In 1950 Srila Prabhupada transitioned to vanaprastha (retirement from worldly duties) in order to devote more time to his studies and spiritual life. In 1953 he received the title Bhaktivedanta from his Godbrothers. He travelled to Vrindavana, where he lived very humbly at the Radha-Damodara temple. He spent several years there studying the scriptures and writing. Then is 1959 he chose the path of a sannyasi (renunciate).

   It was then, while staying at the Radha-Damodara Temple that he started on his masterpiece: translation and commentary of the Srimad-Bhagavatam in English. He also wrote Easy Journey to Other Planets. Within a few years, he had written three volumes of English translation and commentary for the first canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Once again, singlehandedly, he bought the paper and gathered funds, to print the books. He sold the books himself and through agents in the larger Indian cities.

   He now felt ready to carry out his spiritual master s orders and decided to start by taking the message of Krishna consciousness to America, convinced that other countries would follow suit. Obtaining free passage on a freight ship, called the Jaladuta he finally arrived in New York in 1965. He had had a very difficult crossing, suffering two heart attacks, and once he arrived in New York he didn t know which way to turn. He was 69 and practically penniless. All he possessed was a few copies of the Srimad-Bhagavatam and a few hundred rupees.

   After a difficult six months, preaching here and there, his typewriter and tape recorder stolen, and sharing a loft on the Bowery with a young man using LSD, his few followers finally rented a storefront and apartment at 26 Second Ave in Manhattan. Here, he would regularly give lectures, kirtana and distribute prasadam. People from all walks of life were drawn here in search of that missing element from their lives, and many became part of "Swamiji s" following.

   As people became more interested, Srila Prabhupada s followers used to hold regular kirtanas in the parks. The lectures and Sunday Feast days became renowned. His young adherents eventually took initiation (formal commitment) from Srila Prabhupada, promising to follow the regulative principles and chant 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily. He also reinstated the Back to Godhead magazine.

   In July 1966, Srila Prabhupada established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). His aim was to use the society to promote Krishna Consciousness throughout the world. In 1967, he visited San Francisco and started an ISKCON community there. He then sent his disciples (students) all over the world to spread Caitanya Mahaprabhu s message and open new centres in Montreal, Boston, London, Berlin, and other cities in North America, India, and Europe. In India, three magnificent temples were initially planned: in Vrindavana, the Krishna Balaram Temple with its ancillary facilties; in Bombay, a temple with an educational and cultural centre; and in Mayapur, a huge temple with a Vedic Planetarium.

    Within the final twenty years of his life, Srila Prabhupada translated over sixty volumes of classic Vedic scriptures into the English language. For their authority, depth, and clarity, his books have won praise from professors at universities like Harvard and Oxford. His works include Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the multi-volume Srimad-Bhagavatam, the multivolume Caitanya-caritamrta, The Nectar of Devotion, Krsna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Teachings of Lord Kapila, Teachings of Queen Kunti, Sri Isopanisad, The Nectar of Instruction, and dozens of small books. His writings have been translated into over fifty languages. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, established in 1972 to publish the works of His Divine Grace, has become the world s largest publisher of books in the field of Indian religion and philosophy.

    Despite his heavy literary schedule, Srila Prabhupada did not let his writing stand in the way of his preaching. In just twelve years, despite his advanced age, he circled the globe fourteen times on lecture tours that took him to six continents. His days were filled with writing, teaching his followers and the public, and with guiding his growing society. Before departing from this world,  on November 14, 1977, Srila Prabhupada gave many instructions to his disciples to follow in his footsteps and to continue the preaching and spreading of Krishna Consciousness all over the world.