Patheos Watermark

You are running a very outdated version of Internet Explorer. Patheos and most other websites will not display properly on this version. To better enjoy Patheos and your overall web experience, consider upgrading to the current version of Internet Explorer. Find more information HERE.

Origins



Beginnings

ISKCON, more popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement, was formally organized in 1966 when its founder brought the Hindu tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to the West. The tradition found new adherents in North America and Western Europe initially before spreading worldwide.

Influences

The Hare Krishna movement's theology derives from a form of Vaishnavism developed by the 16th-century Indian mystic Chaitanya, combined with the spirit of the counterculture in 1960s and 1970s Western world.

Founders

The Indian swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, born Abhay Charan De, founded ISKCON. The movement traces its lineage back through a series of gurus to Chaitanya, who lived in the 16th century.

Sacred Texts

The Sanskrit Bhagavadgita and Bhagavatam serve as the central texts in ISKCON, with adherents accepting Bhaktivedanta's translations and commentaries of these sacred texts.

Historical Perspectives

Early studies of ISKCON considered the group as one of many new religions in the American counterculture. More recent scholarship on ISKCON now studies it as a Hindu transplant movement.

Editors' Picks