Appearance Day of Srila Prabhupada
Nandotsava
Appearance Day
All day
What is the Appearance Day of Srila Prabhupada?
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, appeared on 1 September 1896 in the Tollygunge suburb of Calcutta. In 2027 the Vaishnava calendar places the Appearance Day of Srila Prabhupada on Thursday, 26 August.
Significance
His parents, Gour Mohan De and Rajani, named him Abhay Charan, which means "one who is fearless, having taken shelter at Lord Krishna's lotus feet". An astrologer foretold that at the age of seventy he would cross the ocean, become a great exponent of religion and open 108 temples. In 1965, on the order of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he sailed for the West, and the prediction came true. Recalling his childhood, Srila Prabhupada said:
We would be sleeping, and father would be doing ārati. Ding ding ding – we would hear the bell and wake up and see him bowing down before Kṛṣṇa.
Srila Prabhupada, quoted in Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta, Volume One, chapter 1
How to observe it
His disciples and grand-disciples honour the day as Vyasa-puja. For his seventy-fifth appearance day, his disciples collected their written homages into a book. Devotees can read about his childhood in Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta, offer a homage of their own and chant extra rounds. The calendar notes a fast until noon, and this year the day shares its date with Nandotsava.
Questions
When is Srila Prabhupada's Appearance Day in 2027?
It falls on Thursday, 26 August 2027. Srila Prabhupada appeared on 1 September 1896, the day after Janmashtami, when Nandotsava is celebrated.
Where did Srila Prabhupada appear?
He appeared in the Tollygunge suburb of Calcutta, on the bank of the Adi Ganga, and soon returned with his parents to their home at 151 Harrison Road.
What was Srila Prabhupada's name before he took sannyasa?
His parents named him Abhay Charan De. The name Abhay Charan means one who is fearless, having taken shelter at Lord Krishna's lotus feet.
What is Vyasa-puja?
Vyasa-puja is the worship of the spiritual master as the representative of Vyasadeva. On Srila Prabhupada's appearance day, his followers offer him their written homages and their devotional service.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Thursday, 26 August 2027
- Also on this day
- Nandotsava
- Fasting
- Until noon
- Appeared
- Tollygunge, Calcutta, 1 September 1896
- Name given by his parents
- Abhay Charan De
- Spiritual master
- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Seva for this day
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