Srila Prabhupada passtimes: 36- Chant Hare Krishna Again

Jayapataka Swami : We were invited to a Bhagavad-gita conference in Maharastra sponsored by Vinoda Bhave, a disciple of Gandhiji. Vinoda Bhave was one of the most famous saints in the Gandhi tradition, and big political leaders used to meet with him. One of his last campaigns was for cow protection. Somehow he was holding a big conference on the Bhagavad-gita, and he invited Prabhupada and many other sadhus to come. I was there for that conference. 

Vinoda Bhave's many women disciples chanted chapters of the Bhagavad-gita and Vinoda Bhave spoke. Then Prabhupada had us, his men and women disciples from all over the world, chant Hare Krishna in a big kirtan. Everybody got into the kirtan, laughing and clapping, and then Prabhupada delivered a very nice lecture. 

A Mayavadi sannyasi was upset at Prabhupada's kirtan and the positive effect it had on the crowd. Normally this Mayavadi would have just given a Bhagavad-gita class, but now he wanted to do a kirtan also. He told the people, "You should all chant with me. We will have a kirtan." It seemed as if he made up some unusual mantra right on the spot. Nobody was inspired by it. In the middle Prabhupada said to the devotees, "Chant Hare Krishna again," and the devotees jumped up with kartals and mridanga and started chanting. Everyone was relieved because the Mayavadi's chanting was so strange.

Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 1
Author: Siddhanta Dasa