ON SINGING GAURA ARATI

»All glories, all glories to the beautiful arati ceremony
of Lord Gauracandra [Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu]!«

This song is chanted every evening (19:00 hrs) during the gaura-ārati-
ceremony. It is from Gītāvali from Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.

Original audio tune by Srila Prabhupada
Download MP3

On Singing Gaura Arati,
and changing the original teachings

From: Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami‎
To: Govinda Dasi – January 27

Govinda Dasi, PAMHO. AGTSP! U used to know me as Makhanlal das. I like telling the prabhus how u were the first to bring Tulsi Devi to the West. U are one of the only devotees who can answer this question: Didn’t Srila Prabhupada tell us he personally wrote the melody for Gaura Arati (Kiba Jaya) that he taught us in 1969? We all chanted it until Acyutananda in his infinite wisdom, changed it to the melody he learned in India. It is my intent to try to reintroduce it by GBC resolution. Don’t laugh. Many may support this as part of preserving Srila Prabhupada’s legacy. There are other things I wud like to discuss on your e address. Kindly send it to me at GGOSWAMI 108@GMAIL.COM. Thank u in an advance for your reply. YS, Govinda Goswami

Govinda Dasi: Dear Bhakti Madhuya Govinda Goswami PRabhu (is that correct?:)
Pamho, all glories to Srila Prabhupada! Of course I remember you Makhanlal, arent you Naranarayans brother? YEs, Srila Prabhupada first introduced the Gaura Arati mantra, and sang it, while we were living in Seattle WA. The first arati that he sang it at was in our little apartment, and Harsharani and Kartikeya were there, along with me on kartals, and Srila Prabhupada singing. Harsharani had just made lovely Deity clothes for Prabhuapda’s Radha Krishna Deities, and he wanted to begin the teaching o f how to do aratis. So he had Harsharani waving the items while he chanted and told us the meaning of the Gaura arati. I had a big UHER recorder at the time, and I am sure I recorded it. But I gave everything to the archives, you have to check with them. It would be in Seattle WA Sept of 1968. They probably have the recording in their files somewhere.

It’s great that you want to introduce the original teachings and songs back into the movement, but why not start with the original books, since the books are the most important thing that Srila Prabhupada came to this world to give. Just remind them that he often said “Krishna has written these books…” and remove the thousands of unnecessary changes that have been made to them posthumously. That would be the greatest service without a doubt.

At the time that Srila Prabhupada introduced the first arati, he also explained the meaning and the procedure. Yes it would be very nice if you could track that down, because now this new and so-called “Deity ministry” out of Australia has completely reversed the procedure he taught us, and has infected temples all over the world with this new type of worship—offering first to Krishna—whereas Srila Prabhupada stressed repeatedly that we must first offer through him, our Acharya, in order for Krishna to accept anything from us. He wrote this in letters, on conversation tapes, and taught us early pujaris this (i.e. Himavati, Arundhati, Vishvadevi, Yamuna, and others) very important feature—to always offer through the parampara, so that the offering will be accepted. Please research this and you will find it to be true.

However, when I brought this up to our Godsister Malati, (GBC) she wrote back that this is accepted by only some people , the younger set. When I wrote the head of this Deity ministry to request why this was being done, he replied that there was no “definitive” information about this “on the vedabase.” The veda base was begun much later, later than the original teachings given in person and in letters to the early disciples. It is as if the vedabase becomes the final factor, but the early letters and experiences of early disciples are completely discounted.

More recently, Nagapatni, our senior Godsister from LA, visited Russia and was invited to perform an arati ceremony. And she was told to first offer to Krishna and to Srila PRabhupada last! Naturally she was distressed by this switch-around and wrote me. So it appears as if this arati reversal is going on wide-spread throughout Iskcon, having been instituted by this Deity Ministry in Australia, which I believe was created or instituted partly by our Godbrother Gour Keshava Prabhu, who does more the type of worship that is done in Sri Rangam , Sri Sampradaya, style of worship. I find this very troubling because if we look at Srila Prabhupada’s statements on this, he says quite clearly that our offerings will not be accepted if we try to offer first to Krishna. We must offer first to Srila Prabhupada, he is our only entry way into the spiritual world.

