 Official emblem of ISKCON | |
 | |
| Abbreviation | ISKCON |
|---|---|
| Formation | 13 July 1966 New York City, United States |
| Founder | A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada |
| Type | Religious organization |
| Legal status | Foundation |
| Headquarters | Mayapur, Nabadwip, Nadia, West Bengal, India |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 23°25′29″N 88°23′20″E / 23.4248°N 88.3889°E |
Area served | Worldwide |
Main organ | Governing Body Commission |
| Affiliations | Gaudiya Vaishnavism (Hinduism) |
| Website | www |
| Part of a series on |
| Vaishnavism |
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International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), commonly referred to as the Hare Krishna movement, Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organization. It was founded by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.[2] on July 13, 1966, in New York City. ISKCON's main headquarters is in Mayapur, West Bengal, India and it claims approximately 1 million members globally.[3]
ISKCON members practice a distinct form of monotheistic Hinduism, grounded in Hindu scriptures and especially guided by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's commentary and translation of the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana. Described as “the largest and arguably most important branch” of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition,[4] ISKCON traces its roots in India to the early 16th century and expanded to gain followers in America, Europe, and Africa from the mid-to-late 20th century.[5]
The Hare Krishna movement advocates for lacto-vegetarianism and was initially founded to promote bhakti yoga. Followers, known as bhaktas, dedicate their thoughts and actions to devotion toward Krishna, whom they honor as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.[6] The movement has experienced its fastest growth in India and, following the Soviet Union's collapse, in Russia and other formerly Soviet-aligned countries in Eastern Europe.
- ^ "What is ISKCON » Home - ISKCON - the Hare Krishna Movement".
- ^ Gibson 2002, p. 6
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:5was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Bryant & Ekstrand 2004, p. 34
- ^ Bharati, Baba Premanand Archived 1 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Hinduism.enacademic.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-26.
- ^ Beck 2005, p. 39, "According to Orthodox Gaudiya. Krishna's svarupa, or true form manifests in three ways. His svayam-rupa or transcendent form is self-existent, not dependent on anything. His tadekatma rupa is identical in essence to his true form, though it differs in appearance (and would include such forms of Krishna as Narayana and Vasudeva). His avesa form has Krishna appearing though in varying degrees of possession"