In spring 1984 at the London Hare Krishna Temple I met two young English musicians just returned from studying under their guru in India. They so liked the temple chanting that they suggested we record some of it together. I had long wanted to make an album of temple chants and readily agreed. After a week’s rehearsals we travelled to Chaitanya College near Worcester where my friend Mohan Das managed a superbly equipped audio studio. They brought their tablas and sitar, and my friends Vedavyasa and Srikama came to sing and to play tamboura and kartals. We spent two enjoyable days together. After a few weeks the musicians went on their way, and six months later Mohan presented me with Message of Devotion. I am grateful to him and my friends who helped make this tape possible, as well as to all those over the years who have expressed their appreciation of it. May we all be fortunate to hear one day the transcendental flute-song of the original divine musician of Vrindavan.Ranchor Prime, February 20041. Invocation: Prayers to the Previous Saints and Teachers 2’30om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakayacaksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namahI was born in the darkness of ignorance, and the guru opened my eyes with the light of knowledge. I offer my respects to the guru. 2. Jaya Radha-Madhava 9’03Sung before reading from Srimad Bhagavatamjaya radha-madhava kunja-biharigopi-jana-vallabha giri-vara-dhariyasoda-nandana braja-jana-ranjanayamuna-tira-vana-cariKrishna is the lover of Radha. He displays loving pastimes in the groves of Vrindavana. He is the lover of the cowherd maidens of Vraja, who lifted the great hill named Govardhana. He is the beloved son of mother Yasoda, who delights the inhabitants of Vraja. He wanders in the forests along the banks of the River Yamuna.3. Eight Prayers to the Guru 13’26Sung early in the morning1. The guru receives benediction from the ocean of mercy. As a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the guru extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence. chorus: I give my respects to the lotus feet of the guru.2. The guru is always chanting and hearing the message of Chaitanya and sometimes dances in ecstasy. Sometimes the guru feels shivering in the body in spiritual trance.3. The guru is always occupied with disciples in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.4. The guru always offers foodstuffs to Krishna. Seeing devotees eating sacred food the guru is satisfied.5. The guru is always eager to hear and chant about the wonderful loving exchanges of Radhika and Madhava, as well as about their qualities, names and forms. The guru aspires to relish these things at every moment.6. The guru is expert in assisting the gopis in the perfection of Radha-Krishna conjugal loving affairs. At different times they make tasteful arrangements for such spiritual exchange and the guru assists in the affairs.7. The guru is identical with the Supreme Lord because he is dear to the Lord. This is acknowledged in the revealed scriptures and accepted by saints. 8. By the mercy of the spiritual master one is benedicted by the mercy of Krishna. Without the grace of the spiritual master no one can make any advancement. Therefore I should always remember my spiritual master. At least three times a day I give my respects to the lotus feet of the guru.4. Prayer for Protection 4’06Sung after worshipI offer my obeisances to Lord Narasimha, who gives joy to Prahlada Maharaja and whose nails are like chisels on the stone-like chest of the demon Hiranyakasipu. Lord Narasimha is here and also there. Wherever I go Lord Narasimha is there. He is in my heart and is outside as well. I surrender to Lord Narasimha, the origin of all things and the supreme refuge.O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who has assumed the form of half-man, half-lion! All glories to You! Just as one can easily crush a wasp between one’s fingernails, so in the same way the body of the wasp-like demon Hiranyakasipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands.5. Sri Isopanisad 10’47Invocation: The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete. All emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the complete whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the complete whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance.1. Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for oneself, which are set as one’s quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.2. One may aspire to live for hundreds of years if one continuously goes on working in that way, for that sort of work will not bind one to the law of karma. There is no alternative to this way for humans.3. The killer of the soul, whoever that may be, must enter into the planets known as the worlds of the faithless, full of darkness and ignorance.4. Although fixed in His abode, the Personality of Godhead is swifter than the mind and can overcome all others running. The powerful demigods cannot approach Him. Although in one place, He controls those who supply the air and rain. He surpasses all in excellence.5. The Supreme Lord walks and does not walk. He is far away, but He is very near as well. He is within everything, and yet He is outside everything.6. One who sees everything in relation to the Supreme Lord, who sees all entities as His parts and parcels and who sees the Supreme Lord within everything, never hates anything nor any being.7. One who always sees all living entities as spiritual sparks, in quality one with the lord, becomes a truer knower of things. What, then, can be illusion or anxiety for such a person?8. That person must factually know the greatest of all, who is unembodied, omniscient, beyond reproach, without veins, pure and uncontaminated, the self-sufficient philosopher who has been fulfilling everyone’s desire since time immemorial.9. Those who engage in the culture of nescient activities shall enter the darkest region of ignorance. Worse still are those engaged in the culture of so-called knowledge.10. The wise have explained that one result is derived from the culture of knowledge and that a different result is obtained from the culture of nescience.11. Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessing of immortality.12. Those who are engaged in the worship of demigods enter the darkest region of ignorance, and still more so do the worshipers of the impersonal Absolute.13. It is said that one result is obtained by worshiping the supreme cause of all causes and that another result is obtained by worshiping that which is not supreme. All this was heard from the undisturbed authorities who clearly explained it.14. One should know perfectly the Personality of Godhead and His transcendental name, as well as the temporary material creation with its temporary demigods, humans and animals. When one knows these, one surpasses death and the ephemeral cosmic manifestation with it, and in the kingdom of God one enjoys eternal life of bliss and knowledge.15. O my Lord, sustainer of all that lives, your real face is covered by your dazzling effulgence. Please remove that covering and exhibit yourself to your pure devotee.16. O my Lord, O primeval philosopher, maintainer of the universe, O regulating principle, destination of the pure devotees, well-wisher of the progenitors of mankind — please remove the effulgence of your transcendental rays so that I can see your form of bliss. You are the eternal Supreme Personality of Godhead, like unto the sun, as am I.17. Let this temporary body be burnt to ashes, and let the air of life be merged with the totality of air. Now, O my Lord, please remember all my sacrifices, and because You are the ultimate beneficiary please remember all that I have done for You.18. O my Lord, powerful as fire, omnipotent one, now I offer You all obeisances and fall on the ground at your feet. O my Lord, please lead me on the right path to reach You, and since You know all that I have done in the past please free me from the reactions to my past sins so that there will be no hindrance to my progress.6. Evening Arati for Lord Chaitanya 14’391. All glories, all glories to the beautiful arati ceremony of Sri Chaitanya. This ceremony is taking place in a grove on the banks of the Ganges and is attracting the minds of all living entities in the universe.2. On Sri Chaitanya’s right side is Lord Nityananda, and on His left is Sri Gadadhara. Nearby stands Sri Advaita, and Srivasa Thakura holds an umbrella over the Lord’s head.3. Sri Chaitanya has sat down on a jewelled throne, and the demigods headed by Lord Brahma perform the arati ceremony.4. Narahari Sarakara and other associates of Sri Chaitanya fan Him with chamaras, and devotees headed by Sanjaya Pandit, Mukunda Datta, and Vasu Ghosa sing sweetly.5. Conch shells, bells and cymbals resound, and the mrdangas play very sweetly. This music is supremely sweet and relishable to hear.6. The brilliance of Sri Chaitanya’s face conquers millions upon millions of moons, and the garland of forest flowers around His neck shines.7. Lord Siva, Sukadeva Gosvami, and Narada Muni are all there, and their voices are choked with the ecstasy of transcendental love. Thus Thakura Bhaktivinoda envisions the glory of Sri Chaitanya.7. Hare Krishna Mantra (bonus track)This rough cut was recorded at an informal chanting session in Oxford (thanks to Keshava Kiernan and Shaunaka Rishi)