Standard
Songs Used in the Hare Krishna Temples
Obeisances to Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
(Said upon entering
the temple room by his disciples, and sung during many arati ceremonies.)
nama om vishnu-padaya
krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
shrimate bhaktivedanta-
svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve
gaura-vani-pracharine
nirvishesha-shunyavadi-
pashcatya-desha-tarine
Translation
I offer my respectful obeisances unto
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord
Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
Our respectful obeisances are unto
you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvati Gosvami. You are kindly preaching the message
of Lord Chaitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled
with impersonalism and voidism.
Sri Sri Gurvashtaka
(Glories of the Spiritual Master, sung for early morning mangala arati,
by Srila Vishvanatha
Chakravarti Thakura)
(1)
samsara-davanala-lidha-loka
tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya
vande guroh
shri-charanaravindam
(2)
mahaprabhoh kirtana-nritya-gita-
vaditra-madyan-manaso rasena
romancha-kampashru-taranga-bhajo
vande guroh
shri-charanaravindam
(3)
shri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana-
shringara-tan-mandira-marjanadau
yuktasya bhaktamsh cha niyunjato 'pi
vande guroh
shri-charanaravindam
(4)
chatur-vidha-shri-bhagavat-prasada-
svadv-anna-triptan hari-bhakta-sanghan
kritvaiva triptim bhajatah sadaiva
vande guroh
shri-charanaravindam
(5)
shri-radhika-madhavayor apara-
madhurya-lila-guna-rupa-namnam
prati-kshanasvadana-lolupasya
vande guroh
shri-charanaravindam
(6)
nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai
ya yalibhir yuktir apekshaniya
tatrati-dakshyad ati-vallabhasya
vande guroh
shri-charanaravindam
(7)
sakshad-dharitvena samasta-shastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh
shri-charanaravindam
(8)
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yashas tri-sandhyam
vande guroh shri-charanaravindam
(9)
srimad-guror ashtakam etad uccair
brahme muhurte pathati prayatnat
yas tena vrindavana-natha-sakshat-
sevaiva labhya janusha 'nta eva
Translation
(1) The spiritual master is receiving
benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest
fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted
world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my
respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an
ocean of auspicious qualities.
(2) Chanting the holy name, dancing
in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is
always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes
his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his
eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a
spiritual master.
(3) The spiritual master is always
engaged in the temple worship of Shri Shri Radha and Krishna. He also engages
his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and
ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I
offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
(4) The spiritual master is always
offering Krishna four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked,
chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are
satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful
obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
(5) The spiritual master is always
eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Radhika and
Madhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to
relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus
feet of such a spiritual master.
(6) The spiritual master is very
dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopis, who at different times make
different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Radha and Krishna's
conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrindavana. I offer my respectful
obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
(7) The spiritual master is to be
honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential
servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and
followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my humble obeisances unto the
lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Shri
Hari [Krishna].
(8) By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krishna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my a spiritual master.
(9) That person who very attentively recites this ashtakam to Sri Gurudeva
during the brahma muhurta is sure to achieve direct service to the lotus
feet of Sri Krishna, the very life and soul of Vrindavana (Vrindavana-natha),
upon attaining his vastu-siddhi, or pure spiritual form.
Additional
Prayers Sung During Mangala Arati
The
Pancha-Tattva Maha Mantra
(Jaya) shri-krishna-caitanya
prabhu nityananda
shri-advaita gadadhara
shrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda
I offer my obeisances unto the
Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, along with His associates, Lord
Nityananda, Shri Advaita Acharya, Gadadhara, Shrivasa and all the devotees of
the Lord. (This mantra is very important and is known as the Pancha-tattva Maha-mantra.
In order to derive the full benefit of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, we
must first take shelter of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, learn the Pancha-tattva
mantra, and then chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. That will be very
effective. So this mantra is sung in most kirtanas before singing Hare Krishna,
as well as before chanting japa.)
The Hare
Krishna Maha-mantra
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Translation
"Oh Lord Krishna, Oh energy of the Lord, please engage me in Your devotional service." (This is a simple call to the Lord and His energies. It should be chanted exactly like a small child crying for it's mother. The transcendental sound vibration of this mantra is the essence of all the Vedas and non-different from Lord Krishna personally. In the temples, this mantra is sung during some portion of almost all kirtanas.)
