The ISKON sect derives from a revival movement led by Sri Caitanya in the 16th/early 17th century Common Era.
To put it another way, ISKON does not represent any ancient Hindu doctrine or practice. Caitanya taught during the period when the Tudors ruled England..the early modern period of Western history.
And Caitanya was from the bhakti devotional tradition which began in Southern India around 800 900 CE
and reached Bengal around the 1100s.
There are a vast number of bhakti sects, many Vaishnava
bhakti sects. Caitanya created one sect among many.
And many different Vashnava bhakti sects claim Caitanya as their founder.
So Prabhupadas ISKON far from speaking for all Hindus , is a tiny sect within the Vaishnava bhakti tradition.
One reason why Indian gurus jeer at well informed persons is they want to keep their disciples ignorant of the Indian context...which would show those gurus claims as bogus.
To put it another way, ISKON does not represent any ancient Hindu doctrine or practice. Caitanya taught during the period when the Tudors ruled England..the early modern period of Western history.
And Caitanya was from the bhakti devotional tradition which began in Southern India around 800 900 CE
and reached Bengal around the 1100s.
There are a vast number of bhakti sects, many Vaishnava
bhakti sects. Caitanya created one sect among many.
And many different Vashnava bhakti sects claim Caitanya as their founder.
So Prabhupadas ISKON far from speaking for all Hindus , is a tiny sect within the Vaishnava bhakti tradition.
One reason why Indian gurus jeer at well informed persons is they want to keep their disciples ignorant of the Indian context...which would show those gurus claims as bogus.