![[images/prabhupada/SP-001 Prabhupada on Vyasana Playing Kartals3.jpg]] # Śrīla Prabhupāda Archive > [!faq]- About Śrīla Prabhupāda > His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda is the present *ācārya* or teacher by example in the unbroken chain of disciplic succession begun five thousand years ago by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the founder and spiritual master of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which now has thousands of members and over ninety centers around the world. Śrīla Prabhupāda came to the United States seven years ago under the instruction of his spiritual master, who requested that the ancient knowledge of the Vedic literatures be given to the English speaking world. Thus Śrīla Prabhupāda is now freely distributing this pure transcendental knowledge, which is the real wealth of India, the eternal teaching of man's relationship to the Supreme. > [!faq]- Digital Archive System > **Files in Folders. That's It.** > > No databases. No proprietary formats. No vendor lock-in. The entire archive is simply Markdown files organized in folders—the most portable, future-proof format possible. You can browse it on GitHub, clone it to your computer, open it in any text editor, or sync it across all your devices. Your spiritual library belongs to *you*, not to a platform. > > **Why This Matters:** > - **Portable:** Copy the whole archive to a USB stick, a new computer, or share it with a friend > - **GitHub-friendly:** Every file, every change is version-controlled and transparent > - **Works everywhere:** Obsidian, VS Code, Notion, or plain Notepad—your choice > - **Offline-first:** No internet required once you have the files > - **Future-proof:** Markdown has been around for decades and will outlast any app > > The wiki-style linking means every concept, personality, and place connects across 23,000+ cross-references throughout Srila Prabhupada's works. Click any reference to jump directly to the source. Whether you're a scholar, a developer building your own tools, or a devotee studying daily—this is your library, stored the simplest way possible. > [!faq]- Preservation Mission > **Restoring the Original Editions** > > The importance of preserving Srila Prabhupada's original books for future generations cannot be overstated. These are not ordinary texts—they are the law books for the next 10,000 years, and they deserve to exist in their authentic, unaltered form. > > **The Problem:** No proper digital editions of the original books currently exist. Every digital version available today suffers from OCR errors, copy-paste mistakes, or encoding issues that corrupt Sanskrit diacritics. These seemingly small errors accumulate into thousands of inaccuracies that obscure Srila Prabhupada's precise translations and explanations. > > **Our Solution:** We are carefully remaking the complete original editions *as they are* from high-quality scans of the first printings. Using modern AI technology, we can now accurately read and preserve the complex diacritical marks (ā, ī, ū, ṁ, ṅ, ñ, ṭ, ḍ, ṇ, ś, ṣ) that are essential to Sanskrit pronunciation and meaning. This same technology powers our extraction of the original back-of-book indexes—thousands of index entries that connect readers to exactly where Srila Prabhupada discusses each topic. > > **Translations:** Another challenge we face is the scarcity of translations based on the original editions. We aim to create a platform where devotees can contribute translations in both established and new languages, helping to spread Srila Prabhupada's original message worldwide and easing the transition back to the authentic texts in print. > [!faq]- We're Open Source > **Free Forever. No Strings Attached.** > > This isn't a subscription service. There's no paywall, no premium tier, no "sign up to continue reading." The complete archive—every book, lecture, conversation, letter, and index—is freely available on GitHub for anyone to download, copy, and share. > > **What Open Source Means for You:** > - **Download everything:** Clone the entire archive to your computer in minutes > - **No account required:** Browse, search, and study without creating a login > - **Contribute improvements:** Found a typo? Submit a fix. Have a translation? Share it. > - **Build on top of it:** Developers can create apps, tools, and study aids using our data > - **Verify everything:** Every source file is public—check our work yourself > > **Why This Matters:** > When Srila Prabhupada's teachings are locked inside proprietary apps or websites, they become dependent on companies that may not exist in 50 years. Open source ensures these teachings remain free, accessible, and preserved—regardless of what happens to any single organization or platform. > > [**View on GitHub →**](https://github.com/vaniwiki) ## Bhaktivedanta Library > [!example]- Transcendental Books > > **Primary Scriptures** > *The foundational texts of Vedic wisdom with full translations and commentary.* > > - [Bhagavad-gītā As It Is](bg) > - [Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam](sb) > - [Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta](cc) > - [Śrī Īśopaniṣad](books/iso) > > **Major Works** > *Essential companions to the primary scriptures.* > > - [Kṛṣṇa Book](books/kb) > - [Nectar of Devotion](books/nod) > - [Nectar of Instruction](books/noi) > - [Teachings of Lord Caitanya](books/tlc) > > **Teachings & Philosophy** > *Accessible presentations on spiritual life, science, and practice.