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Krishna Consciousness

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Krishna Consciousness is a state of being in one’s constitutional position. Simply said, the consciousness a human being should possess to remain happy and healthy forever. For example, The Republic of India is defined by its constitution. It defines the rights and duties of the citizens who can live peacefully if they follow the constitution. Similarly, Krishna Consciousness defines our eternal constitution. Yoga is very popular nowadays. It implies ‘to link with the Supreme’. Krishna Consciousness is the finest form of Yoga which defines the manner in which human beings should conduct their lives in a loving relationship with Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The process is so sublime that even a child can practise it. In the material world, we suffer due to our forgetfulness of Krishna. And through the Yoga process of Krishna Consciousness, we can revive our long-lost relationship with Krishna and come to the point of ‘sat-chit-ananda’ i.e.

Sat – ‘Eternal’
Chit – ‘Full of Knowledge’
Ananda – ‘Full of Bliss’
The term ‘Krishna Consciousness’ was coined by Srila Rupa Goswami, the head of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, who were instrumental in spreading the Krishna Consciousness philosophy under the direct orders of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is none other than Lord Krishna Himself in the form of a devotee. Srila Rupa Goswami specifically coined the term ‘Krishna Bhakti-Rasa-Bhavitah’ in Sanskrit which translates to ‘Krishna Consciousness’.
HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the Worldwide Hare Krishna Movement and our revered Spiritual Master defines Krishna Consciousness aptly in the following conversation with Ms. Sandy Nixon, a freelance reporter:
Krishna means God. We are all intimately connected with Him because He is our original father. But we have forgotten this connection. When we become interested in knowing, “What is my connection with God? What is the aim of life?” then we are called Krishna conscious.
Krishna consciousness is already there in the core of everyone’s heart. But because of our materially conditioned life, we have forgotten it. The process of chanting the Hare Krishna mahā-mantra—Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare—revives the Krishna consciousness we already have.

For example, a few months ago these American and European boys and girls did not know about Krishna, but just yesterday we saw how they were chanting Hare Krishna and dancing in ecstasy throughout the whole Ratha-yātrā procession [an annual festival sponsored by the Krishna consciousness movement in cities around the world]. Do you think that was artificial? No. Artificially, nobody can chant and dance for hours together.
They have actually awakened their Krishna consciousness by following a bona fide process. This is explained in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.107):

nitya-siddha krishna-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya
Krishna consciousness is dormant in everyone’s heart, and when one comes in contact with devotees, it is awakened. Krishna consciousness is not artificial. Just as a young boy awakens his natural attraction for a young girl in her association, similarly, if one hears about Krishna in the association of devotees, he awakens his dormant Krishna consciousness. There can be no simpler definition of Krishna Consciousness than that mentioned in the conversation above. Srila Prabhupada says above that Krishna Consciousness lies dormant in our heart. It just needs to be revived! As per the scriptures, one should endeavor to act in Krishna Consciousness as far as possible. This will ensure a state of true happiness, health and peace in life. Very importantly, it prevents the recurrence of birth and death leading up to liberation from the pangs of material existense.

Becoming krishna conscious

You can become Krishna Conscious simply by engaging in all the nine processes of devotional service or even engaging in just one of the nine processes. These nine processes are:

Hearing (Shravanam)
Chanting (Kirtanam)
Remembering (Smaranam)
Serving the Lord’s lotus feet (Pada-Sevanam)
Deity Worship (Archanam)
Praying (Vandanam)
Executing Orders (Dasyam)
Serving as a friend (Sakhyam)
Complete Surrender (Atma Nivedanam)
Most of these nine processes can be executed by even a child for they are so simple in nature.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, one of the foremost and visionary Acharyas is the architect of the modern Krishna Consciousness movement. He worked very determined along with his duties as a Magistrate to reestablish Krishna Consciousness a few centuries after it was in decline following the end of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Lilas.
He discovered the transcendental birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and built a temple there. He wrote voluminous books and periodicals reestablishing the principles of Krishna Consciousness. He even predicted the arrival of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Senapati i.e. Commander-in-chief to spread Krishna Consciousness around the world crossing the ocean. One of his predictions are:

Soon there will be a time when chanting of Krishna's name will be heard in England, France, Russia, Germany, and America.

Nityananda Suryodoy

Sajjana Toshani Magazine
True to his prediction, HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appeared on the scene in America in 1965 to spread the Krishna Consciousness Movement. Even though the 60’s and 70’s period was the height of the hippie movement in the west, Krishna Consciousness engulfed the world in a span of 12 years, under his personal guidance.