Our Disciplic Succession:
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj  Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj  Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj  Bhagavan Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad
"The Sun Never Sets on Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math":
Worldwide Affiliate Branches and Centres
 
ABOUT US GUIDANCE LIBRARY DAILY PRACTICE PHOTO CALENDAR CONTACT
 

Glory of the Holy Name and Ten Offences


Glory of the Holy Name
(Sri Harinama-mahatmya)

 

Pancha-tattva mantra:

(1)

sri-krsna-chaitanya prabhu nityananda
sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi gaura-bhakta-vrnda

Sri Harinama maha-mantra:

(2)

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

 

(3) sankirtana-pravartaka sri-krsna-chaitanya
sankirtana-yajne tanre bhaje sei dhanya
sei ta' sumedha ara kubuddhi samsara
sarva yajna haite krsna-nama-yajna sara

"Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya is the initiator of sankirtan (congregational chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord). One who worships Him through sankirtan is fortunate indeed. Such a person is truly intelligent, whereas others, who have but a poor fund of knowledge, must endure the cycle of repeated birth and death. Of all sacrificial performances, the chanting of the Lord's holy name is the most sublime."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita)

(4)

prabhu kahe kahilan ei maha-mantra
iha japa giya sabe kariya nirbandha

"Mahaprabhu says, 'I have told you this maha-mantra, so everyone now chant it the prescribed number of rounds.

iha haite sarva-siddhi haibe sabara
sarva-ksana bala ithe vidhi nahi ara

'By doing this, you will attain success in all respects. There is no other rule but to chant it at every moment.

ki sayane, ki bhojane, kiba jagarane
aharnisa chinta krsna, balaha vadane

'Whether you are sleeping, eating, or resting, always chant the Name of Krishna.'"

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata)

 

— • : • —

 

Form and nature of the Holy Name
(Namera-svarupa)

(5)

nama-chintamanih krsnas-chaitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto 'bhinnatvan-nama-naminoh

"As the Lord and His Name are one and the same, the Name is Krishna Himself; eternally pure, beyond the mundane. Life, Joy, and Love, full and complete, sweet Holy Name, the wish-fulfilling Gem Divine."

(Sri Padma Purana, Sri Visnu-dharmatara)

(6) The mantras prescribed for each of the four ages:

Satya-yuga narayana-para veda narayana-paraksaram
narayana-para muktar-narayana para-gatih

Treta-yuga rama narayananta mukunda madhusudana
krsna kesava kamsare hare vaikuntha ramana

Dvapara-yuga hare murare madhukaitabhare
gopala govinda mukunda saure
yajnesa narayana krsna visno
nirasrayam mam jagadisa raksa

Kali-yuga hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

(7) In Kali-yuga, the Name bestows all perfection:

kaler dosa-nidhe rajannasti hy eko mahan gunah
kirttanad eva krsnasya mukta-bandhah param vrajet

"O King, this age of Kali is a reservoir of inauspiciousness, yet it has but one glorious quality: in this age, simply by chanting the Holy Name of Sri Krishna, the soul is freed from the bondage of Maya and attains to the shelter of the Lord Himself."

(Srimad Bhagavatam)

(8)

krte yaddhyayato visnum tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricharyayam kalau tad-dhari-kirta nat

"Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Visnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra."

(Srimad Bhagavatam)

(9)

dhyayan krte yajan yajnais tretayam dvapare 'rchayan
yad apnoti tad apnoti kalau sankirtya kesavam

"Whatever is achieved in Satya-yuga by meditation, in Treta by offering ritual sacrifices and in Dvapara by temple worship is achieved in Kali-yuga by chanting the names of Lord Kesava congregationally."

(Sri Padma Purana)

(10)

harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha

"Only chanting the Holy Name, chanting the Holy Name, chanting the Holy Name—there is no other way, no other way, no other way."

