International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Hindu sect based on the demonstration of intense love for Krishna (an incarnation of the god Vishnu), especially by chanting the mantra ‘Hare Krishna’. Members wear distinctive yellow robes, and men often have their heads partly shaven. Their holy books are the Hindu scriptures and particularly the Bhagavad-Gita, which they study daily.

The sect was introduced to the West by Swami Prabhupada (real name A C Bhaktivedanta, 1896–1977), a Sanskrit scholar from Calcutta (now Kolkata); he established a group in New York 1965. Members believe that by chanting the mantra and meditating on it, they may achieve enlightenment and so remove themselves from the cycle of reincarnation. They are expected to live ascetic lives, avoiding meat, eggs, alcohol, tea, coffee, and other drugs, and gambling; sexual relationships should only take place within marriage and solely for procreation.