VAISHNAVITE HINDUISM

In the previous posting, it was noted that Ronald Nixon, later known as Krishna Prem, was an initiate of Vaishnavite Hinduism, or Vaishnavism.  Vaishnavism is one of the major branches of Hinduism, along with Shaivism, Smartism, and Shaktism.  It is oriented to the veneration of Vishnu.  A devotee of Vishnu is called a Vaishnava or Vaishnavite.

Vaishnavites promote monotheism, and worship Vishnu, the Supreme Lord, along with his ten avatars, the most popular of which are Rama and Krishna.  The adherents of this sect are non-ascetic, monastic, and are devoted to meditative practice and ecstatic chanting.  Deeply devotional, their religion is rich in saints, temples, and scriptures.

Its beliefs and practices, especially the concepts of Bhakti and Bhakti Yoga, are based essentially on the Upanishads, and are associated with the Vedas and Puranic texts, including the Bhagavad Gita and the Padma Purana, Vishnu Purana, and Bhagavata Purana.

Since the mid-1900s, the Gaudiya (Bengal/Bangladesh) Vaishnava branch has raised awareness of Vaishnavism internationally, mainly due to the Hare Krishna movement founded by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 
 
Krishna Prem was a strict Gaudiya Vaishnavite, and remained so throughout his life.  Highly regarded, he had many Indian disciples.