Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
A Western philosophy student learning Bhakti yoga asked, “What is Krishna consciousness, what is Vaishnavism, and when did it start?” I’d like to share my written response to him with all of you, as we touched on some points during our discussions in this forum.
Lord Krishna is viewed as the most sublime and compassionate manifestation of the Supreme Being in human history. His teachings and pastimes have inspired countless devotees throughout time. He is the Creator, the original source of everything, effortlessly maintaining the entire cosmos, which encompasses innumerable universes.
At the appropriate time, He dissolves everything and begins a new creation. Krishna embodies eternity, knowledge, and bliss. He is one and indivisible, yet simultaneously present in the hearts of all beings and manifest in countless transcendental forms through His inconceivable potency.
Krishna consciousness is the pure state of awareness of the Supreme Lord Krishna, attainable through bhakti-yoga, or the yoga of devotion. This practice serves as the foundation of Vaishnavism, which is the worship of Krishna or Vishnu.
In truth, Krishna consciousness, or Vaishnavism, has no beginning, as it reflects Krishna’s eternal nature. In the spiritual realm, beyond material existence, every soul is inherently a Vaishnava, or devotee of Krishna.
According to Vedic scriptures, this universe, along with countless others, emerged from the breath of Vishnu approximately 155.25 trillion years ago. This divine breath also transmitted the spiritual knowledge necessary to awaken the dormant Krishna consciousness within souls in material creation.
This knowledge is contained in the Vedas, which were revealed to Lord Brahma, the first created being in this universe. Acting as a faithful servant of the Supreme Lord, Brahma populated the planetary systems and presented the Vedas as a guide for righteous living. Thus, Vaishnavism has existed since the dawn of material creation.
Unlike many other religions, Vaishnavism has remained unchanged over thousands of years. Its transcendental nature means it does not need to adapt to the changing world; it is the sanatana-dharma, the religion of eternity and therefore does not change.
The Vedic hymns have been transmitted since time immemorial through the guru-parampara, or disciplic succession, forming an unbroken line of enlightened spiritual masters back to Lord Brahma. Students learned the Vedas through oral transmission and memorization, and the Vedas were formally recorded in writing about 5,000 years ago by the sage Vyasadev.
Modern scholars often challenge the connection between the Vedic texts and Vaishnavism, mistakenly viewing the Vedic religion as polytheistic. This misunderstanding arises from their failure to grasp the Vedic message through authorized disciplic succession, relying instead on their own speculations.
They overlook that the many deities celebrated in the Vedas are ultimately aspects of the one Supreme Person, Vishnu, as highlighted in the Purusha-shukta, the pinnacle of Vedic hymns. The Upanishads equate Vishnu with Krishna, who appeared as the son of Vasudeva, as stated in the Taittiriya Upanishad:
“Om narayanaya vidmahe, vasudevaya dhimahi, tanno vishnuh pracodayat.”
In the Bhagavad-gita, spoken by Lord Krishna 5,000 years ago, He declares, “I am that which is to be known through all the Vedas. I am the compiler of Vedanta and the knower of the Vedas.” (B.G. 15.15)
Vaishnavism, or Krishna consciousness, is not a closed religion; it welcomes individuals from all backgrounds. There are no social barriers preventing anyone from developing love for God. In Vaishnavism, acceptance is based on individual sincerity in devotion, not on social status or caste.
Today, Vaishnavism is practiced by people from diverse backgrounds worldwide. Practitioners include everyone from kings to villagers, professionals to artists. Many are drawn to Vaishnavism for its ability to provide spiritual fulfillment.
Krishna consciousness was first introduced to the West in 1965 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in New York City. Although some Indian Vaishnavas came to America earlier, they struggled to effectively inspire Westerners to embrace Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada’s vision and purity enabled him to establish the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which has since spread globally, even reaching countries like Russia, China etc.
I hope this sheds some light on your question. Thank you for the wonderful inquiry! Please feel free to ask any follow-up questions.
Your servant,
Satya Sara das
November 4, 2024