Śrīla Prabhupāda Praṇati – Meaning, Lyrics & Chanting Guide

Offered daily by devotees of ISKCON before any lecture or devotional offering, these praṇāma-mantras glorify His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda — founder-ācārya of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. Revered for his tireless preaching of Śrī Caitanya's message across the globe, these sacred verses express eternal gratitude and surrender to the empowered spiritual master.

नमो ॐ विष्णु-पादाय कृष्ण-प्रेष्ठाय भू-तले
श्रीमते भक्तिवेदान्त-स्वामिन इति नामिने

namo oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

Meaning (English): I bow down to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who is most dear to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, having taken full shelter of His lotus feet and descended to this world to distribute divine love.

अर्थ (हिंदी): मैं श्रील ए. सी. भक्तिवेदान्त स्वामी प्रभुपाद को कोटि कोटि प्रणाम करता हूँ, जो भगवान श्रीकृष्ण के अति प्रिय सेवक हैं और जिनके चरण कमलों की शरण लेकर वे इस धराधाम पर भक्तियोग का अमृत बाँटने अवतरित हुए।

नमस्ते सारस्वते देव गौऱ-वाणी-प्रचारिणे
निर्विशेष-शून्यवादि-पाश्चात्य-देश-तारिणे

namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe

Meaning (English): O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, you are respectfully offered obeisances for you are spreading the divine message of Lord Gaurāṅga and rescuing the Western world from the clutches of impersonalism and nihilism.

अर्थ (हिंदी): हे गौरवाणी के प्रचारक, श्रील सरस्वती ठाकुर के प्रिय सेवक! आपको साष्टांग प्रणाम, जिन्होंने मायावाद और शून्यवाद से ग्रसित पश्चिमी जगत को श्रीचैतन्य महाप्रभु की भक्ति सिखा कर मुक्त किया।

When & How to Chant

• Recited before every ISKCON lecture, bhāgavatam class, or offering
• Chanted once or thrice with folded hands, ideally before speaking on śāstra
• Mood: gratitude, surrender, śikṣā-guru bhakti

Why This Mantra Matters

These praṇāma-mantras are a cornerstone of the Bhakti Yoga tradition within ISKCON, anchoring devotees in the disciplic succession (guru-paramparā) and connecting them deeply with Śrīla Prabhupāda's empowered mission. They remind us that divine wisdom flows through the mercy of the guru, and through his lotus words, we receive Kṛṣṇa.

What is the Śrīla Prabhupāda Praṇati?

The Śrīla Prabhupāda Praṇati refers to two Sanskrit verses recited daily by devotees to offer obeisances to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. These mantras glorify him as a pure devotee who spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness globally, especially in the Western world. They are a devotional anchor in ISKCON practices and express heartfelt surrender and reverence to the spiritual master.