ISKCON, or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, better known to the public as “The Hare Krishnas,” was the first organization to teach Krishna Bhakti Yoga as representatives of Gaudiya Vaishnavism outside India (it’s a traditional yogic religion in India – most followers live in the north-east states of Bengal and Orissa). ISKCON was started in New York City in 1966 by a 69 year old Indian swami named A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He is usually referred to by his followers as “Srila Prabhupada.” He was and is seen by his followers as a divine being sent by God from heaven to enlighten the world. He taught his followers – and they believe – that he and his teachings have been empowered by God to take over the world. While ISKCON has only around 5-6,000 full time members or monks (married and unmarried), they have hundreds of temples and ashrams around the world, with many large temple complexes in India. There are millions of people around the world – especially in India – who consider themselves to be followers of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. ISKCON has become one of if not the most influential religious organization in India today. They have strong and wide support among the elites of Hindu society all over the world.
ISKCON is not the only Hare Krishna organization in the world. The religion started in India in the 16th century and has many millions of followers in India, most are not affiliated with any organization. After A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami died in 1977 other elderly swamis from the same religion began to leave India to teach. Also a number of Prabhupada’s disciples left ISKCON to teach as gurus. They have established a number of other Hare Krishna organizations with many temples, ashrams, and followers around the world. They have gained most of their full time membership from ex-members of ISKCON. The other swamis don’t present exactly the same teachings as A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. This blog is not meant as an indictment of the entire Hare Krishna religion, it is meant to unveil the sexism, misogyny, illusions, fascism, racism, homophobia and other manipulative deceptions taught by the founder of ISKCON, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and repeated by his disciples and followers in and outside of ISKCON – the largest and most influential Hare Krishna organization.
I hope to raise self-esteem and give impetus to self empowerment for our daughters, sisters, mothers, wives and friends. As well as to our black brothers and sisters and our gay brothers and sisters – and to others facing theologically sanctioned discrimination and deceptive teachings. They are taught to have low self-esteem, low self-worth and low self-confidence – simply for being the way God has made them – due to the teachings of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. I seek to expose the lies of disempowerment, subjugation, lack of intelligence and irrelevance to society that female Hare Krishna devotees and others have been taught to believe in as God’s highest and most holy truth by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
