My friends are sounding the alarm: my daughter is on a vegetarian diet! She teaches some mantras and goes to Indian dance classes! All! She was lured into the sect. What sect ?! - I ask. Hare Krishnas! - the girl's mother breaks her hands. I laugh in response: this is a completely peaceful and ancient doctrine. For such moms and dads, I advise them to figure it out themselves, not relying on myths … And there are a lot of myths.
MYTH # 1
The Hare Krishnas were "invented" in America in the 20th century
Fact: If you do not follow the proverb "fear has big eyes", but simply look into the encyclopedia, you can find out that Vaishnavism is a very ancient, centuries-old tradition in India. And in its modern form appeared in the West only in 1966, when the International Society for Krishna Consciousness was founded in America by the Indian Guru A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
What he did was simply expand the boundaries of his preaching work outside India. At the same time, something incredible happened in America, from the point of view of "banal" erudition. The almost 70-year-old Indian who said that “you cannot eat meat, drink alcohol, have illicit sex, gamble” - was followed by young people! Of course, he was forced somewhere to adapt the teaching to new conditions, which led to the creation of a somewhat modernized version of Vaishnavism, which we can observe now. For our country during the Soviet era, Vaishnavism turned out to be a new and completely unusual phenomenon, although in 1971 the leader of the Vaishnavas Swami Prabhupada visited the Union.
MYTH # 2
Promotional video:
All Hare Krishnas are CIA agents
Fact: Krishnaites appeared in the USSR in the 70s. Although the development of the communist society was delayed, we nevertheless persistently built socialism, overcoming religious vestiges, preaching atheism, and imprisoning any believers in insane asylums. And everything that contradicted the party doctrine, as a rule, was declared as interference from abroad. Our so-called "domestic" Vaishnavs-Krishnaites are followers of one of the Vaishnavist movements - Chaitanya Vaishnavism, which is most widespread in the central and eastern parts of India. And they have nothing to do with the special services. They are based on the teachings of Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1533).
MYTH # 3
Krishnaites oppose other religions
Fact: The media actively participated in the formation of the stereotype of a Vaishnava believer as a supporter of illegal activities. Sometimes the believers themselves created a negative impression of themselves: they closed in themselves, did not make good contacts, performed ritual dances and singing somewhere on the Arbat, and handed out religious literature. However, not only do they not oppose anyone or anything, but recently one of their goals has become the normalization of relations with the society in which they live. Too many ignorant monsters live in the minds of the average man in the street. Therefore, it is necessary, as they say, to go public. Yes, with concrete actions. Thus, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is the initiator of the world's largest humanitarian mission to distribute vegetarian food. The organization's volunteers distribute over 1 million free meals a day around the world.
MYTH # 4
Vaishnava scriptures call for anti-social behavior
Fact: The Vaishnavism belief is focused on spiritual improvement, the realization of one's own "I", merging with the pure divine world. This requires getting "Krsna consciousness." Krishna in the teachings of the Vaisnavas is the supreme truth, the supreme perfect being, the supreme transcendental personality. In addition, Krishna is the source of various energies (shakti), which are declared incomprehensible by the human mind and are divided into three types. The Vaishnava Regulatory Principles are the prohibition of the consumption of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and other things (eggs, fish, meat, tea, coffee, bakery products prepared by non-Vaishnavas). The scriptures invite a person to develop such spiritual qualities as humility, humility, truthfulness, sincerity, benevolence, independence, poise, simplicity, compassion, mercy, and others. Which, however,not always and not everyone succeeds - as, incidentally, the followers of any other religion, and besides, people are people. And, nevertheless, the development of spiritual qualities in oneself is the dominant, for the sake of which people become Hare Krishnas, Christians and others.
In general, Vaishnavas willingly create families. Almost everyone has children, they develop normally, play games that are usual for their age, read books.
MYTH # 5
Hare Krishnas perform sacrifices
Fact: As in any religion, Vaishnavism has its own ritual practices, prayers and worship. However, it has nothing to do with sacrificing someone. Prasad occupies a special place in the tradition. This is food offered to the deity during the ceremony of worship, food from the altar, which becomes sacred at the end of the ritual. The choice for offering food on the altar is wide enough. Only everything that is associated with the killing of animals is excluded. The main focus is on dairy products, grains and legumes, vegetable oils, vegetables, fruits, berries, melons, and other products - sugar, honey, nuts. They are also "sacrificed". Spices are widely used. The variety and sophistication of the prepared dishes are amazing! Vegetables in coconut milk, all sorts of sabji, rice cakes … And sweets - semolina halva,besan laddu (sweet balls), milk fudge, thick sweet yogurt and more. Another interesting feature is that there is always enough food to feed everyone. It is carried in buckets along the rows of the partakers and the supplement is distributed to all those who ask. By the way, if you just go to any Hare Krishna temple and ask them to feed you delicious prasadam, they will not refuse anyone, even if you are an atheist!
Maria TARNOVSKAYA