(Sri Brihan-naradiya Purana)

(11)

kali-kale nama-rupe krsna avatara
nama haite haya sarvva jagat nistara
dardhya lagi' 'harer-nama'-ukti tina-bara
jada loka bujhaite punah 'eva'-kara

"In this age of Kali, the Holy Name of the Lord, Hare Krishna maha-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Krishna. Simply by chanting the Holy Name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered. This verse repeats the word 'eva' ('certainly') three times for emphasis, and it also three times repeats 'Harer Nama' ('the Holy Name of the Lord'), just to make common people understand it."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita)

(12) Yuga-dharma (practice and religion prescribed for the current age):

vyakta kari' bhagavate kahe bara bara
kali-yuge dharma—nama-sankirtana sara
kali-yuge yuga-dharma—namera prachara
tathi lagi' pita-varna chaitanyavatara

"In Srimad Bhagavatam it is repeatedly and clearly said that the essence of religion in the age of Kali is the chanting of the Holy Name of Krishna. The religious practice for the age of Kali is to broadcast the glories of the Holy Name. Only for this purpose has the Lord, in a yellow colour, descended as Lord Chaitanya."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita)

(13) The Holy Name of Krishna in Kali-yuga:

dharma pravartana kare vrajendra-nandana
preme gaya nache loka kare sankirtana
ara tina-yuge dhyanadite yei phala haya
kali-yuge krsna-name sei phala paya

"Lord Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaj, personally introduces the occupational duty of the age of Kali. He personally chants and dances in ecstatic love, and thus the entire world chants congregationally. In the other three yugas—Satya, Treta and Dvapara—people perform different types of spiritual activities. Whatever results they achieve in that way, they can achieve in Kali-yuga simply by chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita)

(14) The Holy Name is the best friend:

Attracted to their devotion, the Holy Name dances in this world on the tongues of extremely fortunate souls. Yet, this material world has nothing to do with the Holy Name—the Name is as powerful as the Lord Himself, and the Name comes to this world to destroy illusion (maya). In this world, jiva souls have no one except the Holy Name. Thus, Sri Brihan-naradiya Purna states,

harer namaiva namaiva namaiva mama jivanam
kalau nastyeva nastyeva nastyeva gatiranyatha

"The Holy Name is my life, the Holy Name is my life, the Holy Name is my life. In this age of Kali, the souls have no other way, no other way, no other way that could compare with the Holy Name."

(15)

kali-yugera dharma hala nama sankirtana
sei hetu prabhura ajna hetha agamana
nama bina kali-kale nahi ara dharma
sarva-mantra-sara 'nama' ei sastra marma

"The Lord comes to establish Nama-sankirtan, the prescribed religion of the age of Kali. Except for the Holy Name, there is no other religion in Kali-yuga; the purport of all scriptures is that the Holy Name is the essence of all mantras."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita)

(16) Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's preaching about the Holy Name:

hare krsna hare
nitai ki nama enechhe re
nitai nama enechhe, namera hate
sraddha mulye nama ditechhe re

"Hare Krishna! Hare! What sort of Name has Nitai brought? Nitai has brought the Name to the market of Names and gave it in exchange for faith."

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare re
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare re
(nitai) jivera dasa, malina dekhe,
nama enechhe vraja there re

"Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare! Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Seeing the condition, the dirt of the souls, Nitai has brought the Holy Name from Vraja!"

e nama siva jape panchamukhe re
(madhura ei harinama)

"Lord Siva chants this Name with his five mouths. (This Holy Name is so sweet!)"

e nama brahma jape chaturmukhe re
(madhura ei harinama)

"Lord Brahma chants this Holy Name with his four mouths! (This Holy Name is so sweet!)"

e nama narada jape vina-yantre re
(madhura ei harinama)

"Narada Muni chants this Holy Name to the sounds of his vina! (This Holy Name is so sweet!)"

e namabhase ajamila vaikunthe gela re

"By chanting mere shadow of this Holy Name, Ajamila went to Vaikuntha."

e nama balte balte vraje chala re
(bhaktivinoda bale)

"Let us all chant this Holy Name and go to Vraja!" says Bhaktivinod.