Prema-Dhvani or Pranam Prayers
(Someone says these prayers after the arati, while everyone joins in with the "Jaya" at the end of each line. This is a very basic rendition, while additional lines and obeisances to other personalities and holy places can be said as well.)
1. Jaya-nitya-lila-pravishta om Vishnu-pada paramahamsa parivrajakacharya ashtottara-shata Shri Srimad His Divine Grace Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja Prabhupada ki jaya.
2. Jaya om Vishnu-pada paramahamsa parivrajakacharya ashtottara-shata Shri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja Prabhupada ki jaya.
3. Ananta-kotivaishnava-vrinda ki jaya.
4. Namacharya Haridasa Thakura ki jaya
5. Iskcon founder acharya Srila Prabhupada ki jaya.
6. Premse kaho Shri-Krishna-Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, jaya Advaita, Gadadhara, Shrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda ki jaya.
7. Shri-Shri-Radha-Krishna Gopa-Gopinatha, Shyama Kund, Radha Kund, Girigovardhana ki jaya.
8. Vrindavana-dhama ki jaya.
9. Mathura-dhama ki jaya.
10. Navadvipa-dhama ki jaya.
11. Jagannatha-puri dhama ki jaya.
12. Ganga-mayi ki jaya
13. Yamuna-mayi ki jaya.
14. Tulasi-devi ki jaya.
15. Bhakti-devi ki jaya.
16. Sankirtana-yajna ki jaya.
17. Brihad-mridanga ki jaya.
18. Samaveta-bhakta-vrinda ki jaya.
19. Gaura-premananda Hari Hari bol,
20. All glories to the assembled devotees. (Hare Krishna) All glories to the assembled devotees. (Hare Krishna) All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.
Shri Nrisimha Pranam
(Obeisances to Lord
Nrisimha, sung at the end of arati)
namas te narasimhaya
prahladahlada-dayine
hiranyakashipor vakshah-
shila-tanka-nakhalaye
ito nrisimhah parato nrisimho
yato yato yami tato nrisimhah
bahir nrisimho hridaye nrisimho
nrisimham adim
sharanam prapadye
tave kara-kamala-vare nakham
adbhuta-shringam
dalita-hiranyakashipu-tanu-bhrigam
keshava-dhrita-narahari-rupa
jaya jagadisha hare
Translation
I offer my obeisances to Lord
Narasimha, who gives joy to Prahlada Maharaja and whose nails are like chisels
on the stonelike chest of the demon Hiranyakashipu.
Lord Nrisimha is here and also there.
Wherever I go Lord Nrisimha is there. He is in the heart and is outside as well.
I surrender to Lord Nrisimha, the origin of all things and the supreme refuge.
O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O
Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of half-man, half-lion! All glories to You!
Just as one can easily crush a wasp between one's fingernails, so in the same
way the body of the wasp-like demon, Hiranyakashipu, has been ripped apart by
the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands. (This verse is from
Shri Dasavatara-stotra, the Gita-govinda, written by Jayadeva Gosvami.)
Tulasi-arati
Kirtana
vrindayai tulasi-devyai
priyayai keshavasya cha
vishnu-bhakti-prade devi
satyavatyai namo
namaha
Translation
(The first mantra is offering of
obeisances to Shrimati Tulasi Devi. Srila Prabhupada explains that the Tulasi
tree is a pure devotee of Krishna in the body of a plant. Worship of the Tulasi
plant is very important in devotional service.) "I offer my repeated
obeisances unto Vrinda, Shrimati Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to Lord Keshava.
O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Krishna and possess the highest
truth."
namo namah tulasi krishna-preyasi namo namaha
radha-krishna-seva pabo ei abhilashi
ye tomara sharana loy, tara vancha purna hoy
kripa kori' koro tare brindavana-basi
mor ei abhilash bilas kunje dio vas
nayane heribo sada jugala-rupa-rashi
ei nivedana dharo sakhir anugata koro
seva-adhikara diye koro nija dasi
dina krishna-dase koy ei jena mora hoy
shri-radha-govinda-preme sada jena
bhasi
Translation
O Tulasi, beloved of Krishna, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to obtain the service of Shri Shri Radha-Krishna.
Whoever takes shelter of you has his
wishes fulfilled. Bestowing your mercy on him, you make him a resident of
Vrindavana.
My desire is that you will also grant
me a residence in the pleasure groves of Shri Vrindavana-dhama. Thus, within my
vision I will always behold the beautiful pastimes of Radha and Krishna.
