Hare Krishna - Bhaktivedanta Swami Praphupada

The Hare Krishna movement is a movement within the Vavisnavism and Hinduism, founded in New York by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Praphupada. I've been with the Hare Krishna for a few years and know a lot about the way in which they live. I lived in a Hare Krishna monastery in the Belgian Ardennes for 3 years.

Srila Praphupada still plays a big part in the life of a Krishna devotee, despite being dead since 1977. I still find him an interesting man today.

Prabhupada was born in Calcutta (Bengal) as Abhay Charan. He lived from September 1, 1896 - November 14, 1977. At the bottom of this blog post is a video of his departure from this world. That's a story in itself because you see in the video that he's probably killed with mercury.

In July 1966 he brought the Gaudiya Vaishnavism to the West with the establishment of the Hare Krishna Movement (ISKCON) in New York. His first followers were LSD using hippies.

In 1969 the Beatles came in contact with the Hare Krishna movement. In the end, George Harrison was a follower of Prabhupada. He donated the Bhaktivedanta manor in England to the Hare Krishna movement.

*(Click link to listen to a conversation between Srila Prabhupada and George Harrison, John Lennon and Yoko Ono.)

Srila Prabhupada was Instructed by his spiritual teacher, Om Visnupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada, to spread Vaisnavism in the West in English. He has initiated thousands of devotees in 13 years time all over the world. There are still hundreds of his disciples alive today and I know some of them personally. These are advanced devotees of Krishna and often in the life phase of (Sannyasa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sannyasa).

The Hare Krishna movement still exists. Srila Prabhupada is still worshiped daily in all ISKCON temples around the world. The movement sells holy books, shares free food, sing and dance in the streets and living a sober life. No intoxication, no meat and fish, no unauthorized sex and no speculation and gambling. The devotees chant on a japa-mala the holy names of God: