His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, known throughout the world as ISKCON. He carried the teachings of Lord Krishna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu from India to the West and established a global movement centered on chanting the holy names, studying sacred texts, worshiping Krishna, distributing prasadam, and serving all people with spiritual knowledge.

Srila Prabhupada was born in Calcutta, India, on 1 September 1896. His birth name was Abhay Charan De. From childhood he was drawn to devotion to Krishna, and in 1922 he met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, the great Gaudiya Vaishnava teacher who became his spiritual master. At their first meeting, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur asked him to spread the message of Lord Caitanya in the English language.

Srila Prabhupada accepted that instruction as his life mission. He was initiated in 1933, later accepted the renounced order of life, sannyasa, in 1959, and worked steadily to translate and publish the teachings of the Vaishnava scriptures. Before leaving India, he prepared the first volumes of Srimad-Bhagavatam, seeing book publication as essential for sharing Krishna consciousness in a lasting way.

In 1965, at the age of sixty-nine, Srila Prabhupada travelled by cargo ship from Calcutta to New York. He arrived with little money, but with his translations of Srimad-Bhagavatam and deep faith in the instruction of his spiritual master. In New York he began teaching Bhagavad-Gita, chanting Hare Krishna, cooking and serving prasadam, and speaking with seekers who were looking for a deeper spiritual life.

In July 1966 he incorporated the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York. From that beginning, ISKCON grew into a worldwide spiritual society with temples, farms, schools, restaurants, festivals, book distribution, and public chanting of the holy names. Srila Prabhupada personally guided his disciples in worship, philosophy, daily practice, preaching, publishing, and community life.

Srila Prabhupada's books remain central to his legacy. He translated and commented on major Vaishnava scriptures, including Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, The Nectar of Devotion, and Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust was established to publish his works and related Vaishnava literature.

Srila Prabhupada departed from this world in Vrindavan, India, on 14 November 1977. His teachings continue through his books, lectures, letters, recordings, disciples, followers, temples, festivals, and the daily practice of devotees around the world.

For New Jagannath Puri, Srila Prabhupada's mission is not only history. It is the foundation for Deity worship, prasadam distribution, book distribution, kirtana, festivals, and welcoming people into Krishna consciousness. Local details about the temple's own connection with Srila Prabhupada should be added after stakeholder review.