Bryon Hancock

Suzanne Jacobs
RELS-2400-001-Sp16
4/15/2016
Hare Krishna
History
Hare Krishna, a religion that was initiated in 1965 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta that has now
grown popular across the nation with approximately 250,000 devotees in North America. During
the Worlds Congress of religions located in Chicago in the 1890s, Swami Vivekananda
presented his Hinduism views with the Christian views. After that encounter, prominent Hindu
leaders like A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and Mohandas K Gandhi have taken great
part in exposing their culture and belief to the North American people.1
A.C. Bhaktivedanta in 1922 met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, a spiritual leader and scholar,
who asked Bhaktivedanta to become a missionary to the English-Speaking world. In response
Bhaktivedanta devoted himself as Srila Bhaktisiddhantas disciple in 1933 and spent the next 32
years preparing to travel west. 2 Bhaktivedanta, 70 years old, started up the International Society
of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1965 when he arrived in New York from Calcutta, India.
Not having much to his name, Bhaktivedanta began to expose his message and converted many
young people, some whom came forward to become serious students and helped Bhaktivedanta
to settle in the American culture. Here, Hare Krishna was born and would soon gain popularity
across the nation, with approximately 30 Hare Krishna Centers.3
1 http://www.utahkrishnas.org/utah-krishna-pioneers-2/
2 http://www.iskcon.org/founder-acharya/
3 https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?
mid=zlR0WQHyfhik.kpFfPMrUR3iE&hl=en

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Belief & Practices

Who is Krishna? Krishna is a humble and loving Supreme Being that the Hindu people
believe in and worship. He is the narrator of the Bhagavad-Gita, Hindus sacred text. Krishna is
seen like any other God, divine, all-powerful, youthful body, and knowledgeable.
Hare Krishna are dedicated scripture readers. They read the sacred text of Bhagavad-gita
and the Srimad Bhagavatam. They engulf themselves in the Krishnas virtues, principles, and the
process of the souls evolution.1 Many who are, frustrated, curious or who have doubts with
life, turn to these text to find a sattvic state, meaning a mood of goodness.
Followers of Hare Krishna have ceremonies to offering respect and worship the Supreme
Lord, also known as an arati. The concept of this ceremony is that God created the inhabitants of
this world and the arati offers back to him in the form of flower, water, flame, peacock feather,
and blowing of the conch shell. A candle light is passed around and each person waves their
hand in the flame and proceed to tough their forehead which symbolizes of Light the Flame
Within. 2
Hare Krishna devotees partake in seva which is a devotional service. They are much like
public services, like picking up trash around the community. These services are an offering to the
Supreme Lord, Krishna, for his enjoyment. These services help individuals to free from their
worldly problems and congregate with others to give service which levitates bhakti, devotional
mood, and draws them closer to Krishna.

1 http://www.utahkrishnas.org/scriptural-study/
2 Information from a brochure at the Sri Sri Radha Hare Krishna Temple

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Hare Krishna devotees follow a diet due to their belief of karma, the consequence of an
action to the soul. Many Hare Krishna believers sustain from eating meat because of the belief
that you are inflicting pain upon the animal. Vegetable and products that are grow agriculturally
do not experience pain, however in todays society the treatment and killing of animals is
inhuman. They feel like eating the meat reflects badly on their karma thus sustaining from its
consumption. In consequence many Hindus are vegetarians.
Prasadam is the converting of materialistic food, food from the grocery, to spiritualistic.
This process happens when they offer it to the supreme Lord Krishna and with the touch of his
lips converts it to spiritual food. This process in much like what Christians do when they pray for
their food. The symbolism or action of this practice is to bless the food in order to give
individuals strength. Srila Prabhupada, said The Lord is not in need of anything from anyone,
and yet He accepts the offering of His devotee in exchange of love and affection.
Members partake in chanting the name of God, known as Japa or Kirtan, on Sundays.
Kirtan consists of a group of people chanting back and forth among each other whereas Japa is
individual worship and chanting. Kirtan and Japa, relaxes individuals minds which gives them
the capabilities to clear their thoughts. These retreats are to enforce ones connection with the
Lord Krishna and to meditate upon His existence and fathom His powers. The verses that they
chant repeatedly goes as follows:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama Rama, Hare Hare