I beg you to make me a follower of
the cowherd damsels of Vraja. Please give me the privilege of devotional service
and make me your own maidservant.
This very fallen and lowly servant of
Krishna prays, "May I always swim in the love of Shri Radha and Govinda."
Devotees
circumambulate the Tulasi plant while singing the following prayer:
yani kani cha papani
brahma-hatyadikani cha
tani tani pranashyanti
pradakshina pade pade
"By the circumambulation of Shrimati Tulasi Devi all the sins that one may have committed are destroyed at every step, even the sin of killing a brahman."
The Ten Offenses in Chanting the Holy Names
(The general order of prayers in many temples is that after the Tulasi puja, the ten offenses in Chanting Hare Krishna japa are recited, usually together with whoever is at the morning program.)
1. To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives to the propagation
of the holy names of the Lord.
2. To consider the names of the demigods like lord Shiva or lord Brahma to be equal to, or independent of, the name of Lord Vishnu.
3. To disobey the orders of the spiritual master.
4. To blaspheme the Vedic literature or literature in pursuance of the Vedic version.
5. To consider the glories of chanting Hare Krishna as imagination.
6. To give mundane interpretation of the holy name of the Lord.
7. To commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting the holy names of the Lord.
8. To consider the chanting of Hare Krishna as one of the auspicious, ritualistic activities which are offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities (karma-kanda).
9. To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name.
10. To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy names and to maintain material attachments even after understanding so many instructions on this matter. It is also offensive to be inattentive while chanting.
Anyone who claims to be a Vaishnava must carefully guard against these ten offenses in order to quickly achieve the desired success, Krishna Prema!
Now let us offer are respectful obeisances unto all the Vaishnavas, devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.
Shri Vaishnava Pranam
(Obeisances to fellow
devotees often said after the early aratis and before doing japa)
vancha-kalpatarubhyash cha
kripa-sindubhya eva cha
patitanam pavanabhyo
vaishnavebhyo namo
namaha
Translation
I offer my respectful obeisances unto
all the Vaishnavas, devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees who
can fulfill the desires of everyone and they are full of compassion for the
fallen conditioned souls.
Sri Sri Shikshashtaka
by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not do
much writing, but was widely renowned as a scholar in His youth. Nonetheless, He
did leave these eight verses known as Sikshashtaka. These explain the essence of
His mission and the philosophy of devotional service to Lord Krishna. See the
article on Lord Caitanya to learn more about Him.
Two more songs/prayers follow that elaborate on the sacredness of the Lord's
holy names.
(1)
cheto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam
shreyah-kairava-chandrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam
anandambhdhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamritasvadanam
sarvatma-snapanam
param vijayate shri-krishna-sankirtanam
Glory to the Shri Krishna sankirtana
(congregational chanting of the Lord's holy names), which cleanses the heart of
all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional
life, of repeated birth and death. That sankirtana movement is the prime
benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction
moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of
transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we
are always anxious.
(2)
namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-shaktis
tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalaha
etadrishi tava kripa bhagavan mamapi
durdaivam idrisham
ihajani nanuragahah
O my Lord, Your holy name alone can
render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions
of names, like Krishna and Govinda. In these transcendental names, you have
invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast
rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to
easily approach you by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no
attraction for them.
(3)
trinad api sunicena
taror api sahishnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harihi
One should chant the holy name of the
Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the
street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false
prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of
mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.
(4)
na dhanam na janam na sundarim
kavitam va jagad-isha kamaye
mama janmani janmanishvare
bhavatad bhaktir
ahaituki tvayi
O almighty Lord, I have no desire to
accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of
followers. I only want your causeless devotional service, birth after birth.
(5)
ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram
patitam mam vishame bhavambudhau
kripaya tava pada-pankaja-
sthita-dhuli-sadrisham
vichintaya
O son of Maharaja Nanda [Krishna], I
am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of
birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one
of the atoms at Your lotus feet.
(6)
nayanam galad-ashru-dharaya
vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira
pulakair nichitam vapuh kada
tava nama-grahane
bhavishyati
O my Lord, when will my eyes be
decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I chant Your holy name?
When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs of my body stand on end at
the recitation of Your name?
(7)
yugayitam nimeshena
chakshusha pravrishayitam
shunyayitam jagat sarvam
govinda-virahena me
O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I
am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from
my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your
absence.
(8)
ashlishya va pada-ratam pinashtu mam
adarshanan marma-hatam karotu va
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
mat-prana-nathas tu sa
eva naparaha
I know no one but Krishna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.
