Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Prabhupada (1874–1937,) born Bimalā Prasāda Datta, was a Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Hindu spiritual leader, ācārya (teacher,) and revivalist in Bengal.
Born in Jagannatha Puri, Odisha state, Thakura was educated in mathematics and astronomy in Calcutta. He received the title Siddhānta Sarasvatī after taking saṃnyāsa (renunciation,) he served for many years as a secretary and historian at the royal court and tutored the palace’s princes.
In 1918, Siddhānta Sarasvatī formed the Gaudiya Maṭh for the propagation of devotional Vaiṣṇava Hinduism in the mold of the 16th-century Bengali bhakti (devotional) saint Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī is most remembered today as the spiritual master of A. C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupada (1896–1977,) the founder-ācārya of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON.) Since the 1960s, ISKCON has been at the forefront of propagating devotional Vaiṣṇavism to the United States and other parts of the world.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Don’t try to see God, but act in such a way that God will want to see you.
—Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Do not give up devotional service even if there are innumerable dangers, countless insults and endless harassment. Do not become disheartened that most people in this world do not accept the message of unalloyed devotional service. Never give up your devotional service.
—Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
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