How can we ensure that our spiritual movement remains a potent force for global welfare rather than just a secular administration? In this deeply reflective interview for the "Books are the Basis" week, His Grace Tapan Mishra Prabhu, Global Minister for the ISKCON Ministry of Education, shares a powerful vision for the future of our society.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=119712

Dear Devotees,

After spending several months on life support, Prabhu has made the profound decision to discontinue the machines that are sustaining his physical body. He is presently at the VA Hospital in Los Angeles, where local devotees are coming together to be with him and surround him with the transcendental sound of the Holy Names. Sankirtana is being performed at his bedside, offering him the sacred association of devotees and helping his consciousness remain lovingly absorbed in Krishna and Srila Prabhupada during this most important transition.

All glories to HG Drutakarma Prabhu for his many decades of extraordinary and dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

His remarkable contributions to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT), the Bhaktivedanta Institute (BI), and the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (ToVP) have touched and enriched the lives of countless devotees and spiritual seekers throughout the world.

The news that Prabhu is preparing for his final journey at the VA Hospital in Los Angeles fills our hearts with both sadness and deep appreciation for his life of service.

It is especially beautiful and auspicious that devotees are gathering around him, performing sankirtana and giving him the association of the Holy Names at this sacred moment. May his consciousness remain fully absorbed in Krishna, in Krishna’s pastimes, and in the loving shelter of Srila Prabhupada as he prepares for his next destination.

Let us all come together in prayer for HG Drutakarma Prabhu, praying that his departure may be peaceful, auspicious, and glorious, and that he may return home, back to Godhead, under the divine shelter of Sri Krishna and Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=119718

By Chaitanya Charan das

Answer Summary: Yes, if by ‘spiritual’ we imply open-mindedness and by ‘religion’ close-mindedness. No, if by ‘spiritual’ we refer to a state of consciousness and by ‘religious’ a process to achieve that state of consciousness.

Answer: The intention underlying this desire to be ‘spiritual-not-religious’ is laudable, but its application is questionable. Usually the intention is that we should be broad-minded, not narrow-minded. That intention is fine, but is the underlying implication true? Is it true that spirituality makes us broad-minded and religion makes us narrow-minded?

These two terms “spiritual” and “religious” have so many connotations that without specifying their meaning, we can’t have any productive discussion. Let’s focus on what these words normally connote in the ‘spiritual-not-religious’ usage: ‘spiritual’ usually refers to the experience of the higher, deeper aspects of life, whereas ‘religion’ refers to the adherence to certain beliefs and rituals given in a specific tradition. The implication is that spiritualists are open-minded because they are open to higher experience, whatever be the way they get that experience. But religionists are close-minded because they stick only to the way given in their own religion and deride or dismiss the ways given in other religions.

The Vedic wisdom-tradition points to an intriguing relationship between spirituality and religion. It explains that spirituality is meant to help us develop love for God. This is done through a harmonious combination of philosophy and religion, which constitute the two rails on which spirituality runs. The philosophy aspect of spirituality involves the study and understanding of matter, spirit and the controller of both, God. And the religion aspect involves the following of certain rules and regulations that help us realize and experience higher spiritual truths.

These two aspects of spirituality are strikingly similar to the two aspects of modern science: the theoretical and the experimental. Science’s theoretical aspect involves formulating hypotheses to explain the observable phenomena within the universe; it is similar to the philosophy aspect of spirituality. Science’s experimental aspect involves the following of certain rules for regulating the laboratory environment so as to verify the hypotheses; it is similar to the religion aspect of spirituality. Thus, spirituality can be considered to be a higher-dimensional science – higher-dimensional because it deals with a reality higher than that dealt with by material science.

Let’s see how this understanding of spirituality as a combination of philosophy and religion illumines the ‘spiritual-not-religious’ issue. Just as science requires some kind of experiment to be complete, spirituality requires some kind of religion to be complete. That is, spiritualists who want higher experiences need some process to get those experiences consistently. And that process would be their religion. So, to be spiritual, one would have to be religious in some way or the other.

Does this imply that one can’t be ‘spiritual-not-religious’?

Literally yes, essentially no.

In essence the desire to be ‘spiritual-not-religious’ is the desire to be ‘open-minded-not-close-minded.’ The Vedic wisdom-tradition acknowledges that there are various ways to gain spiritual experiences, culminating in the experience of love of God. The philosophy aspect of the tradition help us sees the various great religions as authorized ways of progressing towards love of God. So, although it requires seekers to be religious if they want to be truly spiritual, it does not mandate close-mindedness but encourages open-mindedness.

The Health Analogy

Let’s use the analogy of health to understand this. The Vedic wisdom-tradition states our present materialistic state of consciousness is a diseased state, referring to it as bhava-roga. It recommends various processes like chanting the names of God that can take us back to our healthy spiritual state of consciousness and refers to these processes as cikitsa, treatment. The tradition is clear that the healthy spiritual state is not some vague misty feel-good experience, but is the steady state of being in which one loves God undistractedly. And the diseased state is the state of loving anything other than God. Significantly, love of God is also the universally accepted common goal of the world’s great theistic religions. The Christian saint St Augustine puts it well in one of his prayers: “You have made us for you, and the heart never rests till it finds rest in you.”

In this health analogy, the philosophy aspect of spirituality explains what the healthy spiritual level is and the religion aspect provides the means to rise from the diseased material level to the healthy spiritual level. Srila Prabhupada states the inter-relationship between these two aspects: “Religion without philosophy is sentiment, or sometimes fanaticism, while philosophy without religion is mental speculation.”

