ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradāya — a monotheistic tradition within Vedic culture, philosophically grounded in the Bhagavad-gītā and the Srimad Bhagavatam. These texts of the bhakti yoga tradition teach that the ultimate goal for all living beings is to reawaken their love for Lord Krishna.
Founded by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda in New York City in 1966, ISKCON today encompasses over 500 major centers, temples, rural communities, affiliated vegetarian restaurants, and millions of congregational members worldwide. Members practice bhakti-yoga at home and in temples through festivals, kirtana, yoga seminars, public chanting, and the distribution of Vedic literature.