Q&A with HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj | ISKCON Japan | November 8, 2025 |
jaya rādhā-mādhava kuñja-vihārī
gopījana-vallabha giri-vara-dhārī
yaśodā-nandana vraja-jana-rañjana
yamunā-tīra-vana-cārī
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare
Jaya Prabhupāda Jaya Prabhupāda
Prabhupāda Jaya Prabhupāda
Q & A:
1.) So, because we use Tulasi Maharani, so we have got some questions like, because in India there are different Maharaj’s they give different opinions. We should not worship Tulasi on Sunday, or we should not worship on Friday, or we should not worship on 29th of every month.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Oh really [Laughs]?
Devotee: Or Tulasi Maharani we should not chew? So, just asking these type of questions because we need an answer.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Well, the only work we consult usually is Hari Bhakti Vilasa. So, that does not say that you can’t worship Tulasi on a certain day. The only forbidden day is don’t pick the Tulasi leaves on the Dwadasi. That’s about it [Laughs]. That’s it. Nothing else [Laughs]. Otherwise nothing [Laughs].
Devotee: He said that 29th of every month don’t worship Tulasi. This question came from an ISKCON devotee.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Okay, anyway. Not in Hari Bhakti Vilasa also. So, I don’t know where it comes from.
2.) On Radhastami, he was doing the Kirtan like Radhe Radhe, Radhe Radhe. And Maharaj was a little bit angry on him that don’t do Radhe Radhe. How to understand this?
Well, Prabhupada didn’t chant nor, did not encourage devotees to chant Radhe Radhe or any other mantra like that. So, all we have is Hare Krishna [Laughs].
Devotee: There are other bhajans also right, Jaya Radhe Jaya Krishna, so in that Radharani?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Yeah, you can sing if it is bhajans. Bonafide bhajans from our Acharyas like Bhaktivinoda Thakur or Rupa Goswami. But not other bhajans from some other group we don’t know about [Laughs].
Devotee: He’s saying that he has heard on youtube that in Vrindavan or Mayapur or other bhajan kirtan melas, devotees sing like this, Radhe Radhe and all.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: They do. But I mean as I said, Prabhupada [Laughs] didn’t say, I don’t think ever he has a kirtan with Radhe in it. And so most senior Prabhupada disciples don’t chant it. The Kirtan Ministry has put out a booklet on rules for Kirtan, so I think that contains a lot of things, like [Laughs] we chant Hare Krishna, we don’t chant Radhe Radhe, I think it has all these rules and. I think the main reason why Prabhupada discouraged is because devotees start chanting these things, and they start chanting them more and more and more, and they [Laughs] chant [Laughs] less Hare Krishna. I don’t think we have any record of Lord Caitanya also chanting you know, Radhe Radhe, does not come in Caitanya Caritamrta, Caitanya Bhagavat also.
3.) Generally in India, we have got two deities, Mula vigraha and Utsava vigraha. So while offering bhoga and other sevas, we offer to the small deities. We don’t touch the big deities because they are different. So here we haven’t got small Adi Radha Govinda ji. So what should we do during offering bhoga and all?
So, you can use the small deities for offering. Before, there were not small deities. So now you have. So you can the small deities to offer [Laughs].
4.) So this is about the Gopastami or Radhastami. That some of the temples, they will show Radharani’s Lotus Feet darshan on these two days. But some temples don’t do like that. So what should we follow here?
I think Prabhupada standard didn’t do in general. I think it is some sort of custom they do in Vrindavan temples. And I think the Deity Ministry [Laughs], if you read their things, probably say, better not to.
5.) Maharaj what about Kanthi? Maharaj, about the Kanthi. Like some guests, they want Kanthi. But they are chanting one round or two rounds. Sometimes they are eating onion and garlic also. Sometimes may be, sometimes they are eating non-veg also. I have some examples like that. So in that case, what to do? Is it okay to put Kanthi even if they are?
Well, there’s actually no rule mentioned in the Hari Bhakti Vilasa about who can and can’t. We can always advise them. [Laughs] They should follow Vaishnava principles. It’s also like chanting the Name. So you got reasons like, you can’t chant Hare Krishna unless you follow [Laughs] four regulative principles. No, we don’t say that also.
6.) This question, I don’t know this question. But we have, when we chant, right? And we have counter. So somebody says, we when, while chanting 16 rounds, the counter has the 16 beads, right? So from top to bottom they take. Some say, no, no. You always have to take from bottom to top because we have to go up. So it should be [Laughs].
This is some [Laughs] Christian comment I think [Laughs]. No rule [Laughs].
7.) Maharaj, what is the rule for this Kanthi? When initiated, you should have three rounds, not initiated, two rounds.
No rules. No rules.
Devotee: So who started all this [Laughs]? Because initiation, then they put three rounds.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Oh, I see.
Devotee: But there is no rule ah?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: No rule.
Devotee: So a new person can also have three rounds.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Of course [Laughs]. I think the Kanthi mala are a custom in the Gaudiya Sampradaya. But I don’t think there is any rule, scriptural rules about it.
8.) Hi, Hare Krishna Maharaj Ji. Maharaj ji, like in Krishna book, we have seen like there is a lot of, there are a lot of writings about Kadamba tree like before killing the Kaliya Naga also, all the trees were dead except the Kadamba tree. So, what is the significance of Kadamba tree in all the pastimes?
So, the Kadamba tree is mentioned in some of the pastimes in some of the poetic works. But it doesn’t explain any particular reason for Krishna using that tree or whatever. But it seems that He likes the tree [Laughs]. So, He’s often near the tree or under the tree or wearing it’s garland.
Devotee: Thank you. Hare Krishna.
9.) So, his question is like in Japan or working people, they have to chant on train or, so they cannot carry the mala with them because when they are traveling they may have to go to toilet or somewhere. So, they use the counter now. So, what is the difference in chanting on counter or chanting on beads?
So, of course, beads are mentioned in the scripture. And the purpose is to count the mantras. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when He was traveling in South India, He didn’t have any beads, He was using his fingers [Laughs]. And there’s some descriptions in the poetic literature that when He was in Puri, then He would have a string of knots on it [Laughs]. He would count that way. So, therefore, the idea is to count, but it doesn’t really matter what you use [Laughs].
Devotee: Anybody is okay? Any certain person also can chant on that counter, small counter?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Yeah, when he’s traveling or whatever like that. Of course, the Gaudiyas also as a custom use Tulasi mala but that’s not universal. I think in Sri Sampradaya they will have lotus seed mala. So, there are different malas you could have in different traditions. I don’t know what do their followers use. Do they have a different mala?
Devotee: I don’t know.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: [Laughs]
Devotee: But that counter is a machine. But beads are like different. It does not matter?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Well, I think Jayapataka Maharaj has some on the counter, he has put some Tulasi on it [Laughs]. You can also put Tulasi on it [Laughs].
Devotee: So, his question is, okay, while traveling, Tulasi mala may be not good to travel. So, can I take the neem mala also?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Yeah.
10.) I have a question. What is karma, akarma and vikarma?
Well, of course, karma has several meanings. One of the meanings is you do prescribed activities according to dharma. So, when we say karma yoga, then we’re talking about following the rules of dharma. And vikarma means doing the opposite [Laughs] of the rules, in other words, doing sinful activities. And of course, akarma means not doing anything.
Devotee: So, what is vikarma?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Of course, another meaning of akarma is you do the activity with no attachment to the result. So, there is no papa or punya involved. So, of course, any living being cannot avoid activity. And it’s better to do karma than vikarma. But we want to avoid reaction, so, therefore, we don’t have any attachment to the results when we do the karma, so, therefore, it becomes akarma.
11.) Maharaj ji, in Nectar of Instruction, you explained and we studied like, on the level of devotees, we should act differently and offer our respects. And in Bhagavad Gita, it says that a devotee should or must see each devotee or other person on the same equal level. That is pandita samadarsina. So, can you please elaborate on this?
So, seeing equally a brahmana and a chandala and an elephant and a cow or whatever, or a dog or a dog-eater, this actually is some praiseworthy quality for a jnani. So, in general, the devotee also should not see in terms of bodies. But the madhyama devotee, he avoids the materialists and the atheists and the demons and he associates with devotees. So, he is making some distinctions. And then among the devotees, he treats them differently according to their level of advancement. And according to that, then he can advance in his bhakti.
Devotee: Maharaj, but pandita samadarsina picture is there. In that picture it shows that pandit is looking at the Supersoul in everybody like in animal or human being. So does that mean that looking equally means looking at the existence of Supersoul in this?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Well, it can be two, two things, for the impersonalists, they see Supreme atma everywhere [Laughs]. That we are atma and we are Brahman. And for the devotee, of course, it can be Paramatma. Of course, atma is also there, Paramatma also there.
12.) What is the difference between Guru and Acharya? It is said that one who teaches by example is Acharya, and we see in ISKCON, many of Maharaj and brahmacharis are leading Krishna consciousness or makes us learn by their example of that. So, is it okay to acknowledge our Maharaj as Acharya?
So, in scripture and our Acharyas, they also use the word Guru and Acharya interchangeable. However, in recent times, particularly with Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and Srila Prabhupada, the word Acharya has become a more elevated term. Of course, Acharya also is Guru. But we use it to say very elevated. So, therefore, in ISKCON generally we don’t use the word Acharya for any devotee or ISKCON Guru. And we use the word Founder Acharya for Srila Prabhupada. And then we use the word Acharya to indicate Rupa Goswami or Sanatana Goswami or Viswanath Cakravarthi Thakur [Laughs].
Devotee: Yes. There is one more follow-up question. It is also said that Acharya is allowed to change the rules and regulations. Is it correct?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: So, the basic rules, we never change. But according to the time and place, some of the, let’s say, minor rules may be adjusted. So we have a rule, everybody should chant the Holy Name. But then we may give different numbers according to different people at different times.
Devotee: So, this Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was, at that time, it was 64 rounds.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: In general.
Devotee: And then Srila Prabhupada said…
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: But that wasn’t for everybody [Laughs]. Because sometimes, four rounds, three rounds, whatever you do, you can do [Laughs]. And of course, for this Namadaana, it wasn’t so serious.
Devotee: And then Srila Prabhupada said, at least you chant 16 rounds every day.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Yeah
13.) Yeah, the same question was, if we only acknowledge Srila Prabhupada as Acharya, and he’s allowed to change the minor rules. But if we see that, I don’t know, means like, when I was in India, it is said that we are not allowed to eat mushroom, and like this chocolate, and these cocoa things at our homes, because it was said by our near ISKCON temple. But when I came to Japan, I saw that some of the devotees are eating this mushroom and this cocoa. So it was, I think, and then Prabhupada also stresses upon the four regulative principles. So isn’t it like to change the word of Acharya? I’m not qualified, so I don’t know what it is.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: What? Chocolate?
Devotee: Yeah, I think chocolate or something, cocoa powder. I don’t know chocolate or cocoa powder.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Well, Prabhupada never said anything about chocolate. Or even coca-cola, for that matter [Laughs], or mushrooms. Even he ate mushrooms at one time. So he didn’t. So but individual temples in India make some rule like that. That’s all.
14.) There was one question that why suffering is created?
Suffering is a result of ignorance. If we think we are the body, then we experience suffering. If we completely identify with atma, no suffering, because there’s no birth, death, or anything. And the suffering, the direct cause is karma. So, it’s not that Krishna makes suffering for the Jiva, the Jiva creates his suffering by doing karma [Laughs], sinful activities which create karma.
Devotee: Maharaj, like if Jiva and karma is anadi and eternal, then why we should go back to Godhead because it’s eternal means, then why he has to go to spiritual world. Jiva and karma are eternal right?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: No beginning, but can have an end. So, that doesn’t make it eternal [Laughs].
15.) Maharaj ji, like in one of the lectures I learnt about the five ingredients of rasa, that is vibhava, anubhava, sthayi bhava, anamban and udippan. So, is my thinking correct on understanding that sthayi bhava is the last to develop and before that, our rasa can be changed, in, like the way we pray to Krishna, or the way we do our bhakti towards Krishna. And the last bhava that we get is the sthayi bhava and that becomes permanent and then we do bhakti in that rasa.
The sthayi bhava develops at the stage of Bhava. And without that sthayi bhava, we won’t have anubhavas or vyabhichari bhavas or sattvika bhavas [Laughs]. So, it’s, may be first to manifest.
Devotee: Okay Maharaj ji. So, it means like, till we reach the Bhava stage, the way we do bhakti, it can change?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: You can worship Rama or Krishna or Narasimha or Vishnu or whatever, you can change [Laughs].
Devotee: Or Sakhya or Madhurya? Sometimes I treat like, Krishna as my friend. I share everything. Sometimes I treat like Vatsalya bhava or like any other bhava, Dasya bhava. So, that can change till I reach to the Bhava stage.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Yeah.
Devotee: Thank you, Maharaj ji. Hare Krishna.
16.) Maharaj, Lord Shiva has 55 qualities and Vishnu has 60. So which are the qualities those are missing in Lord Shiva?
He can’t manifest universes, he cannot manifest avatars. And when Vishnu kills demons they don’t go to hell. And though Shiva manifests powers, Vishnu manifests more powers.
17.) In Srila Prabhupada’s dream, Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur came or he gave instruction. So, when we see any dreams related to devotee or somebody, is that any shakti of Krishna? How it works?
Well, in our state, we shouldn’t pay too much attention to the dreams. So we are still influenced by the gunas, and therefore the dreams may also not be purely spiritual. Hare Krishna.
Devotees: HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj ki jai!!! Srila Prabhupada ki jai!!!