Srita Kamala 1976
The Srita Kamala Story, a Legendary Krishna Dasa Babaji Kirtan in Mayapur
It was 1976, during the annual Mayapur Festival. The setting was a small room along "mosquito alley" near the main gate of the Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir. What happened inside that room over the course of an evening would be captured on a borrowed tape recorder, preserving one of the most powerful and structurally unique kirtans in vaishnava history: Akincana Krishna Dasa Babaji Maharaj singing Śrita Kamalā.
Recorded by Uttamasloka Dasa (ACBSP), this audio tape has moved generations of devotees to tears. Below is the remarkable story of how this spontaneous recording came to be, followed by the timeless 12th-century lyrics and translation of Jayadeva Goswami’s masterpiece.
How the Recording Happened:
As recalled by Uttamasloka Dasa, the entire event was a product of divine arrangement:
"'76 we’re in Prabhupada’s room for an evening darshan, 50, 75 devotees there... I look up, and who’s sitting next to Prabhupada? Krishna dasa Babaji, and they’re having a grand old time while he’s answering questions."
Recognizing the legendary saint and musician, Uttamasloka followed Babaji Maharaj out of the darshan, begging him to come to his room to chant and record.
"So we go down mosquito alley to my room, and somebody had taken my tape recorder, just borrowed it. So I was like, 'No!!!' I went scrambling to other rooms, 'You got a tape recorder? You got a tape recorder?' Finally I got one..."
Though they captured introductory mantras on that first evening, Uttamasloka begged for one more session. They agreed to meet two days later at five or six o’clock by the gate. When Uttamasloka arrived with a few devotees and the tape recorder ready, Babaji Maharaj was already waiting.
What followed next:
"And he does śrita-kamalā-kuca-maṇḍala dhṛta-kuṇḍala e. Thank God we didn’t have any kartals because it would have ruined the whole recording. But in between each verse, as you know, he breaks out into a little mini-kirtan. And the first ones were conservative. He didn’t really do the breakout beat. But when he finally did the breakout beat, the ecstasy jumps off the tape and knocks you over."
The power of that recording lingered for decades. Uttamasloka recalls listening to it years later with Viswakarma Dasa in Hamilton:
"And when that thing broke out, we both choked on our food and tears poured from our eyes. It was so powerful, it was so palpable, we couldn’t control it. He did it five times, and by then more people came in... and we were going crazy. You can hear it."
Śrita Kamalā Kuca Maṇḍala
Written by Śrī Jayadeva Goswāmī (Gīta Govinda)
Srita Kamala is also known as the Maṅgala Gītam (an auspicious hymn of invocation) and is a celebratory, all-encompassing glorification of the Supreme Lord’s transcendental form, which is why it is sometimes sung by advanced devotees without crossing into confidential or esoteric boundaries
(1)
śrita-kamalā-kuca-maṇḍala dhṛta-kuṇḍala e
kalita-lalita-vana-māla
jaya jaya deva hare
Translation: Glories, glories to Lord Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead! He takes shelter on the lotus-like bosom of Goddess Kamala (Lakshmi/Radha), wears exquisite jeweled earrings, and is adorned with a beautiful garland of forest flowers. All glories to Lord Śrī Hari!
(2)
dina-maṇi-maṇḍala-maṇḍana bhava-khaṇḍana e
muni-jana-mānasa-haṁsa
jaya jaya deva hare
Translation: The Lord’s face shines like the brilliant orb of the sun. He destroys the bondage of material existence and is the majestic swan residing in the lake of the pure minds of the sages. All glories to Lord Śrī Hari!
(3)
kāliya-viṣa-dhara-gañjana jana-rañjana e
yadukula-nalina-dineśa
jaya jaya deva hare
Translation: O Supreme Lord, You subdued the terrifying, venomous serpent Kāliya. You delight all the living entities and act as the glowing sun that causes the lotus of the Yadu dynasty to bloom. All glories to Lord Śrī Hari!
(4)
madhu-mura-naraka-vināśana garuḍāsana e
sura-kula-keli-nidāna
jaya jaya deva hare
Translation: O Lord, slayer of the formidable demons Madhu, Mura, and Naraka! Seated grandly upon Your carrier Garuda, You are the ultimate source of joy and playful pastimes for the demigods. All glories to Lord Śrī Hari!
(5)
amala-kamala-dala-locana bhava-mocana e
tribhuvana-bhuvana-nidāna
jaya jaya deva hare
Translation: O Lord, Your eyes are as pure and beautiful as the petals of a spotless lotus flower, and You deliver the souls from material bondage. You are the sole maintainer and shelter of the three worlds. All glories to Lord Śrī Hari!
(6)
janaka-sutā-kṛta-bhūṣaṇa jita-dūṣaṇa e
samara-śamita-daśakaṇṭha
jaya jaya deva hare
Translation: O Lord (in Your form as Śrī Rāma), You are the precious ornament of Sītā, the daughter of King Janaka. You vanquished the demon Dūṣaṇa and effortlessly destroyed the ten-headed demon Rāvaṇa in battle. All glories to Lord Śrī Hari!
(7)
abhinava-jaladhara-sundara dhṛta-mandara e
śrī-mukhacandra-cakora
jaya jaya deva hare
Translation: O Supreme Lord, Your complexion is as enchanting as a fresh, rain-filled monsoon cloud, and You effortlessly lifted the mighty Mount Govardhana (or Mandara). Śrī Rādhārāṇī is like the celestial cakora bird, completely sustained by drinking the nectarine light of Your moon-like face. All glories to Lord Śrī Hari!
(8)
tava caraṇaṁ praṇatā vayaṁ iti bhāvaya e
kuru kuśalaṁ praṇateṣu
jaya jaya deva hare
Translation: O Lord, we offer our humble and respectful obeisances at Your divine lotus feet. Please look upon us with favor and bestow ultimate auspiciousness and spiritual well-being upon those who surrender to You. All glories to Lord Śrī Hari!
(9)
śrī-jayadeva-kaver idaṁ kurute mudam e
maṅgalam ujjvala-gītam
jaya jaya deva hare
Translation: May this beautifully radiant and auspicious song of devotion composed by the poet Śrī Jayadeva bring boundless spiritual joy and bliss to all who hear it. All glories! All glories to Lord Śrī Hari!
About the recording:
Vocal & Mridanga: Akincana Krishna Dasa Babaji Maharaj
Recording by: Uttamasloka Dasa (ACBSP), 1976
Remastered: Uttamasloka Dasa (ACBSP) 2026
Location: Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir compound
Video by Gopati dasa (ACBSP)