Abhay`s Story

"Srila Bhaktisiddhanta`s explanation of the independence movement as a temporary, incomplete cause had made a deep IMPACT on Abhay. "

On seeing the excerpt above many curious doubts such as who Srila Bhaktisiddhanta and Abhay are, why the former branded the independence movement as being temporary and incomplete cause pop up in the minds of inquisitive observers. If you are really one of such people, I don't mind telling the inspiring story of Abhay to subside your curiosity. 

When Abhay was born in Calcutta in 1896 the family astrologer predicted that he would start 108 temples across the countries. The father of the boy Gour Mohan De, who was a staunch Vaishnavite was very delighted on hearing the  prediction. 

Gour Mohan used to offer prayers to Radha - Govinda and would tell Abhay how Lord Chaitanya had sung and danced in the procession of Rath Yatra in Jagannath Puri some four hundred years before. In fact Gour Mohan wanted his son to become a preacher of Bhagavatam. He got playing of the mrudamgam drum taught to his son so that he could sing beautiful songs of Lord Sri Krishna and play the musical instrument along.  

Abhay was one year junior to Subhas Chandra Bose in college. As in the case of everyone else of his age he was also influenced both by Bose and Gandhi. He used to wear khadi. One day a friend of his took him to a sadhu by name Srila Bhaktisiddhanta who at once asked Abhay and his friend to preach Lord Chaitanya`s message to the whole world since they were educated and ware capable of doing it. He was delighted with the proposal but he had some doubts as to why that was so important when the country was struggling under the British Rule.  When he expressed his doubts the sadhu explained that the real self was the soul and the eternal reality was Krishna consciousness.    

Though he was very much influenced by the words of the spiritual man, he could not be fully devoted to spreading Krishna consciousness. He had family and  a business. For thirty years or more since then he encountered many hardships. Great famine hit Bengal. Thousands died. People starved. Children craved for food and fought with dogs near dust bins for a morsel. All these left a powerful impression on Abhay. He wanted people in India and the west to become god conscious. This was his goal in life. With little savings he had from his work, he started a magazine `Back to Godhead`. In a dramatic twist of fate he lost his business and forsook  his family. He literally became mendicant. He got through winters without a coat and got sunstroke during summers. However, he continued publishing his magazine with meagre donations he managed to get and sold the copies at railway stations and public places. At fifty five years of age it would be difficult for anyone to bear such troubles. 

He took sanyasa and became Bhaktivedanta Swamy. To fulfil his life`s goal he wanted to translate Srimad-Bhagavatam into English. Srimad-Bhagavatam had eighteen thousand verses in it. Bhaktivedanta calculated that he would have to write around sixty volumes to fully translate the Bhagavatam. At his age one would think of retiring from active work. But this man began his life`s mission. Isn`t it something wonderful? 

By sixty nine he managed to get three volumes of his work published and got favourable responses. But his main aim of going west and preaching Krishna Consciousness there remained unfulfilled. With great difficulty he could get a sponsor in the USA. He got all the mandatory sanctions from the government and set out for the west by a ship - the Jaladoota.  He finally reached America. He lived for 12 years after that. During this time he did very commendable work. He founded ISKCON - International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York, authored eighty books, went round the globe for fourteen times to preach his message. As the astrologer predicted ISKCON grew into a confederation of 108 temples during his life time. 

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare 

This is the inspiring story of Abhay who is popularly known as Prabhupada or Bhaktivedanta Swamy. A father`s wish and the impact of a  guru`s words made a man a mission. 

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can  apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

© Dantuluri Kishore Varma