Prasad.Life - Chicago Mangal Aroti 1977

Uttamasloka Leads Chicago Mangala Arati 1977

A Journey of Devotion

There are certain moments in a devotee’s life that become permanently etched into the soul. For me, many of those moments took place within the walls of the Chicago ISKCON temple during the mid-1970s. It was a time of immense growth, fiery determination, and an undeniable collective spirit that made the Chicago yatra legendary.

Transforming an Old YMCA into a Spiritual Sanctuary

The story really begins in 1973, when an old YMCA building built as a response to segregation in Evanston, Illinois

transformed into a magnificent temple home for Sri Sri Kishora-Kishori. I was fortunate to be there for Their installation that year, witnessing the space change from a mundane structure into a vibrant spiritual oasis. The building’s former gymnasium was converted into a grand, cavernous temple room featuring a soaring ceiling and a balcony running along one side. Standing in that room, you could feel the sheer scale of the service that was about to unfold.

Just a year later, in 1974, we experienced the inaugural Chicago Rathayatra at the Civic Center—a historic event made unforgettable because Srila Prabhupada attended in person, anchoring our hearts further into the mission.

Step Into the Kitchen, Step Into the Kirtan

By 1976, I formally joined the Chicago yatra as the head cook. While the kitchen was my primary service, one of spiritual foundations for those long days of cooking was Mangal Arati, where, as a congregation, we sang the prayers to the spiritual master by Visvwanatha Chakravati.

Attending Mangal Arati in that massive, high-ceilinged temple room was an otherworldly experience. Long before the sun rose over the crisp Chicago morning, the room would fill with devotees absorbed in chanting the Sri Sri Gurv-astaka prayers.

The kirtans were often led by Uttamasloka Dasa, who had a wonderful way of anchoring the morning melody. Sometimes, he would switch out with Sripati Dasa (ACBSP) or the legendary kirtaniya Vishnu Datt Dasa, keeping the energy deeply meditative yet powerful. Over time, I had the honor of stepping in as the second mrdanga player for many of Uttamasloka’s kirtans. I also recorded many of them, preserving these outstanding kirtans for the future.

We were deeply into the musicality of the kirtan, but always with a singular mindset: to be completely pleasing to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Kishora-Kishori.

Looking back on that organic musical chemistry, Uttamasloka recalls:

“We didn't rehearse. It was all an organic morphing into this unified group. We had a band more or less. So, the mood was enhanced. It was important to make this a wonderful experience for the devotees, because we didn't have any sense gratification other than prasadam and singing and dancing. So that better be at the highest level possible, all things considered.”

The Chicago Reputation: Music Rooted in Devotion

During the mid-to-late '70s, the Chicago temple gained a massive reputation across ISKCON. Devotees everywhere knew us for three things: great kirtans, wonderful prasadam, and massive book distribution.

While our kirtans were musically rich, Uttamasloka always reminded us that technical talent meant nothing without the proper internal focus:

“I used to tell the devotees don't think just because our kirtans are a bit more musically adept than others that's why they're better. It's not that—it's the mood. It's what’s going on inside of us. If we don't have that, then all of our fancy playing is not really worth much. So let's not forget that. Let's always come from inside and let the good stuff, the style, the talent, enhance that, not dominate it. Let the intelligent rise, that inner beautiful stuff, you know, because that's what the kirtan is. You know, the music just took us. We were just on that train, you know, because it never fell apart.”

A True Collaborative Spirit

The entire Chicago program was intentionally designed to nurture devotional service in a way that left no one out. It wasn't about individual stars; it was about a true, collaborative spirit where everyone could participate, find their unique service, and offer it together.

As Uttamasloka beautifully puts it:

“And we did it every time. We took the kirtans to that place every time. It was so powerful. We all were on that train together. It could only happen with us together. And most importantly, it was saturated with sincere bhakti and that's what we all understood. It was us together that was making this happen. It wasn't one guy who could play the drum and sing. It was everybody. You had to be all together. And even the women didn't feel left out.”

Hearing how much that atmosphere meant to the devotees who passed through Chicago is the ultimate validation of what we built back then.

“I'm so proud of what we did. All the kirtans, the way the devotees were treated, everything," Uttamasloka shares. "Many people have told me it was the best time of their lives in Krishna consciousness. They say, ‘it was the best temple that I was ever in.’ That's like getting an award when I hear that, because so many devotees have other not so good stories.”

Looking back on those crisp Chicago mornings I appreciate how those days were historically important for Gaudiya Vaishnavas. We were building something truly beautiful for Srila Prabhupada.

~Gopati Dasa (ACBSP)

Recording: 1977 in Kisora Kisori Mandir by Gopati Dasa (ACBSP)

Equipment: Nakamichi 550 tape deck with three condenser microphones

Remastered: 2026 by Uttamasloka Dasa (ACBSP)

Video Photos are of Srila Prabhupada in Chicago in 1974 and 1975. Also Kishora Kishori 1974 to 1977

Sri Sri Gurv-astaka (The Samsara Prayers)

These eight verses, composed by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, are the foundational prayers sung at every single ISKCON Mangal Arati to glorify the spiritual master.

Verse 1

saṁsāra-dāvānara-līḍha-loka-

trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam

prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya