America's Hare Krishna Movement Is a Testament to Adaptability

The Hare Krishna movement was founded in New York City 50 years ago by an Indian teacher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and soon began resonating with young people who were disillusioned with establishment mores and in search of new forms of spirituality and self-expression. It was both rooted in ancient tradition of Hinduism and well-adapted to the psychological needs of an American generation that was horrified by the Vietnam war, disillusioned by materialism and looking for fresh ways of thinking and living. As is argued by Graham Schweig, a professor at Christopher Newport Univerity, its message was in some ways “lighter” than traditional Judaism or Christianity: it urged people to commune with a single god, Krishna, who offered a “playful and blissful” experience with little emphasis on judgement or punishment.