Chant_Hare_Krsna

Theory of Concentration Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura cites the following verse to prove that one is chanting with offenses (nama-aparadhas) if he is not experiencing any ecstatic symptom while chanting Hare Krsna: Certainly that heart is steel-framed which, in spite of one's chanting the holy name of the Lord with concentration, does not change when ecstasy takes place, tears fill the eyes and the hairs stand on end. (SB.2.3.24) This verse emphasizes the need to chant "with concentration." The Rudra-yamala-tantra II.27.43 states: "A yogi attains yoga only in super concentration." In other words, a bhakti-yogi (a Krsna devote) will attain yoga (establish a connection or relationship with the Supreme Lord) only by completely concentrating on Krsna's eternal service. What exactly is concentration? Concentration means to steadily focus, or to hold the mind on one form or object for a long time. Concentration, known as dharana in Sanskrit, is the sixth step on the yoga ladder: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. Technically, the term dharana means fixing the mind on one object (desa-bandhas cittasya dharana). However, when there is difficulty in keeping the mind fixed within a limited area of focus, one may keep the mind moving within a broader area in which everything relates to the central object of concentration or meditation. This is one of the main points of this book. When the mind refuses to"just hear the holy name", then it may be allowed to meditate on Krsna's form, qualities, pastimes, dhama, or a painting of the Lord. The Kurma Purana says dharana means to concentrate the mind steadily on one point for twelve seconds. Twelve such dharanas (144 seconds) is dhyana (meditation, and twelve such dhyanas is samadhi (25 minutes and 28 seconds). From 'The Art of Chanting' by Mahanidhi Swami Page 141 Entitled Yoga Techniques of Concentration

What follows is based on a series of talks Srila Prabhupada gave in 1968 on the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 7, Chapter 6. (4 of 6) 4: "I Love Krsna More Than Anything!" Now Prahlada Maharaja makes a further statement about the complications of material life. He compares the attached householder to the silkworm. The silkworm wraps itself in a cocoon made of its own saliva, until he is in a prison from which he cannot escape. In the same way, a materialistic householder's entanglement becomes so tight that he cannot come out of the cocoon of family attraction. Even though there are so many miseries in materialistic family life, he cannot break free. Why? He thinks that sex life and eating palatable dishes are most important. Therefore, in spite of so many miserable conditions, he cannot give them up. In this way, when a person is too much entangled in family life, he cannot think of his real benefit-to escape from material life. Although he is always disturbed by the threefold miseries of materialistic life, still, because of strong family affection, he cannot come out. He does not know that he is wasting his limited duration of life simply for family affection. He is spoiling the life that was meant for realizing his eternal self, for realizing his real spiritual life. "Therefore," Prahlada says to his demoniac friends, "please give up the company of those who are simply after material enjoyment. Just associate with persons who have taken to Krsna consciousness." That is his advice. He says to his friends that this Krsna consciousness is easy to attain. Why? Krsna consciousness is actually very dear to us, but we have forgotten it. Therefore anyone who takes to Krsna consciousness becomes more and more affected by it and forgets his material consciousness. If you are in a foreign country, you might forget your home and your family members and friends who are very dear to you. But if you are all of a sudden reminded of your home and friends, you will at once become very preoccupied: "How shall I meet them?" In San Francisco one of our friends told me that long ago he left his young children and went to another country. Recently a letter came from his grown-up son, and at once the father remembered his affection for him and sent some money. That affection automatically came, even though he had forgotten his child for so many years. Similarly, our affection for Krsna is so intimate that as soon as there is some touch of Krsna consciousness, we at once revive our relationship with Him. Everyone has some particular relationship with Krsna, the Supreme Lord, which he has forgotten. But as we become Krsna conscious, gradually our old consciousness of our relationship with Krsna is revived. And when our consciousness is actually in the clear stage, we can understand our particular relationship with Krsna. One may have a relationship with Krsna as a son or servant, as a friend, as a parent, or as a beloved wife or lover. All these relationships are pervertedly reflected in life in the material world. But as soon as we come to the platform of Krsna consciousness, our old relationship with Krsna is revived. We love-every one of us. First I love my body because my self is within this body. So actually I love my self better than the body. But that self has an intimate relationship with Krsna because the self is part and parcel of Krsna. Therefore I love Krsna more than anything. And because Krsna is all-pervading, I love everything. Unfortunately, we have forgotten that Krsna, God, is all-pervading. This memory has to be revived. As soon as we revive our Krsna consciousness, we can see everything in relationship with Krsna, and then everything becomes lovable. Now I love you or you love me, but that love is on the platform of this ephemeral body. But when love of Krsna is developed, I will love not only you but every living entity because the outward designation, the body, will be forgotten. When a person becomes fully Krsna conscious, he does not think, "Here is a man, here is an animal, here is a cat, here is a dog, here is a worm." He sees everyone as part and parcel of Krsna. This is very nicely explained in the Bhagavad-gita: "One who is actually learned in Krsna consciousness becomes a lover of everyone in the universe." Unless one is situated on the Krsna conscious platform, there is no question of universal brotherhood. If we actually want to implement the idea of universal brotherhood, then we will have to come to the platform of Krsna consciousness, not material consciousness. As long as we are in material consciousness, our lovable objects will be limited. But when we are actually in Krsna consciousness, our lovable objects will be universal. That is stated by Prahlada Maharaja: "Beginning from the nonmoving plants and trees and extending up to the highest living creature, Brahma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is present everywhere by His expansion as the Paramatma, the feature of the Lord in everyone's heart. As soon as we become Krsna conscious, that extension of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Paramatma, induces us to love every object in relation with Krsna." http://www.geocities.com/nityananda_eternalbliss/Prahlada_Maharaja.htm

