httpv://youtu.be/fGd4x5TVKXI
video: Jaya Radha Ramana Haribol Hip-Hop
ISKCON’s Bad Rap – http://www.oneiskcon.com/2013/03/03/iskcons-bad-rap/
PADA, USA: Fair enough, the “Kirtaniyas” (and many other similar independent kirtan programs) are making their own forms of kirtana, sometimes singing various Hindi bhajans and so forth. And Rocana’s Sampradaya Sun site has also complained about the “changed kirtana” process extensively.
Yet this does not answer the root question, what happened to all of ISKCON’s former huge public samkirtana programs, temple bhajans and kirtans, and so forth, which were all formerly doing a nice program that Srila Prabhupada did approve of?
In case no one has noticed: The temples are almost empty these days, there are sometimes only one or two persons singing at some of these ISKCON temple programs. And the big public harinama samkirtanas we used to have, which had sometimes a hundred or even several hundred devotees, simply are not happening any longer. Or perhaps there is a big program, but only at rare events like a Ratha-yatra program once a year etc.
We all know why these programs have vanished, because the GBC “gurus” kicked out almost all the KIRTANA devotees and killed off most of these programs. So nowadays, the “kirtaniya” programs (and many other New Age kirtans and so forth) are basically all there is for most people — at least in many cases. The root question is, why has the BVKS / GBC program destroyed almost all of ISKCON’s kirtana programs by removing almost all of the original kirtana folks?
And yes, when there is barely nothing else going on, something else will always fill that vacuum, and so — these other kirtaniyas will therefore flourish when there is nothing else left to do better. Notice, the oneiskcon article does not address the cause of this malady. OK, the GBC gurus are also promoting a lot of these programs themselves these days, at least oneiskcon does say that, but they forget to tell us — how the same people promoting these deviations are gurus? ys pd
This is still a lame excuse, that new age kirtan and such form of dancing is accpted, the kirtan that was introduced with traditional instruments mind you is not a HINDU instrument. Srila Prabhupada accepted in the early days but than he said no to many instruments even sitar. VEDIC STYLE, and NOT NEW AGE HUMBUG.
While it is easy to understand that this may be unappealing to “trained up” or “fixed” devotees, it is obviously a sincere effort. Perhaps it could be understood as a bridge for persons who might otherwise miss out on the glorification of the Holy Name altogether. We can find fault easily enough or we can see it as a step in the right direction. Few of us were born pure devotees. It is saddening that we, in our forgetfulness of the causeless mercy we have received, are so ready to cast stones. Is the stance of criticism akin to chastising a person for being dirty when they have already stepped into the bath? Are we angry at persons for the conditioning the have become victim to in Kali Yuga society? Could we encourage the good in them rather than criticize the weakness we see? What is the typical result of either approach. Thumbs up. This is still all about kindness-and what works-what brings people to develop pure love of God. Thank you! HareKrsna and I love you!
DASI,
The criticism is simply that it is an offense to disregard the orders of the Spiritual Master, and these forms of kirtana do not belong practiced in the temple rooms of Srila Prabhupada’s temples, which are meant for satisfying the Deities according to HIS standards.
I don’t think anyone from this forum would have a single bad thing to say about any and all types of chanting and singing, as long as they are not brought into the temples, and as long as those claiming to be Pure advanced devotees and leaders of Srila Prabhupada’s branch of Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana movement do not waste their time DIRECTLY supporting, glorifying, and participating in these forms of kirtana that were forbidden to disciples of Srila Prabhupada.
It is that simple. Please don’t confuse us for a bunch of miserly curmudgeons.
Hare Krsna