Let’s take a closer look at the three parts of this statement:

1. Religion without philosophy is sentiment: When there is religion without philosophy, people don’t have the intellectual framework to know what the actual spiritual level of consciousness is and to check whether they are factually experiencing it. So, they may stay sentimentally satisfied with whatever practices they have acquired from their present culture or past tradition, even if those practices don’t actually make them spiritual. A common result of such sentimentalism is the naïve acceptance of all ways as more or less equal: “You have your way and I have mine. There are as many ways as there are people.”
2. Religion without philosophy is sometimes fanaticism: Just as people can be healed by different treatments, people can become lovers of God by practicing different religions: Christianity, Islam and Hinduism, for example. The decisive test for a religion is whether it enables its followers to become spiritually healthy, to become lovers of God. In this light, religious fanatics are like narrow-minded proponents of a particular medical therapy who are ready to destroy the books and the infrastructure associated with other therapies. Worse still, they are even ready to kill those taking and giving other therapies. Religious fanaticism is a titanic and tragic misunderstanding that arises from the lack of a proper philosophical understanding.
3. Philosophy without religion is mental speculation: The objective standard of love of God as the goal of religion enables us to choose among various religions just as we would choose between various medical treatments. But it doesn’t make religion per se optional or dispensable. Without taking treatment, we will never become healthy. Similarly, without practicing religion, we will never develop love for God. The Bhagavad-gita (9.2) confirms that religion (dharma) brings about such realization (pratyakshavagamam).

Many people merely read a lot of spiritual books, either as a hobby being uncommitted spiritual explorers or as a profession being academic scholars. But they don’t practice any religion. Consequently, they rarely realize, or experience as a reality, the subject that they are reading. By their refusal to practice any religion, they deprive themselves of such realization. So, their thoughts and talks about spirituality remain airy mental speculations without tangible connection with spiritual reality.

This discussion on ‘philosophy-without-religion’ applies to our discussion on being ‘spiritual-not-religious.’ If those wanting to be ‘spiritual-not-religious’ deliberately avoid religion in terms of not adopting any religious practices, then they will remain mental speculators. They may occasionally get experiences that they consider ‘spiritual’ but they will gain no lasting transformation of heart and so will not find enduring fulfillment in life.

However, if they want to avoid the close-minded mentality associated with being religious, then they can adopt those religious practices that allow them to be open-minded about other religious practices. Krishna consciousness certainly encourages that open-mindedness. So, in that sense, Krishna-devotees are ‘spiritual-not-religious.’

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=12458

By Yudhisthira Dasa   

This may not resonate with everyone, but on a metaphysical or non-material level, which includes the process of developing Krishna Consciousness, this topic is foundational. It includes accepting that we are not only lovable as souls but also that we are loved and have never, not even for a moment, ever not been loved. We are always loved. It has never stopped since the beginning of our eternity, a very long time ago.

Yes, unconditional love is all around us, waiting for us to open our arms and embrace that ever-present abundance of love available to all of us. That love is waiting for us without cessation. It is ready on a moment’s notice. Instantaneously. We just have to accept the love that is always available. If you are struggling with feeling the unconditional love of Radha and Krishna manifesting through guru and the Vaishnavas, you are not alone.

Our teachers and teachings ask us to reach out to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna in love. My offering in this article is simple: To give love, we must be able to accept and receive love. Sugar cane is sweet on both ends.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/coming-of-age-38-accepting-that-i-am-loved/

By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi, 

In the Czech Republic’s countryside, two ISKCON-affiliated farms show what Srila Prabhupada’s vision of agrarian self-sufficiency can look like after three decades of steady work. Krsnuv Dvur, established in 1990, and its newer extension, Surabhi Farm, acquired in 2022, together form one of the most productive grain and dairy operations among ISKCON’s farm communities in Europe.

A Farm Built From Necessity, Not Theory

Varnasrama Dasa, president of Krsnuv Dvur, has led the community since 1997, when he took on the role at age 27 with no formal training in agriculture. “What I knew about agriculture was mainly what I had learned practically on the farm since 1991,” he said, describing early years spent working with horses and in temple service before responsibility for the farm fell to him.

That practical, trial-and-error approach shaped everything that followed. When the farm’s first successful grain harvest filled its storage bins, Varnasrama Dasa discovered that selling the crop on the open commodity market would actually lose money on every kilogram produced. The solution was to process the grain themselves. “We decided to process the grain ourselves and make flour,” he said. “That was the beginning of a journey that has lasted for more than twenty years.”

Today, Krsnuv Dvur operates a professional grain-cleaning operation and flour mill meeting European food safety standards, supplying outlets across the Czech Republic as well as ISKCON’s own temples and restaurants.

Syamasundara Dasa, manager of the goshala, or cow sanctuary, at Bhaktivedanta Manor in England from 1992 to 2014, who has also assisted successful ISKCON Ministers of Cow Protection and Agriculture since the late 1990s and now supports Krishna Ksetra Swami, the European minister in that role, called Krsnuv Dvur “probably the leading arable farm in certainly the Western world,” adding that its scale remains largely unrecognized within the devotee community.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/cow-protection-and-agriculture-modeled-at-czech-farms/

Yudhishthira Maharaj said, "Oh MadhusUdana, Oh killer of the Madhu demon, what is the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight (krishna paksha) of the month of Ashwin (September-October)? Please describe its glories to me."

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna then replied, "This Holy day is called Indira Ekadasi. If a person fasts on this day, all his sins are eradicated and his forefathers who have fallen into hell are liberated. Oh best of kings, one who simply hears about this sacred Ekadasi achieves the great merit earned by performing a horse sacrifice.

In the Satya-yuga there lived a king named Indrasena, who was so powerful that he destroyed all his enemies. His kingdom was called Mahishmati-puri. The glorious and highly religious King Indrasena took good care of his subjects, and therefore he was rich in gold, grains, sons, and grandsons. He was greatly devoted to Lord Sri Vishnu as well. He especially enjoyed chanting My name, calling out 'Govinda! Govinda!'. In this way King Indrasena systematically dedicated himself to pure spiritual life and spent much time meditating on the Absolute Truth.

