Appendix 1
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“the big  mṛdanga .” For the purpose of world-wide service to humanity, ISKCON Press has been established, for the exclusive printing of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books.
In 1968, Macmillan published  The Bhagavad Gītā As It Is  translated with commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda. The  Gītā  is the gist of the entire Vedic literature. Just this one book can free anyone from the clutches of material nature and fix one in eternal loving service unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. As originally written by Śrīla Prabhupāda, the manuscript of  The Bhagavad Gītā As It Is  is many times larger than the Macmillan version. Publication of this original expanded version is being undertaken by ISKCON. Another important published literature by Śrīla Prabhupāda is his  Teachings of Lord Chaitanya . This book outlines the precepts of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Golden Avatār Who appeared in India 500 years ago and propagated the Hare Kṛṣṇa  mantra  as the means of God realization for the present age. A book called  The Nectar of Devotion , an authorized summary study of Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī’s  Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu , has just been published. Śrīla Prabhupāda is presently writing a several volume work called  Kṛṣṇa , which contains all of the Pastimes of the Supreme Lord when present on this planet 5000 years ago. Translations are also underway of the  Vedānta-sūtras ,  Caitanya-caritāmṛta  and his 12 volumes of  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam . The literatures compiled by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda are authorized by the disciplinary succession, which is descending from Kṛṣṇa Himself. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s whole life mission is to faithfully pass on the original understanding of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness without distortion. According to the Vedic literature this descending process is the only way to realization of the Absolute Truth, since the Absolute Truth is beyond the reach of our mundane speculation.
The author is not a retired personality, despite his prodigious literary output. He personally and very intimately guides his disciples through the most practical problems of daily life. Spiritual life is practical and, due to the predominant material