What are Criteria to Perform
Krsna-kirtana should never be executed in order to acquire disciples, for one’s own recreation, or to fulfill any worldly desires. Krsna-kirtana should be exclusively executed for the happiness of Krsna. An important thing is that if there is a desire to perform krsna-kirtana, it needs to be done according to one’s adhikara, eligibility. Where to stay and whose association to take has to be carefully examined. Without this, the performance of krsna-kirtana is not possible. Not every place and circumstance is favorable for krsna-kirtana.Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to perform krsna-kirtana in the house of Srivasa Pandita. They locked all the doors, and did not let anybody with an unfavorable mood enter. One day, the mother-in-law of Srivasa Pandita hid herself in the house.
On that day, Mahaprabhu said, “Today, our kirtana is tasteless. There must be somebody here who is against our kirtana.” Everybody looked around and then said, “No, only your associates and devotees are here.” But Mahaprabhu insisted, “No, there must be somebody here with an unfavorable mood. The kirtana is not tasteful, which means that Krsna is not pleased.”
If Krsna is pleased by the performance of the kirtana of His devotee, then a transcendental joy will come to the performers. But if Krsna is not pleased, then His devotees will never be happy.
On this day in the house of Srivasa Pandita, nobody could feel the happiness and satisfaction they usually felt. Somebody who was not eligible to be in the kirtana was present and therefore Krsna was not pleased.
The devotees searched everywhere until they finally found Srivasa’s mother-in-law hiding under a basket in a corner of the house. She hid there because she wanted to watch the dancing and singing of Mahaprabhu. Srivasa Pandita grabbed her and threw her outside the house.
Is the kirtana we perform exclusively for the pleasure of Krsna, or is it performed for our own enjoyment? People like to go to some park or to the beach to chant their japa, but what is the actual purpose of this?
Krsna-Kirtana or Maya Kirtana
Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Haridasa Thakura and Nityananda Prabhu to go from house to house and tell everyone to chant Krsna’s name.
prati ghare ghare giya koro ei bhiksa
bolo krsna bhajo krsna koro krsna-siksa
They went out to perform krsna-kirtana upon the order of Mahaprabhu and for His pleasure. This is called krsna-kirtana. In contrast, some people perform kirtana in parks or during a house program only to collect some donations. The owners of the house say, “Baba, do some more kirtana and dance. Then, we will give you some nice donations.” Then everybody is happily dancing in an recreational manner.
This is not krsna-kirtana, this is maya kirtana. As a result of this, neither the performers nor the observers will become truly happy or cleansed at heart. Making a mundane spectacle is not pleasing Krsna. Therefore, we should always consider, are we performing krsna-kirtana or maya kirtana? For whom do I do kirtana?
While the sadhaka is performing kirtana, an ordinary person unexpectedly arrives. Then the sadhaka puts his mala aside and starts talking to that person, thinking that he should welcome him properly by offering him a seat and some prasadam and speak sweetly with him, otherwise he might become disturbed if he came from far away and didn’t receive a proper welcome. The sadhaka thinks himself to be humble by giving a lot of respect to the guest. Thus he neglects harinama and puts aside his mala in order to serve the guest.
On the other hand, Yasoda Mata was feeding Krsna with her breast milk when all of a sudden the milk on the fire started to boil over. Although Krsna was hungry and thirsty, His mother put Him down. Krsna tried to hold on to her breast, but Yasoda easily put Him down and ran to save the milk. The sadhaka should not conclude from this lila that this allows him to neglect his chanting in order to help others.
By doing so, taste for kirtana will never increase. The sadhaka should know that he does not possess the mood of Yasoda Mata. She considered that she would be unable to prepare rasagullas, sandesa, and so many sweets with her breast milk, but she could make these tasty preparations for Krsna with the milk on the stove. If the milk boiled over, she would not be able to make anything and her breast milk alone would not be enough to feed Krsna. Thus she acted for the exclusive happiness of her son.
Be Akincana
To think that krsna-kirtana or Krsna’s service is our duty is still better than if we perform it for the pleasure of another person in addition to performing it for Krsna’s pleasure. Krsna-kirtana is not for the happiness of anybody other then Krsna. This is most important. Therefore it is said:
Being akincana means we are fixed in our faith in Krsna and our position as Krsna’s servant. We have no strength and energy to serve for the happiness of anybody else. Everybody comes to a person who has many good qualities and tries to steal his time and energy, but the akincana devotee very carefully preserves everything for the service of Krsna.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote the following bhajana corresponding to this verse:
sri-krsna-kirtane yadi manasa tohara
parama yatane tanhi labha adhikara
If you aspire to chant krsna-nama, then, with great care, you must become qualified to do so.
trnadhika hina dina akincana char
apane manobi sada chadi ahankar
Giving up your false ego, always consider yourself lower than grass, destitute, and free of material possessions.
Tendency to Serve and Mood of Forgiveness
vrksa-sama ksama-guna korobi sadhan
prati-himsa tyaji' anye korobi palan
What should the sadhaka do if a faulty and duplicitous person cheats and disturbs him? Should he contemplate about his wicked character day and night? No, by doing this, that person will never change.
On the other hand, if you do krsna-kirtana and that person thinks about you, then his nature will automatically change. But if you think about that person, then his bad qualities will come to you. As a consequence, that person will not only remain the same, but you will also become contaminated.
Therefore, Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that we should develop ksama guna, the mood of forgiveness. We should be forgiving. We should forgive without desire for any revenge for the offenses made towards us.
jivana-nirvahe ane udvega na dibe
para-upakare nija-sukha pasaribe
With the intention to maintain their own bodies, people always disturb others by asking them to serve them. They want others to massage their feet and wash their cloth. Such persons cannot engage in bhajana. Only he who has a tendency to serve and never expects service from others can do bhajana.
We should pass our lives without causing disturbance to anyone, while at the same time, acting for the welfare of others. Para-upakare nija-sukha pasaribe—the life and soul of the devotees is the happiness of Krsna and His family. We help others not for their pleasure, but for the pleasure of Krsna.
We serve them maha-prasada and provide help only to please Krsna. In this way, they will change and come to Krsna consciousness, to Mahaprabhu’s movement. Only for this purpose we help others.
hoile-o sarva-gune guni mahasoy
pratinthasa chadi koro amani hrdoy
When we thus possess all good qualities, we should be careful to give up desire for prestige. We should not think of ourselves as the doer. Even if we do great things for Guru and Vaisnavas, we should know that actually Krsna has arranged everything. One who thinks like this is protected from pratistha.
krsna-adhisthana sarva-jive jani sada
korobi sammana sabe adare sarvada
Why do we help all the jivas? Because we know—krsna-adhisthana—Krsna is present in the hearts of all living entities. All souls are Krsna’s part and parcels and therefore worthy of respect and honor. Our duty is to bring them to Krsna’s movement by showing them love and affection, or if necessary by hook and crook.
dainya doya anye mana pratistha-varjan
cari gune guni hoi' koroha kirtan
Krsna-kirtana becomes possible for one who possesses humility, forgiveness, gives respect to others, and never desires name and fame.
bhakativinoda kandi bole prabhu-pay
heno adhikara kabe dibe he amay
Bhaktivinoda Thakura weeps and prays to the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu, “Oh Prabhu, when will that day come when you will give me the adhikara to do harinama-sankirtana?