Parasuram das: May I be so bold to give an opinion on Street Sankirtan, so unqualified as
I am, but it’s food for thought.
It appears to me that Srila Prabhupada had a unique way of performing
Sankirtan.
It is quite different from a “traditional Bengali” style of chanting.
His Kirtan are more rhythmic, meditative, easy to follow and respond to.
Maybe he designed it like this for the public so we could easily engage in
the Kirtan.
The first Kirtan YouTube link is started by HH Vishnujana Swami before
Srila Prabhupada takes over:
This Kirtan link is the most well known Srila Prabhupada Kirtan:
This is a “traditional Bengali” style Kirtan:
When I ask a Srila Prabhupada disciple to lead a Kirtan, a Street
Sankirtan, we generally find the Kirtan to be similar to the style of the
first two links, very simple, powerful, and upbeat. And since great Kirtan
leaders are departing from this mortal world to join Srila Prabhupada on
some glorious adventure. Great Sankirtan devotees such as HH Vishnujana
Swami , Tribhuvanth Prabhu, Hansadutta Prabhu, Madhudvisa Prabhu to name a
few, there is a danger of the old ISKCON Kirtan being replaced a more
“traditional style”.
So a question arises, should we be performing “traditional style” Kirtan,
as can be seen with the Gaudiya Math.
My reservations:
It seems that whatever Srila Prabhupada did was unique and revolutionary.
Srila Prabhupada would tell Tribhuvanth Prabhu “that it’s so simple that
you will miss it.” And he proudly referred to Tribhuvanth Prabhu as banging
the drum.
A strong beat to dance to, as dancing is an important part of Sankirtan.
And on the other hand Srila Prabhupada also liked Sacinanad Prabhu’s
traditional bhajans and Kirtans.
Traditional Bengali Sankirtan is wonderful when performed nicely but
sometimes it involves a lot of complex beats, singing in minor sad keys
(sad singing as if the WiFi just went down) , a lot of unnecessary vocal
solos ( yodelling), the chanting of a variety verses and mantras, and an
impossible beat to dance to.
Or the new fashion to have two microphones, one devotee leads and the
second devotee also leads, so when do we respond with the chanting?
“Our process is simple, all-embracing, we have something to offer for
everyone. There is chanting, dancing, feasting and very perfect philosophy,
so everyone may be satisfied with our Krishna Consciousness Movement.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, October 4, 1973)
“Our movement is for ananda, simply bliss, and the method of pushing this
movement is chanting, dancing, feasting and philosophizing.”
(Srila Prabhupada Letter, July 15, 1969)
“Our Hare Krsna movement is standing on three principal things: chanting,
dancing and eating *prasadam*. It is not very difficult. It is very
enjoyable to chant, dance and take *prasadam*. And if you like, you can
hear a little philosophy of this movement.”