Episodes

From the beginning you will be introduced into the depth of the Vedic culture. Gour Mohan De, Abhay Charan’s father, a great devotee of Lord Krishna, is overseeing the last details for the celebration of Janmasthami – the appearance day of Sri Krishna.

These days India was dominated by the British Victorian imperialism and H.H.Bhakti Charu Swami, depicts the sharp contrast between the British rulers’ daily life style and the Vedic way of living of De’s family.

H.H.Bhakti Charu Swami who has grown up in a similar environment brings up a very uplifting and heartwarming picture of the exchanges between the different members of De’s family.

Abhay Charan’s mother, Rajani, is about to give birth to her first son. During the delightful scene with the astrologer, stunned by the astrological chart of the boy, his father will name him Abhay Charan – he who is fearless at the lotus feet of God.

One of the traits of this Kali Yuga is pointed out when innocent people are becoming victims of so called sadhus who claim to be God. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, one of the greatest Vedic scholar and vaisnava in the 1896, is introduced to us as he threatens Phalgu Baba, one of them, to expose him as a mere mortal.

H.H.Bhakti Charu Swami presents the spotless character of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur who faces the tantric yogi with his only weapon his faith into the Lord and the Bhagavatam.The tension reaches its height when the yogi threatens to kill Bhaktivinod and pits all his yogic powers against him. Abhay is two-year-old when he contracts typhoid, the family physician prescribes chicken broth, there being no cure for the disease at the time. The suggestion dismays the family of strict vegetarians. We feel Gour Mohan’s agony as he wrestles with the decision: Should he allow Abhay to be given chicken soup?

H.H.Bhakti Charu Swami wonderfully demonstrates how a vaishnava is neither giving up his values nor losing faith into God even in the most difficult circumstances.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur is revealing to his son, Bimala Prasad, who will later become Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, the spiritual master of Srila Prabhupada, an important truth that without glorification of God and unless one follows the path of full surrender to Krishna the mind will never feel contempt.

Bhaktivinoda instructs Bimala Prasad to approach Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji for initiation. The perfect disciple Bimala Prasad and the perfect guru Gaura Kisora Babaji are presented in a beautiful and emotional scene by H.H.Bhakti Charu Swami.While Bimala Prasad is accepted by Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji as his only disciple, Abhay Charan is raised from the beginning of his life as a Krsna conscious child by his father who will instruct him how to play mrdanga, give him his first Radha Krishna vigraha and will teach him how to worship them and observe Jagannath Ratha Yatra Festival as a childhood play.

The drama comes to its height when Abhay comes face to face with brutality and death during rioting erupts between Hindus and Muslims, caused deliberately by the British to create friction between the two communities.

H.H.Bhakti Charu Swami tactfully presents the strides forward of this age of Kali through the foreseeing words of Bhaktivinoda Thakur: “If people are divided by a wall of religion then human beings will become like animals.”

H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami continues to project us in Abhay’s devout Vaisnava upbringing with vivid portrayals of the traditional Indian family life Abhay enjoyed in his early years; the loving care of his mother, Rajani, which will leave a deep impression in Abhay’s heart, especially after her departure from this world. From his father’s wisdom, Abhay will learn that the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra is the best medicine to remove all the sufferings of the material world.Our young man, Abhay, learns an important lesson that death is as natural as birth and for one who is born death is inevitable. This sad event makes Abhay look deeper into the true meaning of life.

Meanwhile Bimala Prasad who is now initiated by Gaura Kisora Das Babaji is preparing to fulfill his mission of spreading Krsna Consciousness all over the world, when he receives the terrible news of the departure of his spiritual master. He will expertly get back from the Babajis circle the divine body of his spiritual master. As a student at the prestigious Scottish Churches’ College in Calcutta, Abhay must face oppressive teachers. He becomes attracted by the message of the charismatic Subhash Chandra Bose, a spirited nationalist, who is rallying students to oppose British domination but after few secret meetings he will feel Gandhi’s call to boycott everything British to be a better way to protest and will do it in his own way.

At the same time Gaur Mohan De is trying to fulfill his duty as a father and arrange Abhay’s marriage according to the Vedic tradition.

Abhay enters household life. You can see wonderful scenes of their traditional Indian weeding.Meanwhile, the discussions amongst Abhay’s friends circle, about the status of India is going higher in Scottish Churches’ College.HH Bhakti Charu Swami wonderfully demonstrates Abhay’s spotless character. You can foresee the traits of a great leader that he is already displaying, seeing as such by his College’s friends.

Now has come the time to fight the British in his own way, Abhay refuses to accept his diploma although he has passed his examinations.

Compared to his school mates, after his examinations, he prefers fulfill his childhood dream and visit the Holy Dham of Jagannath, there he will meet a genuine sadhu who will relate to him the wonderful Pastimes of Jagannath.

Violence goes higher in the streets of Calcutta but Abhay maintains his position as a non violent.

As a responsible husband and father, Abhay nicely takes care of his family’s needs.Abhay is the manager of Dr Bose’s laboratory in Calcutta and his expertise brings the business to a higher speed.

The historical meeting of Abhay Charan and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur takes place in this part.

HH Bhakti Charu Swami wonderfully portrays Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati brilliant character as he defeats the British’s pride and expertly demonstrates in a debate with the brahmanas’s society the unique position of A vaisnava.

Meanwhile you can witness a touching scene between Abhay Charan and his father, Gaur Mohan De, expressing their intense devotion to Sri Krishna. As Abhay Charan mentioned later on about his father: “He was kind to me, and I imbibed from him the ideas later on solidified by my spiritual master, the eternal father.”

