Update on the use of “bhaja” before the Pancha Tattva mantra
1977 and he tells his own story of Prabhupada correcting his use (only once , not twice) of bhaja before the Pancha Tattva mantra. —————————————- Dear Damaghosa Prabhu Please accept my obeisances.
This is an update on the proper use of Jaya and not Bhaja before the Pancha Tattva mantra according to Yashoda nandan who was the Ashrama headmaster at the Vrndavana gurukula in 1977 and he tells his own story of Prabhupada correcting his use (only once , not twice) of bhaja before the Pancha Tattva mantra. —————————————- Dear Damaghosa Prabhu Please accept my obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In the summer of 1977, I used to take several of the Gurukula boys in Srila Prabhupada's room for kirtana in the presence of Srila Prabhupada.Kindly note that part of TKG's remembrance is correct and the other is faulty and inaccurate.
As I was leading the kirtana and the singing of Sri Krsna Caitanya, I started with the word bhaja which was the standard practice in Iskcon all the way back to 1966. There are several recordings of Srila Prabhupada singing the panca-tattva mantra with the word "bhaja" before the Sri Krsna Caitanya.
Srila Prabhupada interrupted me only once and said: "Begin with the word "jaya". I followed his instruction and chanted Jaya Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu Nityananda Sri Advaita Gadadhara Srivasa adi Gaura Bhakta Vrinda.
With regards to the other statements of Prana natha dasa, he is correct. Srila Prabhupada did interrupt kirtanas several times during the various occasions which he mentions.
Yours in Srila Prabhupada's service, Yasoda nandana dasa ———————————————————- Another devotee questioned the use of Jaya(below) in front of the Panca Tattva mantra- here is his letter and I did confer with Yasoda nandan on this very issue. I believe him, I dont
believe TKG. damaghosa das Prabhu, Pamho. AgtSP. On chanting of "Jaya" before Panca Tattva Mantra and omitting "Bhaja". Please recall that there is no written or recorded directive from Srila Prabhupada ordering this. All Bhajan tapes and written records show Bhaja. There are a few comments by different devotees on this and they all lead back to TKG. What you have posted is quoted from TKG. Is this enough foundation for the entire movement changing Bhaja to Jaya for all purposes. Many devotees have recalled the time in Vrindavana where this came up and they wondered if it was applicable to the whole movement forever or time and place in Vrindavana? None can recall Srila Prabhupada giving a recorded directive or telling TKG to. The Gaudiya Math history is also with and without Bhaja but never with Jaya that I have been able to find? There is much more about this and in a couple of forums that discussed this there was no conclusion that Srila Prabhupada ordered it for the whole society. Is this just another change that TKG did? Is a quote from TKG diary enough for changing the Mantra that Srila Prabhupada taught us and was recorded hundreds of times? There have been certain recalls and portrayals of TKG which turned out faulty and not absolute or actually what Srila Prabhupada wanted.
Just thought I would ask.
Your servant P. S. You mention Yashodanandana prabhu who was there in Vrindavana at the time. Yashoda prabhu is a reliable and pertinent source. Plus he is most orthodox and advocater of no change.
Please confer with him further.