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These mantras are often accompanied with musical instruments such as harmonium, tablas, the
two-headed mrdanga and hand cymbals (karatalas).1
My Experience at The Sri Sri Radha Hare Krishna Temple
I took the opportunity to go down to the Sri Sri Radha Hare Krishna Temple located near the
Spanish Fork, UT, to learn about their practices. Upon my arrival, it seemed quite bare. Perhaps
the time that I went down wasnt during their most active time. After reading their brochure, I
learned that most of their happenings were in the afternoon. Time didnt permit me to go that
late. I walked into the gift shop and a man, with a middle-eastern accent, greeted me. He
informed me that tours werent being held because they were still in the process of cleaning up
the festival of colors, however invited me to take a self-tour. I thanked him and proceeded on
my exploration. On the bottom floor was a dining area, with a buffet style serving station and
many tables with chairs.
After taking off my shoes, I walked upstairs to find a room with carpet in the center and a
small stage. Placed on this stage was what seemed like detailed mannequin. They women were
dressed in tradition Indian clothing and had a sort of headdress. They were lavished with colorful
flowers and jewelry.
To the left there was a small section where various instruments were scattered on the
floor which were most likely used for the kirtan. On the right was another detailed mannequin
that looked real. This male mannequin was sitting on a chair crossed legged with hands together,
as if he was saying thank you. At the feet of his chair was a bowl with some change. in it,
assumedly for donations. The temple was not as big as I had expected it to be but it definitely
had the Indian culture decorated everywhere.
1 Information banner at the Sri Sri Radha Hare Krishna Temple

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The Obstacles, Contributions and Pluralism

The religious activity, sankirtan, became a problem in the eyes of some cities, thus Hare
Krishna had to overcome this obstacle. Sankirtan is basically kirtan however performed outside.
It then becomes like a missionary work. They want to others to see their devotion and hear the
name of Krishna. This activity has been debated whether it is a religious activity or not. In the
fifth circuit court appeal, ISKCON vs. Barber (1981) determined that sankirtan was allowed at
the state fair. However, the second circuit court appeal of ISKCON vs. Houston said that it was
not a religious activity and that they had to register with the city before they make their rounds
of local residences (Prothero 200). In the light of this debate, investigations were sent out to
determine if sankirtan was truly a Hare Krishna practice. They realized that sankirtan is not a
secular activity in order to gain money, but is found in their literature and doctrine of the
movement. Sankirtan is protected, in short, because it has been a central Hare Kirshna practice
for some time and because those who perform it do so sincerely (Prothero 201).
Hare Krishna take animal rights from a very religious stand point. The reason they are
vegetarians is because of Karma, as I explain earlier. They believe that killing animals will then
reflect upon themselves in the after-life. Krishna, the Supreme Lord, is a vegetarian also, as
described in the sacred text. He only excepts vegetarian foods as an offering.1 Vaishnava
teaches about jiva doya, which means having compassion to all souls. Hindus reflect this to
mean all souls regardless of their image, which includes animals. All souls have a part of Krishna
inside of them, thus killing an animal is seen as killing a part of Krishna.
Festival of Colors is well-known for those who live close to a Hare Krishna Temple. This
festival is a tradition in India where Holi declares the beginning of spring and the end of winter.
1 http://iskconnews.org/holy-cow-the-hare-krishna-contribution-to-animal-rights,920/

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Color chalk and colored water are thrown and splashed on everyone. The colors vitalize the
festival in accompaniment with the various singers and dances. This event is not very religious
however initiates the act of pluralism in the community and leaves no room for criticism. The
color, noise and entertainment that accompanies the celebration of Holi bears witness to a feeling
of oneness and sense of brotherhood.1

1http://www.festivalofcolorsusa.com/festival-of-colors/ancient-tradition/

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Works Cited
http://iskconnews.org/holy-cow-the-hare-krishna-contribution-to-animal-rights,920/
http://www.iskcon.org/founder-acharya/
http://www.festivalofcolorsusa.com/festival-of-colors/ancient-tradition/
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=zlR0WQHyfhik.kpFfPMrUR3iE&hl=en
http://www.utahkrishnas.org/utah-krishna-pioneers-2/
http://www.utahkrishnas.org/scriptural-study/
Prothero, Stephen. A Nation pf Religions. The University of North Carolina Press, 2006.