Hare Krishna Movement
The Hare Krishna Movement
The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is Bhakti Yoga for today’s age. A global spiritual movement, a mission, to make the world aware of the Supreme Lord, Krishna, and to foster a deep devotion towards Him. ISKCON gently guides you to be a devotee and for this divine devotion to, gradually, come to be your essence even as you continue to be in the world and discharge your worldly duties.
The Hare Krishna Movement does not ask of you to renounce anything rather it asks that you add Krishna to your life and in that be Krishna Conscious. The charm lies in the ease of the practise; continue to be in the world even as you cultivate a deep devotion for Krishna. Chant His name as often as you can, hear of His accounts and sing His glories.
Hare Krishna devotees chant God’s names in the form of the Mahamantra, “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” The Srimad Bhagvatam states that Krishna, the friend of the devotees, purifies the hearts of those who take His name — that He manifests in their hearts and erases all evil-tendencies.
ISKCON is widely acknowledged as the fastest-growing global religious community in the world. From 1966, when His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada opened his first temple in New York City, today the movement has grown to be a vibrant community of 600 temples, numerous rural projects and educational institutes, thousands of namahattas or local meeting groups, nearly 100 vegetarian restaurants and millions of congregational members worldwide.
ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya, a monotheistic tradition of Hinduism based on the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam. Srila Prabhupada, in giving the world the Hare Krishna Movement, has not only brought the bliss of Krishna to the world but he has also, befittingly, presented Hindu Vedic culture and India’s Vaishnav spirituality to the world.
Srila Prabhupada
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) is widely regarded as the foremost Vedic scholar, translator and teacher of the modern era. He is especially respected as the most-prominent contemporary authority on Bhakti Yoga both for his devotional service to Sri Krishna and also for making devotion, or Krishna Consciousness, a path for others to walk on. This, by way of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), popularly known as the Hare Krishna Movement, of which he is the Founder Acharya.
In 1965, at age sixty-nine, with forty rupees and a trunk of his Bhagavatam commentaries – the first ever in English – he made his way to New York with but one aim, “introduce India’s message of peace and goodwill” to the western world. Only a year later, in 1966, he established ISKCON by way of a humble store-front presence in New York and thereon went on to inspire thousands to devote their lives to Krishna consciousness, launching one of the fastest-growing spiritual movements in the history of the world.
Men and women from all backgrounds came forward and with their help, Srila Prabhupad, as he is known by his followers, established temples, farm communities, a publishing house and educational institutions around the world. Simultaneously he began what has now become the world’s largest vegetarian food relief programme, Food for Life, AnnaDaan.
With the desire to nourish the roots of Krishna Consciousness in it’s home, Srila Prabhupada returned to India several times, where he sparked a revival in the Vaishnav tradition. In India, he opened dozens of temples, including large centres in the holy towns of Vrindavan and Mayapur.
Srila Prabhupad’s most significant contributions, perhaps, are his books. He authored over 70 volumes on the Krishna tradition, which are highly respected by scholars for their authority, depth and clarity. Several of his works are used as textbooks in numerous college courses. His writings have been translated into 76 languages. His most prominent works include: Bhagavad Gita As It Is, the 30-volume Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the 17-volume Sri Caitanya Caritamrita.
Srila Prabhupada passed away on November 14, 1977, in the holy town of Vrindavan, surrounded by his loving disciples who carry on his mission today.
For more information on our beloved Founder Acharya, please Click here
WHY KRISHNA?
Deep dive into the spiritual oasis that is the Hare Krishna Movement by way of these insightful short-films, which even as they sate your curiosity are sure to evoke the great thirst in you. The thirst for Krishna, the desire to serve Him and to walk the path of Bhakti, which is the religion of love and is the core of the Hare Krishna Movement.
Why chant the Hare Krishna mantra?
What is Kirtan?
Why Should I follow Krishna?
Why is Radha, Krishna’s greatest devotee?
The Glory of Tulsi (in Hindi)
Who is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?
What is the role of a temple in the community?
What is the tilak that Hare Krishna devotees apply?
What is the significance of Prasad?