Is it neccessary to chant the Pancha Tattva mantra before each round?
Sadhana · asked by user [] · 2007-10-21 · 9 answers
My understanding is that chanting the Pancha Tattva mantra before each round asks for assistance to avoid offences to the Holy Name but recently it was pointed out to me by a Prabhupada disciple that Srila Prabhupada never did this (you dont hear it on any japa recording either)...anyone know the history?
user [2] · 2007-10-21
i am likewise puzzled ...user [38] · 2007-10-21
"Actually, however, one should chant the names of the full Pa'efca-tattva ('e7r'e9-k'e5'f1'eba-caitanya prabhu-nity'e4nanda 'e7r'e9-advaita gad'e4dhara 'e7r'e9v'e4s'e4di-gaura-bhakta-v'e5nda) and then the sixteen words Hare K'e5'f1'eba, Hare K'e5'f1'eba, K'e5'f1'eba K'e5'f1'eba, Hare Hare Hare R'e4ma, Hare R'e4ma, R'e4ma R'e4ma, Hare Hare, ... " (from CC 1.7.4p.). Prabhupada doesnt say before each round though.
More in Namamrta 3.12.
user [154] · 2007-10-21
When asked in Chicago, July 4 1974 Prabhupada said it was his instruction for Kirtan only.user [13] · 2007-10-21
The "before each round" thing is a good idea that someone thought up. It wasnt taught or demonstrated by Srila Prabhupada, nor was it / is it standard ISKCON practice.The only support for it is a logical argument and perhaps someones personal realization. When I queried my Guru Maharaja about it he said: "I prefer to keep things simple and just follow what Prabhupada gave us. He didnt tell us to do that."
user [33] · 2007-10-21
Thanks to all for the quotes on this topic. I have been told by several people that I was wrong in the way I showed someone how to chant and that Prabhupada "said" to chant the Pancha Tattva before each round.Apparently, this has been going on for years now and I agree that we need to just keep things simple and do as Prabhupada instructed.
Hare Krishna!
user [201] · 2007-10-21
I am curious about this too, and am thankful that someone posted this question.My understanding is that one should chant Panca-Tattva at the start of each japa session but not necessarily between rounds (unless one chants just one round at a time).
Not 100% sure if this is "right"-- but I have a hard time seeing why thered be anything wrong with it. After all, doesnt Prabhupada say that there are no hard and fast rules for chanting japa?
Alas, I know very little.
user [154] · 2007-10-22
[quote][cite] bhaktin elisabeth:[/cite]Not 100% sure if this is "right"-- but I have a hard time seeing why thered be anything wrong with it. After all, doesnt Prabhupada say that there are no hard and fast rules for chanting japa?
Alas, I know very little.[/quote]
If you just follow the example of how Prabhupada himself introduced it - just Hare Krishna mantra. See also reference above to that same question answered by him.
user [166] · 2007-10-22
[quote][cite] bhaktin elisabeth:[/cite]After all, doesnt Prabhupada say that there are no hard and fast rules for chanting japa? [/quote]
There are certainly solid guidelines for chanting Japa and offenses to be avoided (inattention is an important one)...but having said that I dont see any harm in chanting the Pancha Tattva mantra before each round...after all we do this in kirtan...any thoughts from the pandits?
user [19] · 2007-10-22
Jayadvaita Swami explains this here:http://library108.com/media-library/download.php?HH-Jayadvaita-Swami/Seminars/Kirtan_Reform_Seminar_mar-2004/JAS_Sem_Kirtan-Reform-part1_mar-2004_Mayapur.mp3
http://library108.com/media-library/download.php?HH-Jayadvaita-Swami/Seminars/Kirtan_Reform_Seminar_mar-2004/JAS_Sem_Kirtan-Reform-part2_mar-2004_Mayapur.mp3
http://library108.com/media-library/download.php?HH-Jayadvaita-Swami/Seminars/Kirtan_Reform_Seminar_mar-2004/JAS_Sem_Kirtan-Reform-part3_mar-2004_Mayapur.mp3