One day, as King Indrasena happily and peacefully presided over his assembly, the perfect orator, Sri Narada Muni, was seen descending. White as a conch, shining like the moon, like a jasmine flower, like a lightening bolt, Narada Muni descending from the sky. He is decorated with matted locks of reddish hair. The king offered Devarishi Narada, the saint among the devas (demigods), great respect by greeting him with joined palms, inviting him into the palace, offering him a comfortable seat, washing his feet, and speaking sweat words of welcome. Then Narada Muni said to Maharaj Indrasena, 'Oh king, are the seven limbs of your kingdom prospering?'

The seven limbs of a king's domain being; the king's well being himself, his ministers, his treasury, his military forces, his allies, the brahmanas, the sacrifices performed in his kingdom, and the needs of the king's subjects. 'Is your mind absorbed in thinking of how you can properly perform your occupational duty? Are you becoming more and more devoted and dedicated to the service of the Supreme Lord, Sri Vishnu?'

"The king replied, 'By your kind grace, Oh greatest of sages, everything is quite well. Today, just by your presence all the sacrifices in my kingdom are successful ! Please show me mercy and explain the reason for your kind visit here.'

"Sri Narada, the sage among the devas, then said, 'Oh lion among kings, listen to my astonishing words. When I descended from Brahmaloka to Yamaloka, Lord Yamaraja praised me very graciously and offered me an excellent seat. As I glorified his truthfulness and wonderful service to the Supreme Lord, I noticed your father in Yamaraja's assembly. Though he had been very religious, because he broke an Ekadasi fast prematurely, he had to go to the Yamaloka. Your father gave me a message for you. He said, "In Mahishmati lives a king named Indrasena. Please tell him about my situation here - that because of my past sinful deeds I have somehow been forced to reside in Yamaraja's kingdom. Please give him this message from me: 'Oh son, kindly observe the coming Indira Ekadasi and give much in charity so I can go upward to heaven.' "

Philosophically we can understand that every living entity is an individual, and individually everyone has to practice Krishna consciousness to traverse back to home, back to Godhead. As stated in Garuda Purana, someone who is suffering in hell cannot practice Krishna consciousness, because this requires some mental peace, which the reactionary tortures of hell make impossible. If a relative of a sinner suffering in hell gives some charity in the name of the sinner, he can leave hell and enter the heavenly planets. But if the sinner's relative observes this Ekadasi fast for his suffering kinsman, the kinsman goes directly to the spiritual world, as stated in this narration based on Brahma-vaivarta Puranam.

"Narada continued, 'Just to deliver this message, Oh king, have I come to you. You should help your father by observing the fast of Indira Ekadasi. By the merit you gain, your father will go to heaven.'  "King Indrasena asked, 'Oh great Naradji, please be merciful and tell me specifically how to observe a fast on Indira Ekadasi, and also tell me during what month and on what day it occurs.'

"Narada Muni replied, 'Oh king, please listen as I describe to you the full process of observing the Indira Ekadasi.

1. This Ekadasi occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin.  

2. On the Dashami tithi, the day before Ekadasi, rise early in the morning, take bath, and then do some service for God with full faith.  

3. At noon, bathe again in running water and then offer oblations to your forefathers with faith and devotion.  

4. Be sure not to eat more than once on this day and at night sleep on the floor.

5. "When you awaken on Ekadasii morning, cleanse your mouth and teeth thoroughly and then with deep devotion for the Lord take this sacred vow: 'Today I shall fast completely and give up all kinds of sense enjoyment. Oh lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead, Oh infallible one, please give me shelter at Your lotus feet."

6. At noon, stand before the sacred form of the Sri Shaligram Shila and worship Him faithfully, following all the rules and regulations; then offer oblations of ghee into the sacred fire, and tarpana directed to help your forefathers.

7. Next, feed qualified Brahmins (obviously non-grain prasadams) and offer them some charity according to your means.

8. Now take the food pindas you offered to your forefathers, smell it, and then offer it to a cow. Next, worship Lord Hrishikesha with incense and flowers, and finally, remain awake all night near the Deity of Lord Sri Keshava.

9. "Early in the morning of the next day, Dvadasi tithi, worship Sri Hari with great devotion and invite Brahmin devotees to a sumptuous feast.

10. Then feed you relatives, and finally take your meal in silence.

Oh king, if you strictly observe a fast on Indira Ekadasi in this way, with controlled senses, your father will surely be elevated to the abode of lord Vishnu.' After saying this, Devarishi Narada immediately disappeared from the scene to bless someone else with his presence.

"King Indrasena followed the great saint's instructions perfectly, observing the fast in the association of his relatives and servants. As he broke his fast on the Dvadasi tithi, flowers fell from the sky. The merit that Indrasena maharaj earned by observing this fast released his father from the kingdom of Yamaraja and caused him to attain a completely spiritual body. Indeed, Indrasena saw him rising to the abode of Lord Hari on the back of Garuda Vahan. Indrasena himself was able to rule his kingdom without any obstacles, and in time when he handed over the kingdom to his son, he also went to the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha.

"Oh Yudhishthira, these are the glories of the Indira Ekadasi, which occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin.

Whoever hears or reads this narration certainly enjoys life in this world, is freed of all reactions to his past sins, and at the time of death returns home, back to Godhead, where he lives eternally."


Thus ends the narration of the glories of Ashwin-krishna Ekadasii, or Indira Ekadasi, taken from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.

Reference: ISKCON Desire Tree

Source: https://www.mayapur.com/en/blog/the-glories-of-the-indira-ekadasi

Click here: Video

Health Update of HH. Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja

Bengaluru | 3rd October 2026 | 6:00 PM IST

Dear devotees, disciples, and well-wishers
of HH. Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja,

Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda

By the mercy of Śrī Śrī Guru-Gaurāṅga, and through the prayers and blessings of devotees worldwide, we are happy to share that Gurumahārāja continues to make encouraging progress in his recovery.

Gurumahārāja remains fever-free, and his oxygen requirement has significantly decreased, from approximately 10 litres to around 2 litres, while maintaining satisfactory oxygen levels. He is also now essentially off ventilator support, with the ventilator being used only for brief periods of approximately one to two hours a day for rest.

There has also been encouraging progress in speech and communication. After initially producing only faint sounds and later individual words, Gurumahārāja is now able to speak groups of words at a time, allowing him to communicate more effectively.

However, there has not yet been significant improvement in his swallowing ability. Speech and swallowing rehabilitation continues, and the tracheostomy remains in place until he regains sufficient swallowing ability for it to be safely removed. We remain hopeful that continued rehabilitation will bring further improvement.

We are grateful to Śrī Śrī Guru-Gaurāṅga and Śrīla Prabhupāda for these encouraging developments. We humbly request everyone to continue praying for Gurumahārāja’s breathing, swallowing, speech, strength, and complete recovery, and that he may gradually become independent of the tracheostomy.

“My dear Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava, Śrī Pañca-tattva, Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, and Śrīla Prabhupāda, if You so desire, please bless Guru Mahārāja to remain free from infection, regain his strength, recover his ability to speak and swallow, become increasingly independent in his breathing, and steadily progress toward stable health and complete recovery.”

On behalf of the JPS Health Team & JPS Seva Committee,
Mahā Varāhā Dāsa

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=119721

In this inspiring session from the "Books are the Basis" festival, Dr. Mishra is joined by senior ISKCON leader and GBC, His Grace Dvarakananda Prabhu. Together, they discuss the vital role of Srila Prabhupada's books in securing the future of ISKCON, nurturing the younger generation, and grounding devotional service in deep philosophical understanding.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=119709

By Atma Tattva Das,

The Bhakti Yoga Society (BYS) held an in-person national student retreat at Banana Beach Holiday Resort on South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal South Coast from September 11 to 13, 2026. Organized around the theme “Inner Adventure,” the gathering brought together 66 students and facilitators connected with university outreach in several South African cities. Organizers described it as the first national BYS retreat in more than a decade.

The event was a national initiative of ISKCON South Africa, whose BYS leadership helped inspire the effort and made a substantial financial contribution. Visiting teachers included S.B. Keshava Swami and B.S. Gauranga Swami, South Africa’s youngest and most recent sannyasa initiate. Yoga instructor and WITS BYS alumnus Madhavendrapuri Das joined UKZN BYS facilitators Vasanti Dasi and Madhurya Kadambini Dasi. Organizers included Rukmini Devi Dasi from Durban; Manukanya Devi Dasi, WuSA House temple president and WITS BYS Counselor; Kriya Sing from Pretoria; and Gokulesh Das, ISKCON Cape Town temple president and a university-outreach facilitator.

The retreat took place during ISKCON’s 60th-anniversary year. The movement was founded in New York in 1966, while South African devotees marked 50 years since founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s 1975 visit in 2025. During that visit, Prabhupada addressed university audiences at the University of Natal’s Westville campus, now part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) in Johannesburg. The 2026 retreat extended that campus focus by asking how young adults can engage spiritual practice while facing questions about identity, belief and contemporary life.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/bys-national-retreat-reconnects-south-africas-student-seekers/

Yudhistir Govinda Das, Trustee and Country Director of Communications for ISKCON India, was invited to address the ASSOCHAM’s National Tourism Conclave in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss the relationship between tradition, tourism, and technology.

Held at Hotel Shangri-La Eros, the conclave brought together government representatives, tourism boards, hospitality leaders, investors, and travel technology companies. Its theme, “Tourism as an Economic Engine: Technology, Policy, Investment & Global Partnerships,” addressed the development of India’s tourism industry.

Yudhistir Govinda Das participated in a panel discussion alongside the CEO of DigiYatra, the Chief Experience Officer of EaseMyTrip, and the CEO of  Hotel Sircle.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-brings-pilgrimage-perspective-to-national-tourism-conclave/

The 2026 New Govardhana Kirtana Mela was a grand success with over a thousand registered guests and thousands more on the individual days participating.

As usual, there were many kirtana leaders and each one was given a 30 minute slot to head up blissful chanting. Everything was organized brilliantly by the N.G. management with stalls and booths serving sumptuous prasadam.

Source: https://ramaiswami.com/kirtana-mela/

ISKCON India’s challenge to a Supreme Court ruling on ownership of the Bengaluru Hare Krishna temple remains before the court after it decided to hear a review petition, a development India’s Communications Director Yudhistir Govinda Dasa called a “significant milestone.”

LawBeat reports that the court issued notice in December 2025 on the petition challenging its May 16, 2025 judgment, which recognized the Bengaluru society as the temple’s lawful owner. On September 28, 2026, the court was asked to schedule the matter for hearing.

According to an ISKCON India press release cited by LawBeat, the petitioners submitted more than 6,000 pages of material supporting allegations of fraud, forgery, and manipulation of public records. Those allegations remain contested.

The review provides an opportunity for ISKCON India to have its challenge heard, though the May 2025 judgment has not been reversed.

Read the full report at LawBeat.
 
Source: https://iskconnews.org/india-courts-decision-to-review-the-bengaluru-case-marks-a-significant-milestone/

By Atma Tattva Das, 

On November 3, 2027, the fiftieth anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, copper plates micro-engraved with names will be carried to his Samadhi Mandir in Vrindavan, an offering, not a database entry, that organizers plan to repeat every year after. Each name belongs to someone who registered their ISKCON membership before that date.

The offering is part of the 60-50 observance marking ISKCON’s 60th anniversary alongside Srila Prabhupada’s 50th Tirobhava anniversary, and has an audacious target of 500,000 registered members through ISKCONconnection.org. Pancharatna Das, a devotee since 1970, leads the effort and splits his year between Mayapur and ISKCON New York. He isn’t a GBC member, but serves on its Organizational Development Committee and Strategic Planning Team, which oversee ISKCON Connection. Their work has spent over a decade circling one simple question: who exactly is a member of ISKCON?

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/register-your-name-for-srila-prabhupadas-samadhi-offering/

Markine Bhagavata-dharma – Boro Kripa Koile Krishna – by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

Most of us glorify Srila Prabhupad daily by reciting ‘namaste Saraswate deve Gaura vani pracarine, nirvisesa suyawadi paschatya desh tarine’….paschatya desh tarine means deliverer of Western Countries.

Forty Six years ago, on Sep 17th 1965, Srila Prabhupad arrived in USA to preach the timeless message of Krsna Consciousness to Western World. He wanted to start with USA. He stepped ashore in Boston after 35 day journey on board the cargo ship Jaladut from Calcutta, India. During those 35 days, Srila Prabhupad faced 2 massive heart attracts but it did not deter his resolve to preach. He was ready to step into the battlefield….ready to preach boldly without compromise the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It was at Bostons’s Commonwealth Pier where Srila Prabhupad first set foot in the Western world.

When Srila Prabhupad landed in USA, he prayed to Sri Krsna for the deliverance of American people. He wrote a beautiful bhajan/ poem to Sri Krsna in which he says – "I wish that you may deliver them. Therefore, if You so desire their deliverance, only then will they be able to understand Your message."

"boro-krpa koile krsna adhamer prati / ki lagiyanile hetha koro ebe gati" - sung by Swarup damodar das. Read more song - http://www.vaishnavsongs.com/

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18969

I will begin by reading a couple of exchanges with Srila Prabhupada about his coming to America. Once, Srila Prabhupada was asked, “Your godbrothers who came to the West went to England and Germany. Why did you choose to come to America?” And he replied, “They went and came back to India without accomplishing anything. So I thought, ‘If I am going to fail, at least let me fail in a different place.’ ”

And on a morning walk in Los Angeles, a disciple said to Prabhupada, “When you came to the Western world, no one anywhere believed it would be successful. But actually it has become very successful, by preaching.”

“I myself did not believe, ‘I shall be successful,’ ” Prabhupada replied, “what to speak of others. But because I did in the proper line, so it has become successful.”

Of course, it was a difficult voyage for Srila Prabhupada on the ship Jaladuta, and on the way he had two heart attacks, and he thought that if he had a third, he might not survive. He kept a diary, and that has been published—The Jaladuta Diary.

I will read a little from Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta to give the background leading up to Srila Prabhupada’s arrival: “On the night of the second day, Prabhupada had a dream. Lord Krishna, in His many forms, was rowing a boat, and He told Prabhupada that he should not fear, but should come along. Prabhupada felt assured of Lord Krishna’s protection, and the violent attacks did not recur.”

On Thursday, September 9, Srila Prabhupada wrote in his diary, “This afternoon, we have crossed over the Atlantic Ocean for twenty-four hours. The whole day was clear and almost smooth. I am taking my food regularly and have got some strength to struggle. There is also a slight tacking of the ship and I am feeling a slight headache also. But I am struggling and the nectarine of life is Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, the source of all my vitality.”

Then the next day, Friday, September 10, just a week before he arrived in America, he wrote, “Today the ship is plying very smoothly. I feel today better. But I am feeling separation from Sri Vrindaban and my Lords Sri Govinda, Gopinath, Radha Damodar. The only solace is Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita in which I am tasting the nectarine of Lord Chaitanya’s lila [pastimes]. I have left Bharatabhumi just to execute the order of Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati in pursuance of Lord Chaitanya’s order. I have no qualification, but I have taken up the risk just to carry out the order of His Divine Grace. I depend fully on Their mercy, so far away from Vrindaban.”

And when Srila Prabhupada arrived at Boston Harbor on September 18, 1965, he wrote a wonderful poem with rhyming stanzas, Markine Bhagavata-dharma, in which he expressed the same mood of dependence on the mercy of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:

baro-krpa kaile krsna adhamer prati
ki lagiyanile hetha koro ebe gati

“My dear Lord Krishna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. You can do whatever You like with me.”

In his humility, Srila Prabhupada refers to himself as a “useless soul.” And he submits himself, as he says later, as a puppet in the hands of Krishna and the parampara to do with him whatever they like. That should also be our mood in our devotional service, that we just want to be puppets in the hands of our spiritual master and act as he wants us to act or do as he wants us to do. And Srila Prabhupada’s poem gives us an insight not only into Prabhupada’s mood of surrender and dependence on the mercy of the Lord and his spiritual master, but also into what our mood should be in our execution of devotional service.

ache kichu karja taba ei anumane
nahe keno aniben ei ugra-sthane

“But I guess You have some business here; otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place?”

It is interesting that Srila Prabhupada called America a “terrible place” (ugra-sthane). Most people want to come to America. They think America is the promised land, where their desires will be fulfilled and all their aspirations will be met. But Srila Prabhupada is not seeing America in that, as the promised land, the land of the free and the home of the brave; he is seeing it as a terrible place.

rajas tamo gune era sabai acchanna
basudeb-katha ruci nahe se prasanna

“Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of ignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life, they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Vasudeva. I do not know how they will be able to understand it.”

In this verse Srila Prabhupada elaborates on the challenge he is facing in presenting Krishna consciousness, and that is that most of the population are covered by the modes of ignorance and passion, and to appreciate Krishna consciousness, or krsna-katha, one should be in the mode of goodness or at least be under the influence of goodness. So, Srila Prabhupada is seeing this formidable challenge that he will have to meet in presenting Krishna consciousness to the people in America.

tabe jadi taba krpa hoy ahaituki
sakal-i sambhava hoy tumi se kautuki

“But I know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible because You are the most expert mystic.”

