“Regarding authorized songs, you may inform George that authorized songs means the songs which were sung or composed by self-realized Acaryas. It is an injunction in the Vaishnava regulations that unauthorized songs or statements should never be heard.
The comparison is given that milk, although very nutritious food, if it is touched by the tongue of a serpent, it acts like poison. So I am giving herewith a few lines of authorized songs which you may deliver to George. They are as follows:
1. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
2. Hari Haraye Namah Krishna Yadavaya Namah
Yadavaya Madhavaya Kesavaya Namah
3. Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Hay
Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Hay
Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Raksa mam
Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna Pahi mam
Krishna Kesava Krishna Kesava Krishna Kesava Raksa mam
Rama Raghava Rama Raghava Rama Raghava Pahi mam
So these songs were sung by Lord Caitanya Himself, therefore they are the most authorized songs.
I am very glad to learn that he has given up composing nonsense songs, it is a great advancement of his spiritual life. But as he has got the aptitude for writing songs, I shall be very glad to give him many such themes of songs on which he can write in his own language and expression. I am giving below one theme:
‘My Dear Lord, I have simply wasted my privileges of human form of life. This life was meant for understanding Krishna Consciousness and the pastimes of Lord Krishna with Radharani, but I did not take care of this important business of life.
Therefore I have not only wasted my valuable time, but also I have willingly drunk poison for committing suicide. My heart is always in blazing fire because of my association with material sense enjoyment, and I did not fix up my mind in the Krishna Consciousness movement which is imported directly from the Kingdom of God.
This Krishna Consciousness movement is inaugurated by Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda Who are Krishna and Balarama respectively. They have descended very kindly to reclaim all fallen souls of this age of whom the typical examples are the two brothers Jagai and Madhai.
Now, forgetting all mistakes that I have committed in my past life, I humbly surrender unto You, my Lord Krishna the Son of Nanda Maharaja, and also to Srimati Radharani the daughter of King Vrsabhanu. So both of You are present together, and I fully surrender unto You. Please do not reject me as I have no other shelter except Yourselves.’
Perhaps you have heard, and George has also heard, my song on this theme, “Hari Hari bifale janama gonainu..” So if George can compose a nice song in his own words, and sings, I am sure it will be an epoch making incident.
There are many hundreds of thousands of such themes, and if he wants to introduce such songs propitious for pushing Krishna Consciousness movement, that will be very nice.
The transcendental vibration OM is also authorized, but is specifically sung by the impersonalists. Although there is no incongruity, still because we are preaching the personal feature of God, we shall not chant Hari Om.
As you say that George wants to invite famous people from all over the world to come there and get Krishna Consciousness, in that case, we shall cooperate with him with full vigor. And if George believes in my potency to spread God-consciousness, then it will be a full program of cooperation.
Yes, I am sure that when George takes seriously into Krishna Consciousness, he will do many things desirable out of his own accord, because Krishna is sitting in everyone’s heart and thus when a devotee is willing to serve, He gives dictation from within.
So when George will help establish temples, it will be a great achievement.
I have already acknowledged that the “Govindam” record is very nice, and I am sure it will be appreciated. Devananda also has liked it and says that the sound will be very attractive to the young people especially.
Regarding the presentation of “Govindam” as well as other mantras, the vibration is always pure. I will give the theme and if the sound is Westernized that does not matter.
But another point is that this specific sound of Kirtana as I sing is also another introduction of art that can be intermingled with Western art, and such combination will certainly be appreciated. But so far I know that the Kirtana tune is a specific representation of Gaudiya Vaishnavas and this tune is appreciated all over India as unique.
They say that the Kirtana tune is the specific gift of Bengal, and that is a fact. So why not utilize this tune in the Western countries under the able guidance of such expert musician as George?
If you arrange, I will certainly come during Rathayatra.
You will have to arrange for passages for at least two men, coming and going.”
Srila Prabhupada letter to Syamasundar, Feb. 25, 1970
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