Haribol,
I am in a Kirtan group and we play at local Yoga studios to engage to wider community. As new non devotee members joined we have incorporated mantras such as "Sita Ram" and "Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha". The founding members of the group decided to allow it as these Mantras will still open the hearts of the participants and make them receptive to the Maha Mantra which they may reject as attempted indoctrination by the dreaded Haré Krishnas! Most of our mantras come from this tradition "om namo bhagavate vasudevaya" "Nitai Gauranga" etc and most importantly Haré Krishna Maha Mantra. We always end on Maha Mantra so that it is the culmination and highlight of the event.
Ultimately our aim is to get people chanting Haré Krishna. We also distribute prasadam and do not charge for the events.
Any thoughts on this approach?
Haré Krishna 🙏
Replies
Hare Krsna
we play at local Yoga studios
I'm assuming that the place is not related to any Iskcon or Iskcon Center or Iskcon Project. So if that's the case, then it doesn't matter what you sing.
may reject as attempted indoctrination by the dreaded Haré Krishnas!
The statement itself looks like some type of indoctrination. But I understand people can have all sort of perceptions. This is on the extreme side though.
we have incorporated mantras such as "Sita Ram" and "Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha".
Singing Sita Rama is allowed even in Iskcon Temples. Some Iskcon temples have deities of Sita Rama. Same with singing kirtans of Vishnu or any bonafide avatara of Vishnu.
Singing Ganesha is not welcome in Iskcon premises. Not to disrespect Ganesha or worshippers of Ganesha. But since you are not singing in Iskcon Premises, then nobody should have any problem in general.
We always end on Maha Mantra so that it is the culmination and highlight of the event. Ultimately our aim is to get people chanting Haré Krishna. We also distribute prasadam and do not charge for the events. Any thoughts on this approach?
That's excellent Chanting Maha Mantra is most important. Please continue singing Hare Krishna Mahamantra.
Hare Krsna
Haré Krishna,
Thanks for your considered reply.
The group isn't associated with ISKCON directly other than the fact that some of the members are devotees (and myself aspiring). We specifically run programs outside of temple and ISKCON to reach the broader public and get people with that wouldn't be likely to attend temple singing the Holy names.
The indoctrination comment was mostly tongue in cheek, but people do have preconceptions of ISKCON and any other organised religions these days.
Our hope is for as many people to sing the Holy names and prasadam as possible. A lot of Hatha Yoga practitioners seem to be curious about broader Vedic culture these days and we are taking the opportunity to spread the Holy names to these people. We don't preach or go into philosophy, just let the Mantras wish for themselves.
Haribol 🙏