Back to Godhead magazine (BTG) was Srila Prabhupada’s first step towards fulfilling his Guru’s (Bhaktisiddhanta) order to preach Krishna consciousness in English. In February 1944 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada published the first issue of BACK TO GODHEAD magazine. At his home in Calcutta, he wrote the articles, typed the manuscripts, and designed a logo essentially the same logo used on the covers of BACK TO GODHEAD today: an effulgent Lord Caitanya, shining light upon the souls of this world.

"From his front room at 6 Sita Kanta Banerjee, Abhay (as Srila Prabhupada was known) conceived, wrote, edited, and typed the manuscript for His magazine. He designed a logo, arranged in the style of a banner across the top of the page. In the upper left-hand corner was Lord Chaitanya, effulgent with rays of light, like rays from the sun. In the lower right were silhouettes of a crowd of people, in darkness but groping to receive light from Lord Chaitanya. And between Lord Chaitanya and the people, the title "BACK TO GODHEAD" appeared. In the lower right corner was a picture of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati seated at his writing, looking up thoughtfully as he composed. Above the logo ran the motto 'Godhead is Light, Nescience is darkness. Where there is Godhead there is no Nescience.'"

Although the logo went through several changes over the years, today it still matches Srila Prabhupada's original idea. New color artwork of Lord Chaitanya and the people facing him replaced the original black and white design. The only difference is that by the desire of his disciples Srila Prabhupada, rather than his spiritual master (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati), now sits across from Lord Chaitanya.

Srila Prabhupada's Vision for Back to Godhead Magazine

Srila Prabhupada: “BACK TO GODHEAD” is a feeble attempt by the undersigned (Abhay Charan De) under the direction of His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, the celebrated founder and organiser of the Gaudiya Math activities–just to bring up a real relation of humanity with central relation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

Srila Prabhupada inspects the November
1975 issue of BACK TO GODHEAD magazine

These psychological movements of the leaders of all countries–combined with the orders of my Divine Master Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada has led me to venture to start a paper under the above name and style “BACK TO GODHEAD” which implies all the words that we may intend to say in this connection.

"I wish that every one who is enlightened and educated of all nationality, may take active interest in this periodical publication for wide circulation as this paper will contain only the transcendental messages of the great savants of India and specially of Lord Chaitanya, the Godhead Incarnate Who escended for the deliverance of all fallen souls in the present age. My duty will be simply to repeat in the “BACK TO GODHEAD” just like an interpreter what I have heard from and what I have been ordered to deliver by my great spiritual master H.D.G. Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada. Nothing will be manufactured by me by my mental concoction. Such words will descend as Sound Transcendental and when they are given proper serving reception by the aural channel, surely they will act like medicine to carry all back to home and “BACK TO GODHEAD.”

“OUR RESOLVE MUST BE BACK TO GOD.
We make plans for the future for peace amongst the nation and for civil security at home. That is quite right enough and it would be wrong to neglect it. But all our plans will come to ship-wreck on the rock of human selfishness unless we turn to God. BACK TO GOD, that is the chief need of England and of every nation.” (Complete article here)

In February 1944 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada published the first issue of BACK TO GODHEAD magazine. At his home in Calcutta, he wrote the articles, typed the manuscripts, and designed a special logo on the cover of BACK TO GODHEAD—an effulgent Lord Caitanya.

A Brief History of Back to Godhead Magazine

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda began publication of Back to Godhead magazine from his home in Calcutta in 1944. The Second World War was in progress, and the Japanese were bombing Calcutta. There was rationing of essential war supplies, and the government at first refused his request for paper for printing. But he was persistent, his request was finally granted, and in the second issue of the magazine, with veiled sarcasm, he thanked the government for their enlightened attitude toward such a spiritual publication.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's spiritual vision was uncompromising. The magazine would contain only the transcendental messages of the great sages of India, especially Lord Chaitanya, and his duty would be simply to repeat them, according to time and circumstance in the present age. He would not manufacture anything, and so his words would descend as transcendental sound to guide people back to Godhead. He admitted that the subject matter, being from a totally different sphere of consciousness, might seem dry to his readers, but said that anyone who actually gave attention to the message would benefit.

Notwithstanding the humble circumstances surrounding the beginning of the magazine, Śrīla Prabhupāda's goals and vision were nothing less than the salvation of the entire world. He never altered or lost that vision throughout his life, and he left this example to all his followers. His success in later years would be proof to his disciples of the words of Bhagavad-gītā,

yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo
yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ
tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir
dhruvā nītir matir mama

“Wherever there is Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.“

The publication schedule of Back to Godhead was irregular. After the beginning in 1944, the next issues we have are from 1952. Then follow the Volume III issues which were printed during March to November 1956, October to November 1958, and February to September 1960. The Hindi issues, of which we have only Volume I, Nos 1 and 3, were printed in Kanpur in 1958.

From the final issues in the 1960s we can see that Śrīla Prabhupāda was becoming more interested in book publication, and the later issues contain excerpts from books that he intended to publish. Of particular interest is Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, which appears in the later Back to Godheads with transliterations, word-for-word translations, translations, and purports. After his arrival in America he was to publish a summary-study of this work as The Nectar of Devotion.

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Quotes from Srila Prabhupada on his
Vision for Back to Godhead Magazine

"I have got the clue of going Back to Godhead just after leaving my present material body and in order to take along with me all my contemporary men and women of the world, I have started my paper Back to Godhead as one of the means to the way."

70-04-16 Letter: Gurudasa
BTG is my life and soul. Please therefore try to distribute BTG as many as it is possible. I started this magazine in 1947 in my householder life. I was spending Rs. 300 to 400 at the time ($300 to 400 in your exchange), and I was distributing this magazine without any consideration how much I was getting in return. Practically the whole money was spent without any return. But ten years after, from 1954 to 1959, the struggle was very hard because at that time I had no money and alone I was editing, publishing, and securing money for publication. So it was a great struggle. My ambition was that I would publish BTG in huge quantity so that people may understand transcendental blessings of Lord Caitanya.  » more here «