In early 1966, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, then sixty nine years old, was alone in New York City, living in a small rented loft with barely enough money for rent. But in his heart burned the instruction of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur: to preach Krishna consciousness in the English-speaking world.
From this small outpost in Manhattan, Srila Prabhupada typed his commentaries on Srimad-Bhagavatam, distributed mimeographed essays, met with curious seekers, and wrote letters — one of which would offer insight into both his external circumstances and inner resolve.
A Call to Cooperate
In a heartfelt letter dated February 4, 1966, Srila Prabhupada appealed to his Godbrother Tirtha Maharaja, the head of the Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math in Mayapur, for cooperation, he wrote:
“I have come here to America for preaching the message of Lord Caitanya as my Spiritual Master ordered me. I do not know whether I shall be successful or not but I am trying for it and I take it for granted that I may not return to India if I do not execute this mission successfully.”
Srila Prabhupada asked for help to establish a permanent branch of the Math in New York — the world’s most strategic city, he argued — not for personal benefit, but to fulfill a mission that transcended any one institution.
“I have got a sacred duty to carry out the order of my spiritual master. I am not concerned with any other thing but I wish to organize a spiritual society for the benefit of the people in general.”
The Kirtan Tape Recorder
Among the few possessions Srila Prabhupada had brought with him from India was something strikingly modern: a small tape recorder, which he used to play recordings of his own voice singing kirtan.
In the same February 1966 letter, he wrote:
“I have prepared some Tape record of my personal Kirtana. When one of this Tape record was played the audience became practically charmed by that although not a single word of my language was understandable by them.”
This simple yet inspired act was visionary. Even when the language, philosophy, and rituals were unfamiliar to the Western ear, the sound of the holy name — kirtan — cut through everything. The devotees who would soon gather around Srila Prabhupada would later recall how these recordings stirred their hearts before they even knew what “Hare Krishna” meant.
Srila Prabhupada understood that Krishna’s name is non-different from Krishna, and that the power of pure sound vibration could awaken devotion even before the intellect could understand it.
A Vision Beyond Institutional Borders
While Srila Prabhupada hoped for cooperation from his Godbrothers, he also expressed a deep sense of separation from his spiritual master. His words convey both vulnerability and immovable resolve:
“I am feeling too much separation from the Lotus Feet of my Guru Maharaja. But I try to keep His transcendental instructions always within my heart and thus I am trying to execute His order.”
This was not the sentiment of despair, but the essence of surrender. He was ready to go forward — alone if necessary.
According to Srila Prabhupada-lilamrita, during this time he continued his outreach efforts: typing pages of Bhagavatam, distributing handbills, and giving lectures to whomever would listen. He told one acquaintance, “I am not a poor man. I am a servant of Krishna, the Supreme Richest.” Despite poor health and cold weather, his mood remained undisturbed. He walked the streets of New York with a reel-to-reel tape recorder and the holy name of Krishna.
The Seed of a Global Kirtan
Though his call for assistance received no meaningful response from Tirtha, Srila Prabhupada did not stop. Within months, a handful of young Americans would gather around him and help establish the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in July 1966.
But in February, there was nothing — just a rented room, a tape recorder, a stack of Sanskrit manuscripts, and a asa-bandha, hope against hope. Yet then, the seed of a spiritual revolution had already been planted.
Srila Prabhupada’s February 1966 letter reveals him as simultaneously humble and fearless, traditional and forward-thinking. Using the tools available to him — from the eternal scriptures of India to a portable real to real recorder — he carried forward the teachings of Lord Chaitanya into the heart of the modern world.
Even now, the sound of his kirtan, recorded alone in that small room, continues to awaken hearts across the world. His mission was not backed by wealth or institutional power, but by unwavering faith in Krishna and the holy name.
“I have prepared some Tape record of my personal Kirtana… the audience became practically charmed.”
The world would soon become more than charmed. It would be transformed.