CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION of
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, INC.

The purposes for which the Society is organized are:

1. To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.

2. To propagate a consciousness of Krishna as it is revealed in the Bhagavat Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.

3. To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, and thus to develop the idea, within the members, and humanity, at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).

4. To teach and encourage the Sankirtan movement, congregational chanting of the holy name of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

5. To erect for the members, and for society at large, a holy place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the personality of Krishna.

6. To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.

7. With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.

“I, the undersigned, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, disciple of Om Visnupad Paramhansa 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaj Prabhupada, came in the United States in 1965 on September 18th for the purpose of starting Krishna Consciousness Movement. For one year I had no shelter. I was travelling in many parts of this country. Then in 1966, July, I incorporated the Society under the name and style the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, briefly ISKCON. The lawyer was Mr. J. Goldsmith. Gradually the Society increased, and one after another branches were opened.” (His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the directive Direction of Management, dated July 28, 1970) ISKCON, Inc. or ISKCON was formed in 1966, as stated above, for seven purposes that were originally listed in its Certificate of Incorporation (PDF)

This seven-point manifesto, was one of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s official documents for the establishment of the Hare Krishna movement as a spiritual organization to systematically impart spiritual knowledge to the entire society and to instruct all people in the techniques of spiritual life in order to eliminate false values and achieve true unity and peace in the world.

In the years that followed, Śrīla Prabhupāda expanded the mission and activities of his movement beyond the details mentioned in the founding documents, but always in accordance with its principles.

For example, the Hare Krishna movement has established much more than just “a sacred place of transcendental pastimes dedicated to the Personality of Kṛṣṇa,” namely temples in major cities around the world. The principle of “bringing members closer together to teach them a simpler, more natural lifestyle” has inspired the development of self-sustaining farm communities, ashrams and spiritual retreat centers.

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s plan to re-spiritualize society through the distribution of sacred food (prasādam) is not mentioned in the original founding documents. However, he founded Food For Life and Govinda’s Vegetarian Restaurants, and the Sunday festival has become a weekly event at every Hare Krishna center world wide. » Read more «