Sripad Aindra Prabhu is a disciple of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, Founder of ISKCON & Hare Krishna Movement.
Aindra Prabhu has inspired the third generation of Hare Krishna Movement (Gaudiya) Vaishnavas to take to Harinam Sankirtana with all sincerity and surrender. His Nama Sankirtan has transformed the lives of so many youths globally.
He re-started the 24-hour sankirtan at ISKCON Krishna Balaram Mandir, Vrindavan in 1986.
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| Born | March 12, 1953 Arlington, USA |
| Childhood Name | Edward Striker |
| Year of Diksha | 1973 |
| Residence in Vrindavan | 1986-2010 |
| Guru | AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada |
| Position Held | Head of Kirtan Department at ISKCON Vrindavan |
| Known for | 24 Hour Sankirtan |
| Sect | Gaudiya Vaishnavism |
| Albums | Kirtan is our Bhajan, Vraj Vilas, Vrindavan Mellows, Cintamani Nam, Prayers to Dust of Vraj |
| Departed | 17 July 2010 Vrindavan, India |
| Book |
The Heart of Transcendental Book Distribution
Harinam Kalapatru Gem I & Gem II (Transcripted from Aindra Prabhu's lectures) |
Early Life
Aindra Prabhu was born at Arlington Hospital in the USA on March 12, 1953. Prior to becoming a Hare Krishna devotee, his name was Edward Striker. He was born in a family of musicians, artists and himself was a guitarist as well as played other instruments.
He had a huge interest in painting and as well as music, and it reflects in the way how he has decorated the entire 2nd floor of Gurukula Building (Brahmachari Ashram) as well as his room (at Krishna Balarama Mandir in Vrindavan), which is something which looks very unique and different to any new-comer. It carries a very out-of-the-world, deep and spiritual vibe.
In an interview, he mentions that his father was actually a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur in past life, which was revealed to him in a dream when his father was about to leave his body. Actually, his brother had contacted him and mentioned about his father's health, but Aindra Prabhu was in Vrindavan and had renounced worldly affairs a long time ago and ignored the message subtly.
Later, he got a dream where it was mentioned to him that his father was a fallen disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada and will get liberated via him. Scriptures and Vaishnavas mention it again and again that anybody who does bhajan empowers his 21 generations of the family he is born in to get devotional service.
So, Aindra Prabhu contacted his brother and asked him to put tulsi beads and garlands of Radharani (from local temple) around his father's neck so that his father's soul eventually gets liberated. This is how guru-kripa works and no matter what, guru never leaves you.
Another interesting aspect about Aindra Prabhu's journey is that the very first week he picked up the Krisha Book, he got so deep in the meditation while reading the lilas of Lordships that he had the visuals of Krishna and Balarama playing in the Nitya-Goloka Lila.
While doing concerts in his late teens, he had encountered the Hare Krishna devotees but didn't engage with them apart from just getting a packet of incense sticks and a Beyond Birth and Death book written by Srila Prabhupada (which he didn't read much then).
Then after a few years, as he states, his so-called-wife from four years gave him the Sri Isopanishad Book written by Srila Prabhupada. Aindra Prabhu got so deeply involved with the book that he renounced immediately, went to the temple, and joined there full-time and gradually was initiated by Srila Prabhupada.
Devotional Life
He was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1973 at the age of 20 years as Aindra Dasa. He was a pujari for a long time and used to do book distribution and Harinam Sankirtan on the streets of New York for about 8 years.
He would go out on streets in New York and do Hare Krishna Mahamantra sankirtan for 8-12 hours on a daily basis. This was for a period of about 8 years between 1973 to 1981-82.
He came to Vrindavan for the first time in 1982. The first time he came here, all his money got stolen right in the bus to Vrindavan. He then later went to Mayapur for some time and before returning back to the US. In 1986, he came here and re-started the 24 Hour Sankirtan (which was originally started by Srila Prabhupada).
A lot of general masses and devotees who come at Krishna Balarama Mandir often are seen unable to hold back their tears while participating in sankirtan and taking darshan of Gaur Nitai, Krishna Balarama, and Radha Shyamsundar.
Evening sankirtan during the time period of 7 PM - 8.45 PM at Krishna Balarama Mandir is surcharged as a lot of devotees prefer to visit in the evening time. As there is an assembly of a lot of devotees crying their hearts out, the kirtan is euphoric and one can't usually resist participating in it and dancing ecstatically.
Aindra Prabhu's Room, Anecdotes, Nitai Sachisuta and Life in Vrindavan
Aindra Prabhu's Room
Aindra Prabhu's room (Room Number 89 in Brahmachari Ashram, 2nd Floor, Gurukul Building, ISKCON Vrindavan) had more than 1200 Shaligram Shilas, deities of Nitai Sachisuta, Radha Giridhari Giriraj Shila, Asta Sakhis, Ananga Manjari, Srila Prabhupada, Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur.
Aindra Prabhu used to do daily worship of all his deities and massage all his Shaligram Shilas, apart from singing 6-10 hours of kirtan on almost a daily basis in the main temple complex.
Shaligram Shilas
Most of the Shaligram Shila in his room was left by devotees. He had brought around 100 shaligram shila from Nepal, and henceforth all the shilas were left over by unknown devotees in front of his room.
Slowly, there were over 1200 shilas in his room and he would take care of each of them personally.
He states that "Krishna has come to me by his own will, how can I refuse to serve him." Eventually, as the number of shilas went up, there would be an announcement in the temple for devotees not to leave Shaligram Shila at Aindra Prabhu's room door.
Srila Prabhupada's only one word to Aindra Prabhu in person
Aindra Prabhu just had a one-word conversation with Srila Prabhupada in person in his entire life. Actually Srila Prabhupada had come at the temple (I guess it was New Vrindavan or New York, will update it after verifying), and Aindra Prabhu was in early days of Krishna Consciousness. He didn't know how to play the mridanga well then, but he was leading the kirtan and singing in all ecstasy and excitement. Srila Prabhupada was coming that way. He saw Aindra Prabhu, looked at him, smiled and just said, "Jai!"
This was the only word Srila Prabhupada directly told him in person but Aindra Prabhu carried it always in his heart.
ISKCON Movement is Complete
In one lecture, with a choked-up voice, Aindra Prabhu says loudly, "ISKCON movement is complete." The best would be to listen to Aindra Prabhu's words from his own voice here.
He has a deep meaning here and talks about the highest prayojana (goal) of prema-bhakti given by our acharyas. Though, he was very aggressive against devotees not focusing on Harinam. It has been discussed deeply in his book and lectures.
Anecdotes from Aindra Prabhu's Life
There are plenty of anecdotes from Aindra Prabhu's life which I have heard from devotees or in his lectures, but I will try sharing here some of which comes to my mind at the time of writing this (as inspired by Sri Vrindavan Dham).
Aindra Prabhu used to say that those who follow him and say that they like kirtan but don't like chanting should not call themselves as his followers. He stated that he chants 116 rounds daily and if somebody really wants to please him, then they should chant a minimum of 16 rounds daily as instructed by Srila Prabhupada.
He also used to say that if somebody is playing mridanga in kirtan without singing the holy names, then that is a big zero, and these people are just entertainers.
Aindra Prabhu used to get really furious when somebody disturbed him while kirtan. His lectures are a testimony to how he was really inclined to make people realise the importance of Harinam and vraja-prema-bhakti.
Ecstatic Kirtans by Sripad Aindra Prabhu
Check our list of favourite Aindra Prabhu's Kirtan