Prabhupāda's Literature - The Bṛhat Mṛdaṅga Revolution
When we meditate on Śrīla Prabhupāda's life, we see a pure devotee whose every waking moment was dedicated to giving us Kṛṣṇa in the form of transcendental literature. He translated the deep, ancient wisdom of the Vedas into clear English so that we, and the rest of the godless world, could be saved from misery. For Śrīla Prabhupāda, the printing press was the "Bṛhat Mṛdaṅga"—the great drum that could be heard around the entire world. He viewed the production, translation, and profuse distribution of his books as the absolute highest welfare work. He entrusted this immense responsibility to us, asking us to be his hands and legs in pushing forward this literary revolution, while also constantly reminding us to read the books ourselves to protect our own spiritual lives.
The Great Drum of Preaching
Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly reminded us of his spiritual master's vision regarding the printing press. While a beautiful kīrtana can be heard by those standing on the street, a printed book can travel into homes, across borders, and be read by countless individuals over many years. He opened his heart to us, admitting that the press was his very "life and soul."
- According to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, distributing literature is like playing on a great mrdanga.
- My Guru Maharaja used to say that these literature are the "Brhat Mrdanga," that is to say, the big mrdanga, because like the mrdanga which can be heard from a long distance, simply a few words can have a tremendous effect on millions of people.
- The people in general can be reached very well by the distribution of our literatures and by the propagation of Sankirtana in the streets. These are our two mrdangas for reawakening the sleeping conditioned souls.
- As you know as I have several times mentioned that the press is my heart and soul and it should work constantly to produce literature for wide distribution.
Profuse Distribution is Our Main Business
Śrīla Prabhupāda was unyielding in his loving push for mass book distribution. He made it clear to all of us that selling literature was more important than building opulent temples or engaging in secondary programs. He simply wanted us to distribute these books profusely everywhere.
- I especially want that my books and literatures should be distributed profusely.
- I am especially encouraged by your increasing the distribution of books. That is our primary business, to sell these transcendental literatures profusely all over the world.
- I am glad to learn that you are continuing your mahasankirtana, that is very nice. This is our main business. Temple worship is not so important as Sankirtana on the public roads and selling our literatures.
- Print books as many as possible and distribute. This is our main program. All other programs secondary. So with this aim in view, work all together. Our Caitanya-caritamrta is unique literature.
Placing Books in Libraries and Universities
Recognizing the need to influence the leaders of society, Śrīla Prabhupāda specifically directed us to target educational institutions. He knew that if the intelligent class of men could read these books in their libraries and universities, the entire world would eventually appreciate Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- Especially try to place our books in the schools and libraries. Our literatures are for the intelligent class also.
- Keep trying to place my books in auspicious places such as libraries, universities, clubs, etc. and someday the world will realize and appreciate these transcendental literatures.
- Press this matter until every library and school has fully stocked our literatures and that will be a very real success.
- Please see that there is very strong program for placing our books and literatures in all the libraries and school-colleges of your country.
Revolutionizing the World
Śrīla Prabhupāda did not see his writing as mere philosophy; he saw it as the absolute cure for the material disease. He convinced us that this transcendental literature had the power to change the course of human history, annihilate bogus teachings, and save the public from a suicidal course of life.
- They know that this literature will revolutionize the whole world.
- These books and magazines are our most important propaganda weapons to defeat the ignorance of maya's army, and the more we produce such literature and sell them profusely all over the world, the more we shall deliver the world from the suicide course.
- Through the distribution of this literature, we can completely annihilate all the bogus yogi groups in the world. Of this fact I am sure.
- Under the circumstances, transcendental literature like Srimad-Bhagavatam will not only diminish the activities of the corrupt mind of the people in general, but also it will supply food for their hankering after reading some interesting literature.
The Financial Backbone of the Movement
Śrīla Prabhupāda was very practical. He taught us not to invent separate money-making schemes or beg unnecessarily. Instead, he showed us that simply by distributing Kṛṣṇa's pure message, Kṛṣṇa would provide all the financial support needed to expand our temples and preaching efforts globally.
- As far as our Krsna consciousness movement is concerned, we are getting money naturally, by the grace of God, by selling our literature.
- We are selling books to the extent of sixty thousand dollars daily. That is our only hope, that we shall not be financially in difficulty. People are taking our books very nicely. People are accepting our literature.
- Practically we are standing by the sales of our books and literature.
- Everyone should engage full time for various propaganda work of the Krishna Consciousness Movement and maintain themselves by the little profit made by book selling and literature distribution.
Reading to Gain Spiritual Strength
While Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly pushed us to distribute, he was equally emphatic that we must read the books ourselves. As a loving father, he knew that the only way we could stay safe from māyā and become effective, convinced preachers was by thoroughly studying his teachings every single day.
- All our literatures are for guiding you in your successful prosecution of Krsna Consciousness, so follow these instructions of mine implicitly.
- Please continue to read the literature very attentively. Try to understand very soberly and you will feel ecstasy undoubtedly. The more we understand the spiritual literatures the more we become engladdened.
- Now we are requiring our students to be very well familiar with all our literatures so that we may present our philosophy before even the most educated persons.
- Stay strong in Krishna's service by strictly following the regulative principles, chanting 16 rounds daily, without fail, reading all our literatures, and engaging whole-heartedly in devotional service, 24 hours.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s literature is the heart, the soul, and the lifeblood of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. He sacrificed his rest, his comfort, and his final years to ensure these texts were presented to the world, and he expects us to display that same urgency in distributing them. By enthusiastically placing these books into the hands of others and deeply studying them ourselves, we keep Śrīla Prabhupāda’s presence alive. We become active participants in the greatest welfare work imaginable, beating the "Bṛhat Mṛdaṅga" loudly enough to awaken the sleeping souls of the world.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category My Literature (Prabhupada). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.