Prabhupāda Teaches His Disciples That Kīrtana is Their Life and Soul
In the age of Kali, the most recommended and effective process for spiritual realization is the congregational chanting of the holy names. Recognizing the profound necessity of this practice, Śrīla Prabhupāda taught his disciples that kīrtana must be the very life and soul of their existence. By engaging in this joyous glorification of the Lord without compromise or artificiality, the devotees remain spiritually invincible and perfectly equipped to deliver the suffering souls of the world.
The Life and Soul of the Mission
To survive the constant, churning illusions of the material world, a devotee requires an immense source of spiritual energy. For the members of the society, Śrīla Prabhupāda explained that this necessary strength comes directly from the regular performance of kīrtana. Whether one is situated in a massive temple or a small room, the enthusiastic chanting of the holy name acts as the ultimate weapon against māyā. It is the foundational duty that keeps the preaching mission alive and perfectly secures the practitioner from all spiritual pitfalls.
- Kirtana is our life and soul, so we must be very concerned to have it no matter where we are and no matter what circumstances are there.
- Make kirtana your life and soul and He will give you all benediction.
- The best news of all is that soon we shall have our own press for printing Krsna consciousness literature in the German language. Our life and soul is kirtana and presenting literature to the public at large.
- I know that you cannot stop kirtana or chanting but it must be done regularly because that is our strength. We are always in the whirlpool of maya, and only this chanting of Mantra can save us from all pitfalls.
- Take pleasure in performing kirtana. That is our real weapon against Maya.
Expanding the Definition of Kīrtana
While the joyous singing of the mahā-mantra with instruments is a glorious practice, the true definition of kīrtana is much broader. In its absolute sense, kīrtana means to glorify the Supreme Lord in any authorized way. Therefore, Śrīla Prabhupāda taught that delivering a philosophical lecture, studying the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and distributing transcendental books are all bona fide performances of kīrtana. Because the printed word can travel far beyond the sound of a drum, mass book distribution is considered the most highly effective form of glorification.
- Kirtana means sometimes chanting with music, and sometimes speaking. Both of them are kirtana. Kirtayati iti kirtanam. Whenever we glorify the Lord, that is called kirtana. The Srimad-Bhagavatam reading is also kirtana.
- When you chant, that is also kirtana; when you distribute book, that is also kirtana. When you read book, that is also kirtana.
- I am always emphasizing book distribution. It is the better kirtana. It is better than chanting. Of course chanting should not stop, but book distribution is the best kirtana.
- Simply preaching, glorifying, or speaking about the Lord, that is also kirtana. And performing kirtana as we do here in the temple, with mrdanga and karatala, chanting, that is also kirtana.
- Of course it is Krishna's knowledge, not mine. But the effect is there. So for wider kirtana book distribution is better. Book distribution is also kirtana.
Purity Over Artificial Artistry
Because the chanting of the holy name is a divine exchange between the soul and the Supreme Lord, it cannot be treated as a mundane musical performance. To protect the sanctity of the practice, Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly warned his disciples against trying to become mere entertainers or using the singing of bhajanas as a means to earn a livelihood. The potency of the vibration does not rely on complex melodies or expert musicianship; rather, it is the pure devotional emotion and strict adherence to spiritual principles that make the kīrtana successful.
- If we introduce so much emphasis on style of kirtana, then simply imitation will go on. Devotional emotion is the main thing.
- Krishna Kirtana is not for earning livelihood. Krishna Kirtana is not meant for entertaining the public for demonstration of arts.
- Do not change our principles. Practicing is already done by kirtana. It is not required for us to become artists. Our main point is service to Krishna, not to please an audience.
- So far your road-show is concerned, we are not meant for giving performances, we are simple kirtana men. There must always be kirtana going on wherever we travel, and nothing else.
- We don't require anyone who is very musically talented. Here in New Vrindaban Hayagriva has organized very nice kirtana party, and they are singing and chanting thrice daily very, very nicely.
The Most Effective Preaching Tool
In a world heavily burdened by material anxiety, philosophical arguments alone are often insufficient to awaken the dormant spiritual consciousness of the masses. However, when the holy names are loudly chanted with the mṛdaṅga and karatālas, the transcendental sound naturally softens the hard hearts of the conditioned souls. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlighted that simply providing the public with the opportunity to hear this vibration and taste prasādam is the most attractive and effective method for drawing sincere people into the movement.
- Facility should be given to the ordinary man. If he comes and he hears the chanting, the kirtana, the bell sound, the karatala sound, in this way gradually he becomes attracted. As we have seen, many students come in this way.
- Hold kirtanas, distribute prasadam and hold discourses and I am sure that this process will soften the hard stone.
- The most important aspect of our preaching is Kirtana. Induce the people to chant, that is the only thing. Then everything else will follow. The goal is to make devotees and books; both are required. Distributing the books will make devotees.
- Our Kirtana movement is genuine, and if the unsophisticated students take it seriously, it will be a great achievement.
- Whenever there is Kirtana, either morning or evening, immediately there is a different atmosphere by the Grace of Lord Krishna. And all people, both devotees and outsiders, begin to dance in ecstasy.
A Continuous, Universal Engagement
Unlike rigid yoga systems that require strict bodily gymnastics and intense solitary meditation, the process of bhakti is joyous, universal, and easily accessible. Śrīla Prabhupāda envisioned his temples as spiritual oases where the glorification of the Lord through śravaṇam and kīrtanam continues twenty-four hours a day. Because it is the natural activity of the soul, anyone—from the most educated scholar to an innocent child—can freely participate in the kīrtana and immediately experience transcendental ecstasy.
- Constantly, twenty-four hours, if you hear and chant. Hear means somebody chants or you chant yourself or hear, or some of your colleague may chant, you hear. Or he may hear, you may chant. This process must go on. This is sravanam kirtanam visnoh.
- In our Kirtana there is no need of so called meditation and gymnastic of bodily exercise. It is simple and can be practiced even by the small children and we have practically seen it how small boys and girls do take part in it by chanting dancing with us.
- Let the leaders be open minded and not be biased by any sectarian thoughts of religiosity. This movement is universal. We invite every one to our feast and Kirtana but when one comes into the confidence we initiate him.
- Kirtana is the universal principle, therefore, if you chant Hare Krishna offenselessly, that is to say, avoiding the 10 kinds of offenses, the vibration is sure to act.
- When others perform kirtana, nobody takes part. And they cannot continue that kirtana more than five minutes. But we can continue our kirtana for five hours.
Conclusion
By establishing kīrtana as the absolute center of the society, Śrīla Prabhupāda provided his followers with an inexhaustible wellspring of spiritual joy and preaching power. He brilliantly expanded the understanding of this practice, proving that a devotee's entire life—from singing in the temple to boldly distributing books on the street—can become one continuous glorification of the Supreme Lord. It is through this pure and unadulterated dedication to kīrtana that the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement continues to successfully awaken the sleeping souls of the Kali-yuga.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Our Kirtana (Disciples of SP). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.