A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - Temple Song Book

r Guru prama

om ajna-timirndhasya jnjana-alkay
cakur unmlita yena tasmai r-gurave nama

I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.

rla Prabhupda praati

nama o viu-pdya ka-prehya bh-tale
rmate bhaktivednta-svmin iti nmine

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupda, who is very dear to Lord Ka, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

namas te srasvate deve gaura-v-pracrie
nirviea-nyavdi-pctya-dea-trie

Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvat Gosvm. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.

r Paca-tattva prama

r-ka-caitanya prabhu nitynanda
r-advaita gaddhara
rvsdi-gaura-bhakta-vnda

I offer my obeisances to r Ka Caitanya, Prabhu Nitynanda, r Advaita, Gaddhara, rvsa and all others in the line of devotion.

r Caitanya Mahprabhu is always accompanied by His plenary expansion r Nitynanda Prabhu, His incarnation r Advaita Prabhu, His internal potency r Gaddhara Prabhu, and His marginal potency rvsa Prabhu. He is in the midst of them as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should know that r Caitanya Mahprabhu is always accompanied by these other tattvas. Therefore our obeisances to r Caitanya Mahprabhu are complete when we say, r-ka-caitanya prabhu nitynanda r-advaita gaddhara rvsdi-gaura-bhakta-vnda.

As preachers of the Ka consciousness movement, we first offer our obeisances to r Caitanya Mahprabhu by chanting this Paca-tattva mantra; then we say, Hare Ka, Hare Ka, Ka Ka, Hare Hare/ Hare Rma, Hare Rma, Rma Rma, Hare Hare. There are ten offenses in the chanting of the Hare Ka mah-mantra, but these are not considered in the chanting of the Paca-tattva mantra, namely, r-ka-caitanya prabhu nitynanda r-advaita gaddhara rvsdi-gaura-bhakta-vnda. r Caitanya Mahprabhu is known as mah-vadnyvatra, the most magnanimous incarnation, for He does not consider the offenses of the fallen souls. Thus to derive the full benefit of the chanting of the mah-mantra (Hare Ka, Hare Ka, Ka Ka, Hare Hare/ Hare Rma, Hare Rma, Rma Rma, Hare Hare), we must first take shelter of r Caitanya Mahprabhu, learn the Paca-tattva mantra, and then chant the Hare Ka mah-mantra. That will be very effective.

Hare Ka Mah-mantra

The Great Chanting for Deliverance

Hare Ka Hare Ka,
Ka Ka Hare Hare
Hare Rma Hare Rma,
Rma Rma Hare Hare

My dear Lord, and the spiritual energy of the Lord, kindly engage me in Your service. I am now embarrassed with this material service. Please engage me in Your service.

harer nma harer nma harer nmaiva kevalam
kalau nsty eva nsty eva nsty eva gatir anyath

In this age of Kali, the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of Lord Hari, Kna. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way. [Bhan-nradya Pura, 18.126] This process of Hari-krtana is to chant the mah-mantra (the great chanting for deliverance): Hare Ka, Hare Ka, Ka Ka, Hare Hare/ Hare Rma, Hare Rma, Rma Rma, Hare Hare. In the Padma Pura it is stated: There is no difference between the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself. As such, the holy name is as perfect as the Lord Himself in fullness, purity and eternity. The holy name is not a material sound vibration, nor has it any material contamination.[Padma Pura] How the holy name of the Lord can be chanted constantly is mercifully described by Lord r Caitanya Mahprabhu Himself in His ikaka verse 3: One can chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of falseprestige, and should be ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.

r r Gurv-aaka

Eight Prayers to the Guru
by rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura

rla Vivantha Cakravart hkura, who appeared in the middle of the seventeenth century, is a great spiritual master in the Ka conscious chain of gurus and disciples. He says, One who, with great care and attention, loudly recites this beautiful prayer to the spiritual master during the brhma-muhrta obtains direct service to Ka, the Lord of Vndvana, at the time of his death.

(1)
sasra-dvnala-lha-loka
trya kruya-ghanghanatvam
prptasya kalya-guravasya
vande guro r-cararavindam

The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.

(2)
mahprabho krtana-ntya-gta
vditra-mdyan-manaso rasena
romca-kampru-taraga-bhjo
vande guro r-cararavindam

Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sakrtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

(3)
r-vigrahrdhana-nitya-nn
gra-tan-mandira-mrjandau
yuktasya bhakt ca niyujato pi
vande guro r-cararavindam

The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of r r Rdh and Ka. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

(4)
catur-vidha-r-bhagavat-prasda
svdv-anna-tptn hari-bhakta-saghn
ktvaiva tpti bhajata sadaiva
vande guro r-cararavindam

The spiritual master is always offering Ka four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasda, he ist satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.