Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, also known as Srila Prabhupada, was a prominent spiritual leader and revivalist of the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition in early 20th-century India. He was born Bimala Prasad Datt on 6 February 1874 in the town of Jagannath Puri, in the present-day state of Odisha, India. As a child, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati showed great intellectual potential, and he received a thorough education in Sanskrit, philosophy, and theology from his father, a renowned scholar, and Vaishnava monk. After completing his studies, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati became a professor of Sanskrit and philosophy at Calcutta University.
In 1918, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati founded the Gaudiya Math, a religious institution aimed at reviving and promoting the teachings of the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition. He also initiated a series of reforms within the tradition, emphasizing the importance of scriptural study, the necessity of devotional service to Krishna, and the rejection of sectarianism and caste-based discrimination. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was a prolific writer and scholar who authored numerous books and articles on Vaisnava philosophy and theology. He also trained many disciples, including A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who later founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and became a major figure in the spread of the Hare Krishna movement in the West. Sarasvati passed away on 1 January 1937, but his legacy continues to inspire and guide followers of the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition. He is remembered for his tireless efforts to revive and promote the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the founder of the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition, and for his commitment to spreading the message of devotional service and love of God.
