ISKCON- International Society for Krishna Consciousness, also known as the “Hare Krishna Movement” is one of the most popular, modern Vaishnava movements, that has gathered massive followership in India and abroad. Europeans, Americans, and Asians, all chanting “Hare Krishna” in unison, ISKCON has successfully built a cosmopolitan culture of devotion.
Most of us have seen the beautiful temples, Radha-Krishna statues, and gatherings of ISKCON somewhere, but very few know about its origin, journey, and mission. Let us start from the beginning and answer the question- What is ISKCON?
The Hare Krishna movement of ISKCON has its origins in the medieval Indian tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya, founded by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, based on unwavering devotion to Sri Krishna, who is revered as the supreme being or Param Brahman. It was founded in New York in 1966, and since then it has grown into a massive modern Bhakti movement, with 500 primary centers, temples, and institutes of public service under its aegis.
A 15th-century Vaishnava saint, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu lives in the folk Vaishnava culture of Bengal and Assam as a symbol of the devotee who became one with God. Worshipping Krishna through Bhajan and Kritan created an ambiance of great ecstasy, Sri Chaitanya was the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism or Brahma-Madhava-Gaudiya Sampradaya.
“Brahma” means the supreme principles derived from the Vedic wisdom of Brahma, “Madhava” is a name of Krishna, “Gaudiya” suggests the geographical origin of the movement in Gauda, a place in Bengal, and “Sampradaya” means a community. The goal was thus to form a community of followers of Krishna, who revered him as the Supreme being, through an understanding of Vaishnava and Vedic knowledge.
Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavata Purana are the cornerstones of the beliefs of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Bhakti-Yoga, the reverence of Krishna through devotion is the primary teaching of Sri Chaitanya, which is also at the heart of ISKCON and its practices.
Born on September 1, 1896, in Kolkata, Srila Prabhupada was given the name Abhay Charan De by his parents. The ideas and actions of Mahatma Gandhi moved him, and he joined the Civil Disobedience Movement. It was in 1922, that his life reached a turning point, of Abhay Charan De becoming Srila Prabhupada when he met a great philosopher and Vaishnava leader Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, who discussed with him the need to spread Vaishnava teachings amongst the non-Indian population of the world.
Inspired by the devotional aspect of Vaishnavism, Srila Prabhupada began preparing himself to spread the message in the West. It was at the age of 69 years when most people started thinking of retiring when Srila Prabhupada made his way to New York, in a cargo ship, to begin his journey, one that would prove to be the beginning of ISKCON.
In his early days in New York, Srila Prabhupada braved many challenges, but maintained his spirit and devotion, giving speeches and holding small talks on Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Kritan (singing devotional hymns) and gathered a small but determined community of students. July 1966 was the month when the struggles and visions of Srila Prabhupada were realized in the form of ISKCON, established for “checking the imbalance of values in the world and working for real unity and peace”.
Since the establishment of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada, like many visionaries before him, traveled the world with his message. He toured across the globe 14 times, meeting young followers and sharing the divine beauty of Krishna with them. A spiritually moving orator, Srila Prabhu was also a great writer and penned his devotion and profound wisdom in over 70 works, which have been translated into various languages and have a readership that transcends geographical, social, and cultural boundaries.
His magnum opuses include “Bhagavad Gita As It Is”, Srimad Bhagavatam in 30 volumes, and a poetic “Chaitanya Charitamrita”. Having devoted his life to Krishna-bhakti and the propagation of Vaishnava values, Srila Prabhupada was blessed by his Lord, in whose land, Vrindavan, he left his mortal body on November 14, 1977.
Krishna-bhakti and devotion to Him as the supreme Lord is at the core of the life and teachings of Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON. The followers believe in chanting Krishna’s name, singing his hymns, and living a life of supreme devotion as the path to salvation or Moksha. According to the official document of ISKCON, there are seven (7) purposes of the Mission-
(1) To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.
(2) To propagate a consciousness of Krishna as it is revealed in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.
