A visionary is defined in the dictionary as a farsighted and creative thinker. By listing just a few of his long list of achievements, let us understand whether the word, ‘Visionary’ actually does justice to the phenomenal achievements of Srila Prabhupada.
He instructed his disciples in 1967 to start an incense business to provide financial support for the temples. Within four years the business, Spiritual Sky Incense, generated an annual revenue of one million dollars (equivalent to $4,600,000 in 2004).
He created the world's first chain of vegetarian restaurants.
He had scores of interviews and philosophical discussions with news reporters, scientists, religious leaders and politicians, as well as meetings with world-renowned dignitaries and celebrities like Indira Gandhi, Allen Ginsberg, Ravi Shankar, Alice Coltrane, John Lennon and George Harrison.
He published the monthly magazine, Back to Godhead, which he called the backbone of his movement. At the height of its circulation in the mid seventies, over a million copies per issue were sold.
He launched the ISKCON Life Membership Program that enrolled tens of thousands of members.
He established primary schools to provide education in the principles of devotional service.
He founded the Bhaktivedanta Institute to advance Krishna consciousness within the scientific community, engaging serious academics in the consideration of the science of self-realization.
He formed the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust to unearth and renovate the holy places of Lord Chaitanya's pastimes.
He set up farm communities to teach "simple living and high thinking", emphasizing cow protection and dependence on God and nature.
He directed some of his followers to learn the Indian art of "doll making" to present Vedic philosophy through dioramas. This project became the
He counseled his disciples on complex managerial, philosophical and personal issues in more than 6,000 archived letters.
Click here to read a summary of Srila Prabhupada’s miraculous accomplishments from 1965 to 1977
Srila Prabhupada – Vision speak
-Letter to Nripen Babu, San Francisco, March 18, 1967
He (Srila Prabhupada) seemed to know that he would have temples filled up with devotees. He would look out and say, "I am not a poor man, I am rich. There are temples and books, they are existing, they are there, but the time is separating us from them."
-Mr. Ruben, (subway conductor who met Prabhupada in 1965)
The Shrimad Bhagavatam Mahatmyam (The Glories of Shrimad Bhagavatam) is a section of the