Pranam 1 The *International Society for Krishna Consciousness* (*ISKCON*), known colloquially <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloquialism> as the *Hare Krishna movement* or *Hare Krishnas*, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaudiya_Vaishnavism> religious organization. ISKCON was founded in 1966 in New York City by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._C._Bhaktivedanta_Swami_Prabhupada>. Its core beliefs are based on Hindu scriptures <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_texts>, particularly the *Bhagavad Gita <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita>* and the *Bhagavata Purana <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavata_Purana>*. ISKCON is "the largest and, arguably, most important branch" of Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, which has had adherents in India since the early 16th century and American and European devotees <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_devotional_movements> since the early 1900s. ISKCON was formed to spread the practice of Bhakti yoga <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhakti_yoga>, the practice of love of God in which those involved (*bhaktas*) dedicate their thoughts and actions towards pleasing Krishna <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna>, whom they consider the Supreme Lord <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svayam_Bhagavan>. Its most rapid expansion in membership has been within India and (after the collapse of the Soviet Union) in Russia and other formerly Soviet-aligned states of Eastern Europe. ISKCON claims to have around one million congregational members worldwide.
2 ISKCON devotees follow a disciplic line of Brahma Madhva <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhva> Gaudiya Bhagavata Vaishnavas and are the largest branch of Gaudiya Vaishnavism <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaudiya_Vaishnavism> *Vaishnavism <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavism>* means 'worship of Vishnu <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu>', and *Gauḍa <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gau%E1%B8%8Da_(region)>* refers to the area where this particular branch of Vaishnavism originated, in the Gauda region of West Bengal <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengal>. Gaudiya Vaishnavism has had a following in India, especially West Bengal <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengal> and Odisha <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odisha>, for the past five hundred years. Gaudiya Vaishnavism was founded by the saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaitanya_Mahaprabhu> who rapidly spread his form of ecstatic *bhakti <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhakti>* (devotion) throughout Bengal. He established Sankirtan <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirtan>, the practice of publicly expressing devotion to Lord Krishna, the Supreme God, through dance and song. This form of communal worship responded to rigid caste structures by engaging all people in worship regardless of caste and creed. Chaitanya emphasized chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare_Krishna_(mantra)> (the 'great mantra'). He is considered by Gaudiya Vaishnavas to be an incarnation of Krishna himself. 3 In a 1976 case, *People vs. Murphy*, a criminal trial court in Queens County, New York held that "'[T]he Hare Krishna religion is a bona fide <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bona_fide> religion with roots in India that go back thousands of years." In that case, a grand jury indicted Iskcon, Inc. and the president of an ISKCON temple for the crime of unlawful imprisonment in the first degree. Although the parents of two Hare Krishna members claimed ISKCON had allegedly imprisoned their children through brainwashing, Justice John J. Leahy dismissed the criminal indictments on the basis that the two members had freely followed the tenets of their chosen faith. There were few incidents around the world over, trying to diminish the popularity of ISKCON by filing cases and yet these reflections of a few , over enthusiasts , could not bring down the popularity. Any movements had the remarks faced by such institutions. Even the Kanchi mutt was abused by a few; some Sringeri devotees abused the mutt. Those are all in life. 4 India has the highest density of ISKCON centers in the world, with over 150 temples, 12 state-recognized educational institutions, 25 affiliated and non-affiliated restaurants, and a number of tourist and pilgrimage hotels. ISKCON India disciples are more conservative than the ISKCON disciples in the west. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Society_for_Krishna_Consciousness#cite_note-97> There are over 135 ISKCON-affiliated temples and cultural centers in Europe. The ISKCON movement in Europe is home to a number of rural and farming communities, including Nueva Vrajamandala in Spain, La Nouvelle Mayapura in France, and Villa Vrindavan in Italy. There are 56 formally affiliated ISKCON centers in the United States. Notable centers include Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple (Spanish Fork) <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Sri_Radha_Krishna_Temple_(Spanish_Fork)>, Utah, New Raman Reti in Alachua, FL and The Radha Kalachandji Temple in Dallas, TX. Hare Krishna-affiliated full-time communities include New Vrindaban <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Vrindaban,_West_Virginia> in West Virginia, and Gita Nagari Eco Farm and Sanctuary in Pennsylvania. There are various other centers in the United States that promote Krishna Conscious culture without being formally affiliated with ISKCON, including The Bhakti Center in New York City. The ISKCON Dallas temple is affiliated with the nearby TKG Academy, which provides private school academic education with additional Vedic-based courses.There are 12 ISKCON centers in Canada, including the self-sustaining Saranagati Eco Village in BC There are 5 formally affiliated ISKCON centers in Mexico.The temple of ISKCON eco-village "Nova Gokula", Pindamonhangaba <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pindamonhangaba>, São Paulo <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Paulo_(state)>, Brazil.There are 60 affiliated ISKCON temples in South America, with most congregations located in Argentina and Brazil. There are also a number of devotee-run farming communities throughout Latin America. Most notable is the eco-village "Nova Gokula" at Pindamonhangaba <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pindamonhangaba> in the Brazil state of São Paulo <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Paulo_(state)>, founded in 1978, with two temples planning as traditional Hindu architecture <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_architecture>. 5 Asia is home to over 80 ISKCON affiliated centers, with most being located in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.There are 69 affiliated ISKCON centers in Africa, four of which are rural farming communities and three of which are educational centers. ISKCON Durban hosts the world's largest Ratha Yatra <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratha_Yatra> Chariot Festival outside of India.There are six ISKCON centers, including one farming village in Australia and four temple centers in New Zealand. The Hare Krishna Temple in Christchurch <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch>, New Zealand, distributed free meals to mourners and the local Muslim community after a mosque shooting in March 2019. 6 *ISKCON is growing globally in its influence*. Its 50-year history has witnessed significant contributions to society from promoting vegetarianism to defending religious freedom around the world. It was banned in singapore because:” *They were very Islamophobic in their statements outside of Singapore*, and we decided we will ban them." And is it a bad attributions?.The most followed religion in Singapore is *Buddhism*, with 31.1% of the resident population declaring themselves as adherents at the most recent census (2020). Is Buddhism superior to the ISKCON movement?. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) *has a small presence in mainland China*, with small pockets of devotees in various cities across the country. ISKCON was featured on Guangdong Television for its activities in teaching and practice of yoga and meditation in China. According to the Sanjeet Jha of the Association of Indians of Russia, Russia's Krishna population is estimated to be as high as 250,000, while Filatov of the Institute of Oriental Studies estimates Russia's Krishna population to be 15,000. Petty reasoning at Russia: “Russian Chief Director for Human Rights Vladimir Lukin stated that the attempt to ban Bhagavad Gita As It Is amounted to "*infringement on the constitutional right to the freedom of consciousness*" and that it was "unacceptable" to ban the Bhagavad Gita As It Is written by ISKCON founder Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ...”. Swami Swaroopa Nanda said ISKCON is used to transfer money free of cost to the USA as a money-laundering agency; there was no evidence of investigation by the Income Tax dept. Is that not happening under other first 2 world religions?. 7 It is a movement as described under: “Perhaps, the devotees have understood the real call of their inner conscience or as Madhav Das puts it succinctly, “We are not here as we failed in life. We are here because we have experienced life and were dissatisfied. Nothing is more tempting about leading a religious life than to be disciplined and follow the teachings of the guru one has voluntarily chosen to follow.” Perhaps, that is true.`` SOMEONE SITTING AT SINGAPORE EXPRESSED HIS PARADIGM, WHO IS NOT EVEN KNOWN IN HIS STREET, WILL IT SHAKE THE EDIFICE OF THE 50 YEARS EXISTENCE ? KR IRS 28722 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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