Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura

Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada was born in 1873 at Jagganath Puri. His father, Kedar Dutta Bhaktivinode Thakur, was magistrate of the city and superintendent of Jagganath temple. Once, during the Rathajatra Car Festival, the car stopped in front of the family's house and, taking the opportunity, the mother of Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati came out with the baby and put him on the Lotus Feet of Jagganath. A garland from the hand of Jagganath fell down on the baby.

Prabhupada was educated in Calcutta and became professor of Mathematics and Astronomy. In his childhood he once took a mango which was meant as an offering for the Deity. When his father rebuked him, saying that he should not have taken the fruit which was meant for the Lord, the child took it very seriously and thought himself a great offender, promising not to take mango again throughout his whole life. He was know as Bimal Prasad Dutta before his renunciation, or sannyasi. On account of his writing a book on astronomy known as "Sruya Siddhanta," he received the title Siddhanta Saraswati. And, when he took sannyasi, preaching the gospel of Lord Chaitanya, he was known as Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati. He was acclaimed a great scholar in Calcutta, and the celebrated Dr. Kalidas Nag used to call him "a living encyclopedia."

Thakur Bhaktivinode trained his son in childhood for preaching, and after taking sannyasi Prabhupada started the Gaudiya Mission Institution. All the Gaudiya Maths in different parts of India, plus one in London and another in Berlin altogether 64 branches were started by him. At present his worthy disciples have increased the number of preaching centers in different parts of the world. So Thakur Bhaktivinode was the initiator of Krishna Consciousness, working from Mayapur, the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya. And Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati was the priest of the movement. Today, his disciples are continuing to expand this great work wherever they can be heard.