it has also published massively researched multivolume biography, Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta, that in opinion of Larry Shinn will "certainly be one of the most complete records of the life and work of any modern religious figure".^[1][57] Prabhupada reminded his devotees before his disappearance that he would live forever in his books, and through them would remain present as a spiritual master or guru.^[58] Bhaktivedanta Swami had instilled in his followers an understanding of the importance of writing and publishing not only with regard to his works, but also their own initiatives. His early disciples felt Prabhupada had given them Back To Godhead for their own writings from the very start.^[58]

A prominent Gaudiya Vaishnava figure, Shrivatsa Goswami, who as a young man had met Bhaktivedanta Swami in 1972, affirmed the significance of book publishing and distribution in spreading the message of Caitanya in an interview with Steven Gelberg:^[58]

Views on other religious traditions[link]

Bhaktivedanta Swami considered Moses, Jesus, and Mohamed to be empowered representatives of God, describing them within his writings as pioneers of the same essential message of dedication to God with love and devotion.^[60]

Other typical expression presents a different perspective, where Bhaktivedanta Swami would point out that "today I may be a Hindu, but tomorrow I may become a Christian or Muslim. In this way faiths can be changed, but dharma" is a natural sequence, a natural occupation or a connection and it can not be changed, because it is permanent, according to him.^[42] While ISKCON theology of personal god is close to Christian theology, both personal and monotheistic, being a preacher of bhakti and a missionary he sometimes would add, that "already many Christians have tasted the nectar of divine love of the holy name and are dancing with karatalas (hand-cymbals) and mridangas (drums)."^[62] Bhaktivedanta Swami's approach to modern knowledge is also seen in sectarian Orthodox Judaism, where the skills and technical knowledge of modernity are encouraged, but the values rejected. Bhaktivedanta Swami stated "devotees should not be lazy, idle...we are not afraid to work. Whatever our engagement is, by offering the result to Krishna we become Krishna conscious".^[34] Some of his representations are believed to affect women adversely and are male-centred, others are tender and celebratory. Bhaktivedanta Swami himself taught a dualism of body and soul and that of the genders. Similar to many traditional religions he considered sexuality and spirituality as conflicting opposites.^[63] However among some liberal male followers there is a positive recognition of Bhaktivedanta Swami's own example in applying the spirit of the law according to time, place, person and circumstance, rather than literal tracing of the tradition.^[64]

In line with traditional Vaishnava theology, Bhaktivedanta Swami was critical of the monist philosophies of Hinduism representing the Gaudiya Vaishnava point of view and often insulting the orthodox Vedanta adherents of monism with 'cruel words'. In the view of some, the Gaudiya-Vaishnava philosophy he followed is neither fully dualistic nor monist (this is known as Achintya Bheda Abheda). As a school of thought, Gaudiya Vaishnavism has much more in common with the Dvaita, as opposed to the Advaita schools.^{[citation needed]}

Within India[link]

ISKCON Temple in Delhi, India

ISKCON Temple in Tirupathi, India

Initially, Bhaktivedanta Swami began his public preaching mission in India. He founded the League of Devotees in Jhansi in 1953.^[65]

Following the establishment of temples and centres in the United States and Europe, Bhaktivedanta Swami returned to India in 1971, holding many public programs which were well attended. From 1971 onwards, the movement became increasingly popular and spread throughout the country, Bhaktivedanta Swami was particularly eager to see the progress at "the impressive temple project in" Mumbai which he and his disciples had fought very hard to establish,^[66] with large temples in Mayapur and Vrindavan to follow in mid 1970s. To promote the vedic education system in modern Indian education structure, he introduced the chain of Gurukul in various part of India. The Bhaktivedanta Gurukula (Vrindavan) is one of the most successful school in the list.