Jaya Radha-Madhava
(Sung before morning
class, written by Shrila Bhaktinoda Thakura)
jaya radha-madhava kunja-bihari
gopi-jana-vallabha giri-vara-dhari
yashoda-nandana braja-jana-ranjana
jamuna-tira-vana-chari
Translation
Krishna is the lover of Radha. He displays many amorous pastimes in the groves of Vrindavana, He is the lover of the cowherd maidens of Vraja, the holder of the great hill named Govardhana, the beloved son of Mother Yashoda, the delighter of the inhabitants of Vraja, and He wanders in the forests along the banks of the River Yamuna.
(Srila Prabhupada was very fond of
this song and sang it just before his lectures. In Allahabad and Gorakhpur,
Srila Prabhupada fell into a trance after singing the first two lines, and after
some time he came back into external consciousness and said: "Now just
chant Hare Krishna." Srila Prabhupada said that this song is "a
picture of Vrindavana. Everything is there--Shrimati Radharani, Vrindavana,
Govardhana, Yashoda, and all the cowherd boys.")
Sri Guru-vandana
(Sung during Guru-puja,
worship of the spiritual master, by Shrila Narottama dasa Thakura)
(1)
shri-guru-charana-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma
bando mui savadhana mate
jahara prasade bhai, e bhava toriya jai,
krishna-prapti hoy
jaha ha'te
(2)
guru-mukha-padma-vakya, chittete koriya aikya
ar na koriho mane asha
shri-guru-charane rati, ei se uttama-gati
je prasade pure sarva
asha
(3)
chakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei
divya-jnan hride prokashito
prema-bhakti jaha hoite, avidya vinasha jate
vede gay jahara
charito
(4)
shri-guru karuna-sindhu, adhama janara bandhu
lokanath lokera jivana
ha ha prabhu koro doya, deho more pada-chaya
ebe jasha ghushuk
tribhavana
jaya jaya prabhupada!
jaya jaya gurudeva!
Translation
(1) The lotus feet of our spiritual
master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to
his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the
ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Krishna.
(2) My only wish is to have my
consciousness purified by the words emanating from his lotus mouth. Attachment
to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires.
(3) He opens my darkened eyes and
fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth.
From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic
scriptures sing of his character.
(4) Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds. We take shelter of your lotus feet. You are the friend of the most fallen.
All glories to Srila
Prabhupada! All glories to Gurudeva!
From the Brahma-samhita
(Sung during the
greeting of the Deities)
venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksham
barhavatamsam asitambuda-sundarangam
kandarpa-koti-kamaniya-vishesha-shobham
govindam adi-purusham
tam aham bhajami
angani yasya sakalendriya-vittimanti
pasyanti panti kalayanti chiram jaganti
ananda-chin-maya-saduj-jvala-virgrahasya
govindam adi-purusham
tam aham bhajami
Sri Nama-Kirtana
(Another nice song sung anytime, but often after greeting the Deities,
by Shrila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura)
(1)
yashomati-nandana, braja-baro-nagara
gokula-ranjana kana
gopi-parana-dhana, madana-manohara
kaliya-damana-vidhana
(2)
amala harinam amiya-vilasa
vipina-purandara, navina nagara-bora
bamshi-badana suvasa
(3)
braja-jana-palana, asura-kula-nashana
nanda-godhana-rakhowala
govinda madhava, navanita-taskara
sundara nanda-gopala
(4)
jamuna-tata-chara, gopi-basana-hara
rasa-rasika kripamoya
shri-radha-vallabha, brindabana-natabara
bhakativinod-ashraya
Translation
(1) Lord Krishna is the beloved son
of mother Yashoda; the transcendental lover in the land of Vraja; the delight of
Gokula; Kana [a nickname of Krishna]; the wealth of the lives of the gopis. He
steals the mind of even Cupid and punishes the Kaliya serpent.
(2) These pure, holy names of Lord
Hari are full of sweet, nectarean pastimes. Krishna is the Lord of the twelve
forests of Vraja. He is ever-youthful and is the best of lovers. He is always
playing on a flute, and He is an excellent dresser.
(3) Krishna is the protector of the
inhabitants of Vraja; the destroyer of various demoniac dynasties; the keeper
and tender of Nanda Maharaja's cows; the giver of pleasure to the cows, land,
and spiritual senses; the husband of the goddess of fortune; the butter thief;
and the beautiful cowherd boy of Nanda Maharaja.
