Prabhupada - The Unique Spiritual Master

Kadamba Kanana Swami

We can appreciate how unique Prabhupada really is in the entire sampradaya, because really, Lord Caitanya appears only once in a day of Brahma, and therefore, after Lord Caitanya who introduces Krsna Consciousness basically in the Indian subcontinent, the mission that remains is to take Krsna Consciousness all over the world. Prabhupada did that. He brought it from east to west and Prabhupada himself stated: "Now this Krsna Consciousness cannot be stopped anymore." Just like a disease, you know, once it has really contaminated, then it's too late. It's too late - it cannot be undone, cannot be stopped anymore.

So Prabhupada did that mission of taking Krsna Consciousness from east to west, which is done only once in an entire day of Lord Brahma, so we can understand that Prabhupada is a special intimate associate of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, particularly chosen for this mission, and we can understand therefore that the way that Prabhupada introduced Krsna Consciousness in the world is particularly the way that Lord Caitanya desired it.


So therefore we should not just think that Prabhupada was just another spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession.Naturally, many of the other acaryas in our parampara are extraordinary personalities - Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswathi Thakur to begin with, was inconceivable, and so was Bhaktivinodha Thakur, ..... the previous acaryas were extraordinary, but Prabhupada particularly had the mood of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

We see he is depending on the Supreme Lord. He says, "You make my words suitable for their understanding." This is very nice because Prabhupada simply took it that, well, I'll just repeat Krsna's words and then it is up to Krsna to make them understand. What can I do? I have no power.
And on that strength he did it. - that the words of Krsna were going to penetrate in the hearts of the people and take effect. So, great faith in the power of the words of the Lord.

This is the actual qualification for delivering Krsna Consciousness, so Prabhupada said, 'You can make me successful or you can make me a failure. I am like a puppet in your hands.'

Prabhupada was very conscious of that - that he was an instrument in the hands of the Lord.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami 2003)