Back to Godhead

Back to Godhead (a.k.a. BTG) is the main magazine of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna Movement.[1] The magazine was founded by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1944,[2] under the direction of his spiritual guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.[3][4][5][6] It was originally published by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and later by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami and Jayadvaita Swami.[3][7]

Back to Godhead was originally, and for some decades, a self-published leaflet by Swami A. C. Bhaktivedanta himself. Responsibility for production was taken over in 1966 by some of his followers in the US, and shaped into a polished, glossy magazine.[8] It was translated and published internationally in German, French, Spanish, and other languages; the English-language version reached a peak circulation of about 500,000 copies in the 1970s.[2]

The magazine is intended for two main audiences. First are the committed devotees of the movement, who read it as a guide to ISKCON religious teachings and culture. Following the 1977 death of Swami A. C. Bhaktivedanta, and subsequent splintering within the movement, the magazine helped to sustain some coherence. The second target audience is the general public, to whom the magazine was often offered as an instrument for promotion, preaching, recruitment, and conversion. It also functioned as a fundraising tool, as the devotees who handed out copies would ask for a donation, though this practice ended in the 1980s following public criticism.[8]

Most of the magazine's content addresses the religious beliefs and practices of the movement and its devotees. A large number of the articles are reprinted from Swami A. C. Bhaktivedanta's writings, or transcripts of his lectures. It has also reported on the group's practical initiatives, temples, farms, charitable activities, festivals and feasts, and calls to worship.[8]

Bhagavad Darshanam (Malayalam: ഭഗവദ് ദർശനം), published since 31 July 2010, is the monthly Malayalam edition of the Back to Godhead magazine.[6][9]

Jau Devachiya Gava (Marathi: जाऊ देवाचिया गावा, lit. 'Go back to the abode of God') is the monthly Marathi edition of the Back to Godhead magazine.[1]

  1. ^ Sullivan, Bruce M. (2001-07-17). The A to Z of Hinduism. Scarecrow Press. pp. 33–34. ISBN 978-1-4616-7189-3.
  2. ^ a b Bryant, Edwin; Ekstrand, Maria (2004-06-23). The Hare Krishna Movement: The Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant. Columbia University Press. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-231-50843-8.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference prm was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "History". Back to Godhead. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  5. ^ "About BTG". Retrieved 2020-10-24.
  6. ^ a b "Back To Godhead in "God's Own Country"". ISKCON News. Thiruvananthapuram. 13 August 2010. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  7. ^ "Biodata for Jayadvaita Swami". Archived from the original on 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  8. ^ a b c Dallam, Marie W.; Zeller, Benjamin E. (23 May 2023). Religion, Attire, and Adornment in North America. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-55554-8. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  9. ^ "BBT Kerala: Magazine content".