- In full:
- International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
- Date:
- 1965 - present
- Areas Of Involvement:
- bhakti yoga
- Related People:
- Bhaktipada
- A. C. Bhaktivedanta
Hare Krishna
News •
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What is the Hare Krishna movement?
The Hare Krishna movement, formally known as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), is a branch of Vaishnava Hinduism that emphasizes devotion to Krishna. Founded in the United States in 1965 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta (Swami Prabhupada), it is rooted in the Bengali bhakti tradition.
Followers believe Krishna is the Supreme Lord and chant the Hare Krishna mantra to alter their karma:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama Rama Rama, Hare HareDevotees dedicate themselves to serving Krishna, practicing vegetarianism, abstaining from alcohol and drugs, and engaging in procreation only within marriage. The movement gained visibility through its followers chanting, dancing, and selling books, becoming a symbol of new religious movements in the 1960s.
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Where did the Hare Krishna movement begin?
The Hare Krishna movement, formally known as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was founded in the United States in 1965 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta (Swami Prabhupada). It is a Western outgrowth of the Bengali bhakti (devotional) yoga tradition that began in the 16th century. After being instructed to spread Krishna Consciousness to the West, Bhaktivedanta moved to New York City and established the movement's headquarters. The movement quickly gained popularity, especially among young people. Today, there are Hare Krishna centers in 60 countries.
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What are some basic beliefs of Hare Krishna followers?
The Hare Krishna movement, or Krishna Consciousness, originated in India in the 16th century and was brought to the United States in 1965.
Core beliefs of Hare Krishna followers:
* Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, is the Supreme Lord.
* Humans are eternal spiritual beings caught in reincarnation, which is determined by karma.
* Devotees serve Krishna, chant the Hare Krishna mantra, abstain from alcohol, drugs, and meat, and restrict sex to procreation within marriage.
* Male devotees shave their heads except for a small tuft (sikha), and both men and women mark their foreheads with clay, symbolizing their bodies as temples of Krishna.1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is the importance of chanting in the Hare Krishna movement?
The Hare Krishna movement, a Western branch of the Bengali bhakti tradition, emphasizes chanting as a path to mystical devotion.
Chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is central to their beliefs, as adherents believe it is an easy method provided by the Lord to change one’s karma. Devotees dedicate hours daily to chanting this mantra, alongside serving Krishna, adhering to a vegetarian diet, and abstaining from alcohol and drugs.
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How do Hare Krishna followers practice their religion in daily life?
The Hare Krishna movement, a Western branch of the Bengali bhakti tradition, instructs its followers to devote their lives to serving Krishna. This includes daily chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra for several hours and refraining from alcohol and drugs. They also adhere to a vegetarian diet, and sex is only allowed within marriage for procreation.
Additionally, male devotees often shave their heads, keeping only a small tuft of hair called a sikha, as a symbol of surrendering to their teacher. Both men and women mark their foreheads each morning with clay, which serves as a reminder that their bodies are temples of Krishna. Vaishnavas also celebrate festivals, such as Diwali, which commemorates Krishna's triumph over a demon.
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How has the Hare Krishna movement influenced culture and society around the world?
The Hare Krishna movement, or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), is a branch of the Bengali bhakti tradition that worships Krishna. Founded in the US in 1965 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta, it gained visibility through public chanting and book sales by early converts.
The movement's teachings come from Hindu scriptures, asserting Krishna as the Supreme Lord. Devotees dedicate themselves to serving Krishna, chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, and adhering to a vegetarian lifestyle, while also abstaining from alcohol and drugs.
Since the late 20th century, contemporary Western culture has been more open to accepting Eastern religious ideas. ISKCON's growth has led to sights of devotional singing and dancing in cities like New York and London.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Hare Krishna, popular name of a semimonastic Vaishnava Hindu organization founded in the United States in 1966 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta (Swami Prabhupada; 1896–1977). This movement is a Western outgrowth of the popular Bengali bhakti (devotional) yoga tradition, or Krishna Consciousness, which began in the 16th century. Bhakti yoga’s founder, Chaitanya (1485–1534?), advocated the pursuit of mystical devotion through repetitive chanting, especially of the Hare Krishna mantra:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
As a young man, Bhaktivedanta was instructed by his teacher to carry Krishna Consciousness to the West. After fulfilling family obligations, he took the vows of a sannyasi (a religious ascetic who renounces the world) and moved to the United States. His first converts were hippies in New York City, who shaved their heads and adopted Indian clothing as signs of membership. They took to the streets to chant and dance (a practice called kirtan) and to airports to sell their teacher’s books. In the process, they became one of the most visible symbols of the new religious movements in the 1960s.
The teachings of the Hare Krishna movement are derived from ancient Hindu scriptures, especially the Bhagavata Purana and the Bhagavad Gita. Adherents believe that Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) is the Supreme Lord and that humans are eternal spiritual beings trapped in a cycle of reincarnation. The nature of the cycle for individual beings is determined by karma, the law of the consequences of past actions, which returns beings to physical existence. According to the movement’s doctrine, it is possible to change one’s karma by practicing extreme forms of yoga; however, the Lord has provided an easier method, the recitation of his holy names, Krishna and Rama.
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Believers devote their lives to serving Krishna and spend several hours each day chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. They are vegetarians, and they renounce the use of alcohol and drugs. Sex is allowed only for procreation within marriage. Male devotees shave their heads, leaving only a small tuft of hair called a sikha, a sign of surrender to their teacher. Each morning male and female believers mark their foreheads with clay as a reminder that their bodies are temples of Krishna.
Prior to his death, Bhaktivedanta appointed the Governing Board Commission to guide the movement internationally. Included in the commission were several people he had designated as teachers (gurus), and, as the movement expanded, more gurus were named. By the end of the 1990s, there were about 225 Hare Krishna centers in 60 countries, including 50 centers in the United States. While the number of formally initiated members is only a few thousand, several hundred thousand regularly worship at the Hare Krishna temples, including many expatriate Indians.
The Hare Krishna movement was among the first groups to be targeted by anticult organizations in the early 1970s. During the 1980s it was frequently accused of brainwashing, and anticult groups attempted to deprogram some Hare Krishna members. Claiming psychological and emotional damage, several former members sued the organization unsuccessfully.