85 dB Max, One Mic, 16 Rounds: GBC Reminds Temples of ISKCON’s Kirtan Rules

The poster the GBC shared on 5 November restates guidelines it approved in February 2025. In four places, its wording is firmer than the resolution’s.

GLOBAL — The GBC used its Facebook page on 5 November 2026 to ask devotees to follow the Temple Kirtan Guidelines of the ISKCON Kirtan Ministry, sharing a poster that says “85 dB MAX” and that only one microphone should be connected to the kirtan leader. ^[1] The rules themselves are not new: the GBC approved them at its Annual General Meeting on 22 February 2025, and ordered a poster version the next day. ^[2] The resolution calls 85 dBA “a reasonable amount”; the poster calls it the maximum.

What the GBC posted

The post tied the reminder to the festive season. ^[1]

“This festive season and always, let’s make every kirtan a spiritually uplifting experience by following these important Temple Kirtan Guidelines shared by the ISKCON Kirtan Ministry.”

ISKCON Governing Body Commission, Facebook, 5 November 2026 ^[1]

The poster opens with a line it attributes to Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.1 of 18 August 1971: “Do not manufacture anything. Following the standard method and you will be successful.” Below that it sets out: ^[1]

• Golden rules: Srila Prabhupada’s mantra first, the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, “85 dB MAX” and “Keep it Simple & Sweet”.
• Kirtan leader: chanting a minimum of 16 rounds, following the four regulative principles, and preferably ISKCON initiated.
• Microphones: “Only 1 mic should be connected to the kirtan leader.”
• Dress: “Men: Dhoti and Kurta, Women: Sari or Gopi Dress with Shawl Preferred.”

Where the rules come from

On 22 February 2025 the GBC passed resolution 411.02, “Temple kirtana guidelines”, citing “a need in ISKCON for clarity in temple room kirtana guidelines”. It made the text “a living document” that the Kirtana Ministry may amend, provided amendments are first circulated on the GBC email conference and no objections arrive within thirty days. ^[2] Dandavats published the text on 4 May 2025. ^[3]

A statement passed the next day, under the same number, ordered the poster. The ministry was to make the guidelines available as an infographic on its website by 1 August 2025, and ISKCON centres were “encouraged to print and post” them in or near temple rooms by 1 September 2025. ^[2]

The text describes itself as guidance. Its preamble says managers “should do their best to implement these standards”, and asks participants to follow them “in a mood of loving cooperation”. ^[2]

What else the guidelines say

The poster carries only part of the resolution. The full text also covers: ^[2]

• Instruments: mridanga and kartalas during kirtanas and arati, with whompers and gong allowed. Harmonium and other instruments may be added after the arati kirtanas with local approval. Mridanga beats “derived from modern dance music” should be avoided.
• Health: overly loud drums are a concern because “some devotees develop migraines and even permanent ear damage”.
• Response chanting: leaders should avoid splitting the congregation’s response “according to material designations ie: Male/Female”.
• Singing: alap, the classical technique of lengthening the mantra, “was not utilized in ISKCON kirtana during Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence” and is “not generally appropriate during Arati kirtanas”.
• Dancing: it should be graceful and traditional, including the Swami Step. Lifting devotees into the air “can cause injuries and may not be an appropriate mood”.
• Deities: Deities carried into the temple “should not be rocked, jumped up and down, or spun around in circles”.

On sound, the text says “Louder is not better” and points back to a 2014 GBC resolution, 313, “Sound Systems Guideline”. ^[2]

Where the poster goes further

Four lines on the poster are firmer than the resolution’s wording: ^{[1] [2]}

• Volume: the resolution says “85 dBA is a reasonable amount”. The poster says “85 dB MAX”.
• Microphones: the resolution says “Only one microphone is recommended”. The poster says only one “should be connected to the kirtan leader”.
• Leaders: the resolution also allows a leader who is not initiated, if “at least following the four regulative principles”, accepting Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and “regularly chanting japa”. The poster lists a minimum of 16 rounds with no separate wording for that case.
• Pronunciation: the resolution addresses “those with the capacity”. The poster has no such qualifier.

The resolution allows the ministry to amend the guidelines, so these differences may be the poster’s shorthand or a later revision. Akincana found no amended text. The GBC’s post does not address the point. ^[1]

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Sources

1. ISKCON Governing Body Commission, “This festive season and always…” (post with the Temple Kirtan Guidelines poster), Facebook, 5 November 2026. facebook.com/iskcongbc
2. ISKCON Governing Body Commission, “GBC Resolutions 2025”, resolution 411.02 (pp. 11–14), gbc.iskcon.org, 2025. gbc.iskcon.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GBCRES2025.pdf
3. “New Kirtana standards published by the GBC”, Dandavats, 4 May 2025. dandavats.com/?p=115656 (archived copy)