Srila Prabhupada began his 37-day journey from Calcutta to New York City by cargo steamship. Today, a flight from Delhi to America takes just hours, but he had no money, no possessions—only the instructions of his spiritual master. He was a sannyasi, having renounced his family, business, and worldly life.
In 1882, Bhaktivinoda Thakur wrote about the importance of spreading Lord Chaitanya’s mission globally. He envisioned a time when people in England, France, Russia, Prussia, and America would take up mrdangas and kartals, chant the holy name of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and raise waves of sankirtan.
Inspired by Lord Chaitanya’s prophecy—that His name would be heard in every town and village—Bhaktivinoda Thakur began distributing literature worldwide. He prayed for assistance, and Sri Krishna responded by sending him a son, Bhima Prasad, who later became Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur.
As Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was preparing to leave this world in 1936, somewhat despondent that his mission had not yet been fully accomplished, he addressed thousands of disciples and followers at Champahati. He made a prediction that, however long it may take, one of his disciples would cross the ocean and bring back the entire world.
As he looked over the audience, a godbrother of Srila Prabhupada noted that Bhaktisiddhanta’s glance rested on Abhay Charanaravinda Das—who is known to us today as Srila Prabhupada.
Two weeks before Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur’s passing, Srila Prabhupada, feeling he had not done enough, wrote to ask how he might serve. The response, translated into English, was:
“I am fully confident that you can explain in English our thoughts and arguments to the people who are not conversant with the languages of other members. This will do much good to yourself as well as your audience. I have every hope that you can turn yourself into a very good English preacher if you serve the mission to inculcate the novel impression to the people in general and philosophers of modern age and religiosity.”
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was prolific in writing and printing, a tradition inherited from his father. The Gaudiya Mission’s logo featured Deity worship alongside a printing press, and publications were printed in many languages, including English. Srila Prabhupada contributed to these English writings, and his guru was already aware of his proficiency.
Prabhupada took this instruction to heart. From the time of his guru’s passing on 1 January 1937 until he left India decades later, he prepared himself. In 1944, he began publishing Back to Godhead magazine, despite wartime paper shortages. The magazine was initially a single folded sheet, containing translations, commentaries, and reflections on current affairs.
After completing three volumes of Srimad Bhagavatam, he decided it was time to begin his journey. While lecturing in Agra, a businessman named Mr Agarwal heard of his desire to preach abroad and offered sponsorship through his son, Gopal Agarwal, an engineer living in Pennsylvania. Without Prabhupada’s knowledge, Mr Agarwal wrote to his son, who agreed to sponsor him.
At that time, leaving India required several documents: a passport, visa, and a sponsor in the destination country, as India did not permit currency to be exported. Travellers could take only 40 rupees—barely enough for a few hours in New York City. There was also no currency exchange between India and the United States.
Prabhupada needed a “P-form” from the State Bank of India, certifying he had no debts. As someone without a bank account or income, this was a major challenge. While making contacts in Bombay, he had already helped establish the Gaudiya Math mission there and was offered the position of temple president—though Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati had declined, knowing Prabhupada was meant for other work.
During this time, Prabhupada developed a relationship with Sumati Morarji, a prominent devotee and owner of the Sindia Steamship Company. He would visit her home in Juhu to read Srimad Bhagavatam, and she even sponsored the printing of one of his Bhagavatam volumes. He hoped she would provide him with a free ticket aboard one of her ships to America.
Sumati Morarji’s staff, including her secretary Mr Choksi, were concerned that Prabhupada—due to his age, health, and lack of resources—might not survive in America. She initially refused the request. Meanwhile, Prabhupada obtained his passport in Delhi, and unexpectedly received confirmation from the Ministry of External Affairs that Gopal Agarwal had officially sponsored him. This was a major breakthrough.
Now needing only a visa and P-form, Prabhupada listed his address as Chippiwada, his Delhi office. On his passport, he noted that his father was Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and listed “Tilak on forehead” as a distinguishing mark.
Because Mr Choksi had failed to convince Sumati Morarji, Prabhupada requested a personal meeting with her. Despite her concerns, he assured her he would be all right. He was determined to fulfil the order of his spiritual master. She eventually agreed and issued him the ticket.
During visits to her Juhu home, Prabhupada had noticed a plot of land nearby and envisioned building a temple there once established. That land later became the site of the present-day Radharasi Bihari temple.
Now with support from Sindia Steamship Lines, Prabhupada obtained a three-month tourist visa. The sponsorship from Mr Agarwal was valid for one month. Without any guarantee of long-term stay, Prabhupada was going forward entirely on faith.
Sumati Morarji arranged for him to stay in a room at the Sindia officers’ quarters in Andheri. The other officers witnessed his struggles daily and would support him by attending evening Srimad Bhagavatam readings and offering prasadam.
Eventually, Prabhupada secured his visa, and then—after difficulty with clerks—his P-form. When refused by a lower official, he insisted on seeing the superior, Mr Rao of the State Bank of India. Mr Rao approved his application, saying, “Swamiji, I passed your case. Don’t worry.”
With his passport, visa, P-form, and steamship ticket in hand, Prabhupada was ready. Sumati Morarji, aware of the harsh climate and limited food options in America, asked Mr Choksi to buy him warm clothing and other essentials. He packed them into one small suitcase.
Before departure, he printed a pamphlet titled My Mission, containing slokas from Srimad Bhagavatam and the Siksastakam. He used it to raise donations for further printing and travel.
Srila Prabhupada boarded the Jaladuta steamship, carrying with him 200 sets of Srimad Bhagavatam—his spiritual ammunition for his mission in the West.
That meant 600 books—several trunks of them. The steamship was boarding and loading, leaving from Calcutta. But Srila Prabhupada was in Bombay, so his books were transported to Cochin. From Bombay, he travelled to Sri Lanka, and then around the Cape to Cochin. In Cochin, he was able to witness his books being loaded onto the ship.
When Srila Prabhupada was finally given his ticket, he travelled on the Janta Express. In those days, this was the most economical train—three days, two nights, cramped, and difficult. He travelled this way because he had no money.
Upon reaching Calcutta, Srila Prabhupada received a complimentary ticket with food. Sumati Morarji ensured the captain was sympathetic to a vegetarian sannyasi. Mr Pandey and his wife developed a close relationship with Srila Prabhupada during the 37-day journey and later said they had never experienced such a peaceful crossing. They attributed this to his presence, which Prabhupada later confirmed.
At the time, he was renting two rooms at the Radha Damodar temple for five rupees per month. He paid five months’ rent in advance—from June to October—expecting to return in six months. The amount was remitted to Ghorchand, and Prabhupada ensured he received proper receipts to maintain his tenancy.
Though born, raised, and married in Calcutta, with his family still there, Prabhupada did not stay with them. Instead, he stayed at the Bangor dharmashala. He contacted a Bengali kirtaniya, Shishir Bhattacharya, and together they visited households across Calcutta, holding programs daily during the two weeks before the ship’s departure.
Mr Bhattacharya helped prepare a small article with a picture and a write-up about Srila Prabhupada’s journey. Only Dainik Basumati published a short piece on 13 August, noting his departure.
Before leaving for America, Srila Prabhupada visited Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur’s samadhi in Mayapur and then travelled to the temple of Sri Advaita Acharya in Shantipur. There, he quietly chanted japa and meditated. The pujari later recalled that Srila Prabhupada had returned after many years and asked for blessings, saying, “My Guru Maharaj has ordered me to preach in the Western countries. I am leaving tomorrow. Please bless me that my mission will be successful.”
Years later, devotees gave that pujari a Back to Godhead magazine. Recognising Prabhupada’s photo and the Mayapur temple address, he travelled there and shared his memories of that final visit.
Srila Prabhupada saw New York as the most important city in the world and Fifth Avenue as the most important street. He had dreams and plans, and Krishna, understanding his purity, made those dreams come true.
Because he had no money, Srila Prabhupada boarded the Jaladuta on Friday the 13th, a date considered inauspicious in the West, but auspicious for devotees. Sumati Morarji gave him her personal quarters on the ship, which were first-class and comfortable.
Much of this account comes not only from Lilamrita, but also from transcribed lectures, interviews, and memories gathered later by Satsvarupa Maharaj’s team, which enriched our understanding of Prabhupada’s journey.
Though probably the first Vaishnava sannyasi to set foot in America, Srila Prabhupada was guaranteed success because he had the full support of the parampara. Now, his books and temples are found even in Antarctica.
From the Calcutta pier, the ship crossed the Hooghly River, passed the botanical gardens, and reached the Bay of Bengal. Once out of the Ganga delta, Prabhupada became seasick. During the rainy season, the Bay is prone to cyclones, and the motion of the ship caused nausea, dizziness, and weakness. Despite being offered complimentary food, Prabhupada feared it might not be offerable, so he ate only soaked chipped rice (chira).
He spent time in the captain’s cabin, studying wave charts, observing that waves could reach heights twice the size of a human. A cyclone and heavy fog struck, and sirens had to be used to avoid collisions. On the third day, they reached Tamil Nadu and finally arrived in Sri Lanka, where they docked in Colombo.
Prabhupada observed Colombo was culturally similar to India. The steamship company arranged for him and the captain to tour the city. It reminded him of Indian cities like Madras or Pune, and he noted the affluence of the port city.
From Sri Lanka, the ship sailed to Cochin. On Janmashtami, with the ship docked offshore, Prabhupada organised a program on board. He cooked prasadam, gave a lecture, held kirtan, and distributed his booklet My Mission. The event was radioed to Sumati Morarji. The next day—his 70th birthday—passed quietly.
In Cochin, he visited the city and Ernakulam, the capital. The steamship arranged a tour, including the Subash Bose Park, which he appreciated due to his nationalist background. Most importantly, he saw his trunks of books being loaded onto the ship, which greatly enlivened him.
The ship then crossed the Arabian Sea, where Prabhupada suffered two heart attacks. For seven days, he could not write in his diary. He fasted for 8–10 days due to digestive imbalance and pain. After fearing death, he had a dream where Krishna, with the Dasavatars, assured him the mission would be successful. He gradually recovered.
They reached Port Said in Egypt, where the captain bought him a kerosene stove. With supplies from the port, Prabhupada began cooking again and regained strength. He expressed gratitude to the captain.
Passing through the Mediterranean, they went by the Rock of Gibraltar and entered the Atlantic Ocean. There, Srila Prabhupada wrote his poem Markine Bhagavat Dharma, expressing his dependence on Krishna.
“Oh Lord, what should I do to help them understand this transcendental message of the Bhagavatam? I need your merciful benediction to persuade them, for I am very unfortunate, unqualified, and the most fallen. I have no power to do so on my own… If you had brought me here to dance, oh Lord, then make me dance, make me dance as You like.”
During this time, he studied Chaitanya Charitamrita, remembered Krishna-lila, and meditated on the prayers of the Nagapatnis and Kaliya-naga.
The Atlantic, usually turbulent during hurricane season, remained calm. The Pandeys credited this to Prabhupada’s presence.
He saw islands controlled by Portugal and passed the Bermuda Triangle region without issue. Finally, the ship reached Boston. On the 36th day, he wrote in his diary:
“We shall certainly reach the American port safely. The whole day was clear sunshine, but at 4 pm, the sky became foggy. The ship stopped at 6 pm due to dense fog. May Lord Krishna help us out. After 2–3 hours, the fog cleared, and the ship moved again. The night passed peacefully, and at 5.30 am, we reached Boston port.”
On September 14th, devotees celebrate the day of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival. Upon arriving, he wrote another poem, reflecting on his helplessness and Krishna’s mercy.
“Although I have no devotion nor any knowledge, still I have been inappropriately honoured with the lofty title Bhaktivedanta. Now if You like, O Lord, You can fulfil the real purport of that name.”
Srila Prabhupada, though elderly, impoverished, and facing severe health challenges, achieved what seemed impossible. His life story inspired an 80-episode television series created by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, broadcast nationally in India, chronicling his journey from beginning to end.