"Very soon the unparalleled path of hari-nama sankirtana will be propagated all over the world…Oh, for that day when the fortunate English, French, Russian, German, and American people will take up banners, mrdangas, and karatalas and raise kirtana through their streets and towns! When will that day come?"

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

The advent of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur marked the beginning of a period which will be known in our Vaisnava sampradaya as the period during which Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's prediction was fulfilled. By the mercy of their Divine Graces, Srila Bhaktivinoda, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, and Srila Bhaktivedanta, the Krsna consciousness movement of chanting the Hare Krsna maha mantra was heard in every town and village.

After Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur re-established the authenticity of the sampradaya's pure teachings, his son, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, took up his successful preaching mission. This mission, the Guadiya Matha, established numerous mathas throughout India and printed many authorized philosophical books.

Both these Acaryas made it known that their ultimate mission was to see that Krsna consciousness was introduced to the world, primarily through the Western countries, with English being the primary language. In 1896, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur published Sri Gauranga-lila-smarana-mangala-stotram. It was this book -- published in the auspicious year of the birth of Srila Prabhupada -- that introduced the glories of Lord Caitanya to the Western world for the first time.

On the very day they were destined to meet in 1922, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami was instructed by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati to spread these teachings throughout the English-speaking world. History has shown that this task was successfully accomplished by Srila Prabhupada. Accomplishing this inconceivable task required the advent of three nitya-siddha Sampradaya Acaryas. Their mission was deputed by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and they were sent to execute this task.

Our Indian spiritual life is guided by the acaryas, sampradaya acarya, the Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnuswami and Nimbarka. There is... Whole Indian spiritual culture is dependent on the guidance of these acarya. And in the Bhagavad-gita also, in the Thirteenth Chapter, it is advised, acarya upasanam: "One should follow the instruction of the acarya." That is our Vedic civilization

Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 06-06-74

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.