Srila Prabhupada"We are not musicians.Mrdanga, karatala, that is enough."

Bombay, 28 December, 1974

San Francisco

My dear Jagadisa Pandita,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents.
My opinion is that it is not necessary for us to utilize these different musical talents for spreading Krishna Consciousness. I would rather see people follow strictly the path of Lord Caitanya and His Sankirtana devotees. We are using mrdanga, karatala, that is enough. We are not musicians. We are Krishna bhaktas.

Therefore we do not stress so much importance on these different musical talents. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is God Himself. Had He thought it would have been better to spread Krishna Consciousness by another way He would have done so. But no, simply with mrdanga and karatala, traveling and chanting Hare Krishna, asking everyone to chant Hare Krishna, preaching simply Srimad-Bhagavatam philosophy, this is the process.

There is no need for us to try and add anything to this simple method. It will only be a distraction. Therefore I request you to follow the simple path of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and help me spread this wonderful mission all over the world.

Keep yourself pure and fixed up in Krishna Consciousness by following the basic principles that I have given; chanting 16 rounds daily, following the four regulative principles, rising early, attending mangala arati and classes etc. This is of the utmost importance.”
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/ps