Hare Krishna is a Hindu religious movement founded in 1966 in New York by the Indian spiritual teacher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Its official name is the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or ISKCON.
The movement is widely known as “Hare Krishna” because of the frequent repetition of a prayer, called a mantra, which begins with the words: “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare.”
The movement’s religious roots, however, are much older than its formal establishment. Hare Krishna belongs to the tradition of Vaishnavism, one of the major branches of Hinduism. Vaishnavas worship Vishnu and his various incarnations, among whom Krishna occupies a central place. Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, is not merely an incarnation of God in the eyes of the movement’s followers: he is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate source of all existence.
The teachings of Hare Krishna are based primarily on Hindu sacred texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavata Purana and other writings in the Vaishnava tradition. More specifically, the movement is rooted in the theological school founded in the sixteenth century by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a saint and religious reformer from Bengal. He taught that love and devotion to Krishna constitute the most direct path to spiritual realisation.
The religious practice of followers centres on bhakti, a Sanskrit term meaning devotion to God. Believers seek to develop a personal relationship with Krishna through prayer, chanting, the study of sacred texts and a spiritually oriented life.
One of the best-known practices is the recitation of the Hare Krishna mantra:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare,
Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
According to the movement’s teachings, repeating this mantra helps to purify the mind and strengthen one’s awareness of God.
Members generally follow several rules of conduct. In particular, they refrain from eating meat, fish and eggs. They also avoid alcohol, drugs, gambling and sexual relations outside marriage. These practices are regarded as ways to foster self-control and spiritual progress.
The movement places great importance on spreading its teachings. As early as the 1960s and 1970s, Prabhupada’s disciples became known in many Western cities through their public chanting, book distribution and cultural activities, often wearing their traditional orange robes. This visibility helped make Hare Krishna one of the best-known religious movements of Hindu origin outside India.
Today, ISKCON is active in several dozen countries. It runs temples, cultural centres, communal farms, schools and various educational or charitable activities. The movement also organises religious festivals open to the public, some of which attract thousands of participants each year.
Within Hinduism, Hare Krishna represents a branch of Vaishnavism. Its fundamental beliefs are recognised as part of the Hindu tradition, although its international organisation and missionary activity give it a distinctive character. Some Hindus regard it as one of the many currents within their religion, while others see it as a distinct movement with a strong identity of its own.
The movement currently estimates that it has several hundred thousand active practitioners worldwide, as well as a larger number of supporters who occasionally participate in its activities. India remains its main centre, but significant communities also exist in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa and Oceania.
Like many international religious organisations, Hare Krishna has experienced internal debates, reforms and some controversies throughout its history. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most visible expressions of contemporary Hindu spirituality worldwide.