Perhaps this was also changed by the GBC due to the fact that devotees were offereing first to their gurus, who were falling down repeatedly, so they changed it. But this teaching is so essential because it means that most of the Prasadam that is being offered in our Iskcon temples, if they are following this new process, will not be accepted by Krishna—if you actually take to heart Srila Prabhupada’s repeated instructions and warnings in this instance.  – And I do.

Steve Perry: Govinda Dasi ..there is evidence in the veda base that states by Srila Prabhupada just how our food stuffs should be offered…perhaps you can forward this to the Deity Ministry..

Srila Prabhupada… “Regarding offering food: The custom is to offer the foodstuff first to the Spiritual Master; we cannot do anything directly. The Spiritual Master accepts the offering on behalf of his disciple, and offers the same to Krishna. After Krishna’s eating, the Spiritual Master eats it, and then the devotees take it as Mahaprasada. This is the system. Everything is offered to the Spiritual Master first, with the prayer “Nama Om Visnupadaya . . .” ( Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Jadurani Feb. 15 1968)

Srila Prabhupada… “Regarding your 2 questions: For offering prasadam simply prayers to the Spiritual Master is sufficient. The process is that everything is offered to the Spiritual Master, and the Spiritual Master is supposed to offer the same foodstuff to the Lord. When a thing is offered to the Spiritual Master, he immediately offers to the Lord. That is the system, and as we come by parampara system, it is our duty to go through the right channel—namely, first the Spiritual Master, then Lord Caitanya, and then Krishna. So when we chant prayers, we do this, Bande ham Sri Guru . . . and gradually to the Goswamis, then to Lord Caitanya, and then to Radha Krishna. That is the praying system. But offering the prasadam to present everything before the Spiritual Master whose picture is also in the altar, means that the Spiritual Master will take care of offering the foodstuff to the Lord. Therefore simply by chanting the prayer to the Spiritual Master, everything will be complete.” (Letter to Harer Nama May 28 1968)

Keshiha Das: I am 100% agreement with you that everything in ISKCON should be done as it was originally instituted by Srila Prabhupada with his books, Deity Worship, dress code, kirtana melodies etc…With due respect to our Godbrother’s and Sister’s Srila Prabhupada is the Founder Acarya of ISKCON so it is a no brainer that things should be done to please him!

Thomas Wayne: Sadhu. Sadhu. Does anyone have documentation proof that Srila Prabhupada changed the Panca Tattva mantra from “Bhaja” Sri Krsna Chaitanya to “Jaya” Sri Krsna Chaitanya????

Bala Ram: it is findable with research : it relates to the bhaja nitai gaur radhe shyam ashram being nearby so Prabhupad changed it to Jaya to avoid this potential confusion coming in via “bhaja”

Thomas Wayne: Or is there any recording where Srila Prabhupada chants Jaya instead of Bhaja??

Ekanatha Dasa: Yes there is.

Bala Ram: it’s a bonafide change…also refer to the version in CC which uses Jaya as well, per Kaviraj Goswami

Thomas Wayne: There are 5-6 Panca Tattva Mahamantra’s in Cc. The standard Kirtan mantra that begins with “Bhaja” Sri Krsna Chaitanya… is reputed by research to have been introduced by Srila Jagannath Das Babaji, and used by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and Srila Bhaktissidhanta Saraswati Thakura. Ekanath prabhu will you give the link to hear Srila Prabhupada chant “Jaya”. Sometimes have heard just Sri Krishna Chaitanya with no prefix of Bhaja. Bala Ram prabhu please quote the “research” that documents, authorizes, and instructs our whole Krishna consciousness movement to drop “Bhaja” and use exclusively “Jaya”.

Ekanatha Dasa There are 22 hits of ‘bhaja śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya’, etc.

Lady devotee: When we sing bhaja śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya, we’re saying “Worship Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya”—we say bhaja, so…
Prabhupāda: Bhaja, yes. Bhaja means just be engaged in His service. That is… Worship automatically comes there. When you are engaged in service, the worshipment is already there.
Ref. VedaBase, Bhagavad-gītā 6.35–45, 690220BG-LOS ANGELES, Ref. VedaBase, 731217CH-LOS ANGELES, Chanting Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 10th and 11th Chapter

Ekanatha Dasa: Dravida prabhu may have the history on this change from ‘bhaja’ to ‘jaya’.

Thomas Wayne: Prabhu Ekanathji, thanks. The quote you provided is not in direct reference to the Panca Tattva Mahamantra that begins with “Bhaja ” and is chanted by Srila Prabhupada in all the Kirtan / Bhajan tapes.

Dasaratha Suta In an old printed issue of Vaisnava Journal is a passionate essay by Harikesa, who was Prabhupada’s secretary at the time, how Prabhupada changed “Bhaja Sri Krsna Caitanya” to “Jaya.” Yes it was done in Vrindavan to differentiate us from the Bhaja Nitai Gaura Radhe Syama temple directly next door. But whether he meant it to be changed all over the world needs to be ascertained. We do have numerous recordings of him chanting Bhaja.

Bhayahari Das Collen: I support it as it is a very very divine tune.

»This Gaura-arati is taking place in a grove on the banks of the Jahnavi
(Gaṅgā river) and is attracting the minds of all living entities in the universe.«

Gaura-ārati
(Song for the glorification of Śrī Caitanyas)

(1)
(kiba) jaya jaya gorācānder āratiko śobhā
jāhnavī-taṭa-vane jaga-mana-lobhā

(Refrain 1)
(gaurāńger ārotik śobhā jaga-janer-mana-lobhā)

(2)
dakhiṇe nitāicānd, bāme gadādhara
nikaṭe adwaita, śrīnivāsa chatra-dhara

(3)
bosiyāche gorācānd ratna-siṁhāsane
ārati koren brahmā-ādi deva-gaṇe

(4)
narahari-ādi kori’ cāmara dhulāya
sañjaya-mukunda-bāsu-ghoṣ-ādi gāya

(5)
śaṅkha bāje ghaṇṭā bāje bāje karatāla
madhura mṛdaṅga bāje parama rasāla

(Refrain 2)
(śankha bāje ghaṇṭā bāje madhur madhur madhur bāje)

(6)
bahu-koṭi candra jini’ vadana ujjvala
gala-deśe bana-mālā kore jhalamala

(7)
śiva-śuka-nārada preme gada-gada
bhakativinoda dekhe gorāra sampada

Translation:

1) All glories, all glories to the beautiful arati ceremony of Lord Caitanya. 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.

(Refrain 1): The splendor of Lord Gauranga’s (Caitanya) arati attracts the minds of all living entities of the universe!

2) On Lord Caitanya’s right side is Lord Nityananda and on His left is Sri Gadadhara. Nearby stands Sri Advaita, and Srivasa Thakura is holding an umbrella over Lord Caitanya’s head.

3) Lord Caitanya has sat down on a jeweled throne, and the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, perform the arati ceremony

4) Narahari Sarakara and other associates of Lord Caitanya fan Him with camaras, and devotees headed by Sanjaya Pandita, Mukunda Datta, and Vasu Ghosa sing sweet kirtana.

5) Conchshells, bells, and karatalas resound, and the mrdangas play very sweetly. This kirtana music is supremely sweet and relish able to hear.

(Refrain 2): Conchshells resound! bell resound! Sweetness, sweetness, and sweetness resounds!

6) The brilliance of Lord Caitanya’s face conquers millions upon millions of moons, and the garland of forest flowers around His neck shines.

7) Lord Siva, 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 Sri Caitanya.