The appearance day of Srila Prabhupada, the founder-Acharya of ISKCON is celebrated as Vyasa Puja. Srila Prabhupada was born in 1896 on the day of Nandotsava (the next day of Janmashtami). The Vedas originate from the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. Lord Sri Krishna imparted the Vedic knowledge to Lord Brahma, the creator of this universe. Brahma instructed his son Narada, who in turn gave this knowledge to Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva compiled the Vedic knowledge and also composed the eighteen Puranas. Under the instructions of his spiritual master Narada, he also authored Srimad Bhagavatam, which is called the spotless Purana. He distributed this knowledge throughout this world through his disciples.
A bona fide spiritual master coming in this line of succession descending from Vyasadeva is considered a representative of Vyasa deva. Srila Prabhupada is the 32nd Acharya in this disciplic succession and his disciples observe his appearance day as Vyasa Puja. For the devotees of ISKCON this is the most important festival of the year. Devotees fast till noon. Various items are cooked for offering to the spiritual master, who in turn offers it to Krishna. Devotees read homage offerings written by them to glorify Srila Prabhupada. A grand abhisheka is performed and prasadam is distributed.
As Abhay grew up he became more and more devoted to the Deity form of the Lord. He was especially enamored with the Jagannatha Rathyatra festival that was held in Calcutta each year. Hearing and understanding the significance of the festival Abhay would sometimes check railway timetables to go to Jagannath Puri where Lord Caitanya personally attended some 500 years before. Every year a conservatively estimated 5 million people attended the festival, this absorbed Abhay more in the mood of Rathyatra.
1901 (circa) Young Abhay conducts his very own first Rathayatra. His father making a small cart, three feet high with a canopy resembling closely the huge carts in . all the local children and many adults would come. Abhay stood out as a leader even then, as he organized and engaged everyone, even many of the mothers were engaged by him in cooking, (especially his sister Bhavatarini), who all cooked special preparations to be offered and distributed as ‘prasadam’ at this Rathyatra festival.At age 6, his father purchased upon his request, his own Radha-Govinda Deities. Seeing the family engaged from his birth, watching his father performing the ‘puja’ at home, and going regularly to see Radha-Govindaji, it was only natural. From this day on whatever foodstuffs were brought before him by his parents, he would first offer to Sri Radha-Govindaji, and then eat Their ‘prasadam’. He also used to daily offer them a ghee lamp, and properly put Them to rest at night. Little is known of his adolescence.
