ISKCON is a global religious organization within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, dedicated to devotion to Lord Krishna. The acronym ISKCON stands for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. As a movement, it presents itself as rooted in the ancient Vedic tradition, yet expressed in a modern, organized form that can be engaged with by people across diverse cultures. Its central focus is the cultivation of Krishna consciousness through bhakti-yoga, or devotional service, understood as a direct, personal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna.

The society emphasizes practices that are meant to awaken and deepen this devotional consciousness. These include the worship of Krishna in temples, congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, and the study and distribution of sacred texts such as the Bhagavad-gita and the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Alongside these explicitly spiritual disciplines, ISKCON also promotes vegetarian food distribution, educational efforts, and cultural activities as extensions of devotional service. Through these means, the movement seeks to make spiritual life a practical, lived reality rather than a merely theoretical ideal.

ISKCON has developed a broad institutional presence, maintaining temples, communities, and affiliated centers in many parts of the world. Devotees often live in or around these centers, where they participate in daily worship, scriptural study, and service activities. The movement also supports ashrams, schools, restaurants, and publishing efforts, all oriented toward sharing the teachings and practices of Krishna devotion. A key publishing arm, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, focuses on making Vedic literature widely available, thereby reinforcing the movement’s scriptural foundation.

Ethical discipline is regarded as an essential support for spiritual practice within ISKCON. Practitioners are encouraged to follow four regulative principles: abstaining from meat-eating, gambling, illicit sex, and intoxication. These guidelines are understood not merely as moral rules, but as a framework that protects and purifies consciousness so that devotion to Krishna can flourish. In this way, ISKCON presents a comprehensive path that integrates philosophy, ritual, lifestyle, and community into a single, coherent pursuit of Krishna consciousness.