Windows to the Spiritual World

Prabhupada’s Personal Supervision of Artwork

Srila Prabhupada called the paintings in his books “windows to the spiritual world.” He personally supervised the artists, often providing detailed instructions about composition, color, and subject matter. The paintings were not decorative additions — they were integral to the books, serving as visual representations of the transcendental descriptions in the text.

Prabhupada worked closely with artists such as Jadurani Dasi, Baradraj Dasa, Pariksit Dasa, and Muralidhara Dasa. He reviewed their work, requested changes when needed, and gave final approval before the paintings were included in his books.

What Was Changed

37 Original Paintings Deleted

Thirty-seven original paintings that Prabhupada personally approved were removed from subsequent editions. These were not replaced with equivalent artwork — they were simply eliminated, leaving the books without the visual dimension Prabhupada considered essential.

11 Paintings Repainted

Eleven paintings were altered or repainted. In some cases, the changes were significant enough to alter the theological content of the image:

• Krishna’s conchshell replaced with a whip — In one painting, the conchshell (a symbol of divine sound and auspiciousness) held by Krishna was replaced with a whip. This changes the mood of the image from merciful to punitive — a fundamentally different theological statement.

Portraits of Previous Spiritual Masters Removed

Paintings depicting the previous acaryas (spiritual masters) in the disciplic succession were removed. These portraits connected the reader to the lineage through which the knowledge was transmitted — a central principle in Vedic tradition. Their removal severs this visual connection.

Cover Art Changes

The cover art of several books was changed from Prabhupada’s approved originals. The cover of a spiritual book is the reader’s first encounter with its contents. Prabhupada chose his cover images deliberately.

Professor Dimock’s Foreword

In addition to the artwork changes, the foreword by Professor Edward C. Dimock, Jr. of the University of Chicago was deleted from the Bhagavad-gita. This foreword was part of the 1972 Macmillan edition that Prabhupada personally approved.

Why This Matters

The paintings in Prabhupada’s books were not produced by a publishing house’s art department. They were created under the direct guidance of a self-realized spiritual master who understood the transcendental subjects being depicted. Each painting was meant to give the reader a glimpse of spiritual reality.

Removing, altering, or replacing these paintings is not an update — it is the destruction of a spiritual master’s vision. When Prabhupada called them “windows to the spiritual world,” he meant that they provided access to something beyond material perception. Closing those windows deprives readers of the experience Prabhupada intended for them.

The original paintings, as Prabhupada approved them, should be preserved and included in every edition of his books.