Governing Body Commission
Provides ultimate ecclesiastical leadership and preserves ISKCON’s shared spiritual direction.
ContinuePurpose, responsibility, and stewardship
Mission & Governance
ISKCON’s Seven Purposes connect spiritual education, community, worship, simpler living, and publishing with a worldwide framework of shared and local responsibility.
The founding framework
Seven purposes. One coherent mission.
Srila Prabhupada placed these purposes in ISKCON’s founding documents in 1966. They still connect teaching, community, worship, sustainable living, and publishing.
01
Share spiritual knowledge systematically and help restore balance and peace.
02
Present Krishna consciousness through the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
03
Bring people closer to Krishna and to one another as a spiritual community.
04
Encourage congregational chanting of the names of God.
05
Create sacred places dedicated to Krishna and spiritual life.
06
Support a simpler, more natural and connected way of living.
07
Publish and distribute books, periodicals, and other thoughtful writing.
How responsibility travels
Global guidance. Regional coordination. Local accountability.
ISKCON is a worldwide religious society whose centers operate within different legal jurisdictions. The closest responsible organization should always be identifiable.
Explore the essentials
Global guidance
The Governing Body Commission provides ISKCON’s ultimate ecclesiastical leadership, preserves the Founder-Acharya’s teachings, and supports cooperation and standards across the international society.
Regional and local responsibility
ISKCON centers and projects operate within different legal jurisdictions. Local leadership remains responsible for current programs, personnel, safeguarding, finances, donations, and compliance.
Transparency belongs close to the work
Visitors, donors, volunteers, and partners should be able to identify the entity and people responsible for any specific center or initiative before relying on information or contributing support.