Shrila Prabhupada and Practical Instruction to Chant Gauranga Mantra

Why did Shrila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and other Acharyas not practically instruct his disciples to chant the Gauranga Mantra?

(1) Answer by Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada
(2) Answer by Hadai Nityananda dasa
(3) NG Naama Quotes by Shrila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
(4) Those who chant Gauranga and Hare Krishna are on the same level
(5) Gauranga Mantra and Pancha Tattva Mantra


(1) Answer by Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:

We can understand that he must have done so because that was desire and instruction of Lord Nityananda for him at that time and situation. Even though all the Acharyas knew the great importance of the Gauranga Mantra in Kali Yuga, Lord Nityananda wanted it to be revealed later at the right time which He chooses and Shrila Prabhupada and the previous Acharyas knew that. So even though they themselves chanted the Gauranga Mantra, the Acharyas did not practically tell their disciples to chant the Gauranga Mantra directly even though they recommended it in their books because the time was not right to practically implement it because Lord Nityananda wanted the regular chanting of the Gauranga Mantra to be introduced later. And that time has now come because Lord Nityananda has inspired its revelation now. It is quite inconceivable to understand how and when Lord Nityananda wants the Holy Name of Lord Gauranga to be taught and spread even by His intimate associates like Shrila Swami Prabhupada and the previous Acharyas. Lord Nityananda desired that they should clearly describe and reveal the four-syllable Gauranga Mantra in Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita and leave it so that it will be very easy for the future devotees to understand this confidential teaching and then implement and spread the chanting of the Gauranga Mantra in their day-to-day Naama Bhajana in addition to the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. One of the reasons for this is because the Gauranga Mantra is very hidden and confidential and is not easily revealed even in this Kali Yuga when Lord Gauranga came personally.

The teachings in the holy books of Shrila Swami Prabhupada are also direct instructions to devotees. I would say that Shrila Swami Prabhupada did directly tell his followers to chant the Gauranga Mantra along with the Hare Krishna Mantra when he stated in Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya-lila 2.31 purport that Gauranga Mantra and Hare Krishna Mantra are on the same level. He has not compared any other Mantra with the Hare Krishna Mantra in this way and not given prominence to any other Mantra in this way like he did for the Gauranga Mantra by stating that the Gauranga Mantra is equal to the Hare Krishna Mantra. When a Mantra is as equally important as the Hare Krishna Mantra, one would be expected to chant the Mantra at least sometimes daily along with the Hare Krishna Mantra. And one would expect the followers of Shrila Swami Prabhupada to be respectful to those who chant the Gauranga Mantra along with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra due to these instructions of Shrila Swami Prabhupada.

If the Gauranga Mantra was never chanted or if Shrila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada never wanted it to be chanted, why would he have used the words "One who CHANTS the Gauranga Mantra..." It means that Shrila Swami Prabhupada does accept that some devotees chanted or are chanting or will chant the Gauranga Mantra and they should be respected to be on the same level as those devotees who chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, what to speak of giving equal respect to devotees who chant both daily. Most of our Gaudiya Acharyas have two spiritual forms in Krishna's and Gaura's Pastimes respectively so they chant the Hare Krishna Mantra in Krishna's Pastimes and Gauranga Mantra in Gaura's Pastimes to worship those respective Forms of the Lord in Their respective Abodes.

There is proof that Shrila Prabhupada himself chanted the Gauranga Mantra even though he may not have directly instructed his disciples to do so. Shrutakirti dasa prabhu came to the Bhaktivedanta Manor UK to give a class on his memories of Shrila Prabhupada for the Birmingham University of 30 devotee students, as he was Shrila Prabhupada's personal servant for a year and had the opportunity to directly see his personal bhajana. When he was asked whether he had ever heard Shrila Prabhupada chanting the Pancha Tattva Mantra before each round of Hare Krishna Japa, he said no. However, he had directly heard Shrila Prabhupada spontaneously chant or shout "Gauraanga" during his japa often. (Submitted by a devotee)


(2) Answer by Hadai Nityananda dasa:

Once Srila Prabhupada was asked by one of his disciples how they would receive instruction from him after his departure. His famous answer: "Everything is there in my books".  You have to understand the time and circumstances when Srila Prabhupada started his journey. The West was at that time in deep darkness devoid of any knowledge about Krishna. Srila Prabhupada's primary mission was first and foremost to establish Lord Sri Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In order to understand Lord Gauranga we have to know who Lord Sri Krishna is, and who Radharani is. That is exactly what Srila Prabhupada has done as no one has ever done before him. Everything comes in waves. The six Gosvamis have elaborately described the glories of Vrindavan dhama and humanity had to wait for another few hundred years to hear about the supreme glories of Navadvip dhama from the lotus lips of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura. Hundred years later the supreme glories of Purushottama dhama (modern Jagannatha Puri) were broadcasted through the lotus lips of Shrila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja and Shrila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami. The glories of these holy dhamas are of course existing for all of eternity but are, in material time, progressively revealed in waves. On a larger scale we see also the different Yuga dharmas. So in this material time of past present and future, different aspects and methods of self-realization are revealed at different times. When Srila Prabhupada came to the West Krishna consciousness was established in an area of the world were practically nobody knew about Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada didn't institutionalize the chanting of the mantrarajas. However he has given the instruction in his books. Why? Lord Gauranga is a hidden incarnation and is recognized by His devotees who will accept His holy Names without a second thought. Srila Prabhupada didn't reveal this secret plainly to everybody in an institutionalized form but it is very clear to bhaktas who study his books very carefully. Do you see the correlation between the hidden incarnation of Lord Chaitanya and the hidden instruction of His holy Name in Srila Prabhupada's books? How confidential this information is we can see even nowadays. Although Srila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada Maharaja accentuates these very confidential secrets they are still not embraced by all devotees as you describe in your letter.


(3) NG Naama Quotes by Shrila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Shrila Prabhupada in Cc Antya-lila 2.31 purport: �Worshipers of Shri Gaurasundara accept the four syllables gau-ra-an-ga as the Gaura mantra, but pure worshipers of Radha and Krishna accept the four syllables ra-dha krs-na as the Gaura-gopala mantra. However, Vaishnavas consider Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu nondifferent from Radha-Krishna (shri-krishna-chaitanya radha-krishna nahe anya). Therefore one who chants the mantra �gauranga� and one who chants the names of Radha and Krishna are on the same level.�

(Shrila Prabhupada in Cc Adi 8.31 purp)�A neophyte student who is not sufficiently educated or enlightened should not indulge in the worship of Shri Radha and Krishna or the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. Even if he does so, he cannot get the desired result. One should therefore chant the names of Nitai-Gaura and worship Them without false prestige. In the beginning one should *** very regularly *** chant Shri Gaurasundara�s holy name and then chant the holy name of Lord Nityananda. Thus one's heart will be cleansed of impure desires for material enjoyment. Then one can approach Vrndavana-dhama to worship Lord Krishna."

Prabhupada: �Now, what is the difference, Nitai-Gauranga and Hare Krishna? Nitai-Gauranga and Hare Krishna, there is no difference. Nitai-Gauranga is also nice. Whatever he finds convenient, let him chant.� (Shrila Prabhupada's Room Conversation with Yoga Student specifically regarding Japa, March 14, 1975, Iran)

�It is very beneficial to chant the names shri-krishna-chaitanya prabhu-nityananda before chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra because by chanting these two holy names -shri-krishna-chaitanya prabhu-nityananda-one immediately becomes ecstatic, and if he then chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra he becomes free of offenses.� (SP in Cc Adi 8.24 purport)

Shrila Prabhupada in Cc Adi-lila 8.31 purport: �It should be noted in this connection that the holy names of Lord Krishna and Gaurasundara are both identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore one should not consider one name to be more potent than the other. Considering the position of the people of this age, however, the *** chanting *** of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu�s name is *** more essential *** than the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra because Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the most magnanimous incarnation and His mercy is very easily achieved.�

On board the ship Jaladuta, September 13, 1965, Verse 3, by Shrila Prabhupada: �By his (my Guru Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada�s) strong desire, THE HOLY NAME OF GAURANGA will first spread throughout all the countries of the Western world. Then in all the cities, towns, and villages on the earth, from all the oceans, seas, rivers, and streams, everyone will chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.�

Shrila Prabhupada�s Letter to: Niranjana, Brooklyn, 21 May, 1973: �You mention that they have not even heard of Lord Gauranga. So that is their misfortune, and our misfortune also. _________________ in India, they could not preach Lord Gauranga�s name all over India.�

Shrila Prabhupada in Cc Madhya 24.330: �The spiritual master has to select a mantra for his disciple according to the disciple�s ability to chant different mantras.�

Shrila Prabhupada�s Letter to: Shachimata, Bombay, 8 December, 1974: �It is the advice of Narottama das Thakura to chant the holy name of Gauranga either if one remains at home or in the forest. Similarly, do not forget the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra either you live in the temple or at home.�

Shrila Prabhupada in Shrimad-Bhagavatam Lecture 2.1.2, Vrndavana, March 17, 1974: �Then you become gosvami. Then, as Narottama dasa Thakura says, grhe va banete thake ha gauranga bole dake. Ha gauranga, �Always chanting Nitai-Gaura, and thinking of Nitai-Gaura,� such person, Narottama dasa Thakura says... Grhe va... �He may be a sannyasi, or he may be a grhastha. It doesn't matter. Because he is absorbed in the thought of Nitai-Gaura.� So narottama mage tanra sanga: �Narottama is always desiring to associate with such person.��

Shrila Prabhupada in Shri Chaitanya-charitamrita class, Adi-lila 7.4, Mayapur, March 4, 1974: �Narottama dasa Thakura is aspiring for the day when Nityananda Prabhu will be pleased upon him. Just like Jagai-Madhai was delivered by the mercy of Shri Nityananda Prabhu, so we have to pray Nityananda Prabhu. He's very merciful. He's so kind, Baladeva, He gives spiritual strength. Then we can approach the Supreme Lord. Therefore we chant �Nitai-Gaura.� This is the process. We cannot change this policy.�

Shrila Prabhupada in Krishna Book Chp 20, Description of Autumn: �Shrila Narottama dasa Thakura prays that he will have the association of a person-either a householder or a man in the renounced order of life-who is engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord and is always crying the holy name of Lord Chaitanya.�

Shrila Prabhupada in SB 1.5.16 purport: �The expert devotees also can discover novel ways and means to convert the nondevotees in terms of particular time and circumstance. Devotional service is dynamic activity, and the expert devotees can find out competent means to inject it into the dull brains of the materialistic population. Such transcendental activities of the devotees for the service of the Lord can bring a new order of life to the foolish society of materialistic men.�

Shrila Prabhupada in Cc Adi 7.31-32 purport: �Here is an important point. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to invent a way to capture the Mayavadis and others who did not take interest in the Krishna consciousness movement. This is the symptom of an acarya. An acarya who comes for the service of the Lord cannot be expected to conform to a stereotype, for he must find the ways and means by which Krishna consciousness may be spread.�

Shrila Prabhupada during a Room Conversation, August 14, 1971, London: Prabhupada: No. We are recommending �Chant the holy name of God.� So if you have got the holy name of God, you can chant that. Prabhupada: Anyway, if one chants Allah or Jesus Christ, we have no objection. We don�t say that you stop it. We say that you chant the holy name of God. If that name is of God, you chant.�


(4) Those who chant Gauranga and Hare Krishna are on the same level                                                   
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Shrila Prabhupada in Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya-lila 2.31 purport: "Worshipers of Shri Gaurasundara *accept* the four syllables gau-ra-an-ga as the Gaura mantra, but pure worshipers of Radha and Krishna accept the four syllables ra-dha krs-na as the Gaura-gopala mantra. However, Vaishnavas consider Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu nondifferent from Radha-Krishna (shri-krishna-chaitanya radha-krishna nahe anya). Therefore one who *chants* the mantra "gauranga" and one who chants the names of Radha and Krishna are on the same level."

Shrila Prabhupada states that all worshipers of Lord Gauranga accept the Name "Gauraanga" as the four-syllable Gaura Gopala Mantra. And he emphatically authorizes the chanting of the Gauranga Mantra by stating that anyone who *CHANTS* the mantra Gauranga and one who chants the names of Radha and Krishna (in the form of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra) are on the same level. The quotes you have quoted about concocted Mantras in Kali Yuga do not apply for the Gauranga Mantra because it is authorized by Shrila Prabhupada and all the Acharyas and has been chanted by great Acharyas like Shrila Shivananda Sena and Lord Nityananda Prabhu Himself. Pancha Tattva Mantra is regularly chanted along with the Hare Krishna Mahaamantra by all our students and accepted by us according to Shrila Prabhupada instructions. We are teaching our students to gradually increase to the stage of chanting 64 rounds of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, therefore we are not compromising the Hare Krishna Mahamantra or the Pancha Tattva Mantra in any way whatsoever.

Iif someone states that chanting the Gauranga Mantra is a deviation or stops others from chanting the Gauranga Mantra, such a person is not only rejecting outright Shrila Prabhupada's above instructions but also cannot be called a worshiper of Lord Gauranga according to the above purport of Shrila Prabhupada since he or she is rejecting the Gauranga Mantra even though Shrila Prabhupada has established and glorified the chanting of the Mantra himself and himself said that all Gaudiya worshipers accept the Gauranga Mantra.

Therfore, I think that before coming to hasty decisions about what is a deviation and what is not, one should study the instructions of the Acharya (like Shrila Prabhupada) in totality and also understand them in accordance to the instructions of all our previous Acharyas. An Acharya may sometimes practically not implement some of his own universal teachings and instructions (in his own books) according to time, place and circumstance, but that does not mean that those universal instructions are to be rejected or ignored or minimized in any way or that they can be never implemented ever in the future. I would suggest that you kindly study all the extensive scriptural quotes from our Acharyas on this important matter, which we have compiled and discussed in our Nityaananda Gauraanga Naama book before coming to a conclusion.

Thank you for your respectful etiquette. That is highly appreciated. Just to be clear, none of Shrila Prabhupada posts which you have posted, talk about or refer to the authentic 4-syllable Gaura Gopala Mantra i.e. Gauranga Mantra, which has been clearly accepted as the authorized Mantra for Lord Gauranga's worship and chanting by Shrila Prabhupada himself in the Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya 2.31 purport quoted above. Shrila Prabhupada has never contradicted this purport about the glories of the Gauranga (Gaura Gopala) Mantra in any of his other writings, letters or conversations nor has he ever instructed or discouraged anyone from chanting this authentic Gauranga Mantra in any way whatsoever. We are also simply repeating what Shrila Prabhupada has said about the Gauranga Mantra and we want to honor and implement these sublime instructions as our humble service to his lotus feet.


(5) Gauranga Mantra and Pancha Tattva Mantra

If Shrila Prabhupada is against or does not recommend the chanting of the Gauranga Mantra, why is he using the words, *one who #CHANTS# the mantra Gauranga...*. In fact, he says that those who chant the Gauranga Mantra and the Hare Krishna are to be considered on the same level. He categorically states that all Gaudiya worshipers #ACCEPT# the Gauranga Mantra. What does *ACCEPT* mean? Does it means to only theoretically know about the Gauranga Mantra while rejecting, criticizing and prohibiting  others from chanting the Gauranga Mantra? I don't think so. "ACCEPT" means to worship the Gauranga Mantra as non-different from Lord Gauranga Himself and respect those devotees who are chanting the Gauranga Mantra along with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, as being on the same level in the words of Shrila Prabhupada even if one does not want to chant the Gauranga Mantra oneself. "ACCEPT" means to be happy by singing and chanting the Gauranga Mantra sometimes. "ACCEPT" means to take shelter of this Holy Name of Lord Gauranga according to the instruction of Lord Nityananda Himself. Whether there is only one instruction or many instructions, every universal instruction of the Acharya in his books is the topmost instruction, and cannot be minimized by saying that he only said it at one place in his books. We, in this group, feel that this one purport is perfectly clear and enough for us about Shrila Prabhupada's position on the chanting of the authentic Gauranga Mantra and we don't need for him to repeatedly state it again and again. We are also trying to be sincere followers of Shrila Prabhupada's vani and for us, one clear universal instruction in his books which is not contradicted by any of his other instructions is enough, to sincerely follow that instruction. Sometimes the confidential secrets are mentioned only a few times by the Acharyas, like Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura states in the Navadvipa Dhaama Mahatmya about Gauranga's Holy Name. For your kind information, we are also worshiping the Deities of Shri Pancha Tattva in Shri Jagannatha Puri Dhaama and also chanting the full Pancha Tattva Mantra according to the instructions of Shrila Prabhupada.

Our understanding differs from your understanding of this purport of Shrila Prabhupada. When he says.."one who *CHANTS*  the mantra Gauranga..", we clearly understand that he has no objection whatsoever for chanting the Gauranga Mantra and when he says that all worshipers of Shri Gaurasundara *ACCEPT* the Gaura Gopala Mantra, we understand that this is his merciful recommendation to chant the Gauranga Mantra even though he may not have practically implemented it himself. You are free to maintain your own understanding, but please don't reject the last part of his commentary which states that both the chanters of the Gauranga Mantra and the chanters of Hare Krishna should be considered on the same level. So I would kindly request you to give proper respect if not equal respect to those devotees who are chanting the Gauranga Mantra along with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, even though you may not be able to chant the Gauranga Mantra yourself, instead of attempting to minimize or discourage others from chanting the Gauranga Mantra. We are not trying to force or impose the chanting of the Gauranga Mantra on anyone nor do we expect all the devotees to Lord Krishna to chant the Gauranga Mantra because we know it is a very confidential secret according to Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. We just have our own small group here where we discuss and glorify Nitaai Gaura Naama to those who are interested. We welcome healthy discussion here in the proper mood which you have, but we want to glorify the Holy Names of Gauranga and Nityananda more than simply discussing why They should or should not be chanted since that is a no-brainer to us.

In regards to the Pancha Tattva Mantra, I have explained many times that Shrila Prabhupada has more than once stopped the regular chanting of the Pancha-tattva Mantra in japa as well as kirtana more than three times. On one hand, he states many times in his books that one should very regularly chant the Holy Names of Gauranga and Nityananda but on the other hand he did not want rounds of Pancha-tattva Mantra to be chanted on beads and also he wanted that the Pancha-tattva Mantra be chanted three times only at the beginning of the kirtana. This is because there is no precedent in the lives of our previous Acharyas and Associates of Lord Gauranga that the Pancha Tattva Mantra has been specifically chanted as japa on Tulasi beads regularly, thus Shrila Prabhupada did not recommend chanting it regularly on beads. It is believed that the Pancha Tattva Mantra was mercifully revealed more as a hymn or a song by Shrila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji to be sung. It is not mentioned as specific japa Mantra in any of the scriptures or the writings of our Acharyas. For this same reason, Pancha Tattva Mantra has not been mentioned in the books of Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura or Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada. A Japa Mantra has a fixed number of syllables and according to Jaiva Dharma, authorized Gaura Mantras are all clearly mentioned in the scriptures unlike the Pancha Tattva Mantra which is more like a hymn or a song or a verse glorifying the Shri Pancha Tattva.

Shrila Prabhupada's purport of Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita 8.31 is considerably taken from the Bengali commentary of his own Gurudeva Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada to the same verse. And in those original commentaries of Anubhashya of Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada and of Amrita Prvaha Bhashya of Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the Pancha Tattva Mantra is not mentioned at all. Both the Acharyas greatly recommend the very regular chanting of the two Holy Names of Gauranga and Nityananda not the Pancha Tattva Mantra in their commentaries to the same verse. Thus our understanding is that Shrila Prabhupada recommends the Pancha Tattva Mantra for chanting a few times before Japa and Sankirtana but not very regularly as he recommends for the Holy Names of Gauranga and Nityananda, if we consider all his instructions regarding the Pancha Tattva Mantra in totality.

On the other hand, the 4-syllable Gaura Gopala Mantra "Gauraanga" has been chanted on beads as the most worshipable Ishta Mantra by great Rasika Acharyas like Shrila Shivananda Sena so it is fully authorized to be chanted both in Japa and Kirtana. There is no instruction of any Acharya or Scriptures which contradicts this. I hope you can kindly agree with that and see the truth behind it with an open mind, not just think about what you have been told or what you feel about it.

I would like to kindly suggest that one tries to read all the quotes of Shrila Prabhupada and the Acharyas from our Nityananda Gauranga Naama section and understand the Nitaai Gaura Naama Tattva better so that you can share the proper conclusions with other devotees and not commit an offense against the Naama Tattva by stopping others from chanting Nityananda Gauranga Naama along with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

Daaso'smi, BR Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

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