Hare Krishna/ISKCON

Hare Krishna/ISKCON Juhi Kapadia, Susmitha Musunuru, Nikhil Sekhar, Tuhina Venkatayogi

Founder • Divine Grace A.C, Bhakivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896 – 1977) • Born in Calcutta • A devotee of Krishna • Came to New York City • from India in 1965 at the • age of 70 • Moved to Haight Ashbury • district of San Francisco • in 1967 • ISKCON means, International • Society of Krishna Consciousness

Scriptures/Holy Books • Bhagavad-Gita • The most important sacred text for the Hare Krishna, the "Song of • the Lord," written around • 250 BC. The Gita tells • the story of the warrior • Arjun and his encounter • with Krishna. This text is • regarded as literal truth • by Hare Krishnas.

Scriptures/Holy Books • Bhagavata Purana • This book includes many stories • well known in Hindu tradition, • including the various avatars • of Vishnu and the life of Krishna. Chapter from the Bhagavata Purana • Bhagavad-Gita As It is • This is the translation and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita written by the founder of the religion A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Connections with other Religions

It is connected to Christianity because of its ideas of hell, heaven, and Jesus Christ being a directly empowered representative of Krishna. Who is the one and only God. • 1510 an ascetic Sri Krishna Caitanya, began movement in 1510, people believed him to be another incarnation of India due to his feverous faith in Krishna

ISKCON members attire- represents that ascetic lifestyle • ISKCON -400 centers, including 60 farm communities, some aiming for self-sufficiency, 50 schools and 90 restaurants • USSR- became seen as a major threat to USSR during the Cold War. • 150,000 members in Russia, Russia’s total population 140 million

Prayers The central religious ritual of the Hare Krishna is the chanting of mantras. Their main mantra (maha-mantra) for which they are named is: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Prayers “ Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare ” This mantra expresses devotion to the gods Hare, Krishna and Rama and is believed to bring about a higher state of consciousness when it is chanted, sung, or meditated upon. It is thought to be the most effective means of self-purification. Hare Krishnas are expected to chant the mantra for 16 rounds of a rosary of 108 beads.

Teachings • ISKCON devotees worship Krishna as the highest form of God, and often refer to Him as "the Supreme Personality of Godhead" in writing, • To devotees, Radha represents Krishna's divine female counterpart, the original spiritual potency, and the embodiment of divine love.

Teachings • The individual soul is an eternal personal identity which does not ultimately merge into any formless light or void. • It is a monotheistic tradition which has its roots in the theistic Vedanta traditions. • They also believe that the Supreme God is known by other names, such as Yahweh and Allah

Teachings Their "Nine Processes of Devotional Service" are: • Hearing about God . • Chanting the names of God . • Remembering God by reading, associating with devotees . • Serving the Lord Krishna in the temple. • Worshiping God by preparation of food, decorating the Lord, bringing others to see Him. • Praying to God. • Encouraging others to chant the names of God. • Develop a close personal and intimate relationship with God. • Giving everything we have to God including our bodies.

Seven purposes of ISKCON • To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all people 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. • To propagate a consciousness of Krishna, as it is revealed in the Bhagavad-Gita and the Srimad-Bhagavatam. • To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, 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). • To teach and encourage the sankirtana movement, congregational chanting of the holy names 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. • To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life. • With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.

Regulative Principles They also have four principles, that every believer must follow: • No eating of meat (including fish) or eggs (lacto-vegetarianism) • No illicit sex • No gambling • No intoxication (including alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and other recreational drugs).

Additional Information • Gained support from others through interest from George Harrison (Beatles) • First commune was established in West Virginia in 1968 • After Prabhupada’s death in 1977, 11 disciplines were in charge of spreading the teachings • Three are alive and remain very active • Adherents: 250,000 devotees plus 10,000 full members; could be total of 1 million followers

Works Cited • http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/hare-krishna-iskcon.htm • http://www.patheos.com/Library/ISKCON-(Hare-Krishna).html • http://www.religioustolerance.org/hare.htm • http://krishna.org/

Hare Krishna/ISKCON