Srila Prabhupada and His Books
Srila Prabhupada met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in Vrindavana. In a private meeting Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master told him in 1935, “I have a desire to print some books. If you ever get money, print books.” Srila Prabhupada always stressed this point and with the help of his disciples he published many books in English which includes the commentary on Indian classics like Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and Chaitanya Charitamrita.
Of all his contributions, Srila Prabhupada considered his books to be of utmost importance. He insisted that his disciples read these books, discuss among themselves, understand it and practically apply it in their lives. He considered these books to be the basis of the Krishna Consciousness Movement and the distribution of these books to be the most important preaching activity.
In 1970, Srila Prabhupada founded the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT), now the world’s largest publisher of Vedic literature. Srila Prabhupada wanted his books to be translated in all languages and today they are available in more than 80 languages. We present the Catalog of Srila Prabhupada’s Books here for your reference. Please ensure that you read these books.
The Krishna Consciousness Movement is firmly based upon the conclusive truths found in the books of Srila Prabhupada. Bhagavad-gita As it is, Srimad Bhagavatam (Canto 1 – 9 and 13 chapters of Canto 10) and Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita are the three major texts that contain the essence of Vedic knowledge. Srila Prabhupada also wrote a commentary on Sri Isopanishad, the most important of the 108 Upanishads. He wrote Nectar of Devotion, a summary study on Srila Rupa Goswami’s Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu and Nectar of Instruction, which contains the purport to Upadeshamrita, the 11 verses written by Srila Rupa Goswami to guide the beginners in Krishna Consciousness.
He also wrote many other small books like Easy Journey to Other Planets, Message of Godhead, Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, etc. The compilations based on Srila Prabhupada’s articles, lectures and conversations are published with titles such as Science of Self Realization, Journey of Self Discovery, Quest for Enlightenment, Renunciation Through Wisdom, etc. Other interesting collections from the conversations of Srila Prabhupada are Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, Civilization and Transcendence, Beyond Illusion and Doubt, Life Comes From Life, etc.
Based on Srila Prabhupada’s lectures on Bhagavad-gita, BBT has published Beyond Birth and Death, Raja Vidya, The Path of Perfection, The Perfection of Yoga, The Topmost Yoga System, The Matchless Gift, Elevation to Krishna Consciousness, On the Way to Krishna, etc. Based on Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavatam Lectures, BBT has published Teachings of Lord Kapila, Teachings of Queen Kunti, Transcendental Teachings of Prahlada Maharaja, A Second Chance – The Story of Near Death Experience, Dharma – The Way of Transcendence, etc.
Over the years, hundreds of scholars who read his books have expressed keen appreciation for the contribution his teachings have made to humanity.
Click here to read a collection of Scholarly Appreciations of Srila Prabhupada’s Books. These books can change your life. Try it out. Refer to the Catalog of Srila Prabhupada’s Books.
