International Society For Krishna Consciousness

Of "Hare Krishna" singing in the streets of Leipzig

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness , dedicated to the deity Hindu Krishna , avatar Senior Vishnu - considered by the founder and followers as only god and creator - making this current expression of Vaishnavism .

History

This movement was founded in 1966 in New York by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977), spiritual master Hindu native of West Bengal. It developed in the West from the United States at the same time there emerged the movement of the counterculture , some members found in the practice of singing, percussion, music and dance at an outlet religious model conventional .

The association has its headquarters in India , to Vrindavan in the state of Uttar Pradesh. According to legend, Vrindavan is where Krishna spent his youth and met her favorite lover Radha.

Over 150 temples dedicated to Krishna ISKCON dependent around the world, and the number of its followers is difficult to establish. Low ratings on fixed nearly 15,000 people, 10,000 people involved in religious communities living in the U.S. However this number may be a low estimate, in the sense that the UNHCR considers that a hundred thousand followers worship voueraient Krishna in 20 Russian cities . As regards the United States , 250000 members reported Patheos . The United States , the Australia and the UK are three important countries in the presence of ISKCON, the strong presence of the Indian population in these places ^Doctrine

The god Krishna playing the flute, painting the years 1900

The movement's doctrine is based on Vedic scriptures (mainly the Bhagavad Gita ). Krishna is the supreme and only god. They believe that worship should be disseminated throughout the world and that man should use every moment of his life to live in the " Conscience of Krishna. " The latter has the power to bring not only the liberation of the individual , but the preservation and salvation of the world, without it, would know that the "impersonality" and the "spiritual vacuum" .

For this release to occur, those who follow the path of bhakti, the devotee follows a vegetarian strict refraining from eating meat , of fish and eggs , other foods can be eaten after have been "consecrated", offered to Krishna to seek prasada ("grace," "mercy of God") . It does not consume substances called "exciting" ( tobacco , alcohol , drugs , tea , coffee ). Sexuality is used only for reproduction. Sex for pleasure is forbidden, and the couple has 50 turns singing the Maha Mantra (Hare Krishna) before making love They do not play games of chance .

The "Maha Mantra"

Ml wood of Tulasi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)

One of the major religious practices, japa is the repetition of the divine name, sung in his honor. Only confirmed devotees living in the community recite, in principle, 1 728 times per day, corresponding to definitive count, 16 rounds of a rosary of 108 beads, which serves as the rosary (1 turn of the rosary (mala ) for less than 7 minutes).

Each "round" of the rosary, consisting of 108 repetitions of mantra japa is a:

This mantra appeared originally in the Kali-saraa Upanisad.

The Hare Krishna Maha Mantra is supposed to be accompanied by a manipulation of the 108 beads on a rosary wooden toulai called mala.

Chant the maha-mantra is, in Hindu terminology, called a japa-mala. The number of 1728 corresponds to 16 "rounds" of the rosary, which takes on average two hours at the follower, which can allocate the time of recitation throughout the day.

This time of recitation was "adapted" by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada disciples for his new West: the number of "tricks" of the rosary in his lineage Indian disciples, was in fact 64, 6912 is full recitations of the mantra, taking into average of eight hours of his time disciple of India .

Every day in the temples of ISKCON s place of devotional songs accompanied by percussion (including drum Mridanga), and cymbals (the Karatal), all before the Murti (colored statues representing Krishna, Radha, but his favorite as Balarama , Krishna's brother). The study of the Bhagavad Gita or Srimad Bhagavatam and the Upanishads are part of the life of a devotee.

Lineage

Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna at Mathura in India , instead of his birth

The Movement considers itself as the culmination of a chain of traditions handed down by the spiritual Masters . At the upper end of this chain is Krishna himself, whose latest incarnation is the Brahmin Caitanya (1485-1534), founder of the order of Caitanya, and the twenty-second spiritual Master in the succession of Krishna . The latter threw the block system of castes , which he considered corrupted by a misinterpretation based on personal interests related to the privileges granted. This branch of Vishnuism allowed many "non-Hindus (at the time: Muslims) to" convert "to Hinduism .

Murtis of Radha and Krishna in the temple of Noisy-Le-Grand

The faithful of "Srila Prabhupada" view themselves as an authentic branch Vasinavism , claiming, through their guru now disappeared, inheritors of a lineage of masters and disciples back to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and beyond to Krishna himself, there 5000 years ago.

The four regulative principles

the four regulative principles that strictly respect all those who practice Bhakti Yoga are:

• a) Do not eat meat, fish or egg (and their by-products), " Vegetarianism Indian. "
• b) Not have any unlawful sexual intercourse (outside marriage, or pleasure within marriage).
• c) Not use any intoxicating substance or exciting (including drugs, alcohol and even coffee or tea).
• d) Do not indulge in gambling, or on any speculation whatsoever (eg money).

Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is the seminal work of worship to Krishna, the translation into over 75 languages and commentary of Srila Prabhupada is the version used by the religious group.

Humanitarian Works

In 1971 , Srila Prabhupada founded the charity "Hare Krishna Food For Life in France called" The Hare Krishna food. " This is a free food vegetarian sanctified, called in Sanskrit prasadam (literally: "God's mercy"). In the Third World and, increasingly, in industrialized countries, the widespread distribution of free meals is a major humanitarian activities of the ISKCON. To date, more than 58 million meals were served worldwide.

Presence in France

Faithful singing in Paris

In France , it is present in the Indre , on -the-Luay Male (the field "New Mayapur, which occupied the castle Oublaisse), near Paris (Noisy-le-Grand) and occasionally in Jura, near Dole (Chateau Bellevue, Arch Novum at Chatenois, which runs a Franco-Swiss annually in early July). It is also present in Belgium (Septon Durbuy Castle - Radhadesh with nearly 100 devotees half of whom live outside the center, which now has a Vaishnava University) and through small groups of believers scattered throughout France. The Movement, which continues its development on five continents, seems to have found new bases in France. Each year, usually the first or second weekend of July, held in Paris on Ratha Yatra, gathering that brings together hundreds of participants, the Republic Square in the neighborhood of the Chapel (Les Halles). Each year, a Sunday in August, held at Castle Oublaisse, the day India in the Indre.

Adi Ganga Devi Dasi organizes concerts hosted by the devotees (via the association CWB), visitors can immerse in the Vedic culture.

Appearance

The "Hare Krishna" are wearing the required "rudder" for men

The men, dressed in their dhotis (traditional Indian loincloth) rudders (for singles) or white (women wear the sari), shaved head, sometimes crowned with the mat Brahmin (tuft of hair on top of the skull) sing in Street, offering books and records relating to Krishna .

Controversies

In 1995, the movement is classified as a cult by the French commission of inquiry on sects , saying it had "made substantial profits through trade associations to supposedly disinterested," as evidence had been gathered about restricted by physical effort could "reduce

In 2005, leaders have begun to implement the terms of the compromise of 9.5 million, which completes the long scandal of child rape . .

In November 2006 the Government of Kazakhstan decided to demolish it with the help of the police , to bulldoze the houses belonging to followers of the Hare Krishna movement, populated only by women and children, while men working in the city. (See on Wikinews (fr) ).

"National Hindu organizations United Kingdom , the United States from Canada , from Australia and other countries are asking the government of Kazakhstan to stop the harassment and discrimination against Hindus, "said Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain. These facts were condemned by Washington and the government UK

Internal Links

• Advaita Vedanta
• Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
• Satyaraja dasa

References

Leave a Reply