* > > - [Science of Self-Realization](books/ssr) > - [Life Comes From Life](books/lcfl) > - [Teachings of Lord Kapila](books/tlk) > - [Teachings of Queen Kuntī](books/tqk) > - [Easy Journey to Other Planets](books/ej) > - [Beyond Birth and Death](books/bbd) > - [Raja-Vidya](books/rv) > - [Path of Perfection](books/pop) > > **Short Reads** > *Perfect for newcomers or quick inspiration.* > > [Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers](books/pqpa) > [On the Way to Kṛṣṇa](books/owk) > [Elevation to Kṛṣṇa Consciousness](books/ekc) > [The Matchless Gift](books/mg) > [Light of the Bhāgavata](books/lob) > > **[Browse all books with reading guide →](books)** > [!example]- Beautiful BBT Artwork > > *Over 1,500 original paintings and illustrations from the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust—Krishna's pastimes, devotees, and spiritual concepts brought to life.* > > **Browse by:** [Books](/media/artworkbooks) · [Personalities](/media/artwork/personalities) · [Themes](/media/artwork/themes) > > **Featured:** [Krishna](/media/artwork/personalities/krsna) · [Lord Caitanya](/media/artwork/personalities/caitanya) · [Vrindavana](/media/artwork/themes/vrindavana) · [Animals](/media/artwork/themes/animals) > > **[Explore the Artwork Gallery →](/media/artwork)** > [!example]- Unified Scriptural Index > > *11,800 terms and 23,000 references spanning Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and Caitanya-caritāmṛta.* > > **By Category:** [Personalities](/index/meta/personalities) · [Concepts](/index/meta/concepts) · [Places](/index/meta/places) > > **By Letter:** [A](/index/A) · [B](/index/B) · [C](/index/C) · [D](/index/D) · [E](/index/E) · [F](/index/F) · [G](/index/G) · [H](/index/H) · [I](/index/I) · [J](/index/J) · [K](/index/K) · [L](/index/L) · [M](/index/M) · [N](/index/N) · [O](/index/O) · [P](/index/P) · [Q](/index/Q) · [R](/index/R) · [S](/index/S) · [T](/index/T) · [U](/index/U) · [V](/index/V) · [W](/index/W) · [Y](/index/Y) · [Z](/index/Z) > > **[Explore the Complete Index →](/index)** > [!example]- Lectures & Conversations > > *3,747 recordings spoken between 1966 and 1977 as Śrīla Prabhupāda circled the globe fourteen times.* > > **What's included:** > - **Scripture Classes** — Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Nectar of Devotion > - **Morning Walks** — Informal philosophical discussions with disciples and guests > - **Room Conversations** — Meetings with scientists, scholars, politicians, and seekers > - **Interviews** — Press conferences and media appearances > - **Festival Lectures** — Janmāṣṭamī, Ratha-yātrā, initiations, and special occasions > > **By Year:** [1966](/spoken/1966) · [1967](/spoken/1967) · [1968](/spoken/1968) · [1969](/spoken/1969) · [1970](/spoken/1970) · [1971](/spoken/1971) · [1972](/spoken/1972) · [1973](/spoken/1973) · [1974](/spoken/1974) · [1975](/spoken/1975) · [1976](/spoken/1976) · [1977](/spoken/1977) > > **By:** [Place](/spoken/place) · [Type](/spoken/type) > > **[Browse all lectures & conversations →](/spoken)** > [!example]- Letters & Correspondence > *Your ever well-wisher* > > *Personal correspondence spanning three decades—to disciples, friends, and seekers worldwide.* > > **What you'll find:** > - **Spiritual Guidance** — Answers to questions on philosophy, practice, and devotional life > - **Temple Management** — Instructions on organizing centers, deity worship, and community > - **Book Distribution** — Strategies and encouragement for spreading transcendental literature > - **Personal Instruction** — Initiation letters, sannyāsa recommendations, and individual guidance > - **Correspondence with Leaders** — Letters to government officials, scholars, and public figures > > **By Year:** [1947-65](/letters/1947-1965) · [1966](/letters/1966) · [1967](/letters/1967) · [1968](/letters/1968) · [1969](/letters/1969) · [1970](/letters/1970) · [1971](/letters/1971) · [1972](/letters/1972) · [1973](/letters/1973) · [1974](/letters/1974) · [1975](/letters/1975) · [1976](/letters/1976) · [1977](/letters/1977) > > **By:** [Recipient](/letters/recipient) · [Category](/letters/type) > > **[Browse all correspondence →](/letters)** ## Śrīla Prabhupāda uvāca > [!quote]- Spoken on this day > > ![[today/12/01#Spoken on December 1]] > [!quote]- Letters on this day > > ![[today/12/01#Letters on December 1]] ## More information > [!TIP]- Vision & mission > **Building a Sacred Digital Archive for the Next 10,000 Years** > > The path to creating Prabhupada.io began with a simple recognition: Srila Prabhupada's teachings are not merely books—they are eternal law books that deserve preservation and accessibility for millennia to come. > > **The Vision: A True Digital Archive** > > What distinguishes a true digital archive from a mere collection of files? It requires, among other things: > - Comprehensive indexing that reveals the interconnected web of spiritual knowledge > - Clean, searchable source texts extracted with care from the original works > - Intuitive navigation that serves both newcomers and scholars > - Open accessibility that removes barriers between seekers and sacred wisdom > - Future-proof architecture built to endure for generations > > **From Foundation to Reality** > > The technical foundation was laid through years of patient work: extracting original texts, cleaning audio transcripts, and organizing the complete corpus of books, lectures, conversations, and letters into a unified, searchable system. What emerged from multiple attempts and reimaginings was not just another repository, but a streamlined digital sanctuary. > > Built on the principle that "simpler is better," *Prabhupada.io* offers: > > - The complete original VedaBase archive > - Comprehensive indexing as a gateway to Krishna consciousness > - Audio recordings with the divine vibrations of Srila Prabhupada's voice > - Personal correspondence revealing the depth of spiritual mentorship > - An open-source foundation allowing others to build upon this work > > **The Mission Continues** > > This archive serves a purpose beyond preservation—it creates a living platform for Srila Prabhupada to continue teaching, guiding seekers on their path to spiritual enlightenment. Each feature, each index entry, each searchable text serves this higher purpose: making the timeless truths accessible to souls seeking self-realization. > > The work of building a true digital archive is never complete, but with each improvement, we move closer to fulfilling the vision of preserving these eternal law books for the next 10,000 years. > [!TIP]- Current roadmap > **Building in the Open** > > This archive grows continuously. We track all development publicly—every feature, every improvement, every import is documented and transparent. > > **Current Focus:** > - Expanding the unified index to cover all 30 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam volumes > - Importing remaining VedaBase content (BTG archives, compilations, biographies) > - Enhancing audio integration with synchronized transcripts > - Improving mobile experience and accessibility > > **Recent Achievements:** > - Unified index system: 11,800 terms, 23,000+ cross-references > - Complete audio corpus: 3,747 recordings with CDN delivery > - Artwork gallery: 1,500+ paintings with captions and lightbox > > **How We Work:** > Monthly reports document our progress and upcoming goals. The complete roadmap shows our long-term vision for preserving these teachings for the next 10,000 years. > > %%[[archive/reports|View Development Reports]] · [[archive/ROADMAP|Full Roadmap]] · [[archive/TODO|Detailed Tasks]]%% > [!TIP]- Support our service > **Supporting the Mission** > > Maintaining and developing a world-class digital archive requires substantial resources. The work of preserving Srila Prabhupada's teachings for the next 10,000 years demands both dedication and investment. > > Currently, all available time, energy, and personal resources go into this project. Yet to truly fulfill this vision, we need: > > - Premium AI tools for advanced indexing, search capabilities, and semantic analysis of the teachings > - Robust technical infrastructure to ensure reliability, speed, and global accessibility > - Cloud storage and bandwidth to serve seekers worldwide without limitation > - Development tools for continuous improvement and feature enhancement > - Backup and preservation systems to safeguard this sacred digital treasure > > **How You Can Help** > > If Srila Prabhupada's teachings have touched your life, if you value having instant access to his original words, if you believe this archive serves an essential purpose—your support makes it possible. > > **Financial Support:** > Donations of any size directly fund the tools and infrastructure that keep this archive running and growing. Every contribution helps cover server costs, premium development tools, and the technology needed to preserve and share these teachings. > > **Volunteer Support:** > If you have technical skills—web development, database management, audio processing, transcription, or digital archiving—your expertise could accelerate this mission. Reach out if you feel called to contribute your time and talents. > > This is not merely a website—it is a service to Srila Prabhupada's mission, a gift to future generations of spiritual seekers. Your support ensures that the eternal law books remain accessible, searchable, and preserved in their original purity. > > <a class="dbox-donation-button" id="preview_inline_popup_button" href="https://donorbox.org/prabhupada?" style="background: #108acb; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; display: flex; gap: 8px; width: fit-content; font-size: 16px; border-radius: 5px; line-height: 24px; padding: 8px 24px;"><img src="https://donorbox.org/images/white_logo.svg" style="">Give a donation</a> > [!TIP]- Thanks to our donors > > <small>_Mom & Dad, Ekanatha Prabhu & Bhaktivedanta Archives, Jayan Ravendra Prabhu, Balai Dasi, Charu Viswam, James Conaway, Carl Mink, Panduranga Gopala Dasa, Syama Kunda Das, Sakshi Gopal, Caitanya Candradasa, Krishna-Kumari Devi Dasi & Jayarama Dasa, Vijay Patel, Raymond Lopez, Bhakti Steps, Edward Walford, Puneet Mehta, Kusuma Shashidhar, Monesh Gopaldas Ahuja, Dipal Patel, Satya Vashishtha, Radha Pillai, Radhika Piyari, Balaram Das, Somagiri Dasa, Badarinath Vinjamuri, Kristof Gabriel van Hooymissen, Rajesh Gaikwad, Ajay Ajay, Nrsimha, Krølle Riversen, Are Borgersen, Ani Sargsyan, Mitesh Prabhu, Nayan Ruparelia._ ></small> *** ![[images/iskcon.png|155]] <div class="center copyright"><b>Copyright Notice</b><br /> 1896-1977 © His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, <br /> Founder-Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.<br /> Images copyright © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, inc. </div>