Founded in New York in 1966 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), popularly known as the Hare Krishna Movement, is a spiritual society founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in July 1966 in New York.
ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradaya, a monotheistic tradition within Vedic culture. Today, the society operates more than 400 temples, 40 rural communities, and over 100 vegetarian restaurants worldwide. It also runs Food for Life — the only free vegetarian relief program of its kind globally.
To acquaint people worldwide with universal principles of self-realization and God consciousness — so that they may benefit from spiritual understanding, unity, and peace.
ISKCON's teachings follow the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya, an ancient line of spiritual masters beginning with Lord Krishna and continuing through Srila Vyasadeva, Srila Madhvacharya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and modern-day practitioners.
The society's non-sectarian teachings emphasize sanatana dharma — the eternal activity of all living beings: loving devotional service (bhakti-yoga) to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Sahyadri Sri Krishna Balarama Kshetra (SSKBK) is the local manifestation of this global mission — a Vedic village community three kilometres from Hebri village and 30 km from Udupi, in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. Our work here is to revive Vedic cultural practices and promote God consciousness through cow protection, natural farming, and spiritual education.