About Us
What is ISKCON?
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is a global spiritual community also known as the Hare Krishna Movement.
Our philosophy and practice is based on the ancient bhakti-yoga tradition described in texts such as the 5,000 year old Bhagavad-gita which teach about developing God consciousness. Our purpose is to bring people of all backgrounds together and share with them spiritual knowledge in order to check the imbalance of values in life and teach a simple, more natural way of life.
In the 16th century, a Bengali saint and avatar, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu revitalized the bhakti-yoga tradition across India and central to this renaissance was the emphasis of chanting the names of God. Underlying this simple practice is a profound, comprehensive, timeless theology.
In Cambridge, we host a variety of events, courses and festivals for people for all backgrounds and ages.
The Maha-mantra
Hare refers to the divine energy of God, often associated with Radha, Krishna’s eternal consort.
Krishna means “all-attractive,” the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the source of everything.
Rama means “reservoir of pleasure” and refers to God’s ability to provide the highest spiritual happiness.
Together, the mantra is a heartfelt prayer, calling out to the Lord and His energy for connection, service, and spiritual awakening.
In the material world, saying the name of an object doesn’t bring the object itself. For example, if you’re thirsty and say “water, water,” your thirst won’t be quenched. The name “water” and the substance “water” are different. However, spiritual sound works differently. The Vedas explain that the names of God are non-different from Him. When we chant Hare Krishna, Krishna is fully present in His sound form. This may seem abstract, but it helps to remember that God is unlimited and can manifest in any form, including sound. Through chanting, we can revive and rediscover our eternal relationship with God. Chanting is not just about repetition; it’s a transformation.
Our Founder
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) is widely regarded as the worlds pre-eminent exponent of the teachings and practices of bhakti-yoga to the western world. He founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
Born in 1896 in Calcutta, his birth name was Abhay Charan and as a family man, he ran a pharmaceutical business in the city.
At the age of fifty-four, he retired from married life and devoted much time to his studies and writing in the holy city of Vrndavana, where he lived in the historic medieval temple called the Radha-Damodara Mandir. He accepted the renounced order of life (sannyasa) in 1959 and was awarded the name Bhaktivedanta Swami.
In 1965, at the tender age of 69, Srila Prabhupada (as he was informally known) sailed to the United States in a cargo ship. During the journey he suffered two heart attacks. Homeless, penniless and alone, he arrived in the Lower East Side of New York. From a small storefront on, he soon attracted sincere spiritual seekers, leading to the founding of ISKCON in July 1966.
In just eleven years, Srila Prabhupada travelled the globe 14 times, opened over 100 temples and communities on across five continents, and inspired projects in education, publishing, and food relief.
By the time he left this world in 1977, he had also authored more than 70 volumes of books, including the best-selling Bhagavad-gita As It Is and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Highly respected by the academic community for their authoritativeness, depth and clarity, they are used as standard textbooks in numerous college courses.
Thus, today Srila Prabhupada is recognised as one of India’s greatest spiritual ambassadors of the 20th Century. No amount of social commentary, historical analysis or academic conjecture can account for his miraculous achievements. Prabhupada’s life is tangible proof of the spiritual reality. He forever remains the strength, inspiration and guiding light.