What is the Incorporation of ISKCON in New York?
In July 1966 Srila Prabhupada's society was registered in New York. At Kurukshetra the Vaishnava calendar marks the incorporation of ISKCON in New York on Wednesday, 28 July 2027.
Significance
Srila Prabhupada reached New York in September 1965 and spent most of a year alone before he began lecturing from a storefront at 26 Second Avenue. He had not yet initiated any disciple, so when the lawyer's papers were ready, visitors to his evening lectures signed as the first trustees.
To Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON was not a new religion. Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta shows him planning temples and books worldwide, with the eternal sankirtana of the holy name carried from East to West. The first of ISKCON's seven purposes reads:
“To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.”
Articles of Incorporation of ISKCON, purpose (a), in Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta, Volume 1, Chapter 18
The last purpose, publishing books, fulfils the instruction Srila Prabhupada received from his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, at Radha-kunda in 1935.
How to observe it
Read all seven purposes and ask which one your service fulfils, whether chanting, hearing, serving prasadam or distributing books. Since the second purpose is to spread Krishna consciousness as revealed in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, reading a Gita chapter suits the day, above all at Kurukshetra, where Lord Krishna spoke it.
Questions
When is the incorporation of ISKCON observed in 2027?
At Kurukshetra the Vaishnava calendar marks it on Wednesday, 28 July 2027. The society itself was incorporated in New York in July 1966.
Where was ISKCON incorporated?
ISKCON was incorporated in New York City in July 1966, while Srila Prabhupada was working from a small storefront at 26 Second Avenue on the Lower East Side.
What are the seven purposes of ISKCON?
In brief, they are to spread spiritual knowledge, to propagate Krishna consciousness from the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, to bring members closer to Krishna, to encourage sankirtana, to build a holy place, to teach a simpler life, and to publish books.
Had Srila Prabhupada initiated disciples when ISKCON was incorporated?
No. He had not yet initiated any disciples, so volunteers from his evening lectures signed as the first trustees.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Wednesday, 28 July 2027
- Founder-acarya
- Srila Prabhupada
- First centre
- 26 Second Avenue, New York
Seva for this day
Feed devotees and visitors on this holy day, or begin the Bhagavad-gita course with us.