After presenting his incapability, Srila Prabhupada now expresses his hope that Krishna will make the impossible possible, because Krishna is the most expert mystic. It is said in the Bhagavad-gita (18.78) about Krishna, yatra yogesvarah krsno, that He is the most expert mystic, so He can work miracles. And He did, through Srila Prabhupada.

ki bhave bujhale tara bujhe sei rasa
eta krpa koro prabhu kori nija-basa

“How will they understand the mellows of devotional service? O Lord, I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be able to convince them about Your message.”

Srila Prabhupada is exhibiting that mood of helpless dependence on the mercy of the Lord, and that should be our mood when we preach, that we pray for the Lord’s mercy to make our words suitable for the audience, and we also pray for the Lord’s mercy in the hearts of the audience, to make them receptive to the message.

When I was distributing books, I would always pray to say the right words to influence the person to take the books, and I would pray to the Lord in the heart of the person who I was approaching, to inspire them to take the book and do some service, give some donation for the book or magazine.

tomara icchaya saba hoy maya-basa
tomara icchaya nasa mayar parasa

“All living entities have come under the control of the illusory energy by Your will, and therefore, if You like, by Your will they can also be released from the clutches of illusion.”

For me, this particular stanza has special significance, because shortly after I first came to the Boston temple I was initiated by Srila Prabhupada by mail, and in my initiation letter Srila Prabhupada wrote, “I marked it in your person when I was in Boston, and I prayed to Krishna that this good soul may be aware of the importance of Krishna consciousness,” and Srila Prabhupada’s prayer for me was instrumental in my coming to Krishna consciousness. The Lord is known as bhakta-vatsala, very affectionate to His devotees, and if a devotee, especially a pure devotee like Srila Prabhupada, prays to the Lord, the Lord will accept the devotee’s prayer. Out of his causeless mercy, Srila Prabhupada prayed to Krishna to make “this good soul . . . aware of the importance of Krishna consciousness.” The prayer of the devotee to the Lord for the sake of a candidate for devotional service, or for the sake of a fallen soul, is effective.

Here Srila Prabhupada is saying, “All living entities have come under the control of the illusory energy by Your will, and therefore, if You like, by Your will they can also be released from the clutches of illusion.” So, yes, Krishna is all-powerful, and Srila Prabhupada is praying to Him on our behalf.

And then, in the next verse, he says it explicitly:

taba iccha hoy jadi tadera uddhar
bujhibe niscai tabe katha se tomar

“I wish that You may deliver them. Therefore, if You so desire their deliverance, then only will they be able to understand Your message.”

It reminds me of Prabhupada’s prayer for me, but he is so magnanimous that he is praying for everyone in America, and by extension for everyone everywhere, but specifically he’s praying for us fallen souls in America.

“I wish that You may deliver them. Therefore, if You so desire their deliverance,” which of course the Lords does, “then only will they be able to understand Your message.”

bhagavater katha se taba avatar
dhira haiya sune jadi kane bar bar

“The words of Srimad-Bhagavatam are Your incarnation . . .”

Very important. Yes, Srimad-Bhagavatam is Krishna Himself, an incarnation of Krishna.

Idam bhagavatam nama puranam brahma-sammitam: “This scripture named Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of God.” (SB 1.3.40)

krsne sva-dhamopagate
  dharma-jnanadibhih saha
kalau nasta-drsam esa
  puranarko ’dhunoditah

“This Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krsna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Purana.” (SB 1.3.43)

“. . . and if a sober person repeatedly receives it with submissive aural reception . . .”

So, these are the qualifications for understanding the message of Srimad-Bhagavatam: to be sober—not intoxicated by one’s own greatness or by the prospects of enjoying in the material world—and to receive it repeatedly (nityam bhagavate-sevaya). Nityam means “always,” or “regularly.” With submissive aural reception. It is very important to be submissive, not challenging.

When I first was coming to the Boston temple, one of the devotees told me that Srila Prabhupada had said that I was submissive, and I, in all my twenty-one years, had never heard of being submissive as a virtue. It was not something that we were taught. So, when Srila Prabhupada was appreciating that I was submissive, I thought, “Oh, that’s odd.” He was appreciating me for being submissive. But here he is saying, “The words of Srimad-Bhagavatam are Your incarnation, and if a sober person repeatedly receives it with submissive aural reception, then he will be able to understand Your message.”

And then, in his poem, Srila Prabhupada quotes five very important verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.17–21):

srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
  punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani
  vidhunoti suhrt satam

Suhrt satam is translated as “Krishna is the benefactor of the truthful devotee.” Satam. Sat is often a word for “devotee,” but the root of sat is “truth.” So, we should be truthful; we should not be duplicitous, pretentious, or hypocritical. We should be truthful, we should be honest, we should be sincere.

nasta-prayesv abhadresu
  nityam bhagavata-sevaya
bhagavaty uttama-sloke
  bhaktir bhavati naisthiki

This verse also has personal significance for me. The translation is, “By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.”

In the early days when we were serving Srila Prabhupada in India, he kept us so busy that we hardly had time to read. And I was starting to feel guilty that I wasn’t reading his books. So, one day I was sitting with him in his room in the Calcutta temple, and even though I didn’t say anything about feeling guilty, he could read my mind, and he quoted this verse: nasta-prayesv abhadresu, nityam bhagavata-sevaya. Bhagavata refers to the book Bhagavata or the person Bhagavata, the devotee Bhagavata. Srila Prabhupada was saying that by serving the person Bhagavata, all the truths of the book Bhagavata will be revealed to you even if you never read the book. He was encouraging me to continue with my service to him, the devotee Bhagavata, and he was assuring me that all the truths of the book would be revealed even if I didn’t read the book. Of course, that was a special time, when we were so busy; in general, we should do both—serve the person Bhagavata and read the book Bhagavata. But if under certain circumstances one is actually engaged fully in serving the person Bhagavata and does not have time to read the book Bhagavata—which could happen even now—all the truths of the book Bhagavata will be revealed.

