What is Iskcon?
Vaishnavism is a significant branch of Hinduism that centers around the worship of Lord Vishnu or his various avatars or incarnations such as Rama, Krishna, and Narasimha. Vaishnavas, the followers of Vaishnavism, believe that Lord Vishnu is the Supreme God and the source of all creation, sustenance, and dissolution of the universe. The origins of Vaishnavism can be traced back to the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures, where Lord Vishnu is described as the protector of the universe and the one who maintains the cosmic order. The concept of bhakti or devotion to God is also found in the Vedas, and Vaishnavism places great emphasis on this aspect of spirituality. The Bhagavad Gita, a part of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, is an essential text in Vaishnavism. The Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, where Lord Krishna explains the nature of the soul, the purpose of life, and the path to liberation or moksha. The Bhagavad Gita is considered a guidebook for spiritual seekers and is revered by Vaishnavas as a sacred scripture. Vaishnavism has several sub-traditions or sampradayas, each with its own unique set of beliefs, practices, and rituals. Some of the prominent Vaishnava sampradayas include the Sri Sampradaya, the Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and the Ramanandi Sampradaya. ISKCON, also known as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is a Vaishnava organization founded in 1966 by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. ISKCON's primary focus is on the worship of Lord Krishna, who is regarded as the highest form of Lord Vishnu. The organization's teachings are based on the ancient Vedic scriptures and the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 16th-century saint and scholar who emphasized the practice of bhakti or devotion to Lord Krishna.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is the spiritual institution founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in July 1966 as a continuation of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya. ISKCON was personally directed by its Founder-Acarya Srila Prabhupada until his departure on November 14, 1977. According to Srila Prabhupada’s will, ISKCON continued thereafter under the ultimate managing authority of the Governing Body Commission (GBC).
In ISKCON’s incorporating document, Srila Prabhupada imparts the “Seven Purposes of ISKCON”:
1. To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order 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.
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 for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.
7. With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.
Under Srila Prabhupada’s guidance, ISKCON has grown from a small group of disciples assembling in a New York City store front into an international society with scores of centers. At present, there are more than three-hundred ISKCON centers worldwide.
What is Iskcon?
KCON has its headquarters in Mayapur, West Bengal, India, and has centers and temples all around the world. The organization is known for its distinctive style of devotional practices, such as the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, kirtans or devotional songs, and the distribution of prasadam or sanctified food. ISKCON also runs a number of educational and social service projects, including schools, hospitals, and food relief programs. One of the core teachings of ISKCON is that the ultimate goal of human life is to develop love and devotion for Lord Krishna.
This can be achieved through the practice of bhakti yoga, which involves engaging in devotional service to Lord Krishna in various ways, such as chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, reading and studying the scriptures, offering food and flowers, and performing acts of service. ISKCON places great emphasis on the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, which is considered the most powerful means of connecting with Lord Krishna. The mantra is a simple chant that consists of three names of Lord Krishna - Hare, Krishna, and Rama - and is believed to purify the mind and heart and awaken one's natural love for God. ISKCON also teaches the principle of karma yoga, which involves performing one's duty or dharma in a spirit of detachment and offering the results of one's actions to Lord Krishna. This helps to purify the mind and cultivate a sense of detachment from the material world. Another important aspect of ISKCON's teachings is the concept of spiritual initiation or diksha. This involves receiving guidance and training from a spiritual teacher or guru who has been authorized to
This can be achieved through the practice of bhakti yoga, which involves engaging in devotional service to Lord Krishna in various ways, such as chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, reading and studying the scriptures, offering food and flowers, and performing acts of service. ISKCON places great emphasis on the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, which is considered the most powerful means of connecting with Lord Krishna. The mantra is a simple chant that consists of three names of Lord Krishna - Hare, Krishna, and Rama - and is believed to purify the mind and heart and awaken one's natural love for God. ISKCON also teaches the principle of karma yoga, which involves performing one's duty or dharma in a spirit of detachment and offering the results of one's actions to Lord Krishna. This helps to purify the mind and cultivate a sense of detachment from the material world. Another important aspect of ISKCON's teachings is the concept of spiritual initiation or diksha. This involves receiving guidance and training from a spiritual teacher or guru who has been authorized to
What is Iskcon?
Vaishnavism is a significant branch of Hinduism that centers around the worship of Lord Vishnu or his various avatars or incarnations such as Rama, Krishna, and Narasimha. Vaishnavas, the followers of Vaishnavism, believe that Lord Vishnu is the Supreme God and the source of all creation, sustenance, and dissolution of the universe. The origins of Vaishnavism can be traced back to the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures, where Lord Vishnu is described as the protector of the universe and the one who maintains the cosmic order. The concept of bhakti or devotion to God is also found in the Vedas, and Vaishnavism places great emphasis on this aspect of spirituality. The Bhagavad Gita, a part of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, is an essential text in Vaishnavism. The Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, where Lord Krishna explains the nature of the soul, the purpose of life, and the path to liberation or moksha. The Bhagavad Gita is considered a guidebook for spiritual seekers and is revered by Vaishnavas as a sacred scripture. Vaishnavism has several sub-traditions or sampradayas, each with its own unique set of beliefs, practices, and rituals. Some of the prominent Vaishnava sampradayas include the Sri Sampradaya, the Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and the Ramanandi Sampradaya. ISKCON, also known as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is a Vaishnava organization founded in 1966 by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. ISKCON's primary focus is on the worship of Lord Krishna, who is regarded as the highest form of Lord Vishnu. The organization's teachings are based on the ancient Vedic scriptures and the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 16th-century saint and scholar who emphasized the practice of bhakti or devotion to Lord Krishna.
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