| Chanting of the Holy Names |
| Hare Krishna Mahamantra |
| nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-presthaya bhutale srimate bhaktivedanta- svamin iti namine namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine nirvisesa-sunyavadi- pascatya-desa tarine jay-sri krsna caitanya prabhu nitayananda sri-advaita gadadhara sri-vasadi gaura-bhakta vrnda hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare |
| The name of God is an incarnation of God Himself descending into this material world and performing wonderful pastimes. This truth is logically explained in the elaborate theology of the Vaisnava tradition. In the material world of duality material names and sounds only symbolically refer to a particular object and person. However, the Supreme Lord who is transcendental to material nature is nondual (advaita). Therefore, His name, His form, His activities and His personality are of the same trancendental essence. The Supreme Lord & His names are non-different. When we chant His names He is present there with us. It is the declaration of the Vedas that the holy name of the Lord and the Lord are non- different, yet still the holy name is more merciful than the Lord Himself. If one is an offender to Lord Krsna but respects His holy name and calls out with all his heart and soul, 'Rama! Krsna! Hari!' then all his offenses depart, and that person then swims without difficulty in the ocean of divine bliss and transcendental mellows. A person may commit offenses to the vacya or the transcendental figure and personality of the Lord, but if he is under the shelter of the pure holy name, he crosses over all those offenses. Sri Nama (Lord's Holy Names) is also described as an avatara (incarnation) in the Bhagavat-sandarbha: "Just like the incarnations of the Lord, this holy name is an incarnation of the Lord in the form of syllables." These truths can be traced to the original Vedic literature: nama cintamanik krsnas caitanya rasa vigrahah purnah suddha nitya-mukto 'bhinnatvan nama-naminoh The holy name of Krsna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krsna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krsna's name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krsna Himself. Since Krsna's name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krsna's name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krsna and Krsna Himself are identical. (Padma-purana) The holy names of God are many and found in practically every language and religious tradition: God ('the Good One'), Awoon (the name used by Jesus Christ signifying 'Our Universal Father'), Elohim ('Mighty, Strong'), Buddha ('the Enlightened One') and Allah ("He who gives life"). These names are absolutely pure and free from the qualities of material nature and they have the potency to purify the soul and give liberation (mukti) to one who chants them with attention. In fact, the potency of the recitation and glorification of the name is described in all religious traditions: "Glorify the name of your Lord, the most high" (Al-Quran 87.2); "Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13) Holy Bible; and "All who sincerely call upon my name will come to me after death, and I will take them to paradise (Vows of Amida Buddha 18)." Thus, God's names are absolute and endless. Among the forms of Lord Visnu, those of Lord Krsna and Lord Rama are known as purna (complete) and paravastha (the most important); and as it were, their names are also special. These two primary names of the Lord are included the maha- or supreme mantra which was revealed at the dawn of this Age of Kali. In the Kali-santarana Upanisad we can trace this history. On the completion of the Dvapara Age, Maharsi Narada, passing through all the regions of the universe in the course of his [travels], called on Lord Brahma and asked him, "O great one, kindly tell me how I am to cross the ocean of maya (cosmic illusion) during this terrible age of Kali?". "It is a beautiful question that you have asked," replied Lord Brahma, "hear this profound secret of the Upanisads, which shows the way to cross the ocean of maya during Kali-yuga. During this Age, man will be able to shake off the influence of Kali through the mere utterance of the Name of Bhagavan Sri Krsna, the Primal Being". Narada asked, "What is that Name?" Then Lord Brahma uttered the following mantra: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare ; Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare Lord Brahma continued, "These sixteen syllables of Bhagavan Sri Krsna washes out the impurities of Kali. After searching through all the Vedic literature one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this Age than the chanting of Hare Krsna. These Names tear off the covering of ignorance of a jiva, consisting if sixteen folds. Then the Supreme Brahman reveals Himself just as on the disappearance of clouds the sun appears with all its bright rays. "Lord, what are the rules for chanting this Mahamantra ?" inquired Narada. Lord Brahma replied, "There are no rules (attached to this). No matter whether a brahmana is pure or impure, through utterance of this Mahamantra, he attains the fourfold salvation (salokya, etc.). One who chants this Mahamantra consisting of the sixteen syllables of the Lord 3� crores of times is absolved from the sin of even murdering brahmanas. He is absolved from the sin of stealing gold and