ISKCON

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement, consists of five hundred major centers, temples, and rural communities. It also has nearly one hundred vegetarian restaurants affiliated with it, thousands of namahattas (local meeting groups), a wide range of charitable endeavors, and millions of congregational members worldwide. ISKCON was established by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupda in New York City in 1966, making it less than fifty years old on the international stage. Since then, ISKCON has grown significantly.

ISKCON is an affiliated group of the monotheistic Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradaya, which is a part of Hindu or Vedic culture. Philosophically, it is based on the Bhagavad-gt and Bhagavat Purana, or Srimad Bhagavatam, two Sanskrit writings. In accordance with the historical writings of the devotional bhakti yoga tradition, the ultimate objective of all living things is to rediscover their love for God, also known as Lord Krishna, the "all-attractive one."

The names of God are numerous and include Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh, Rama, etc. ISKCON followers chant the maha-mantra, or the great petition for deliverence, which is composed of God's names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare