ISKCON Bahrain (Balaramdesh)

First Initiation (Harinam): Questionnaire for the 2nd round Interview

Purpose: This questionnaire is to be checked at the time of 2nd round interview for the Balaramdesh
candidates taking First Initiation.
Candidate Name: _____________________________________________________________
Guru ashraya Date: ____________________________________________________________
Sr. Score (where
Questionnaire Answer Remark
No applicable)
1 Recitation of the Bhoga offering mantra
Recitation of our standard temple prayers and
2
mantras
a. Managala arathi
b. Tulasi arathi
c. Sandhya arathi
d. Prabupad arathi
Is the candidate committed on attending Managala
3
arathi on Fridays?
Is the candidate committed on attending common
4
English / Hindi classes or regional language classes?
Is the candidate committed attending festivals and
5
active participation in all sevas
6 Commitment of reading Srila Prabupad’s books
a. Bhagavat Gita
b. Bhagavatam – 1st canto
c. Nectar of Devotion – Part 1
d. Life and teachings of Lord Caitanya
e. Names of 5 small books read of Srila Prabupad
How long since chanting 16 rounds and
7 reconfirmation on commitment on chanting 16
rounds
How long since following the 4 regulative principles
8 and reconfirmation to follow 4 regulative principles
and vishnava etiquettes.
Reconfirmation on the committed sevas already
9
performing (at least on fully committed seva)
How is the candidate involved in the temple
10
Radhaseva?
11 How is the candidate involved in preaching?
12 Commitment in general behavior and attitude.
 After initiation what extra service you want to
13
extend to this Temple and Congregation?
If you miss chanting 16 rounds per day, what do you
14
do?
Do you contribute any percentage or amount from
15 you income to Lord’s Krishna’s service – Yes / No – if
so give details.
16 Guru pranam mantra
17 Gurumaharaj pranam mantra (HHJayapataka swami)
18 Srila Prabupada pranam mantra
19 Panchatattva pranam mantra
20 Mahaprabhu pranam mantra
21 Srimathi Tulasi pranam mantra
22 Sri Krishna pranam mantra
23 Srimathi Radharani pranam mantra
24 Identifying 6 gosvamis name
25 Identify panchatattva( 5 name)
26 Achaman mantra
27 Tilaka dharana mantra (randomly or inorder)
28 What are 4 regulative principles - explain
29 What are qualifications of Guru
30 Why we have to accept guru
31 Which parampara we follow
Recite some stanza from any one of the prayer
32 (a)mangal (b)sandhya (c) tulsi Aarthi or (d) All if
candidate is comfortable
What is Karma, vikarma ,Akarma if possible give
33
some examples for each from scripture
Do you believe that Krsna is the Supreme Personality
34
of Godhead? (Sloka from Bg sloka or other scripture)
35 Name 3 modes of nature
What is the difference between Deity worship and
36
idol worship
37 Explain 9 process of Devotional Servivce
38 What are 9 stages of bhakti
Explain the ten offences in the chanting of the Hare
39
Krishna Maha-mantra
40 The 5 subject of Bhagavad-gita.
Who are the personalities usually worshipped in
41
ISKCON temples?
Meaning of Bhagvan .Can we say any one as
42
bhagavan?
43 Who is Krsna?
44 What is your relationship with Krsna?
What are you expected to do with your relatioship
45
with Krsna
46 What is the aim of Krsna consciousness?
47 What do you mean by religion?
Is Krsna consciousness a type of religion or religion
48
faith?
49 How do you distinguish between religion and faith?
Can religion or faith be changed from one type to
50
another?
How do you distinguish between changeable and
51
eternal religion
Can religion be manufactured by philosophical
52
speculation?
Do you believe that Krsna is the Supreme Personality
53
of Godhead? (From Bg sloka)
54 What is Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan
Explain the concept of isavasya given in Sri
55
Isopanisad
How do you substantiate your belief? What is the
56
meaning of the maha-mantra?
57 How does chanting affect us?
58 Name the following incarnation
a. The most merciful incarnation.
b. The original Supreme Lord.
c. A pure devotee in the form of a plant
d. The most recent acaryas.
e. Krsna’s sister.
f. Half-man, half-lion incarnation who appeared to
protect his devotee.
g. The Goddess of Fortune.
h.Krsna’s eternal consort
i. Who is in charge of devotional service.
j. The orginal spiritual master.
k. The Lord of the Universe.
l. Krsna’s brother.
Name some Great devotees in the disciplic
59
succession from Lord Caitanya.
What are the three modes of material nature and
60
how do they affect us?
61 Describe the characteristics of the soul or atma.
 Describe sloka in Bg the process of transmigration of
62
the soul.
Explain how a devotee should interact with the
63
material world.
Explain Lord Caitanya’s philosophy of acintya-bheda-
64
bheda tattva.
Explain the meaning and purpose of Varnasrama-
65
dharama.
What are the four defects of the conditioned soul
66
and how do they affect us?
Describe the characteristics and qualities of the
67
following
a) Kanistha Adihikari
b) Madhyama Adhikari
c) Uttama Adhikari
Describe and give examples of the five primary rasas
68
described in the Nectar of Devotion……
69 Sloka in Bg where Lord say I am the Supreme
4 type who surrender to the supreme lord ( chapter
70
7)
71 4 type doesn't surrender to supreme
72 Recite Chatursloki bhagvad gita
73 5 reasons Arjuna given not to fight
Any one/ two sloka from Bg "lord present as
74
Paramatma "
75 Why Guru is required
76 Different types of Guru and their roles
77 What are the qualifications of Guru
78 What are the qualifications of a sincere disciple
79 Can we achieve Krishna with out Guru, why
80 Recite Last stanza of Samsara dava
81 Names of Our Guru parampara in the altar
82 When you can reject Guru
83 What are the importance of GBC
84 What they know about rthvik

Evaluator’s details: Score card:

Good
Name: _________________________________
Satisfactory
Signature: _________________________________ Needs Improvement

Contact number: _________________________________