Śrīla Prabhupāda — Founder-Acharya of ISKCON

Within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the position of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda is entirely unique. He is not simply a founder or the movement's first teacher; he is the Founder-Acharya.

The Sanskrit word acharya means "one who teaches by personal example." As the Founder-Acharya, Śrīla Prabhupāda is the spiritual anchor and the foundational authority for the entire worldwide ISKCON community, both now and for generations to come.

What Does "Founder-Acharya" Mean?

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s role extends far beyond the administrative establishment of the society in 1966.

• The Foundation of Knowledge: His translations and authoritative purports on the Vedic scriptures—such as the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and the Srimad-Bhagavatam—form the philosophical and spiritual core (the canon) of ISKCON.

• The Standard of Practice: He established the standards for temple worship, the daily spiritual disciplines (such as chanting 16 rounds of japa), and the four foundational regulative principles (no meat/fish/eggs, no gambling, no intoxication, and no illicit sex).

• The Eternal Guide: Although he physically departed from this world in 1977, he remains the primary spiritual guide (shiksha-guru) for every subsequent generation of devotees through his books, recorded instructions, and teachings (vani).

   

A Groundbreaking Mission

When Śrīla Prabhupāda arrived in New York in 1965 aboard a cargo ship at the age of 69, carrying only a handful of rupees, he bore the instruction of his spiritual master: broadcast Vedic knowledge in the English language. In the twelve years that followed, he traveled around the globe fourteen times, established over one hundred temples, and inspired thousands of people to take up the path of Vaishnavism.

Due to his sacrifices and unconditional devotion, Krishna consciousness is now accessible all over the world—from major Western capitals to mandirs across Suriname.