The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a religious organization that also identifies itself as
The Hare Krishna Movement™, belongs to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradaya, a monotheistic tradition with Vedic, or Hindu, culture.
It is based on the
Bhagavad-gita, the spiritual teachings
spoken by Lord Krishna. According to tradition, this sacred text is
over 5,000 years old and documents the conversation between Lord Krishna
and his close friend and disciple Arjuna.
ISKCON traces its spiritual lineage directly to the speaker of the
sacred book, Lord Krishna, who is revered as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. The text teaches that the goal of life is to develop love of
God, or Krishna. Love of God is realized through the practice of
bhakti-yoga, the science of devotional service.
In the latter part of the 15
th century, a saint named Chaitanya Mahaprabhu revitalized the
bhakti-yoga tradition
by introducing an expansive spiritual movement that swept India.
Central to this renaissance was Chaitanya’s emphasis on the chanting of
Krishna’s name. Underlying this simple practice was a profound,
rational, and intellectually comprehensive theology. Hare Krishna
devotees worship Lord Chaitanya as an incarnation of Krishna for this
age, and
ISKCON is a vibrant continuation of the movement Chaitanya
began.
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