 

(17) The Holy Name is superior to all holy places:

tirtha-koti-sahasrani tirtha-koti-satani cha
tani sarvvany avapnoti visnor namani kirttanat

"Chanting the Holy Name of Lord Visnu awards one the fruit of serving billions of Holy Places of pilgrimage."

(Sri Vamana Purana)

(18) Even mere shadow of the Name is infinitely greater than all pious activities:

go-koti-danam grahane khagasya
prayaga-gangodaka-kalpa-vasuh
yajnayutam meru-suvarna-danam
govinda-kirtter na samam satamsaih

"Making a gift of ten million cows on a solar eclipse, residing for a millennium at holy places, like Prayag, where the sacred Ganges flows, performing ten thousand sacrifices and giving away a mountain of gold—hundreds of such pious activities can ever equal the slightest attempt to sing the Holy Name of Supreme Lord Govinda."

(Sri Skanda Purana)

(19)

akrstih krta-chetasam su-manasam uchchatanam chamhasam
achandalam amuka-loka-sulabho vasyas cha mukti-sriyah
no diksam na cha sat-kriyam na cha purascharyam manag iksate
mantro 'yam rasana-sprg eva phalati sri-krsna-namatmakah

"The Holy Name of Lord Krishna is an attractive feature for many saintly, liberated people. It is the annihilator of all sinful reactions and is so powerful that, save for the dumb who cannot chant it, it is readily available to everyone, including the lowest type of man, the chandala. The Holy Name of Krishna is the controller of the opulence of liberation, and it is non-different from Krishna. When a person simply chants the Holy Name with his tongue, immediate effects are produced. Chanting the Holy Name does not depend on initiation, pious activities or the purascharya regulative principles generally observed before initiation. The Holy Name does not wait for any of these activities—it is self-sufficient."

(Padyavali, Sri Laksmidhara)

(20) The Holy Name relieves all human suffering:

sarva-rogo-pasamam sarvopadrava-nasanam
santi-dam sarvavistanam harer-namanukirtanam

"Constant chanting of the Holy Name destroys all possible diseases and distress, removes all possible obstacles and brings the chanter auspicious benefit."

(Sri Brhad-visnu Purana)

(21) Those who chant the Holy Name purify their family, friends and bir th:

mahapataka-yukto 'pi kirtayann-anusam harim
suddhantah karano bhutva jayate pamkti-pavanah

"If even a great sinner constantly chants the Holy Name, his heart and birth are purified (he becomes the best of the twice-born)."

(Sri Brahmanda Purana)

(22)

krsna-varnam tvisa 'krsnam sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair-yajanti hi su-medhasah

"His mouth always utters the Name of Krishna. His bodily colour is not dark (i.e. yellow), and He comes accompanied by His servants and eternal close associates. Great souls possessing expert intelligence worship Him through sankitan-yajna (congregational chanting of the Holy Names)."

(23)

'krsna' ei dui varna sada yanra mukhe
athava krsnake tanho varne nija sukhe

"Mahaprabhu always either chants these two syllables, 'Krish-na,' or happily speaks about Krishna."
krsna-varna-sabdera artha dui ta' pramana
krsna vina tanra mukhe nahi aise ana

"The word 'Krish-na' has two meanings. Besides 'Krishna' nothing comes out of His mouth."
keha tanre bale yadi krsna-varana
ara visesane tara kare nivarana
dehakantye haya tanho akrsna-varana
akrsna-varane tanra kahe pitavarana

"If we say that the word 'Krishna' is indicative of dark complexion, the adjective following it ('tvisa akrsnam') contradicts it. The lustre of His body is not dark ('akrsna')—'not dark' is indicative of yellow, or golden, colour."

