Vyasa Puja Offering to Srila Prabhupada on His 130th Appearance Day

This year, 2026, we are celebrating the 130th appearance anniversary of Srila Prabhupada. On this auspicious occasion, let us bow our heads at his lotus feet and reflect upon a few of his wonderful qualities.

1. Age is just a page — he showed us how to engage

After the age of 60, most people prefer to live a retired and comfortable life. Surrounded by family members, they seek a secure and peaceful life. Even those who have renounced material life and wish to engage in the service of the Lord may prefer to avoid strenuous or demanding service. This is natural because, after 60, a person is generally no longer as young or energetic as before.

But Srila Prabhupada never allowed his age or bodily condition to become an obstacle to his mission. As a dedicated devotee of Krishna, he knew that we are not the body; we are eternal spirit souls. The body may be young or old, just as our clothing may be new or old, but this does not determine the determination, enthusiasm, and spiritual strength of the soul.

A spiritually realized soul is not distracted by the changing conditions of the body. Prahlāda Mahārāja taught that devotional service can begin at any age—he himself began when he was just five years old. Srila Prabhupada showed us the other side of the same truth: devotional service can and should continue throughout our entire life, regardless of age.

At an age when most people were thinking about retirement, Srila Prabhupada was busy planning how to expand Krishna consciousness all over the world. From the age of 69, he began travelling all over the world to share the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. He would get up in the middle of the night to write commentaries on Vedic literature. He continued doing so until the last breath of his life.

Srila Prabhupada taught us how to always remain enthusiastically engaged in the service of Krishna.

Age was just a page for him—but every page of his life was dedicated to Krishna’s service.

2. He influenced the West, did not get influenced by the West

In the 1960s and 1970s, the West was considered far more advanced and prosperous than India. Many Indians dreamed of going to the West in search of a better life. Even some spiritual teachers travelled to America and Europe to share India’s spiritual wisdom. But there was always a danger of becoming enamoured by Western material culture. People could begin imitating the Western way of dressing, eating and behaving.

Srila Prabhupada, however, went to the West for an entirely different purpose. He did not go there to be influenced by the West; he went there to influence the West.

Prabhupada had no personal desire to settle in a foreign country or enjoy Western comforts. He went because his spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, had instructed him to spread the pure philosophy of Krishna consciousness throughout the world. Moreover, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had predicted that the holy name of Krishna would be chanted in every town and village of the world. Srila Prabhupada took up the responsibility of helping fulfill that prediction.

And he did not simply teach Western devotees how to chant Hare Krishna. He taught them how to live as Vaiṣṇavas. He taught them how to dress like Vaiṣṇavas, eat like Vaiṣṇavas, behave like Vaiṣṇavas and organize their entire lives around Krishna consciousness.

What an extraordinary transformation it was! Those who had grown up in Western culture began wearing dhoti-kurtas and colorful saris, applying Vaiṣṇava tilaka, following regulated principles and dedicating their lives to serving Krishna.

The world had expected India to imitate the West. Srila Prabhupada reversed the direction of influence.

He went to influence the West—not to be influenced by the West.

3. Risk taker, fear breaker — Krishna-consciousness mission torchbearer

After retiring from family life and dedicating himself completely to Krishna’s service, Srila Prabhupada had no assured financial support. During his stay with the Gauḍīya Saṅgha in Delhi, he faced tremendous difficulties. He struggled even for the basic necessities of life—food, clothing and shelter.

Srila Prabhupada’s biography describes those days:

“Without income or institutional shelter, Abhay began staying in various homes in Delhi, living from week to week wherever he received an invitation. In terms of food, clothing, and shelter, these were the most difficult times he had ever gone through.” Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta, Volume One, Chapter Eight, New Delhi – “Crying Alone in the Wilderness

Yet none of these difficulties could stop him. He continued writing, editing and publishing Back to Godhead, and then personally went out to distribute it.

Once, while distributing Back to Godhead, he was hit by a bull in the middle of the road and suffered severe injuries. But he did not become discouraged. He did not complain to Krishna, asking, “Why are You doing this to me?” Instead, he saw Krishna’s protection even in the midst of difficulty.

Srila Prabhupada later narrated this incident in a lecture:

“So when I was publishing this Back to Godhead from Delhi, one day one bull thrashed me, and I fell down on the footpath and I got severe injury. I was alone. So I was thinking, ‘What is this?’ So I had many days of very tribulations, but it was all meant for good. So don’t be afraid of tribulations. Go forward. Krishna will give you protection.” Ref. Lecture – April 17, 1969, New York  https://srilaprabhupadalila.org/read/SPFPP_1046

On another occasion, while distributing Back to Godhead in Connaught Place, Delhi, Srila Prabhupada fainted from sunstroke. But as soon as he regained consciousness, he resumed distributing the magazine.

And then came the greatest risk of all.

With only ₹40, Srila Prabhupada boarded the Jaladuta, a cargo ship bound for America, to begin his worldwide preaching mission. He was 69 years old. He had no disciples waiting for him, no institutional support and no guarantee of success. During the journey, he suffered two heart attacks and severe seasickness.

Yet he continued.

He did not turn back. Prabhupada did not allow fear, physical suffering, financial insecurity or uncertainty about the future to deter him from his mission.

He was a one-man army. With practically no resources, he single-handedly carried the flag of Krishna consciousness across the world.

And today, because that one fearless devotee refused to give up, you and I have the opportunity to serve Krishna and practice devotional service.

That is why Srila Prabhupada was a:

Risk taker, fear breaker — Krishna-consciousness mission torchbearer.

My Prayer to Srila Prabhupada

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

You took so many risks and underwent so many hardships to save us from the miserable material life.

You struggled tirelessly to connect us with Krishna, giving us the opportunity to perfect our lives and return to Him.

I do not have the words to adequately express my gratitude to you. Whatever spiritual opportunity I have today is because of your causeless mercy.

On this auspicious occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā, I humbly beg at your lotus feet to always keep me under your shelter.

Please continue to guide me, bless me and give me the strength to give up my desires for material enjoyment and dedicate my life to the service of Lord Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada, please never let me forget you, your instructions, and the mission you gave us.

I pray that I may remain your servant, under your shelter, life after life.

All glories to you, Srila Prabhupada!

Your eternal Servant

Purushottam Nitai Das

Further Reading

Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada on his 129th appearance day