Many people mistakenly assume that Hinduism and Hare Krishna are the same religion. However, they aren’t. The first is that Hare Krishna devotees do not consider themselves Hindus. Instead, they highlight that Hare Krishna is an “awareness” rather than a “religion.” They claim that this consciousness is divine consciousness. Hare Krishna followers believe that God is one and he is the same for everyone.
Hare Krishna vs Hinduism
The main difference between Hare Krishna and Hinduism is that Hare Krishna believers believe that they should devote their lives to loving God and that when they perish, they will be reunited with the lord. It has a lot in common with the Sufi concepts of Fana and Baka. They see themselves as the everlasting slaves of god Krishna, but Hindus worship several other gods who are associated with various aspects of nature. Hare Krishna was a name given to the movement because it involves repeated chanting of the name of the lord and also it was mainly founded by Swami Prabhupada and symbolizes Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as the manifestation of Him, whereas the origin of Hinduism is rarely spoken about because it does not have any founder thus the name Sanatana dharma’.
Hare Krishna is the common name for the semi-monastic Vaishnava Hindu organization created in the United States in 1965 by A.C. Bhakti Vedanta (Swami Prabhupada; 1896–1977). This movement emerged from the popular Bengali bhakti yoga tradition, also known as Krishna consciousness or the knowledge of Him, which dates back to the 16th century. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the creator of Bhakti yoga, advocated for the practice of spiritual devotion via repeated chanting, particularly of the Hare Krishna mantra.
According to many experts, Hinduism is the oldest known religion, with origins and rituals stretching back over 4,000 years. Hinduism is the third-largest religion on earth, after Muslims and Christians, with around 900 million adherents. India is home to over 95 percent of the world’s Hindus. It’s impossible to decipher the religion’s beginnings and chronology because it doesn’t have a single founder. Hinduism is unusual in that it is a collection of various traditions and concepts rather than a single religion.
Comparison Table Between Hare Krishna and Hinduism
| Parameters of Comparison | Hare Krishna | Hinduism |
| Founder | A. C. Bhakti Vedanta, popularly known as Swami Prabhupada, is an Indian religious leader and author who started the Hare Krishna movement in 1965. | Hinduism does not have a single founder, but rather is a synthesis of numerous faiths. |
| Concept | Hare Krishna devotees aspire to be one with the pure truth. They don’t consider their relationship with the almighty God to be a religion. | In addition to Brahman, who is thought to be the highest God power present in all things, Hindus worship a variety of gods and goddesses. |
| Religious Symbol | Images of A.C. Bhakti Vedanta, the movement’s founder, are also key symbols. | The om and the swastika are the two fundamental Hindu symbols. In Sanskrit, the term swastika signifies “good fortune” or “happiness,” and the emblem denotes good luck. |
| Origin | Hare Krishna is a Hindu sect known as Gaudiya Vaishnavism. It gets its name from a hymn that adherents repeat over and over again: Hare Krishna. | The majority of experts think Hinduism began in the Indus Valley. Many Hindus, on the other hand, claim that their religion is ageless and has always been. |
| Holy books | Krishna is the ultimate God, according to the ancient scriptures Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavat Purana, who governs millions of demigods — who are viewed as managers of the cosmic affairs. | Many sacred works are valued by Hindus rather than a single holy book. Around 1500 B.C., the Vedas, the most important holy books, were written. |
What is Hare Krishna?
The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (or ISKCON) is a contemporary Hindu religious organization that goes by the moniker Hare Krishna.
The Hare Krishna movement, which idolizes the Hindu deity, Krishna, as the Supreme God, originated in the United States in 1965. Their mission is to spread “Krishna awareness,” and one of their key rituals is to chant the Hare Krishna mantra, following which they are addressed. The Hindu Chaitanya movement was founded in 1510 by an ascetic named Sri Krishna Chaitanya. ISKCON is the original home of the Hindu Chaitanya movement. This Krishna lover was known for his fervent devotion, which he demonstrated via dance and song. Chaitanya was regarded as a manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by his followers.
The Hindu holy book The most important religious literature for the Hare Krishna is Bhagavad Gita, which was composed about 250 BC. The story of Arjuna, a warrior, and his encounter with Krishna is told in the Gita, a Hindu epic. This text is taken seriously by Hare Krishnas. The Bhagavad Gita As It Is, which incorporates considerable commentary by Prabhupada, is used and shared by Hare Krishnas. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the creator of Bhakti yoga, advocated for the practice of spiritual devotion via repeated chanting, particularly of the Hare Krishna mantra.
What is Hinduism?
Hinduism is a prominent world religion that originated in India and encompasses a wide range of philosophical, religious, and ceremonial traditions. At least five aspects have shaped the Hindu religious tradition throughout Indian religious history: theory, practice, society, tale, and devotion, to name a few. These five aspects are viewed as strands in a complex braid to use a Hindu metaphor. Furthermore, each strand emerges from a long history of debate, expansion, and challenge. As a result, rather than seeking unambiguous unanimity on Hindu teachings, it’s sometimes preferable to look for core sources of friction.
The first of Hinduism’s five strands is theology, which is conveyed in a huge textual legacy rooted in the Veda (“Knowledge”), the earliest core of Hindu religious speech, and arranged predominantly by men of the educated Brahman class over centuries. Several common tensions may be seen here. One is concerned with the divine-human interaction. Another point of contention is the difference between the world-preserving aim of dharma and the liberating ideal of nirvana.
Practice is Hinduism’s second thread. Many Hindus would rank this as the most important. Despite India’s vast variety, a common grammar of ceremonial behavior binds Hindus from all walks of life.
Main Differences Between Hare Krishna and Hinduism
Conclusion
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the founder of the Hare Krishna movement, began preaching that Krishna was the highest Lord above all other gods in the fifteenth century (1486). Mahaprabhu promoted a spiritual approach to faith, in which Gaudiya Vaishnavism followers had a personal relationship with Krishna and exhibited their love for him via dance and chanting. Mahaprabhu’s public demonstrations of adulation attracted a considerable following, in part because they contrasted sharply with Hinduism’s impassive and austere sentiments.
Even though this Hindu group is unique in its devotion to Krishna, it is still Hindu, as Krishna is only a manifestation (or “Avatar”) of Vishnu, one of Hinduism’s most revered deities. Hare Krishnas also adhere to the Hindu scriptures Bhagavad Gita, along with rebirth and karma concepts. Despite all the differences in the beliefs and teachings, both the Hindu religion and Hare Krishna Movement have their immense love for Lord Krishna.
References
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