 

(24)

Jaya Jaya Harinama

jaya jaya hari-nama,chidananda-amrta-dhama,
para-tattva aksara-akara
nija-jane krpa kari',nama-rupe avatari',
jive daya karile apara [1]

"Glory! Glory to the Holy Name, an abode of consciousness, bliss, and nectar! Its words contain all transcendental truth. The Holy Name comes in the form of a Name out of mercy to His associates and out of great compassion to all jiva souls."

jaya 'hari’, 'krsna’, 'rama’jaga-jana-suvisrama,
sarva-jana-manasa-ranjana
muni-vrnda nirantara,ye namera samadara,
kari' gaya bhariya vadana [2]

"Glory to the Names 'Hari', 'Krishna' and 'Rama'! For all jiva souls, They are the ultimate shelter and respite, as well as a source of joy for mind. Sages always give respect to this Holy Name and always chant it filling their mouths with its sound."

ohe krsna-namaksara,tumi sarva-sakti-dhara,
jivera kalyana-vitarane
toma vina bhava-sindhu,uddharite nahi bandhu,
asiyachha jiva-uddharane [3]

"O Name of Krishna! You possess all powers and energies and bestow benefit to all jiva souls. Without You, the jiva souls of this material world have no one who could save them. You have come to rescue everyone!"

achhe tapa jive yata,tumi saba kara hata,
helaya tomare ekabara
dake yadi rona-jana,ha'ye dina akinchana,
nahi dekhi' anya pratikara [4]

"You destroy all possible suffering that a jiva soul may undergo if the soul calls out to You once with negligence, considering itself low and bereft, and seeing no other remedy except You."

tava svalpa-sphurti paya,urga-tapa dure yaya,
linga-bhanga haya anayase
bhakativinoda kaya,jaya harinama jaya,
pade' thaki tuya pada-ase [5]

"When the soul comes into even slightest connection with You, all deepest suffering goes away and the connection with the material world and body breaks on its own, without any effort. Bhaktivinod says, 'Glory to the Holy Name, glory to the Holy Name!'—falling before You, he prays for Your holy feet."

 

(25) The main effect produced by chanting the Holy Name without offences:

tunde tandavaniratim vitanute tundavali-labdhaye
karna-kroda kadambini ghatayate karnarbudebhyah sprham
chetah prangana-sangini vijayate sarvendriyanam krtim
no jane janita kiyadbhir-amrtaih krsneti varna-dvayi

"When the holy name of Krishna descends and captures the tongue and lips, it controls them so strongly that it engages them in chanting the holy name as if the lips and tongue have gone mad. In this way, the power of the name descends in them, and one feels that only one tongue and one mouth are not enough; thousands of mouths are necessary to taste the name. Then the holy name of Krishna enters the ear with such a great force and current that the ears are captured, and one thinks that only two ears are insufficient; he wants millions of ears to attend to the sweet current entering the ears. Two ears are nothing to him; he wants millions of ears. The nectar of the holy name is coming like a flood through his ears, pushing its way within the heart.

"It is so sweet that as it goes to capture the heart, the center of all senses, everything is paralyzed. Wherever that sweet aggressor touches, the whole thing is captured with such intensity that everything else is ignored. Rupa Goswami writes, 'I don't know, I can't say, I fail to express how much nectar there is in the holy name of Krishna. These two syllables contain so much sweetness, and such a high quality of sweetness. And this sweetness is so aggressive that it captures everything.'"

(Vidagdha-Madhava, Srila Rupa Goswamipad)

"na jani kateka madhu syama-name achhe go"

"'I cannot even express how sweet the Name of Shyama is!'—those who chant the Holy Name become filled with this feeling."

(26) To take shelter in the Holy Name is the one and only essence of all scriptures and the sole object of worship of all great liberated souls:

nikhila-sruti-mauli-ratna-mala-
dyuti-nirajita-pada-pankajanta
ayi mukta-kulair upasyamana
paritas tvam hari-nama samsrayami

"O Holy Name! The tips of the toes of Your lotus feet are eternally worshiped by the glowing effulgence radiating from the gemmed chapters of the Upanisads, the crest jewels of the Vedas. You are eternally adored and chanted by great liberated souls like Narada and Sukadeva Goswami. O Hari Nama! Clearing myself of all offenses, I take complete shelter of You."

(Sri Namastakam, 1, Srila Rupa Goswami)

(27) To be able to chant the Holy Name, developing the following four qualities is considered especially auspicious and beneficial:

trnad api sunichena taror iva sahisnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada-harih

"One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree, who gives honour to others without desiring it for himself, is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna."

 

(28) Service to Sri Krishna bestows the nectar of immortality upon conditioned souls:

idam sariram sata-sandhi-jarjaram
pataty avasyam parinama-pesalam
kim ausadham prchchhasi mudha durmate
niramayam krsna-rasayanam piba

Translation:

sata sandhi jara jara,tava ei kalevara,
patana haibe eka-dina
bhasma krimi vistha habe,sakalera ghrnya tabe,
ihate mamata arvachina
"This body is filled with countless diseases and sufferings, and one day it falls dead. It turns into ash, a mass swarming with warms and filled stool. If some fool loves his body, it is disgusting."

ore mana suna mora e satya vachana
e rogera mahausadhi,krsna-nama nirabadhi,
niramaya krsna rasayana
"Dear mind! Listen to the truth I am going to tell you! There is a great medicine for this disease—constantly chant the Holy Name of Krishna. Krishna is the elixir from all diseases."

 

(29) The Holy Name is beyond the reach of material senses:

atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah

"Although Krishna's Name, Form, Qualities, and Pastimes cannot be grasped by the material senses, they manifest on the tongue and to the other senses on their own through the mood of service."

(Sri Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu)

(30)

nama-sankirtanam yasya sarva-papa-pranasanam
pranamo duhkha-samanas tam namami harim param

"I bow unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Hari, by the congregational chanting of whose Name all sins are destroyed, and by offering obeisances unto whom all sorrow is dispelled."

Commentary: Sin is all anarathas (bad elements), everything undesirable, all offences. The desire for material happiness and enjoyment, as well as the desire to attain liberation (mukti) are anarathas and considered sinful. Why is liberation called a sin? Because liberation is an unnatural state of the soul. The natural state and activity of the soul is service to Lord Krishna, but the soul cannot serve in the liberated state (there is no service possible in the state of liberation). Therefore, liberation is unnatural and is called a sin. Everything that takes us away from our natural position (service to the Lord) is a sin.

(31) Taking shelter of Lord Hari and congregational chanting of His Holy Name is prescribed as the highest benefit:

cheto-darpana-marjanam bhava-mahadavagni-nirvapanam
sreyah-kairava-chandrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam
anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam
sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam

"Sri Krishna-sankirtan cleanses the mirror of consciousness, extinguishes the raging forest fire of material existence, shines moonlight on the evening lotus of good fortune, is the life of the divine knowledge—the life of souls enlightened with paramour love for the Lord, expands the ocean of ecstasy, is the taste of full nectar at every moment, and soothes the entire self. May Sri Krishna-sankirtan be supremely victorious!"

(32)

na desa-niyamo rajan na kala-niyamastatha
vidyate natra sandeho visnor-namanukirtane
kale 'asti dane yajne cha snane kalo 'asti sajape
visnuh-sankirtane kalo nastyatra prthivi-tale

"O King! When it comes to chanting the Holy Names of Vishnu, it is stated clearly that there are no rules regarding place and time when they should be chanted. There are rules when to give donation, when to hold fire sacrifices, when to take bath, chant various mantras on beads, but there are no rules or regulations in this world when you can chant the Holy Names of Vishnu."

