ISKCON: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement, was founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda in New York City in 1966. Srila Prabhupada, as he is respectfully called by his followers, traveled from India to the West with the mission of sharing the ancient spiritual wisdom of bhakti yoga with the world.
Global Growth
From humble beginnings, ISKCON has experienced remarkable expansion over its relatively short history. Today, the organization encompasses five hundred major centers, temples and rural communities worldwide. It also includes nearly one hundred affiliated vegetarian restaurants, thousands of namahattas (local meeting groups), various community projects, and approximately a million congregational members across the globe.
Tradition
ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradāya, a monotheistic tradition within Vedic or Hindu culture. Its philosophy is based primarily on two Sanskrit texts: the Bhagavad-gītā and the Bhagavat Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam).
Activities and Outreach
ISKCON members promote Krishna Consciousness through various activities, including:
- Festivals and performing arts that showcase Vaishnava culture
- Public chanting and distribution of spiritual literature
- Operating nearly 100 vegetarian restaurants worldwide and publishing acclaimed vegetarian cookbooks
- Free distribution of santified vegetrian food
- Establishing hospitals, schools, colleges, and eco-villages as practical applications of devotional yoga
- Developing cruelty-free dairy farming
