From the Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
(Editor’s note: This is the 314 of the 2014 GBC resolutions. You can find the Minutes Of The 2014 Annual General Meeting in our archives section or directly here)
314: The Hare Krsna Maha-mantra Should be the Primary Mantra in all ISKCON Kirtans
[ISKCON Law]Whereas Srila Prabhupada has stressed the preeminent position of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in ISKCON kirtan:
“In our temple, strictly Hare Krishna chanting should be given more importance. There is no harm in this mantra you have heard, but it is not very important. There are many such common songs composed by common devotees out of sentiment. But our principle is to stick to the authorities, and always remember that Hare Krishna is the prime authorized mantra.” (Letter to Malati Dasi, 28 January 1969);
Whereas it has been observed that it is commonplace in ISKCON kirtans that many mantras are chanted. Often the chanting of the maha-mantra occupies only a small percentage of the kirtan.
Whereas the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is the primary mantra to be chanted in the age of Kali as presented by Sri Krishna Caitanya, our previous acaryas and Srila Prabhupada:
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
iti sodasakam namnam kali-kalmasa nasanam
natah parataropayah sarva vedesu drsyate
The sixteen words of the Hare Krsna mantra are especially meant for counteracting the sins of the age of Kali. To save oneself from the contamination of this age there is no alternative but to chant the Hare Krsna mantra. After searching through all the Vedic literatures, one cannot find a method of religion for this age so sublime as the chanting of Hare Krsna. [Kali-Santarana Upanisad 5-6]
RESOLVED:
That in all ISKCON kirtans, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra should be the primary mantra.
Note: This is for kirtans, but does not apply to bhajans such as Jaya Radha Madhava, Nrsimha prayers, etc.