An Interesting Truth About Chanting

Sao Paulo, Brazil: January 15, 2010
A Morning Walk

Devotee: Gurudeva, I want to ask if it’s okay to chant the Panca-tattva mantra [“Sri Krsna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasadi Gaura-bhakta-vrnda”] on my japa beads?

Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: Why?

Devotee: Because if we chant to Panca-tattva, they forgive all our aparadhas in chanting. There is no aparadha.

Srila Gurudeva: You can do this on another mala (not tulasi-mala). The maha-mantra is Radha-Krsna, and Panca-tattva is Panca-tattva. Nityananda Prabhu is present in the Panca-tattva mantra, so how can both be together? *

Brajanath dasa: Gurudeva, In ISKCON they are teaching that after finishing one mala…

Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: Have I told you to do this? Do not follow what I have not instructed you. In kirtana you can chant to Nityananda Prabhu and the Panca-tattva, but not on the tulasi beads.

Any further question?

Priyanatha dasa: Gurudeva, I want to give my life in your service, but sometimes I am scared to surrender my material life.

Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: Chant more loudly, and try to be saranagata (surrendered). Try to hear hari-katha from superior Vaisnavas.

[*Endnote: The tulasi-mala represents Sri Radha-Krsna and Her gopi friends and their confidential pastimes. The first eight beads (after which there is usually a knotted string) represents Her eight principle gopis, beginning from Lalita-devi and Visakha-devi.

Nityananda Prabhu is Baladeva himself. As Baladeva Prabhu does not remain with Krsna when Krsna is together with Sri Radha and Her gopi friends (except on special occasions such as Holi and Krsna’s lifting Govardhana Hill), so Nityananda Prabhu’s name, which is non-different from Nityananda Prabhu Himself, is not chanted on tulasi beads.-ed]