Abhay has settled in at Allahabad with his family and is extensively travelling on business.Increasingly, Abhay is serving the Vaisnava’s by actively assisting in their starting a temple in Allahabad, talking of spiritual topics with others, and displaying very strict adherence to spirtual practices.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur is spreading the message of Lord Caitanya widely by opening centers in various cities, talking at gatherings, going on parikramas with thousands devotees, printing and producing spiritual literatures. He is hailed as the Lion Guru for his very forthright preaching.

In another meting with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, Abhay asks how he can serve him.

Abhay struggles to balance his pharmacy business, his family responsibilities, and his spiritual life. Many scenes show the development of his relationship with his spiritual master, including assisting his mission, the Gaudiya Math. HH Bhakti Charu Swami shows in a very moving sequence, Abhay Charan receiving initiation from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur in 1933, his name is now Abhay Caranaravinda Dasa.The passing of Srila Bhaktisiddantha Sarasvati Thakur is a turning point in the life of Abhay.

HH Bhakti Charu Swami ends this episode when Abhay asks to his uncooperative wife to choose between tea and him after she had sold his Bhagavatam to buy tea.

After accepting the last order of sannyasa, Srila Prabhupada moves to Vrindavan at Radha Damodara Temple.HH Bhakti Charu Swami portrays Prabhupada’s determination to overcome obstacles to write, print and distribute Back to Godhead magazine. All alone Prabhupada will translate and print the first English Bhagavatam.

One of the main highlights is the meeting with Sumati Morar-jee, and how with her help Prabhupada will be able to go to America on the Jaladuta.

In September 1965, Srila Prabhupada arrives in Butler, Pennsylvania. During his stay with Sally and Gopal Agarwal, he enlightens Agarwal’s family and friends on Vedic culture; he delivers lectures on campus, at the Slippery Rock State College. Later on Sally laments when Prabhupada moves to New York to fulfill the order of his spiritual master.In New York, Prabhupada stays at Dr Mishra’s place. Many of Dr Mishra’s students are attracted to Srila Prabhupada’s personality and philosophy but Dr Mishra does not give him any chance to express himself.

Prabhupada finds a new place with the help of these young boys all attracted to him. Swamiji moves into 26 Second Avenue – Lower East Side.With regular programs held at this storefront temple many young people are coming regularly to meet Swamiji and to learn from him. Now Swamiji establishes the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON, which has seven purposes, is formally established as a legal spiritual movement

The first public chanting of the Maha Mantra takes place.

Swamiji has become a celebrity and he is on page One of New York Times and East Village Other.

A record is made of Swamiji chanting.

Prabhupada celebrates the first Janamasthami and on this occasion his earnest followers accept him as their spiritual guide.

A new centre is also started on the west coast of USA at San Francisco.

Srila Prabhupada arrives in San Francisco by plane – his first ever flight.He makes a stage appearance at the Rock Mantra Dance concert, where he conducts kirtana and gives a speech. Lord Jagannatha’s deity is installed and the first Ratha-Yatra festival in America takes place.

In 1967, Srila Prabhupada travels from New York to San Francisco by plane – his first ever flight. He makes a stage appearance at a rock concert, where he conducts kirtana. Lord Jagannatha’s deity is installed and the first Ratha-Yatra festival in America takes place.

The world’s greatest pop group, the Beatles, on a quest for spiritual understanding, comes into contact with Srila Prabhupada through meeting devotees. George Harrison records the Radha- Krishna Temple album with the devotees and funds the printing of the Krishna book. A tribute to George Harrison is also a bonus feature in this exciting series. The story behind attaining the beautiful temple in Bury Place unfolds together with securing the deities from a Gujurati family in the London Indian community.

Here we see the explosion of the Krishna Conscious Movement in USA. Srila Prabhupada extensively translates the books which are published and distributed by his disciples.

Srila Prabhupada and His western disciples (Giriaj) face insurmountable obstacles in securing the Juhu temple property. His Divine Grace and devotees do battle with corrupt businessmen who plot and plan to destroy the Temple and keep the land. While Western disciples deal with new austerities while living in Mumbai, they also learn the trials and tribulations of India’s political and judicial system. Along with criminal elements and thugs devotees find their lives and love of God at great risk. With unflinching faith in Krishna Srila Prabhupada comes to the rescue…

The episode takes off with Srila Prabhupada first visit back to Vrindavan after coming to the West to preach. His Divine Grace shares with the Indian community his preaching efforts in the West. Other important events include how Kirtanananda and Hayagriva secure a ninety –nine year lease for the New Vrindavan property in West Virginia.

In this episode in the Abhay Charan series, two young ladies, one being the daughter of a senator, take off on a casual tour of Europe. Their encounter of being followed by male strangers, lead them to an ISKCON preaching center in France. Believe it or not this happens a day before Srila Prabhupada’s arrival at the preaching center, thus fortunately changing their lives forever… Srila Prabhupada emphasizes the importance of intelligently using this human form of life for spiritual advancement.

Our journey in this series develops with a profound deputy magistrate in India and esteemed Vaisnava, Bhakti Vinod Thakur. He envisions the birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the land of Mayapur and with the ecstasy displayed by Jaganath das Babaji upon visiting the land, that it is indeed the birthplace of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He then embarks on a mission to spread the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and builds a temple on this holy land. Events move along with encounters with crazy tantrics, past times of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu with Chand Khazi and more…