Chant
Japa & Kirtan
Quiet chanting on beads each morning and joyful congregational singing in the temple — the heart of the daily practice.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
A timeless science of the self
ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition — the path of bhakti, or loving devotion to Krishna, taught by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and handed down through an unbroken line of teachers to Srila Prabhupada. Its philosophy rests on the Bhagavad-gītā and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which describe the soul, the Supreme Person and the loving relationship between them.
The teaching is practical rather than abstract. We are eternal spirit souls, not these temporary bodies; real happiness comes from reviving our dormant love for Krishna; and the simplest way to do so in this age is to chant His holy names, offer our food and our work to Him, and live simply in the company of like-minded seekers.
When Srila Prabhupada registered ISKCON in New York in 1966 he set down seven purposes for the society. That statement still serves as ISKCON’s mission today — in every temple, including Brahmapur.
- Rooted in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
- Practised through chanting, study and service
- Open to everyone, whatever their background
CORE BELIEFS
Eight truths at the heart of Krishna consciousness
The essential teachings of the Hare Krishna movement, drawn from the Bhagavad-gītā and explained by Srila Prabhupada.
- Knowledge
Spiritual knowledge frees us
By sincerely practising the science of the self we can become free of anxiety and reach a state of pure, unending, blissful consciousness in this very lifetime.
- The self
We are not these bodies
Each of us is an eternal spirit soul, part and parcel of Krishna. All living beings are therefore one family, and the soul moves from one body to the next until it returns home.
- God
Krishna is the Supreme Person
Eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful and all-attractive, Krishna is the source and sustainer of everything that exists — the one God known by many names in the world’s traditions.
THE WAY OF BHAKTI
How the philosophy is lived every day
Bhakti-yoga is learnt by doing. These four practices turn the teaching into a way of life — at the temple and at home.
Learn
Hearing & Study
Regular classes on the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, read with Srila Prabhupada’s commentaries.
Serve
Service
Cooking, cleaning, teaching, distributing books or caring for guests — offering one’s abilities in Krishna’s service.
Live
Simple Living
A vegetarian diet of prasādam, honest work and a clean life free of intoxication and gambling, in the company of devotees.
BEGIN THE JOURNEY
Come, chant and learn with us
Join a Bhagavad-gītā class, a Sunday Love Feast or an online session — the best way to understand the philosophy is to experience it.