History about ISKCON Movement

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ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) also known as the Hare Krishna movement is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organization.

In 1966 ISKCON was founded in New York City by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The core beliefs of ISKCON are based on traditional Hindu scriptures, particularly the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam.

Its culture and appearance of this movement come from the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, which has had adherents in India since the late 15th century and American and European converts since the early 1900s in North America, and in England in the 1930s.

ISKCON was made to spread the practice of bhakti yoga, in which those involved dedicate their thoughts and actions towards pleasing the Supreme Lord, Krishna. Today ISKCON is a worldwide organization of more than 550 centres, including 60 farm communities, 50 schools, and 90 restaurants.

Devotees of ISKCON follow a disciple line of Gaudiya Bhagavata Vaishnavas and are the largest branch of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Vaishnavism means 'worship of Vishnu', and Gauḍa refers to the area where this particular branch of Vaishnavism originated.

Especially West Bengal and Odisha in India Gaudiya Vaishnavism has following, for the past five hundred years. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada disseminated Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology in the Western world through extensive writing and translating including the Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita, and other scriptures.  

According to ISKCON Krishna is described as the source of all the avatars of God. Thus ISKCON devotees worship Krishna as the highest form of God, and often refer to Him as "the Supreme Personality of Godhead".