Context:
Recently, the arrest and denial of bail for the ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh sparked large-scale protests by the Hindu Community.
More on the News:
- Around the same time, over 63 ISKCON monks were stopped at the Benapole land port in Bangladesh and denied entry into India, despite holding valid visas. Bangladesh authorities claimed India was unsafe for them.
- In response to these events, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concern over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh and called for a fair trial for the leader, who was arrested on charges of sedition.
- Meanwhile, ISKCON clarified that Chinmoy Krishna Das does not officially represent the organization in Bangladesh, as he was expelled in September 2024 for violating their rules.
About the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
- ISKCON (also known as the Hare Krishna movement) has 500 major centres, temples, and rural communities.
- The movement operates nearly 100 affiliated vegetarian restaurants, thousands of local meeting groups (namahattas), and a wide variety of community projects.
- It has millions of members worldwide, despite being less than 50 years old since its founding in 1966 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in New York City.
- Srila Prabhupada is appreciated for presenting India’s Vaishnava spiritual culture in a way that is relevant to modern Western and global audiences.
Cultural Aspect of ISKCON:
- ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava tradition, a monotheistic branch within Vedic/Hindu culture.
- The movement’s teachings are based on the Bhagavad-gītā and the Bhagavat Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam), focusing on the path of bhakti yoga (devotional service) and the love for God, Lord Krishna.
- The movement promotes Krishna Consciousness through festivals, arts, yoga seminars, public chanting, and literature distribution.
- The goal of ISKCON’s philosophy is to help individuals reawaken their love for God, particularly Lord Krishna, the “all-attractive one.”
- Devotees chant the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare to connect with God
Activities: ISKCON operates hospitals, schools, colleges, eco-villages, free food distribution programs, and more, applying devotional yoga in practical ways to serve the community.