International Society for Krishna consciousness (ISKCON), commonly known in the West as the Hare Krishna movement, is a monotheistic branch of Vaishnava tradition Gaudija origin of Lord Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who 5000 years ago. appeared on the ground and uttered "Bhagavad-Gita". International Society for Krishna consciousness (ISKCON) follows the teachings of Lord Krishna as they are disclosed in the holy Vedas, including the "Bhagavad-Gita" and "Srimad-Bhagavatam" (Bhagavata Purana known as). Among the several processes of devotional service, the most important practice involves chanting the holy names of God in order to bring eternal happiness and peace in society, reviving our eternal relationship with God.
525 years ago Lord Krishna appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who played the role of a devotee to establish the congregational chanting of the holy names of God, sankirtana, as the easiest and most precious spiritual practice during this time. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu popularized the chanting of the maha-mantra, composed of the holy names of God:
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Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
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In 1965. Emissary of prominent spiritual teachings of India, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) brought the movement of Sri Chaitanya in the West and founded ISKCON in New York, the seemingly modest circumstances. Will briefly mention the history of ISKCON.
- In 1965. aged 69 years and on the orders of his spiritual master, AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada left the holy land of Vrindavan, India, to spread the message of Lord Krishna in the West. The freighter arrived in Boston, carrying only $ 7 and trunk with books on Krishna. First year fought alone, speaks in yoga centers and art galleries, while living in the homes of people who support his goal and gave him temporary residence. You'll often take a small drum and sit under a tree in the city park to chant the holy names of Krishna. Curious onlookers would gather. Some joined in the singing, and some have begun to actively participate in his mission.
- In the Year 1966. Srila Prabhupada lived in New York in a poor part of Manhattan's Lower East Side and started weekly lectures on "Bhagavad-Gita" in Tompkins Square Park to perform public singing (kirtan). That same year, in New York on ISKCON, predicting that soon there ISKCON centers worldwide.
- From 1966 to 1968. increasingly spiritual seekers became attracted to Krishna consciousness, he opened ISKCON temples in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Montreal and Santa Fe in New Mexico.
- In the Year 1967. San Francisco held the first Ratha-yatra festival outside India. Ratha-yatra is one of the oldest and biggest annual religious festivals in the world, which is performed every year in the holy city of Jagannatha Puri on the eastern coast of India. Several million people line the streets to drag the huge, three-story chariots carry the forms of Lord Krishna through the streets, accompanied by the joyful singing of His holy names. Now, this festival is held by the members of ISKCON in cities around the world.
- From 1969 to 1973 ISKCON in building its main centers in the holy places of pilgrimage Majapur and Vrindavan, India, and a large temple in Mumbai.
- In 1972, Srila Prabhupada founded the publishing house Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT), which is now the world's largest publisher of books about Krishna consciousness, or bhakti-yoga. From 1966 to 1977, Srila Prabhupada translated from Sanskrit into English more than 40 volumes of the great classics of literature Krsna consciousness, while giving elaborate blend of knowledge of previous masters and his. These books include "Bhagavad-gita As It Is" - the final show of the teachings of Lord Krishna, "Srimad-Bhagavatam" (Bhagavata Purana) - 18-volume history of incarnations, pastimes and devotees of Lord Krishna, and "Sri Chaitanya-caritamrita "- 9-volume biography of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his teachings. These books are published by VVT more than 50 languages, including Macedonian available "Bhagavad-gita As It Is" while still working on the translation of the other. So far, these books have sold millions of copies around the world by members of ISKCON.
- In 1973, Bhaktivedanta Institute was established to promote the teachings of the Vedas from a scientific point of view.
- In 1974, ISKCON Food for Life is taken up with her programs to distribute vegetarian (devoid of karma) in food areas and cities around the world affected by natural disasters, diseases etc..
- In November 1977, Srila Prabhupada эamina of this world. Until then ISKCON established more than 108 temples, centers, schools, farm communities, with more than 10,000 initiated members.
- In 1989, the Hare Krishna movement iэleэe from the underground in the Soviet Union. Odin By 1991 more than a million copies of Prabhupadovata "Bhagavad-gita As It Is" were sold in the former Soviet Union.
- In the early '90s's, were released various Internet web projects, including Krishna.com, ISKCON.com and other Hare Krishna websites.
- Today, ISKCON has about 500 centers worldwide, with a congregation numbering hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life.
Although "Krishna consciousness" traditionally comes from Gaudija Vaishnaviэmot, which many considered to hinduiэam, however it refers to the eternal soul эanimanje, sanatana dharma. As such, it transcends the limitations of material bodies and their appointments.
Anyone anywhere can practice Krishna consciousness and become a fan or member of ISKCON. No need to change your religion to adopt the practices of Krishna consciousness as mantranjeto and singing of God's names.