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| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| *ISKCON: http://www.iskcon.com/ | *ISKCON: http://www.iskcon.com/ | ||
| *Krishna.com: http://www.krishna.com/ | |||
| * | * | ||
| *Critical views of ISKCON: http://trancenet.org/krishna/ | *Critical views of ISKCON: http://trancenet.org/krishna/ | ||
Revision as of 14:04, 19 March 2004
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is the best-known organization of the religious movement popularly known as Hare Krishna. It is a sect of Vaishnava Hinduism which practices bhakti yoga in the worship of Lord Krishna who is popularly known as the eighth avatar of the god Vishnu and, according to ISKCON beliefs, his highest form ("the supreme personality of Godhead").
The teachings of ISKCON and its form of bhakti yoga (literally, "path of devotion") dates back to the teachings of Caitanya Mahaprabhu in present-day West Bengal in the 1500s. It was revived in the 20th century in India, and introduced to the Western world by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who incorporated ISKCON in New York in 1966 and subsequently published translations of the Bhagavad Gita and many other scriptures in English, as well as other Western languages, Hindi, and all Indian dialects, Chinese, Japanese, and African languages too. In fact his books are now published in over 60 languages all over the world.
The nickname "Hare Krishnas" for devotees of this movement comes from the maha-mantra (great chant) they recite:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Listen to the maha mantra. Link courtesty of http://www.iskcon.org.uk
Devotees are well known for their chanting and dancing with drums and cymbals in the streets of capital cities of the world: the ladies in saris, the men in white or saffron (signifying celibacy) robes.
ISKCON has absorbed many western influences and maintains mandirs (temples) in more countries of the world than any other Hindu sect. Unlike other branches of Hinduism, it is actively evangelical, seeking to help anyone throughout the world irrespective of their "designated religion or faith", in development of love of God.
External links
- ISKCON: http://www.iskcon.com/
- Krishna.com: http://www.krishna.com/
- Google Directory: Vaishnava Hinduism
- Critical views of ISKCON: http://trancenet.org/krishna/
- Online Hare Krishna Temple: http://www.harekrishnatemple.com
- ISKCON UK: http://www.iskcon.org.uk
- Adi-Vani: http://www.adi-vani.org