Many people know of Hare Krishna as a chant that schoolchildren use to frighten each other on dark, stormy nights. But Hare Krishna, though often misunderstood, has its roots in peace and goodness.
Founded in 1965 in San Francisco and New York, Hare Krishna adheres to many beliefs of Hinduism. The central practices of Hare Krishna include celibacy, vegetarianism, chanting, evangelism, and abstinence from drugs and alcohol. With an official 250,000 devotees and 10,000 dedicated members, the Hare Krishna religion is steadily growing. Some estimates put the worldwide member total at over one million.
The movement began in 1510 with Sri Krishna Caitanya, who showed his devotion and spiritual happiness through song and dance. The joyous aura he projected made people curious to have the same happiness, and several disciples based their beliefs and teachings on the evidence of Caitanya’s joy, believing that he was the manifestation of higher gods. In 1965, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness was founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who soon set about a board of governors to help him maintain the movement. Though Prabhupada passed away in 1977, his disciples have kept the movement alive.
Most members of Hare Krishna follow the teachings and practices while living a normal work and home life. These are known as Congregational members. They attend temples to worship among other followers. Those who have dedicated their life to Hare Krishna are known as temple-based members, and live their life according to several rules, including:
- the consumption of no meat, fish, or eggs
- no alcohol or drugs, including caffeine and nicotine
- no gambling of any kind
- celibacy except for the purposes of procreation within the bonds of marriage
They dress in white or saffron robes. Men shave their heads with the exception of a topknot, and women are permitted to wear vivid, bright saris. The religion is a joyous one, which often includes singing and dancing, as well as chanting the beads of a rosary in order to clear the mind and better reach for enlightenment.