Dinanath Dasa and the Second Sandhya Arati of Sri Sri Krishna-Balaram (April 21, 1975)

On the evening of April 21, 1975—the day following the historic Rama Navami grand opening of the Krishna-Balaram Mandir—the temple room in Raman Reti was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with devotees from around the world. Moments earlier, the room had been immersed in the gentle, introspective bhajan Gaurāṅga Śaraṇaṁ Mama. But as the pujaris cleared the front of the altar and the deep vibration of the conch shell broke through the hall, the quiet anticipation erupted into an unforgettable surge of devotion.

This was only the second Sandhya Arati in the history of the temple, offering worship to the newly installed forms of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, Sri Sri Krishna-Balaram, and Sri Sri Radha-Shyamasundar with Lalita and Visakha. Stepping forward to anchor the kirtan for this milestone was Dinanath das (ACBSP).

From the Kitchen Marathon to the Altar Front

Just hours before the arati began, Gopati das (ACBSP) had completed a marathon day of service inside the temple kitchen. Working alongside Ananda Maharaj and Srila Prabhupada’s sister, Pishima, a small crew led by Apurva das had spent the day preparing the elaborate Raj Bhoga offering specified by Srila Prabhupada: twenty-five individual preparations arrayed across ten plates.

Exhausted from the heat and smoke yet spiritually energized, Gopati brought his portable tape recorder into the temple room just as the evening program commenced. Having documented the serene prelude before the curtains parted, the microphone was running when Dinanath took command of the kirtan.

Dinanath Dasa: Driving the Rhythms of the Holy Name

Throughout the mid-1970s, Dinanath das was revered among his godbrothers as one of ISKCON’s powerhouse kirtaniyas. Just weeks earlier, on March 23, 1975, he had stood at the main gates of Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir leading the roaring welcome kirtan that greeted Srila Prabhupada’s arrival. His kirtans and aratis became the soundtrack of the festival that year.  

Here in Vrindavan, taking the lead for the second-ever evening arati of Krishna and Balarama, Dinanath channeled that exact devotional intensity:

A Living Archival Treasure

This recording captures the authentic soundscape of ISKCON during the 1975 Mayapur/Vrindavan Festival. There are no studio enhancements or modern acoustics—only the raw, heartfelt vibration of early pioneers singing before their beloved Deities on the second night of Their appearance in Raman Reti.

Track: Second Sandhya Arati Kirtan (April 21, 1975)

Lead Kirtaniya: Dinanath das (ACBSP)

Location: Sri Sri Krishna-Balaram Mandir, Raman Reti, Vrindavan, India

Recorded by: Gopati das (ACBSP)

Archive & Historical Recordings: prasad.life/kitchen-kirtans