Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

Didnt Bhaktivinoda Thakur write a song called Gurudev?

Is this Haridas Dhananjayas son?

Ysvt.

HK!

[quote][cite] Haridas:[/cite]Didnt Bhaktivinoda Thakur write a song called Gurudev?[/quote]

Actually, his book of poems Saranagati contains four separate songs in the Bhajana Lalasa section which start with the invocation: gurudev!.
It is a very traditional way of addressing ones guru.

No, this is Harry (uninitaited). Sorry, I probably thought you were somebody else.

Harry from Gatwick the legendary Soho temple youth and clumsey musical instrument breaker of Brighton temple fame!! ;-)

Nrisimha I believe your are referring to the statement from HH Jayadvaita Swamis kirtan reform seminar. This statement was quoted from HH Indradyumna Swami and HH Lokanatha Swami in their harinama handbook.

From what I remember the quote was as such.
Harikesha Swami states that Srila Prabhupada once stopped a roaring kirtan of the chanting of Jaya Gurudeva. Srila Prabhupada had then told the devotee that you should chant the gurus name, chanting just Jaya Gurudeva is impersonal.

I cannot find Indradyumna Swamis book but I found a reference on this site.

http://www.rvc.edu/news/on_chanting_question_mark.html
"CHANTING JAYA GURUDEVA.?"

Srila Prabhupada objected to the chanting of "Jaya Gurudeva" since he considered it to be a direct insertion into our movement from the sahajiya sampradayas in Bengal who always say things like "Jaya Gurudeva," without referring to any particular guru. Prabhupada criticized this as impersonal and did not want it chanted by his disciples. "Who is the guru?" he would challenge.

Srila Prabhupada also did not appreciate the extended chanting of Jaya Prabhupada at the expense of chanting the Hare Krsna maha mantra. (Srila Prabhupadas room in Detroit related by Harikesa dasa)

Wow,thanks Nityananda Prabhu! Very helpful. Jaya!
Ysvt.
HK!

[quote][cite] Nrsingha:[/cite]Harry from Gatwick the legendary Soho temple youth and clumsey musical instrument breaker of Brighton temple fame!! ;-)[/quote]

What instruments did I break?

Ask Maha Vishnu Swami, I fixed his ektara.

Ok if Maharaja has forgiven u then. Hari bola!

I didnt break his ektara! I just fixed it.

Why do you assume that?

Dina.

If you have broken the ektara you would have been a direct representative of SBBST -- it is laughable to see an ISKCON sannyasi with a symbol of Bauls monistic speculation.

ccd, anything can be used in Krishnas service. Especially a musical instrument designed for kirtan! Do you think everyone thinks of bauls and how they are monists when they hear an ektara?

The guitar is an instrument of sense gratification, but we still occasionally see those.

The accordion was not an instrument designed for worship, but that is still popular with many great devotees.

The harmonium is not a Vaisnava instrument, but Prabhupada has allowed us to use it.

This is the kind of rubbish you get with devotees on the internet, nobody ever says these things in real life because they havent the courage, but as soon as there isnt a face you can spout whatever nonsense you like.

What happened to not criticising? Have fun not eating carrots or whatever ridiculous standards you prescribe for yourself.

> ccd, anything can be used in Krishnas service

No. Things that are obviously displeasing, that are condemned by your guru and acaryas can not be used. It has nothing to do with smarta standards, it has to do with the spirit and core of vaisnava dharma - do you wear a shiva tilaka and a long beard? For you this is "ridiculous standards" but for a sannyasi it is important to wear a proper formal dress and behave as a representative of SP and SBBST, not representative of Bauls.

Harmonium is used by Vaisnavas, it is a Vaisnava instrument and BVT used it. Prabhupada used it and allowed use of it. Guitar was not designed to show that all is one.

Unless you actually want to bypass the destination as the sahajias do or want to look like a gypsy

ccd, if Mahavishnu Swami played an Ektara in Bengal, you would have a point. He mostly visits places like Africa and Europe, where most people dont even know who the Bauls are. I can guarantee that nobody sees him on harinam and thinks that Hare Krishnas are Bauls.

It is quite likely that Maharaj can defend his position better than me, if he is aware of the origin of the ektara. If he isnt, perhaps you should let him know? On the other hand, you dont know the origin of his ektara, how he came to have it. Perhaps you should ask him. You dont know why he carried an ektara, I dont either, because I never asked him.

Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur (who was rarely addressed by his initials) said that one should preach according to time place and circumstance. You know as well as (probably better than) I do, that Bhaktisiddhanta made many decision in the aims of preaching that compromised more traditional standards. I remember hearing a story of Bhaktivinoda Thakur in which a British politician of some kind was visiting a temple, and Bhaktivinoda Thankur had it arranged to bring meat to him, because thats what he asked for. Why? Because he had the opportunity to talk to him about Krishna consciousness.

So if Mahavishnu Swami was playing an ektara, he had good reason. If you dont understand this, which is reasonable, contact him and ask him, dont just post snide remarks on a message board.

One devotee is playing an instrument associated with mayavadis, another is criticising behind his back without even asking the other about it.

Also,Ccd ur own spiritual master Satsvarupa Goswami listens to Jazz music and American football. I doubt u would publicly label that as laughable.

Be careful with the snide remarks,spending so much time and engaging like u do on these forums may not be healthy for u and spiritual life. Internet fast!

Ysvt.

Jazz music and American football is cool ;-) but we can not look like Bauls -- I am quite sure about it -- we should not present ourselves as hippies or gypsies too. I think I will put up a proposal to Gbc on the external appearance of a sannyasi in public. Nobody is against a particular kind of culture or cultural expression, it is just that in public we need to represent Prabhupada (if he plays duatara or J. S. Bach or jazz in private I have no objection). You just like the guy because you travel with him Nrsinha-dave.

I think you should address him directly and politely. I dont have Mahavishnu Swamis email but you can find it real easy, and he will respond in time Im sure.

You should do it and post the response (as well as the email you sent).

EDIT:
mailbox@mahavishnuswami.com

www.mahavishnuswami.com

There.And shame on you for making implications about Maharajs hats.

And I REALLY dont think anyone thinks we are bauls.

> implications about Maharajs hats.

Now you are imagining... what hats?

It is not polite (even if you are polite) to suggest to a senior how to behave himself/herself. It is also more effective and is better to address relevant authority who is senior to a particular devotee. MVS has many senior godbrothers and Sannyasa Ministry who can deal with it if they feel right.

[quote][cite] ccd:[/cite]It is not polite (even if you are polite) to suggest to a senior how to behave himself/herself.[/quote]

We can agree there.

Really There nothing cool about it,at least for the common person it is symtomatic of lack of taste for Nam-sankirtan et bhajan. MVS the guy u refer to is KC in that respect with,despite perceived faults,pretty good effulgent taste in Holy Name and tight morning program etc so has no need for those asangic leasurely very mundane distractions. It seems SDG is bad example and bad influence in that way as in his position as Guru and sanyassa. Is it?
A wise man of descerning taste does not delight in the sources of misery. He is full in his self atmaram. He has no need or attraction. That is the ideal. That is sannyasa. I would be concerned.
Ysvt.

[quote][cite] Nrsingha:[/cite] It seems SDG is bad example and bad influence in that way as in his position as Guru and sanyassa. Is it?

Ysvt.[/quote]

Only spot on bright moon,but spot none the less imho.
Ysvt.