BOOKS ARE THE BASIS

_{Srila Prabhupada and his beloved books}

Srila Prabhupada, the pioneer of ISKCON began this worldwide revolution in the year 1966 in New York City and the movement is still continuing to change many people’s lives throughout. Noone can ever repay back for what he has given to the world, for he built a home in which the whole world can stay. His contributions to the society are endless! But his Main Mission that was also the heart and soul of the movement was the printing and distribution of his Transcendental Books, that was also the order of his Spiritual Master HDG Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupad toiled day and night for writing these Transcendental Literatures “the most treasured jewel” that anyone can have in his/her lives, even in the last phase of his life in spite of such a frantic schedule of overseas trips, management of a worldwide movement, giving discourses and what not Srila Prabhupada continued to write profusely. He used to hit the bed by 10pm and wake up before midnight to continue to do what he loved the most. These books are “Brhada-Mrdanga” (the great drum) a term devised by Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada throws light on the power of distributing Books, because these books when distributed can go from country to country, from continent to continent and make a profound impact on people.

Having been ordered by his Spiritual Master that “if you ever get money print books” Srila Prabhupada established the BBT (BHAKTIVEDANTA BOOK TRUST) that is the world’s largest publisher of books on Vedic philosophy in the year 1972. It has a collection of a score of unique Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition books that Srila Prabhupada has written/translated.
From his first Back to Godhead magazine that was published by him single handedly in 1944, the Bhagavad-Gita the jewel of India’s spiritual wisdom and a battlefield conversation between two friends and an introduction to the vedas. Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita a principle Bengali work on the life and teachings of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nectar of Devotion a summary study of Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu which was written by Srila Rupa Goswami. Nectar of Instruction a collection of 11 verses composed by Srila Rupa Goswami to Srimad Bhagwatam’s final translation in 1977 that he gave just a few weeks before his departure from this mortal world, Srila Prabhupada gave the best gift to this world in the form of his books that are the treasure house of spiritual bliss.

Srila Prabhupada once said that he reads his own books!!!

“Every morning when I sit here to write my books Krsna comes personally and he dictates to me what to write, I simply take dictation from Krsna and I write these books.

Therefore when I read them even I learn something.”

-(Srila Prabhupada Room conversation with Bhagavat Das Vanachari, Bombay, 1974)

The best part is that because of these books we get to associate with Srila Prabhupada everyday if we read his books, though we may not be associating with him physically but we are getting his association through his words,his teachings that helps us to understand this spiritual science and are our guide for life. Once Srila Prabhupada was asked that what will happen to the movement when he will die? To which he replied

“I WILL NEVER DIE, I SHALL LIVE FROM MY BOOKS, AND YOU WILL UTILISE…”