In 1996, the Government of India recognized Bhaktivedanta Swami's accomplishments by issuing a commemorative stamp in his honour as a part of Prabhupada Centennial celebrations.^[67][68]

Speaking at the inauguration of ISKCON's cultural center in New Delhi on 5 April on occasion of Ramnavmi in 1998, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then India's prime minister, said:

Monuments[link]

ISKCON Prabhupada's Palace of Gold in West Virginia, USA photo dated 2007

A number of memorial samadhis or shrines to Bhaktivedanta Swami were constructed by the members of ISKCON in his remembrance, the largest of which are in Mayapur, Vrindavan and at the larger sized temples in America. Prabhupada's Palace of Gold was designed and constructed by devotees of the New Vrindavan community and dedicated on September 2, 1979. Back in 1972 it was intended to be simply a residence for Bhaktivedanta Swami, but over time the plans evolved into an ornate marble and gold palace which is now visited by thousands of Hindu pilgrims each year, visiting this centerpiece of the community strongly relying upon tourist trade.^[45][72]

Selected bibliography[link]

Translations with commentary[link]

Prabhupada's Palace of Gold in 1982

• Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is (1968)
• Śrī Īśopanishad (1969)
• Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1972–77) (Vols.)
• Caitanya-caritāmrta (1974) (Vols.)
• The Nectar of Instruction (1975) ^[22]

Summary studies[link]

Prabhupada's Samadhi in Vrindavana

• Teachings of Lord Caitanya (1969)
• Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (1970)
• The Nectar of Devotion (1970) ^[22]

Other works published within Prabhupada's lifetime[link]

Prabhupada's pushpa Samadhi in Mayapur

• Beyond Illusion and Doubt (1967)
• Search for Liberation (1969)
• Easy Journey to Other Planets (1970)
• Krishņa Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System (1970)
• Beyond Birth and Death (1972)
• The Perfection of Yoga (1972)
• On The Way to Krishņa (1973)
• Rāja-vidyā: The King of Knowledge (1973)
• Elevation to Krishņa Consciousness (1973)
• Krishņa Consciousness: The Matchless Gift (1974)
• Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers (1977)
• Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūtī (1977)
• The Science of Self-Realization (1977)
• Back to Godhead magazine (founder)^[22]

Bengali writings[link]

• Geetār-gan
• Vairāgya-vidyā
• Buddhi-yoga
• Bhakti-ratna-boli^[22]

Published posthumously[link]

• Light of the Bhāgavata (1978)
• Teachings of Queen Kuntī (1978)
• Life Comes From Life (1978)
• Krishņa, The Reservoir of Pleasure (1972)
• Chant and Be Happy (1982)
• Coming Back (1983?)
• Path of Perfection (1989)
• Nārada bhakti sūtra (1991)
• Mukunda-mālā-stotra (1989)
• A Second Chance (1991)
• Journey of Self Discovery (1991)
• Laws of Nature: An Infallible Justice (1991)
• Renunciation Through Wisdom (1992)
• Quest for Enlightenment (1993)
• The Path of Yoga (1995)
• Message of Godhead (1996?)
• Civilization and Transcendence (1998)
• Dharma: The Way of Transcendence (1998)
• Introduction to Bhagavad-gītā (2005)^[22]

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Prabhupada

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive or inappropriate external links, and converting useful links where appropriate into footnote references. (October 2011)

• "Bhaktivedanta VedaBase - Srila Prabhupada's books online in English and other languages". http://vedabase.com. 
• "Bhaktivedanta VedaBase - Srila Prabhupada's books online". http://vedabase.net/en/. 
• "BBT - Publishing House". http://www.bbt.info/. 
• "iskcon.com - About A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada". http://www.iskcon.com/about/parampara/srila_prabupada.html. 
• "Letters by Srila Prabhupada - Anthology". http://www.prabhupada.blogspot.com/. 
• "The Bhaktivedanta Archives". http://www.prabhupada.com/books.html. 
• "Photos and Audio of Srila Prabhupada". http://www.prabhupada.krishna.com/. 
• "Srila Prabhupada’s Presentation of Srimati Radharani". http://www.sdgonline.org/radha/radharani_prabhupada.html. 
• "Catalogue and online lectures by Srila Prabhupada". http://www.prabhupadavani.org. 
• "Hindi and english lectures of Srila Prabhuada". http://www.iskcondesiretree.info/. 
• "A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada". http://www.vaniquotes.org/wiki/Category:Prabhupada. 
• "Bhaktivedanta College VTE Bhakti Sastri Online - Systematic study of Srila Prabhupada's books online". http://www.bhakti-sastri.com.