committing adultery with a sudra woman. He is immediately purged of the sin of abandoning all dharmas. He is immediately liberated." This maha-mantra revealed by Lord Brahma is very special for several reasons. First, it contains the two primary names of God, Krsna and Rama which are extremely potent. We often find Lord Siva's pictures in meditation. Does anyone of us know to whom he is meditating to ? But Lord Siva Himself tells His wife Durga to whom he meditates in Padma Purana. Lord Siva relates the significance of the name of Rama to his wife, Durga : rama rameti rameti rame rame manorame sahasra-namabhis tulyam rama-sama varanane "I chant the holy name of Rama, Rama, Rama and thus enjoy this beautiftil sound. This holy name of Ramacandra is equal to one thousand holy names of Lord Visnu." [Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda, Brhad-visnu-sahasranama-stotra (72.3 35) sahasra-namam punyanam trir avrttya tu yat phalam ekavrttya tu krsnasya namaikam tat prayacchat The name of Krsna is even more glorious: "The pious results derived from chanting the thousand names of Lord Visnu three times can be attained by only one repetition of the holy name of Krsna." (Brahmanda Purana cited in Laghu-bhagavatamrta 5.354) Furthermore are the traces of Mahamantra in the Vedas. Brhad Naradiya Purana harer nama harer nama eva kevalam kalau nasthi eva nasthi eva nasthi eva kathir anyathaha In this age of quarrel & hypocrisy the only way of liberation is by chanting the holy names of Sri Hari. There is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way. SriMad Bhagavatam 12.3.52 krte yat tyayathe vishnum, tretayam yajato mahakai dvapara pariccaryam, kalau tat hari kirtanat In the age of Satya-yuga humans meditate upon Lord Vishnu to attain liberation; in the age of Treta-yuga humans does fire-sacrifice to Lord Vishnu to attain liberation; but to get the same benefits in the age of Dvapara-yuga by worshipping Lord Krsna will be attained in this age of Kali-yuga if just one does Hari-Nama-Sankirtana (which means chanting the holy names of Lord Krsna & that is the chanting of the Mahamantra) Caitanya Caritamrta [Verse 17.22 & 7.24] kali kala nama rupe krsna avataranama haithe haya sarva nisdara nama vishnu kali kale nahi aara tharmasarva mantra saara nama esatra mantra In this age of Kali-yuga Supreme Lord Krsna is present in His names. With chanting of His names the whole world will attain liberation. There is no other way in this age to attain liberation other than chanting the Mahamantra. The Mahamantra of Krsna is the essence of all mantras in the world. This is the conclusion of all spiritual books and vedas. Kalisantarana Upanishad hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare ithi sathoshakam namanama kali kalmasya naasanam nathaa baratharupya sarva vetheshu trishyethe Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare is the Mahamantra which contains 16 syllables of holy names which will destruct the influence in the age of Kali-yuga. This is the conclusions of all vedic scriptures. Skanda Purana (Lord Muruga's Purana) madhuram madhuram ethan mangalam mangalam sakala-nigamavallu sat aubalam ath svarupam sakrthapi parikitham sharatthaya helaya va prukuvara naramatram tharayet krishna nama The holy names of Supreme Lord Sri Krsna is the sweetest among the sweets. It is the brightest light among the brightest. If one who chants it even without concentration or with offense, it'll also still benefit the whole human community liberating from the cluthces of illusion called 'Maya'. Agni Purana hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare rathanthi halaya vabi the krtartha na samshayaha Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare - if one chants this transcendental holy names without unknowingly, they'll attain the supreme pleasure in their life. There is no doubt in this. In the Satya-yuga humans have to meditate upon Lord Vishnu for liberation, in Treta-yuga humans have to do fire-sacrifice for Lord Vishnu for liberation, in Dvapara-yuga humans do temple worships for Krsna to attain liberation, but in this sinful age of Kali-yuga the vedas recommends only chanting of His names that is the Hare Krsna Mahamantra for liberation. This mantra is the essence of all mantra in the world. One chants this does not have to chant any other mantra. This is the only way for liberation of the soul. Even one who listens to it does gets the benefits. The great Gods like Lord Siva, & even Lord Brahma chants the holy names of Krsna. Every God is glorifying the names of Krsna & even the vedas too. So, why do you hesitate in chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra ? There are no rules to chant this mantra. Anyone can chant it at anytime, & anywhere. One may do any sinful activities. But by chanting this Mahamantra all his sins will be cleansed. Because the Holy names of Krsna is very powerful & merciful. When you are in danger you shout out calling your father for help. At once your father comes to rescue. So is the Lord. He is the Father of all living entities. He is present in His holy names. Krsna & His name is identical. There are no difference in it. Just chant Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. |
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| Mahamantra song by H.G Krsna Prema Das, Track 3 from Krsna Vision Volume 3. |
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