The Significance of Srila Prabhupada

In India’s recent history, there were certainly many Vaiṣṇavas who were devoted, learned, and renounced. However, the fact remains that only Śrīla Prabhupāda was sufficiently qualified to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. Only he had sufficient faith in the instructions of Lord Caitanya, the order of his spiritual master, and the holy name of Kṛṣṇa to seriously attempt spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness outside of India. Only he had enough compassion and vision to preach the message of Lord Caitanya to those who most needed it. Only one of the topmost confidential devotees of Kṛṣṇa could perform such an extraordinary task. By his unparalleled achievements, it is clear that Śrīla Prabhupāda occupies a unique position in the history of Vaiṣṇavism.

Śrīla Prabhupāda was empowered to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness in a practical and straightforward way, just suitable for the modern world. Without changing or compromising the teachings of Kṛṣṇa consciousness even slightly, he presented its esoteric truths in a clear and intelligible manner, suitable for both the layman and the scholar.

Śrīla Prabhupāda personally oversaw the expansion and development of ISKCON. He personally set up the programs which were to form the basis of ISKCON’s continued expansion: production and distribution of transcendental books, harināma-saṅkīrtana parties, temples, ashrams, prasāda distribution, transcendental farm communities, gurukulas, preaching to scientists and scholars, and so on.

Śrīla Prabhupāda personally gave detailed directions about every aspect of Kṛṣṇa consciousness: how to worship Deities, how to conduct sādhana, how to preach, how to wear a dhoti, how to cook for Kṛṣṇa, how to chant mantras, and so forth. Śrīla Prabhupāda is thus the founder-ācārya of ISKCON. Whatever standards and instructions comprise ISKCON have come from him. Therefore Śrīla Prabhupāda will always remain the preeminent śikṣā-guru and ācārya of ISKCON.

Both scripture and tradition offer various approaches to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but followers of Śrīla Prabhupāda execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness as he showed them, knowing that Śrīla Prabhupāda, as a faithful follower of his guru and the previous ācāryas, presented Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the best way for the modern age.

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s success is itself proof that his endeavors are approved, ordained, and blessed by the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself.

Śrīla Prabhupāda gave many instructions, but certain ones are absolutely necessary for initiated disciples to follow if they claim to be genuine and serious followers of Prabhupāda. For instance, Śrīla Prabhupāda demanded that initiated devotees rise by 4.00 a.m., attend maṅgala-ārati, chant at least sixteen rounds of the mahā-mantra every day, and undeviatingly follow the four regulative principles.

All such standards that Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly defined are the standards to be followed in ISKCON. A rightly situated, successful follower of Śrīla Prabhupāda is simply a faithful standard-bearer. He does not try to change or interpret the standards and programs given by Prabhupāda, for he knows that whatever Śrīla Prabhupāda has given us is perfect and complete for the respiritualization of the entire human society—not only for the present, but for the next ten thousand years.

SOURCE: Jaya Srila Prabhupada, Book written by H.H. BHAKTI VIKASA SWAMI