JAGAD-GURU
THE KRISHNA CHORALE
The Choir of the Cathedral of Understanding
The City of God
New Vrindaban, West Virginia

His Divine Grace Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada, League of Devotees—Cities of God Founder/Acharya
His Holiness Devamrita Swami, Temple President
His Grace Hrishikesh Das, Director of Music
Professor Alfred R. de Jaager, Choirmaster

FOREWORD

Since the dawn of history, music and worship have been inseparably united. Brahmins in ancient India chanted Vedic mantras. Catholic priests in Medieval Europe recited Gregorian psalmody. The founder of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther, said: “Next to theology, I give the first and highest honor to music.” Music has the power to transform spoken scripture into a rapturous communion of the soul with the divine.

As the ages passed, new cultures borrowed heavily from previous civilizations. The high priests of ancient Persia recited melodies which had come from the Vedic brahmins. The Jewish cantors adopted musical styles from the Persians. The Byzantine clergy sang canticles based on the Jewish psalter, and Catholic priests intoned the Mass in Gregorian chants which often were derived from the Byzantine rite.

The great Lutheran composer, J. S. Bach, based many of his works on Catholic plainsong chants, and subsequent Protestant denominations have transplanted entire songs, note for note, into their own hymnals, changing only the words to suit their particular doctrines.

Today, at New Vrindaban, the ancient religion of the East—eternal sanatana dharma, or Krishna consciousness—is now uniting the music of the West with the texts of the Vedic scriptures. The cycle has gone around full swing!

This is because service to God is dynamic, not static. It evolves, never withers to nothingness. It adapts itself to unique times and circumstances and constantly strives to bring all living entities back to the One Lord who created us all.

In reality, the goal of all religion is to love God. Whether we call him Krishna or Allah, Yahweh or Christ, it doesn’t matter. What matters is our sincerity and determination to become perfect children of God, to render complete loving service to God.

In New Vrindaban—and in all the Cities of God—we hope to create that ideal community where devotees of the Lord from every tradition can live and worship in a chorus of perfect harmony, united together by love of God. Hare Krishna.

His Divine Grace Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada
League of Devotees—Cities of God Founder/Acharya

Sopranos (* denotes section leader) Tammy Dixon, Mary Hadsell, Krishna-Bhakti, Kulangana, Pundarika, Purnima, *Ragamathani, Syama, Sikhi-Mahiti

Altos: Bhavisya, Daksinavari, *Janaki, Janesvari, Rohini, Sanatha, Shyama

Tenors: Barbara, Dhruva, *Mahabuddhi, Terry Logan

Basses: Ananta, &Dhirodatta, Steve Lembeck, Eric Thomas, Matthew Van Camp, Visvatamukha, Yadubara

Librarian: Shyama

Side One

1) Bells of the Cathedral of Understanding

2) Jagad Guru
lyrics by Jayadeva Goswami Das
music by Hrishikesh Das
Soprano solo by Pundarika Devi Dasi

nama om visnu-padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate kirtanananda svamin it namine

I offer my humble obeisances unto His Divine Grace Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at his lotus feet.

namas te bhaktipadaya prabhupada priyayate
lila ksetram param-dhamam sthapitam yena pascime

I offer my respects to you, Srila Bhaktipada, who are very dear to Srila Prabhupada, having established a transcendental place of pilgrimage where Krishna’s pastimes are displayed in the West.

caitanya-sankirtan-dhama navya-
vrndavanam dhama praksitam tu
yenaiva tam sri-prabhupada-prestham
sri-bhaktipadam satatam stumas tam

Let us sing about the unlimited transcendental qualities of His Divine Grace Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada, who is very dear to Srila Prabhupada because of his spontaneous love and devotion, the mature fruit of which is the New Vrindaban Project, which is boldly preaching the glories of Lord Chaitanya all over the world.

prajanukarsam prabhupadadeva-
prasadam adhyam vilasantam eva
vaikuntha-dhameva manim tu yasmat
sri-bhaktipadam satatam stumas tam

This love for Srila Prabhupada has blossomed as the gem of Srila Prabhupada’s Palace, the effulgence of which shines brilliantly throughout the universe. In this way Srila Bhaktipada has manifested the opulence of Vaikuntha for attracting every conditioned soul to Krishna consciousness. Therefore, let us always glorify the wonderful attributes of His Divine Grace.

sri-krsna-varta-cayam aprameyam
ajnapayaj jiva-kulam krpaluh
gurupadesanugatir ya eva
sri-bhaktipadam satatam stumas tam

Let us offer prayers in worship of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktipada. He is delivering the message of the absolute realm to every soul in this world by fulfilling the order of Srila Prabhupada to establish New Vrindaban as a model Krishna conscious community in the Western World.

sri-srila-vrndavanacandradeva-
bhaktam prasantam para-tositam tu
subhotsaham suddha-matim sukham ca
sri-bhaktipadam satatam stumas tam

He possesses all the qualities of a pure devotee; he is always self-satisfied, and always carries within his heart Sri-Sri Radha-Vrindaban Chandra. Thus, he infects everyone with his ecstatic, enthusiastic serving mood to Their Lordships. Therefore, let us sing about the wonderful attributes of Srila Bhaktipada.

dharmam param bhagavatam nibodhan
bhaktan sada sasti sutarka-nathah
sri-krsna-padambuja-samsrito yah
sri-bhaktipadam satatam stumas tam

Let us chant hymns in praise of His Divine Grace Srila Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada, who fully knows the meaning of the scriptures and always enlightens the devotees on the transcendental science of Krishna consciousness. By his undefeatable logic he establishes firmly the truth of Bhagavata-dharma.

saubhagyavan rupa-sanatanadi-
siksayutatma prabhupada-dasyah
bhaktaih stuto yah paramarjavo vai
sri-bhaktipadam satatam stumas tam

Let us sing about the unlimited transcendental qualities of His Divine Grace Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada, who appeared in this world simply for the purpose of helping to spread the mission of the Goswamis [the six major followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]. From the very beginning he was the first in helping Srila Prabhupada with every aspect of his preaching.

samsarinas carvita-carvanan yah
sammajjavaty eva krpambudo vai
sri-krsna-premabdhi-vare ’mrte tu
sri-bhaktipadam satatam stumas tam

Let us sing the glories of His Divine Grace, who is pouring torrents of devotion from the ocean of his heart, which is over flooded with Krishna-prema [bhakti, or love of God], into the desert-like minds of the conditioned souls, who are rotting within this material world, chewing the chewed again and again.

santis tu yasya prabhupada-siksa-
nisthapi daksyam tapa isa-bhaktih
sarvesu lokesu suhrt-svabhavah
sri-bhaktipadam satatam stumas tam

Completely fixed in the instructions of Srila Prabhupada, determined to execute them, fully controlled, an ocean of wisdom, friendly to all living beings, always peaceful, effulgent, expert, grave, completely detached, all these are simply a drop in the limitless list of spiritual attributes of His Divine Grace Srila Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada, who we attempt to glorify.

Jaya jagad guru srila bhaktipada
All glories to Srila Bhaktipada, the universal teacher!

3) Sri Nrsimha Pranama
lyrics by Jayadeva Goswami (c. 1070-1120)
music by Hrishikesh Das
bass solo by Matthew Van Camp

namas te nara-simhaya
prahladahlada-dayine
hiranyakasipor vaksah
sila-tanka-nakhalaye

I offer my obeisances to Lord Nrsimhadeva, who is always giving bliss to his devotees like Prahlada Maharaja and chiseling at the hearts of demons like Hiranyakasipu.

Ito nrsimhah parato nrsimho
Yato yato yami tato nrsimhah
Bahir nrsimho hrdaye nrsimho
Nrsimham adim saranam pradadye

The devotee always sees Lord Nrsimha everywhere. Lord Nrsimha is within and without. Therefore let us all take shelter of Lord Nrsimha.

Tava kara-kamala-vare nakham Adbhuta-srngam
Dalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhrngam
Kesava dhrta-nara-hari-rupa jaya Jagadisa hare

Oh my Lord Nrsimha, your hands are very beautiful, like the lotus flower, but with your long nails you have ripped apart the wasp-like Hiranyakasipu. Unto you, Lord of the universe, I offer my humble obeisances.

4) Psalm #1

Blessed is he who goeth not with sinners,
Nor listens to the babble of the ungodly,
But he delighteth in the sacred primers,
Even when they appear to our senses quite oddly.

Then is he like a tree by the rivers of water,
Bringing forth good fruit in due time
Like a beautiful and bountiful daughter;
And whatsoever he doeth will perfectly rhyme.

The ungodly can never be so,
But like the chaff the wind driveth them away;
Therefore to his kingdom they cannot go,
Nor anymore lead his loved ones astray.

For the Lord loveth the ways of the righteous,
But the ways of the ungodly are contemptuous.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare;
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Side Two

1) Hare Krishna
music by Giovanni Palestrina (1526-1594)

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare;
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

2) The Soul
lyrics by Mudakari Devi Dasi
music by J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

I dwell within the hearts of all,
I enter by desire;
I am not withered by the wind,
Nor scorched by burning fire.

From humble gnat to demigod,
I fuel activity;
A self-illumined particle
No mundane eye can see.

I am unborn and never die,
Eternally unchanged;
Pure spirit and pure consciousness,
From my real home estranged.

Through many bodies I have passed,
I’ve reaped what I have sowed.
Someday my journey I’ll complete,
And reach the Lord’s abode.

3) Krishna, Joy of Man’s Desiring
lyrics by Hrishikesh Das
music by J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

Krishna, joy of man’s desiring,
Holy Godhead, love most bright.
Drawn to thee, my heart’s aspiring,
Sound thy name—my ear’s delight.

Lead me not into temptation,
Save my soul from condemnation.
’Pon a sinful wretch like me,
Grant thy grace eternally.

4) Hari, Hari, Hari! Lord God Almighty
lyrics by Devamrita Swami
adapted from a poem by Reginal Heber (1783-1826)
music by John B. Dykes (1823-1876)

Hari, Hari, Hari! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Hari, Hari, Hari! Transcendental glory!
Infinite person, blessed purity!

Rama, Rama, Rama! Perfect royal father!
When will every state and nation be like thy Ayodhya;
Rama, Rama, Rama! Savior of Sita,
Perfect in power, in chivalry and valor!

Krishna, Krishna, Krishna! Reservoir of pleasure!
Hearing thy Vrindaban pastimes is the secret nectar;
Krishna, Krishna, Krishna! Conquered by Radha,
Darling of Vraja, infallible lover!

Hari, Hari, Hari! All the saints adore thee!
Pious souls cling to they feet and chant eternally;
Hari, Hari, Hari! Though illusion hides thee,
Thou wert and art and evermore shall be.

5) My Spiritual Master Liveth
lyrics by Devamrita Swami
music by G. F. Handel (1685-1759) from the Messiah
soprano solo by Ragamathani Devi Dasi

I know that my spiritual master liveth, and that by his grace even a wretch as I can love Krishna. I know that my Prabhupada liveth, and by disciplic link his will marches on! Jai Bhaktipada! And though Maya attacks this body, yet in my soul shall I be strong. Who dares measure what the guru giveth? And though fools doth protest his glory, yet through him shall I see God. For by his sweet pleasure upon the jiva, a lost servant can go back home.

6) The Hare Krishna Chorus
lyrics by H. D. G. Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada
music by G. F. Handel (1685-1759) from the Messiah

Hare Krishna! Hare Rama! For the Lord’s name omnipotent reigneth. The chanting of his name is become the dharma for this age. His name shall reign for ever and ever. Chant his name! The only way! Hare Krishna!

THE CHOIRMASTER

Professor Alfred R. de Jaager, Ch.M., American Guild of Organists, received his B.A. at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, his M.M. at West Virginia University, and has completed course work on the D.M.A. in choral conducting at the University of Cincinnati College—Conservatory of Music. He is an associate professor of music at West Liberty State College, and has received the S. Lewis Elmer Award, for the nation’s highest score on the Ch.M. exam. Mr. de Jaager also directs three choirs at West Liberty State College.

Credits:

Recording engineered by Vaikunthanath Das.
Organ and Digital Sampler played by Hrishikesh Das.
Copyrights for all lyrics plus the music for Jagad Guru and Sri Nrsimha Pranam are owned by Palace Publishing.

For a free catalog of books and tapes write to: Palace Publishing, RD 1 Box 320, New Vrindaban, WV 26041.