(3) To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, and thus to develop the idea, within the members, and humanity, at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).
(4) To teach and encourage the Sankirtan movement of congregational chanting of the holy name of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
(5) To erect for the members, and for society at large, a holy place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the personality of Krishna.
(6) To bring the members closer together to teach a simpler and more natural way of life.
(7) To achieve the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books, and other writings.
Beyond these seven goals, the followers of ISKCON live a life of Bhakti, austerity, and in the company of religious literature of Vaishnavism.
Devotees of Krishna in ISKCON practice Bhakti-Yoga, becoming one or joining (Yoga) with the Divine, through the path of devotion. This method has been narrated by Krishna to Arjuna in the Gita, where the Lord suggests that one should surrender to the supreme god and become fearless and virtuous in actions.
☸ The actions and devotion of the followers of ISKCON are to be focused on realizing the visible and transcendental nature of Krishna. His divinity and beauty narrated by many Vaishnava texts is the supreme goal of a devotee, who engages in reading, chanting, and meditating on Krishna, to understand, embody, and experience His powers and benevolence.
☸ One of the simplest paths to succeed in Bhakti Yoga is through Meditation. According to the principles of ISKCON, meditation can be done in three ways- Japa, Kritan, and Sankirtana. Japa or chanting the name of Krishna, Kirtan or singing in his praise, and Sankritana or public singing of Krishna-bhajans are paths walked by Krishna-bhaktas, from Meera to Sri Chaitanya.
☸ Reciting the mantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”- remembering the heavenliness of Krishna and Rama is also a powerful way of connecting oneself with Sri Krishna.
☸ Vegetarianism, one of the core values of Vaishnavism is also professed ardently by ISKCON. With a global following, the movement has successfully taught many to follow a healthy and vegetarian diet, where dishes are not just for eating, but for feeding the body which becomes an instrument of virtues and home to goodness. Over 100 Hare Krishna restaurants have been opened by ISKCON in several countries, where pure vegetarian food is served.
☸ The Vedas and Srimad Bhagavad Gita are two sacred textual traditions hailed in India and abroad for the profound and timeless wisdom they carry. ISKCON believes that to purify the mind and walk the path of Bhakti Yoga, the teachings of the Vedas and Srimad Bhagavad Gita are supremely beneficial. The followers engage with these texts and carry their knowledge as a guiding light in their quests for Krishna.
☸ ISKCON and its followers believe that much like the transformation of the human body from birth to death, the soul changes cycles of life and death. In the cycles of reincarnation, Karma or actions and their fruits or Karma-phala decide the outcome and the next birth.
☸ Becoming human due to the fruit of good deeds in past lives, one can end these cycles by following the path of Krishna-bhakti. Once the soul is immersed in the nectar of Krishna, the ties from this world and the laws of reincarnation can not touch them, they are born in the realm of Krishna and remain there eternally.
☸ Karma- one of the most powerful elements of Krishna’s teachings in the Bhagavad Gita, also forms a cardinal principle for ISKCON. One gets to reap the fruit of one’s action (Karma-Phala) in this life and the next, forming an endless cycle of happiness and sorrow.
☸ By devotion self to Krishna-bhakti and seeing Him as the supreme Lord, this cycle is broken. When virtues and devotion are at the heart of a person, Krishna himself takes away the effects of their actions, and the devotee rises above the cycles of birth and death to be a resident of Krishna’s realm.
In the modern world, ISKCON has followers of its principles in every region, with people hailing from different social and economic setups walking the path of Srila Prabhupada. Translating the knowledge of the Vedas and Gitas and making it available for devotees across continents, ISKCON continues to grow in popularity and followership.
The methods of worshipping, meditating, and languages of the followers of ISKCON diverge, but what brings them together is the thread of Krishna-Naam and the chant of “Hare Krishna”, reverberating from Sri Chaitanya, Srila Prabhu to everyone who recites the name of the supreme one, the most beautiful of all, Krishna.
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