Ishan dasa recalls:

A time in Sridham Mayapur, somewhere between 1973-75, the main building was not yet completed at that time. Srila Prabhupada was on the second floor in his then temporary quarters.  Bhavananda’s room was down the porch on the same floor.  And all of the kirtans that could be heard from the large kirtan room on the open main floor could be heard by Srila Prabhupada. And every time someone would begin singing or leading kirtan, Srila Prabhupada would leave his room and barge in on Bhavananda Maharaj. He was very upset by the way that kirtan was being led.  Then one evening, I led kirtan for the arotik ceremony. I have always gravitated to Srila Prabhupada’s chanting, taking that as my connection with His Divine Grace — to feel his vibrational mood according to my ability and to endeavor to reproduce this same sound vibration as my personal cultivation of Krishna Consciousness. Once again Srila Prabhupada left his room and entered the room of Bhavananda Maharaja. And he demanded to know who was leading the chanting. Bhavananda said “That is Ishan, Srila Prabhupada. He always tries to chant as you do.”  Srila Prabhupada replied to Bhavananda, “He is intelligent. From now on only he is to lead the kirtans.”