(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa)

(33)

na desa-niyamas tasmin na kala-niyamas-tatha
nochchhisthadau nisedho 'sti sri-harir-namni lubdhaka

"O Lubdhaka! There are no rules regarding when and where the Holy Name of Lord Hari should be chanted, just as there is no prohibition regarding taking prasadam in a contaminated state (without having taken bath)."

(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa)

(34) Mantra and maha-mantra as distinct pastimes of the Holy Name:

krsna-mantra haite habe samsara-mochana
krsna-nama haite pabe krsnera charana

"Through Krishna-mantra the soul attains liberation from the material world, and through the Holy Name of Krishna the soul attains the lotus feet of Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata)

(35) Chanting the Holy Names brings inner fulfilment those who chant Them, as well as all others:

pasu-paksi-kita-adi balite na pare
sunile-i hari-nama ta'ra saba tare

"Although animals, birds, and insects cannot chant, when they hear the Holy Names they will all be delivered."

japile se krsna-nama apane se tare
uchcha-sankirtane para-upakara kare

"If one silently chants the Names of Krishna, then he is delivered; but if one loudly chants, then he delivers others also."

ataeva uchcha kari' kirtana karile
sata-guna phala haya sarva-sastre bale

"Therefore the scriptures say that one gets a hundred times more benefit by chanting loudly."

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata)

(36) Constant and sincere chanting of the Holy Name:

eka-bara hari-name yata papa hare
patakira sadhya nai tata papa kare

"A sinner cannot commit more sin than once chanting Krishna's Name can remove."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita)

aparadha-sunya ha'ye laha krsna-nama
krsna mata krsna pita krsna dhana prana

"Be free from offences and chant Krishna's Name. Krishna is your mother. Krishna is your father. Krishna is your wealth and life."

(Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

khanda khanda yadi hai, yaya deha-prana
tabu ami vadane na chhadi harinama

"Even if my body is cut into pieces and I give up my life, I will never give up chanting the Holy Name."

(Srila Haridas Thakur)

(37) One attains perfection through the Holy Name:

yada-sanga-kriya-karma janata vapya-janata
purnam bhavatu tat-sarvam sri-harer-nama-kirtanat

"May whatever offences I have knowingly or unknowingly committed be completely absolved by chanting the Holy Names of the Lord."

"When we hold various rites, programmes, and ceremonies (fire sacrifice, Deity worship, sraddha ceremonies, etc.), we always conclude with chanting of kirtan (chanting the Holy Name). We hold these ceremonies to satisfy the Supreme Lord and demigods, but during these ceremonies we consciously or unconsciously commit many mistakes. Moreover, in this Kali-yuga, which is an ocean of faults, it is impossible to make any offering or hold any worship properly, that is why for the ceremony to be successful, all imperfections must be rectified, and this is possible only through the chanting of the Holy Name (kirtan). That is why we always finish all ceremonies with chanting of the Holy Name."

(Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

(38) The Holy Name is the highest medicine:

jiva jago, jiva jago, gorachanda bale
kata nidra yao maya-pisachira kole

"Sri Gorachand calls, 'O souls, awake! O souls, awake! How long will you sleep in the clutches of the witch Maya?'"

bhajibo boliya ese samsara-bhitare
bhuliya rohile tumi avidyara bhare

"You came into this world saying, 'O Lord, I will serve You', but, having forgotten this promise, you have remained in ignorance."

tomare la-ite ami ha-inu avatara
ami vina bandhu ara ke achhe tomara

"I have descended to save you. Other than Me, who is your friend?"

enechhi ausadhi mayanasibara lagi'
hari-nama maha-mantra lao tumi magi'

"I have brought the medicine to dispel Maya. Pray for this Hari-nam maha-mantra and take it."

bhakativinoda prabhu charane padiya
sei harinama-mantra laila magiya

Bhaktivinod falls to the feet of the Lord and begs Him to receive this mantra of the Holy Name».

(39) "Gaya Gora Madhur Svare" (Gora sings sweetly):

gaya gora madhur svare

"Gaurasundar sings in a sweet voice:"

"hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare"

grhe thaka, vane thaka sada 'hari' bale' daka
sukhe duhkhe bhulo naka vadane hari-nam kara re

"Whether you live in a house or in a forest, always call out, 'Hari!' In happiness and in sadness, do not forget—chant the Lord's Name aloud."

maya-jale baddha ha'ye achha michhe kaja la'ye
ekhan-o chetana peye radha-madhav-nam bala re

"Bound in Maya's net, you work in vain. Now, while you are still conscious, chant 'Radha-Madhava'."

jivana ha-ila sesa na bhajile hrsikesa
bhaktivinod-upadesa ek-bar nam-rase mata re

"Your life is ending, but you have not served Hrsikes. Bhaktivinod advises, 'Once relish the Name's nectar.'"

(Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

(40) From the holy lotus mouth of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Vani):

vraja-basi-gana pracharaka dhana
pratistha-bhiksuka tara nahe saba
prana achhe tara se hetu prachara
pratisthasa-hina-krsna-gatha saba

"The devotees of Vraja are treasure among preachers. They ask for no prestige that is an attribute of dead bodies: as long as they have life in their bodies, they preach and glorify Krishna without any desire for recognition."

sri-dayita-dasa kirtanete asa
kara uchchaihsvare harinama rava
kirtana-prabhave smarana haibe
se kale bhajana nirjana sambhava

"Praying to be able to do kirtan, Sri Dayita Das loudly takes the Holy Name. Chanting of the Holy Name (kirtan) arouses remembrance (smarana), and at that time it becomes possible to practise nirjan-bhajan."

(Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur)

(41) Taking shelter in the Holy Name is the best:

dara suta bandhu sabesmasane tomare labe
dargdha-kari grhete asibe
tumi kara ke tomara ebebujhi dekha sara
deha-nasa avasya ghatibe
"Your wife, children, and friends will take your to the crematorium, and, having had your body burnt, will go home. Who needs you? Who do you have? Understand the meaning of life now. There is no doubt that the day will come when this body will be destroyed."
sunitya sambala chaohari-guna sada gao
harinama japaha sada-i
kutarka chhadiya manakara krsna aradhana
vinodera asraya taha-i
"Aspire for the eternal and non-transitory existence, always chant the glories of Lord Hari and the Holy Name! Leave useless arguments and worship Krishna! Bhaktivinod finds shelter in this."

(42) The Holy Name is the only shelter for all souls in the entire fourteen worlds:

jivana anitya janaha sara
tahe nana-vidha vipada-bhara
namasraya kari' yatane tumi
thakaha apana kaje

"Understand the essence: life is temporary and filled with all sorts of adversity. Carefully taking shelter of the Name, engage in your work."

krsna-nama-sudha kariya pana
judao bhakati-vinoda-prana
nama vina kichhu nahika ara
chaudda-bhuvana-majhe

"Drink the nectar of Krishna's Name and soothe Bhaktivinod's soul. There is nothing to be had but the Name in all the fourteen worlds."

jivera kalyana-sadhana-kama
jagate asi' e madhura nama
avidya-timira-tapana-rupe
hrd-gagane viraje

"Desiring to bless all souls, the Lord's sweet Name comes to this world and arises like the Sun within the sky of the heart to dispel the darkness of ignorance."

(Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

 

— • : • —

 

 

 

 

 

← PRANAMA-MANTRAS
(back)
SRI NAMABHASA →
(continuation)

 

CONTENT

Pranam-mantras
Glory of the Holy Name
Shadow of the Holy Name
Ten Offences of the Holy Name
Initiation into the chanting of the Holy Name (Guidance)

 


 

 

Devotional Take on Naughty Neighbours
'If your neighbours are not good, you can pray to Krishna, to the Lord. Also, if you have power to preach, then through your association the neighbours will become good. Otherwise pray. I am not joking..'

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE | HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE