ISKCON members are not concerned with what clothes they ware or their physical appearance as Srila Pubhupada said ‘I am not my body’, all people are the same underneath.
However these are only the 5 main guidelines and many believe that Krishna is a very understanding god and that he will understand certain circumstances. As, according to the Hindus, we are living in Kali Yug (that last of 4 ages of time) - when people are unwilling to live moral lives, for this reason God has made salvation easier. ISKCON believe salvation can come through merely chanting the ancient ‘mahamantra’ (great chant) ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.’ Prabhupada instructed devotees to chant this 108 times round a rosary of beads (mala) and to do this 16 times a day (saying the mahamantra a total of 1728 times a day).
Apart from these guidelines and the consideration of their God when making any decision members of ISKCON in the west live much as a westerner of ant faith, they will work within the community and use many of the same day-to-day facilities.
Another huge part of ISKCON life is the worship itself. There are two main types of worship that are practised, that in the temple with others and that practised at home on ones own.
Most followers think it is best to go to a temple or ISKCON centre and devote yourself as a member. However this is not always possible, especially in the west where Hindus are in the minority and temples are only found in the larger towns and cities. In such cases worship at home (or the home of another ISKCON member as part of a small group) is the only option.
Am altar is set up in the home and 3 pictures, one of Srila Prabhupada (on the left), Lord Caitanya (on the right) and Lord Krishna (in the centre). Incense is burnt and a small flower is kept in fresh water on the altar, this is to enrich the gods and please them, some like the altar to have a silk cloth as well.
Very few followers actually repeat the 16 rounds of 108 repetitions, they simply complete as many as they can. This helps to bring the follower closer to Lord Krishna, this relationship is also developed with solitary, meditational activities which allow the devotee to focus on god, such as yoga. Sundays are holy days on which many followers will prepare a vegetarian feast as well as their worship, so as to consolidate, display and enjoy their religion. On this day many will try to be a better follower and understand their faith more by studying the scriptures, this helps them to feel devoted and confident they are living as well as they can in their circumstances.
Worship in a temple is similar, but on a larger scale (for example there are deities of Lord Krishna instead of photographs). The worship is also often led by a priest, making it easier for followers to focus their thoughts and feel they are pleasing their beloved god. Going to the temple gives the ISKCON member a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction, that they have a little meaning.
(Information in this section gained from www.iskcon.org, www.geocities.com/athens and www.stir.ac.uk)
Sai Baba’s groups have very different ideas, to begin with they do not worship in a temple as they fell praise should be more varied and open than that.
They believe in one god who has many names, it does not matter what you call him as long as you believe in him, because only an unreligious person is wrong. Sai Baba welcomes all religions but takes and encourages ideas from Hinduism.
A Sai Baba follower must hold trust and be devoted. They believe all followers should act with love, selflessness and dedicate themselves to helping people especially where less fortunate or helpless people are involved.
Their is a strong sense of community sprit among followers of Sai Baba, as they believe in supporting each other and helping with schools, hospitals and old peoples facilities. They promote the work they do to encourage others to join. They get a strong sense of fulfilment and being morally right from their work, they believe they are acting as close to godly actions as they can.
They do not worship as those in ISKCON do, they take a more relaxed, quiet approach. They repeat mantras many times, to show gods importance and their humbleness and devotion. They read from holy texts as they believe knowledge is power and will help them in their love quest. They use meditation and deep contemplation to focus and motivate the mind.
Sai Baba followers believe they are not only a religious sect but that they benefit the world through charitable works. They are outgoing and sharing, they base themselves on devotion, belief and love. They deem that all they do and think is in service of one god and that he is omnipresent.
(Information in this section is from www.saibabaofshirdi.net and www.religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Email received from Adridharan Das (president of ISKCON Calcutta and chairman IRM).
- www.iskconbangalore.org
- www.religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu (/nrms/shirdi.html)
- www.saibabaofshirdi.net
- www.iskcon.org
- www.geocities.com/athens
- www.stir.ac.uk
- www.religious,ovements.lib.virginia.edu
- Email received from Adridharan Das.
- www.iskcombangalore.org