tada rajas-tamo-bhavah
  kama-lobhadayas ca ye
ceta etair anaviddham
  sthitam sattve prasidati

evam prasanna-manaso
  bhagavad-bhakti-yogatah
bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam
  mukta-sangasya jayate

 bhidyate hrdaya-granthis
  chidyante sarva-samsayah
ksiyante casya karmani
  drsta evatmanisvare

Now, this is all in Srila Prabhupada’s poem: “It is said in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.17–21): ‘Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.’ ”

Srila Prabhupada quoted these verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam as the process by which he would deliver the fallen souls that he would encounter in the West. This cleansing of the heart is very difficult, and we are not able to do it on our own. Krishna enters the heart in the form of transcendental sound as Srimad-Bhagavatam, and that sound vibration is purifying, and more than that, Krishna, as the Supersoul, will also cleanse the heart of desires for material enjoyment. So, we’re really quite helpless on our own, but Krishna helps. All we have to do is lend submissive aural reception to His messages, and then He will help, both in the form of transcendental sound and as the Paramatma within the heart.

I’ll read it again; Prabhupada says it here repeatedly: “Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.” Punya-sravana-kirtanah: Just by hearing and chanting, one becomes pious or virtuous.

“By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome in the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the glorious Lord, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.”

The Sanskrit is nasta-prayesv abhadresu. Abhadresu means “all that is inauspicious,” nasta means “destroyed,” and prayesu means “almost completely.” Not completely—that comes later—but almost completely. (Commenting on this verse, Srila Prabhupada has said 75 percent.)

“At that time loving service is established in the heart and the modes of passion (rajas) and ignorance (tamas), and lust and desire (kama) disappear from the heart.”

Then you are really purified.

“And thus established in the mode of goodness, the man rejuvenated by loving service to the Lord gains liberation from all material association (mukti) and comes to know scientifically of the Personality of Godhead.”

Then the devotee, the listener, through submissive aural reception, which leads to liberation from material association (mukta-sangasya jayate), comes to know scientifically of the Personality of Godhead (bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam).

“Thus the knot in the heart and all misgivings are cut to pieces.”

It is so liberating just to read this.

“Thus the knot in the heart and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actions is terminated when one sees the self as master.”

After quoting these five verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Prabhupada continues his poem:

ajas tamo hate tabe paibe nistar
hrdayer abhadra sate ghucibe tahar

“He will become liberated from the influence of the modes of ignorance and passion and thus all inauspicious things accumulated in the core of the heart will disappear.” Srila Prabhupada, in his Bengali, was summarizing these verses.

ki ko’re bujhabo katha baro sei cahi
khudra ami dina hina kono sakti nahi

“How will I make them understand this message of Krishna consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified and the most fallen. Therefore, I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own.”

We can see Srila Prabhupada’s abject humility and his complete dependence on the Lord’s mercy. There is no pretense when he calls himself “the most fallen.”

Srila Prabhupada had a disciple who once said to him, “I am the most fallen,” and Srila Prabhupada replied, “You are not the most anything.” When Prabhupada said it, he meant it.  But Prabhupada was actually fulfilling his disciple’s desire; the devotee wanted to be humble, and he was presenting himself as humble, and Prabhupada’s words were humbling, “You are not the most anything.”

athaca enecho prabhu katha bolibare
je tomar iccha prabhu koro ei bare

“Somehow or other, O Lord, You have brought me here to speak about You. Now, my Lord, it is up to You to make me a success or failure as You like.”

Again, complete dependence on the Lord.

akhila jagat-guru! bacana se amar
alankrta koribar khamata tomar

“O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your message, and if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable for their understanding.”

This is also a very important verse, because it speaks to the point of realization. “I can simply repeat Your message.” So, we repeat, but at the same time Srila Prabhupada is praying to the Lord to make his power of speaking suitable for his audience.  Indirectly, he is alluding to the point of realization.

In his purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto One, Chapter Four, “The Appearance of Sri Narada,” text one, Srila Prabhupada gives a nice definition of realization:

vyasa uvaca
iti bruvanam samstuya
  muninam dirgha-satrinam
vrddhah kula-patih sutam
  bahvrcah saunako ’bravit

 TRANSLATION

Sri Vyasadeva said: On hearing Suta Gosvami speak thus, Saunaka Muni, who was the elderly, learned leader of all the rsis engaged in that prolonged sacrificial ceremony, congratulated Suta Gosvami by addressing him as follows.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Sri Saunaka Rsi had all these qualifications, and thus he stood up to congratulate Sri Suta Gosvami when he expressed his desire to present Srimad-Bhagavatam exactly as he heard it from Sukadeva Gosvami and also realized it personally. Personal realization does not mean that one should, out of vanity, attempt to show one’s own learning by trying to surpass the previous acarya. He must have full confidence in the previous acarya, and at the same time he must realize the subject matter so nicely that he can present the matter for the particular circumstances in a suitable manner. The original purpose of the text must be maintained. No obscure meaning should be screwed out of it, yet it should be presented in an interesting manner for the understanding of the audience. This is called realization.

COMMENT

Now I come back to Srila Prabhupada’s words here. It’s exactly the same thing:

akhila jagat-guru! bacana se amar
alankrta koribar khamata tomar

“O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your message . . .”

That’s the idea of just repeating, but more than that also:

“. . . so if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable for their understanding.”

taba krpa ha’le mor katha suddha habe
suniya sabara soka duhkha je ghucibe

“Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure. I am sure that when this transcendental message penetrates their hearts they will certainly feel engladdened and thus become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life.”

And that’s exactly what happened when Srila Prabhupada, empowered by Krishna, came—we heard him, we appreciated what he said, and we became happy. As Srila Prabhupada said, he was converting the hippies into happies.

aniyacho jadi prabhu amare nacate
nacao nacao prabhu nacao se-mate
kasthera puttali jatha nacao se-mate

“O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord, make me dance as You like.”

Such a beautiful metaphor.

bhakti nai beda nai name khub daro
“bhaktivedanta” nam ebe sarthak kor

“I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krsna. I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, and now, if You like, You can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta.”

Bhakti means “devotion,” and Vedanta means “knowledge.” Actually, Veda means “knowledge,” and anta means “the end of knowledge.” So, Srila Prabhupada is saying that he’s been designated as Bhaktivedanta but actually he has no devotion, bhakti, or knowledge, Vedanta, but, “I have strong faith in the holy name of Krishna.” And this in one sense is really the secret of Srila Prabhupada’s success—his strong faith in the holy name of Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada had a godbrother named Akincana Krishna dasa Babaji Maharaja, who Srila Prabhupada said was a paramahamsa, a liberated soul, and was always chanting. At Srila Prabhupada’s sannyasa initiation, Akincana Krishna dasa Babaji Maharaja was present in the Gaudiya Matha in Mathura, where Srila Prabhupada took sannyasa from His Holiness Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Maharaja. During the ceremony there was a break, and Babaji Maharaja started chanting, and then, when it was time for the mantras for the ceremony to begin again, the priest, not Kesava Maharaja, but his disciple who was doing the fire ceremony, motioned to Babaji Maharaja to stop chanting, and Prabhupada, behind his back, motioned to Babaji Maharaja, “Keep chanting, keep chanting.” And Babaji Maharaja said that at that time he understood that Srila Prabhupada would become the world leader of the Hare Krishna movement, because he had complete faith in the holy names. And Srila Prabhupada himself says it here: “I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krsna. I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, and now, if You like, You can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta.”

And Srila Prabhupada signed the poem:

“Signed-the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami,

on board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier,
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
dated 18th of September, 1965”

This poem was unknown to us, and Srila Prabhupada himself wasn’t even sure if there was any record of it. But devotees did find it, and they published it in Back to Godhead magazine. And that Back to Godhead with the poem came into our hands in 1971 when we were staying at the Sea Palace hotel on Colaba, which was owned by our friend and life member Ramachand Chhabria. It was a vegetarian hotel, and we didn’t have any other place to stay in Bombay then, and he allowed us to stay free of charge. So, the magazine came, and Gurudas and his wife Yamuna Devi and I were reading that from the Back to Godhead, and when we came to the signature, “the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami,” Yamuna Devi burst out into tears. She was just so moved by Srila Prabhupada’s humility. I will never forget that. She burst out into tears. We should have such feelings for Srila Prabhupada.

So, this is a momentous historic occasion—Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America—and because of his coming here, pursuant to the order of his spiritual master, our lives have been changed: we have been saved from nature’s modes of passion and ignorance and all the other things that Srila Prabhupada described about the population that he was preparing to encounter.

Devotee: What do you think inspired Srila Prabhupada to write such a poem? Most of us, when we land in another place, the first thing we think of is, “Thank God we are out of this airplane, or this boat.”

Giriraj Swami: Srila Prabhupada was very sober and deliberate, and he was feeling very helpless and dependent on the mercy of the Lord and his spiritual master. It’s true—I never thought of it in that way, but it’s true—that usually after a journey we can’t wait to get off the boat or out of the airplane. But yes, I guess it was out of Srila Prabhupada’s humility, his feeling meek and humble, that he wrote this. He said it was a terrible place, so maybe that was part of it; he wasn’t in a hurry to get into the terrible place.

It’s such a gift to us that we have this poem in which he expresses his mood of surrender: “O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord, make me dance as You like.”

Siddhi-lalasa dasi: I heard Prabhupada saying that he was successful because he was in line. So, does that mean being in line with the disciplic succession? My question is, Weren’t his godbrothers also in line? So, what was the difference?

Giriraj Swami: The difference, I would say, and I’m not saying; I’m repeating what Krishna dasa Babaji Maharaja said. . . . Srila Prabhupada had a godbrother named Bon Maharaja, and Bon Maharaja also came to the West. So, once, Babaji Maharaja asked Bon Maharaja, “You went to the West, and Swami Maharaja went to the West . . .” That was how they referred to Srila Prabhupada: Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja. “You went to the West, and Swami Maharaja went to the West. You presented the teaching of Lord Chaitanya, and he presented the teachings of Lord Chaitanya. You did the same things that he did, but he was successful and you could not do anything. What is the reason?” And then Babaji Maharaja himself gave the answer: “Because he had full faith in the holy name of Krishna.” And Srila Prabhupada says as much here: “I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge’’—that is his humility—“but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krishna.” And he had faith that if we chanted, everything else would follow.

[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival in America, September 9, 2020, ISKCON Portland (via Zoom)]

Source: https://girirajswami.com/blog/?p=17464#more-17464

Srila Prabhupada arrived in the United States on September 17th, 1965, reaching Boston’s Commonwealth Pier aboard the cargo ship Jaladuta. He left Calcutta (Kolkata), India, on August 13, 1965, at 69 years old.

The 35-day sea voyage was difficult. He suffered severe sea-sickness and two heart attacks while crossing the ocean. He traveled with practically nothing—about 40 rupees (roughly seven dollars), a box of dry cereal, a suitcase, an umbrella, and several translated volumes of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

While looking out at the city, he wrote a famous prayer in Bengali titled “Markine Bhagavata Dharma”. In it, he humbly wrote: “My dear Lord Krishna, you are so kind upon this useless soul. But I do not know why you have brought me here. Now you can do whatever you like with me.”

After a brief stop in Boston, the ship proceeded to dock in Brooklyn, New York, on September 19, 1965. He initially stayed with Gopal and Sally Agarwal in Butler, Pennsylvania, before moving to New York City.

In 1966, he officially established the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in New York, sparking a global spiritual movement. 

Source: https://ramaiswami.com/srila-prabhupadas-arrival-in-the-usa-5/