SANKIRTANA.
SANKIRTANA.
Sankirtana is the two main types of preaching of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
Lord Chaitanya is (the founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition) inspired His followers to go to the streets of Indian cities and villages dancing and chanting the Holy Names of Krishna, thus preaching Harinama-sankirtana (chanting the Holy Names of God).
The founder of ISKCON is A.Ch. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada translated more than 80 major volumes of Vedic works at the instruction of his spiritual master. He made sankirtana the basis of sankirtana - DISTRIBUTION OF SPIRITUAL LITERATURE.
Person who has been exposed to truth always wants to share it with others, especially if that truth has made his life happier and more meaningful.
The books that sankirtana devotees distribute on the street are profound and practical. They are translations of ancient Sanskrit texts with commentary by members of the Vaishnava tradition.
One of the definitions of the word ABSOLUTE is when the energies emanating from the Source are not different from the Source itself.
So God is called the Absolute. And the Vedas are the literary realization of God, that is, they are not different from God Himself!
ISKCON devotees are distributing these books all over the world so that people can get in touch with God Himself through reading spiritual books!
The basis of the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is the following treatises: "Bhagavad-Gita," "Srimad-Bhagavatam," "Chaitanya-Charitamrita," and "Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu." The sankirtana devotees, by distributing books, preach these teachings to the people.
However, a question may arise:
• Why should we study this literature, since there is plenty of other religious literature?
We can answer this question in this way:
• If a medicine helps, it does not matter in which country it was made!
Krishna Consciousness is meant for people irrespective of their religion, social and cultural level, nationality. People who study these books change their lives for the better, not because they want to become Hindu, but because this explanation of the nature of God has helped them to find happiness and meaning in life, and to become truly happy.
This knowledge is the king of knowledge, the innermost of mysteries. It is the purest knowledge and because it gives man a living experience of his own self, it is the perfect religion. Knowledge is eternal and its comprehension is joyful."
(Bhagavad-Gita, 9-2)
The devotees of sankirtana are extraordinarily merciful to the living entities and therefore very dear to Sri Krishna.
"One who reveals this supreme secret to My devotees will certainly attain the gift of pure devotional service and will return to Me at the end of life.
There is not and never will be a servant dearer to Me in this world than he."
(Bh.-Gita , 18-68, 69).
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is now doing just that, that is, fulfilling this sublime mission that will ultimately lead to peace and tranquility on earth.