How to Become a Hare Krishna and Achieve Krishna Consciousness

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: November 29, 2022 References Approved

Hare Krishna devotees are part of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a variant of Hinduism founded on the idea that Lord Krishna is the one supreme God. This movement was founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1965, and anyone can follow the teachings of this spiritual movement. In this article, we’ll walk you through the key features of Hare Krishna, break down the main rituals and forms of worship, and walk you through what you need to further develop your faith.

Things You Should Know

The core tenant of Hare Krishna is that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of the Godhead above all other deities.
Anyone can become a Hare Krishna so long as they follow the 4 guiding principles of cleanliness, mercy, austerity, and truthfulness.
Read the Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, and chant to grow your faith and become spiritually fulfilled.
The goal of worship is to develop Krishna Consciousness—a state of being where you’re in perfect harmony with Krishna.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Devotion to Krishna

1
Understand what differentiates Hare Krishna and Hinduism. Hare Krishna is a nickname for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). It is a formal organization based on Gaudiya Vaishnava form of Hinduism. They key distinguishing feature is that Hare Krishnas believe in Lord Krishna as the Supreme Personality of the Godhead. In other words, Krishna is the supreme ruler over everything.^{[1]
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- While most Hindus are polytheistic (belief in many Gods), Hare Krishnas are monotheistic (belief in one God).
- While Hare Krishna is based on beliefs that are thousands of years old, ISKCON was formally founded in 1965 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
- Krishna Consciousness is a key part of the Hare Krishna movement. It refers to a state of awareness in which devoted followers are in perfect harmony with Lord Krishna.
- There is no formal “baptism” or anything for Hare Krishna. If you live the lifestyle and follow the tenets of the faith, you’re a member of the religion.
2
Study the Bhagavad Gita, the key holy text in Hare Krishna. Also known as the Gita, this ancient text is key to Hinduism, but essential for Hare Krishnas devotees. This book is a dialogue between Arjuna and Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna explains the duties of being a warrior and answers questions about various spiritual topics and practices; all of this informs the foundation of Hare Krishna. ^{[2]
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Research source} The text covers:
- The soul
- One’s relationship with God
- Bhakti Yoga
- Karma Yoga
- Gyaan Yoga
- Hatha-yoga
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3
Read the Vedas to enrich and guide you on your journey. The Vedas were written by Lord Vyasadeva and cover a wide range of topics such as medicine, yoga and meditation techniques, science, government, and more. There are 4 main books: Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda. Read the Vedas to build on the knowledge that has been passed down from the masters to disciples.^{[3]
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- Rig Veda, which is the oldest book in Hinduism, contains hymns about Hindu mythology.
- Sama Veda primarily deals with various religious rituals.
- Yajur Veda also covers hymns and chants for a variety of distinct religious rituals.
- Atharva Veda contains spiritual advice and describes spells you can use against enemies, bad spirits, or diseases.
4
Understand the 4 principles of the Hare Krishna faith. The 4 principles should not be seen as restrictions, but as aids towards freedom and development. These principles guide how you interact with people and regulate your body and mind. The principles are based on the ideas of cleanliness, mercy, austerity, and truthfulness.^{[4]
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Research source} The principles are as follows:
- No eating meat, fish, or eggs. Animals are children of God, and consuming them is an affront to Krishna.
- No gambling. Gambling and speculation encourage deceit and untruthfulness, which can harm your Karma.
- No alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. Anything that can intoxicate you has the ability to cloud your senses and interrupt your connection to God.
- No premarital sex. Hare Krishna’s scriptures indicate that sex for pleasure pulls you further from God.
5
Practice Bhakti Yoga. Bhakti yoga means the path of dedication and love. The Bhagavad Gita describes physical exercise of yoga and the spiritual nature of yoga. Bhakti Yoga moves beyond the physical and is focused on living a life of dedication and service to Lord Krishna.^{[5]
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Research source} Bhakti Yoga is developed through:
- Chanting
- Studying sacred texts
- Spending time with other Hare Krishna devotees
- Upholding the four principles
- Eating a vegan or vegetarian diet

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Worship Practices and Rituals

1
Recite the Maha Mantra, the sacred chant for deliverance. Chanting this mantra gives you peace and connects you directly to Lord Krishna. Say the following words, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.” Continue repeating this until you feel Krishna’s spirit and warmth.^{[6]
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Research source} The three forms of meditation are Japa, kirtan, and sankirtan.
- In Japa, you meditate quietly alone with your prayer beads.
- In kirtan, you meditate by singing the mantra and with musical instruments.
- If you perform kirtan in a group, it is called sankirtan.
- This chant roughly means “O Krishna, O energy of Krishna, please engage me in your service.
2
Use Japa beads to remind yourself of your devotion. Japa beads are similar to a rosary beads. When you chant alone, count each round of chanting on your Japa beads to focus and track the number of times that you have chanted the mantra. Alternatively, you can meditate while holding the beads in your right hand, or bring them everywhere you go to keep a reminder of your faith on you.^{[7]
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- Your beads are sacred and should never be placed on the ground on anything that is dirty. If you want to carry them with you, place them in a special Japa bead bag.
- Many Hare Krishnas chant 16 rounds on the Japa beads while offering respects to a tulasi plant as a daily practice.
3
Set up a home altar to pray, chant, and make offerings. An altar is not required, but it can enhance your spirituality at home. An altar is a special place that you set aside for meditation. Imagine where you would seat a guest that you really loved and adored. This is what your altar should look like. When you craft your altar, you might include:^{[8]
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- A picture of Srila Prabhupada (the spiritual master and guru).
- A picture of Lord Chaitanya (the incarnation of God for this age) and his 4 associates.
- A picture of Lord Krishna, centrally placed on the altar.
- Candles or incense.
- Any items that you find beautiful, moving, or symbolically valuable.
- Comfortable chairs and pillows.
4
Attend temple to worship alongside other Hare Krishna. Going to temple allows you to participate in congregational worship and sankirtan (group chanting and story telling). Worship service is usually on a Sunday night. Visit the ISKCON website to find a temple near you.^{[9]
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- There are some devotees that live in the temple. However, you can still live outside of the temple and live out Krishna’s teaching in your everyday life.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Living with Krishna Consciousness

1
Become a vegan or vegetarian to respect animals. As a Hare Krishna, your relationship with food is influenced by the principles of compassion, non-violence, and balanced living. As a result, don’t eat meat, fish, dairy or eggs. Killing animals for food produces bad Karma. Some devotees believe a vegetarian diet is sufficient, but others go for full veganism. By not relying on animals for food, you are stopping some of the karma associated with violence.^{[10]
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- In addition to being a vegan, encourage others to be vegan and support the ethical treatment of animals. Don't forget to research cruelty-free clothes, skin care, and cleaning products, too.
2
Spend time with other devotees to learn from others. Community engagement is a key part of being Hare Krishna. Spend time with other like-minded individuals, ask questions, and enjoy the company of others. This can also enhance your study of the sacred texts and help you chant with other people.^{[11]
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- You can find other devotees through Facebook, Krishna Conscious discussion boards, or by visiting the ISKCON website.
- Going to a temple is the best way to meet other devotees.
3
Pursue life as a sannyasa if you’re called to higher commitment. Sannyasis are the robed and head-shaved monks who dedicate themselves entirely to spiritual enlightenment and the spread of Hare Krishna. Once you’ve joined a local Hare Krishna temple, talk to the local guru about finding a sponsor for your sannyasa journey if you’re interested in it.^{[12]
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Research source} Typically, you need:
- Knowledge of Hindu astrology (Jyotisha) and the skills to perform astrological analysis.
- To pass a scriptural test (the Bhakti Sastri exam).
- A resume and a letter explaining why you want to become a sannyasa.
- To take an oath of loyalty and provide references.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I become a Hare Krishna convert?

Community Answer

There is no need to convert officially, because the basic principle is that we already have this love for Krishna inside of us but through our association with the material world we have become contaminated in our consciousness and have forgotten our eternal love for God.
Question

How do I make my husband understand all of this and believe in Krishna?

Community Answer

Don't do this. You should never try to change a person or force someone to believe as you do. Just let him know about Lord Krishna and leave it. Leave it to Krishna.
Question

How can I be a strong devotee of lord Krishna?

Community Answer

Just follow Krishna Consciousness strictly and honestly and avoid all sinful activities. Do your material duty (Artha) under the laws of Lord Krishna.