ISKCON
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
“Spreading the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna to every town and village in the world.”
— SRILA PRABHUPADA
His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder-Ācārya of ISKCON
Who We Are
A Movement Born from
Pure Devotion
ISKCON was founded in 1966 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in New York City. Rooted in the ancient Vaishnava tradition of India, ISKCON carries the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā to every corner of the globe.
Srila Prabhupada arrived in America at age 69 with little more than a trunk of books and an unwavering conviction that the world needed Krishna consciousness. Within eleven years he had circled the globe fourteen times and established 108 temples.
Today ISKCON is a worldwide family of over 600 temples, farm communities, schools, and restaurants — a living testament to the transformative power of bhakti yoga.
“
The recommended means of deliverance in this age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.
ŚRĪMAD-BHĀGAVATAM · 12.3.52
History
The Sacred Journey
1486
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appears in Mayapur, Bengal, inaugurating the sankirtan movement — congregational chanting of the holy names of God.
1922
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati meets a young Abhay Charan De in Calcutta and instructs him to spread Krishna consciousness in the English-speaking world.
1965
At age 69, Srila Prabhupada sails alone to New York on a cargo ship to fulfill his guru's mission, arriving with little more than books and unshakeable conviction.
1966
ISKCON is formally incorporated in New York City on 13 July 1966, beginning as a small gathering of seekers in a storefront on Second Avenue.
1971
The first Indian ISKCON temple opens in Surat; the movement returns to its spiritual homeland, bringing bhakti back to the land of its birth.
1977
Srila Prabhupada departs this world, leaving behind 108 temples, thousands of initiated devotees, and over 70 volumes of translations and commentaries.
Today
600+ temples, 50+ farm communities, 60 schools, and Hare Krishna Food for Life — the world's largest vegetarian food-relief program, serving millions annually.