(4) Krishna wanders along the banks
of the River Yamuna. He stole the garments of the young damsels of Vraja who
were bathing there. He delights in the mellows of the rasa dance; He is very
merciful; the lover and beloved of Shrimati Radharani; the great dancer of
Vrindavana; and the shelter and only refuge of Thakura Bhaktivinoda.
Govinda Jaya Jaya
(Another nice song
that is often used)
govinda jaya jaya gopala jaya jaya
radha-ramana hari
govinda jaya jaya
Translation
All glories to Lord Govinda (the
giver of pleasure to the senses and cows) and Lord Gopala (the transcendental
Cowherd Boy). All glories to Radha-Ramana (another name of Krishna), Hari (Lord
Krishna who takes away the material attachments of the devotees) and Govinda.
Gaura-Arati
(The evening arati
song, by Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
(kiba) jaya jaya gorachander aratiko shobha
jahnavi-tata-vane
jaga-mana-lobha
(Refrain:) jaga-mana-lobha
gauranger arotik shobha
jaga-mana-lobha
dakhine nitaicand, bame gadadhara
nikate adwaita,
shrinivasa chatra-dhara
bosiyache gorachand ratna-simhasane
arati koren brahma-adi
devi-gane
narahari-adi kori' chamara dhulaya
sanjaya-mukunda-basu-ghosh-adi
gaya
shanka baje ghanta baje karatala
madhura mridanga baje
parama rasala
(Refrain:) madhur madhur madhur baje
shanka baje ghanta baje
madhur madhur madhur
baje
(kiba) bahu-koti chandra jini' vadana ujjvala
gala-deshe bana-mala
kore jhalamala
shiva-shuka-narada preme gada-gada
bhaktivinoda dekhe
gorara sampada
(Repeat first verse of
song)
Translation
All glories, all glories to the
beautiful arati ceremony of Lord Chaitanya. This Gaura-arati is taking place in
a grove on the banks of the Jahnavi [Ganges] and is attracting the minds of all
living entities in the universe.
On Lord Chaitanya's right side is
Lord Nityananda, and on His left side is Shri Gadadhara. Nearby stand Shri
Advaita, and Shrivasa Thakura is holding an umbrella over Lord Chaitanya's head.
Lord Chaitanya has sat down on a
jeweled throne, and the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, perform the arati
ceremony.
Narahari Sarakara and other
associates of Lord Chaitanya fan Him with chamaras, and devotees headed by
Sanjaya Pandita, Mukunda Datta, and Vasu Ghosha sing sweet kirtana.
Conchshells, bells, and karatalas
resound, and the mridangas play very sweetly. This kirtana music is supremely
sweet and relishable to hear.
The brilliance of Lord Chaitanya's
face conquers millions upon millions of moons, and the garland of forest flowers
around His neck shines.
Lord Shiva, Sukadeva Gosvami, and
Narada Muni are all there, and their voices are choked with the ecstasy of
transcendental love. Thus Thakura Bhaktivinoda envisions the glory of Lord Shri
Chaitanya.
Prasada-sevaya
(Sung before honoring
the Lord's prasada--from Gitavali)
Sharira abidya-jal, jodendriya tahe kal,
jiva phele vishaya-sagore
ta'ra madhye jihwa ati, lobhamoy sudurmati,
ta'ke jeta kathina
samsare
krishna baro doyamoy, koribare jihwa jay,
swa-prasad-anna dilo bhai
sei annamrita pao, radha-krishna-guna gao,
preme dako
chaitanya-nitai
1. This material body is a network of
ignorance, and the senses are one's deadly enemies, for they throw the soul into
this ocean of material sense enjoyment. Among those senses the tongue is the
most voracious and uncontrollable; it is very difficult to conquer the tongue in
this world.
2. Lord Krishna is very merciful and has given us the remnants of His own food just to control the tongue. Now please accept that nectarean Krishna-prasada and sing the glories of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, and in love call out "Chaitanya Nitai!"
Glorification of the Lord's Prasada
(from the Mahabharata)
maha-prasade govinde
nama-brahmani-vaishnava
svalpa-punya-vatam rajan
vishvaso naiva jayate
"O King, for those who have amassed very few pious activities, their faith in maha-prasada, in Sri Govinda, in the Holy Name and in the Vaishnava is never born [again]."
[These prayers are available at www.stephen-knapp.com]
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