Prabhupada Displeased with our chanting other Mantras!
[March 18, 1973, ISKCON Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, India]
During ISKCON's first international festival in Mayapur, many devotees demonstrated how they had become influenced by the Bengali form of kirtan. Srila Prabhupada expressed some displeasure about the chanting of so many different mantras."They can chant their 'Nitai Gaura, Hari Bols'," he said, "but I will chant Hare Krishna and go back home, back to Godhead."
Perhaps if we had understood the translation of "Hari bol," then we would have known what to do. Srila Prabhupada enjoyed chanting the Maha-mantra.
"Yes Ofcourse! Dance in ecstasy!"
[April 26, 1973, ISKCON Los Angeles, USA]
It was here that Brahmananda Maharaja and I introduced the Bengali style of dancing to the western devotees. We had learned it at the Mayapura festival. Many of the devotees loved it and Srila Prabhupada was seen smiling as he watched the devotees dance before him.
But, some did not agree. Pradyumna asked Srila Prabhupada if it was all right to dance in that way because some of the devotees thought it strange.
"Yes, of course!" Srila Prabhupada replied. Srila Prabhupada loved to see his disciples chant "Hare Krishna" and dance in ecstasy.
....also note that by ecstatic dance, he DOES NOT mean WILD DANCE hurting other devotees dancers and making a show of our dancing skills/ talent and Gymnastics/ feats. We SHOULD remember our Vaishnav sidhanta (philosophy) even while dancing.
It should be graceful and pleasing to Krishna. And what pleases guru is what Krishna wants. Our primary Siksha-guru Srila Prabhupada emphasized "Dancing for Krishna in ecstasy yet gracefully."
[Ref. Book: 'Srila Prabhupada Uvaca' by SP's Personal servant- H.G. Srutakirti Das
Chapter 44: Bengali Kirtan Pros and Cons]
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