_________________ "The vilification of sadhus is considered to be the greatest offence to the Holy Name. As the glory of the Holy Name Krishna is expanded through the sadhus, who are fully devoted to the chanting of the Holy Name, how Nama-prabhu can tolerate the vilification of such sadhus?' In the Gita Sri Krishna has emphatically assured that a sincere soul who wants eternal benefit, can never be condemned to adversity. Bhagavan said partha naiveha namutra vinaSas tasya vidyate na hi kalyana-krt kaScid durgatim tata gacchati Bhagavad Gita, 6/40 Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur has analysed the significance of this verse as follows: "O Arjuna, an aspirant who practices Yoga, whether in this world or in the higher worlds, will never be ruined. In fact, a true worshipper of the practice of yoga, which bestows eternal welfare, will never be condemned to distress. The fundamental point is this. Human beings are classified into two groups, Avaidha, meaning unjust and disapproved by authentic scriptures, and Vaidha, meaning just. Those persons who are only after sense-gratification and are not controlled by any regulation are like unregulated beasts. Uncontrolled persons, whether they are civilized or uncivilized, stupid or learned, weak or strong, always act like the beasts. There is no possibility of getting any benefit by their actions. Regulated human beings are of three categories, karmi, jnani and bhakta. Karmis can be classified into two groups, sakam-karmi and niskam-karmi. The group of sakam-karmis are hankering after very insignificant pleasures, i.e., they are desirous of non-eternal enjoyments. They may attain heaven or worldly ameliorations, but all these pleasures are non-eternal. Therefore, that which is considered beneficial for them cannot be attained. After getting deliverance from worldly bondage, eternal bliss is the ultimate object to be attained by human beings. When that eternal bliss is not the objective of our endeavor, then that endeavor is fruitless. kama, prema,do"hakara vibhinna laksana lauha ara hema yaiche svarupe vilaksana atmendriya-priti-vaichatare bali kama' krsnendriya-priti-iccha dhare prema' nama ataeva kama-preme bahuta antara kamaandha-tamah, premanirmala bhaskara Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi, 4/164-165, 171 Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur has written in his commentary Amrit-pravaha Bhasya: "Desire with the purpose of one's own enjoyments is called kama. Desire for manpower, desire for a son, desire for wealth and the like, such desires are prescribed in the Vedas. All these definitely denote popular religious custom such as modesty, patience, salvation and the like. Fulfilment of one's own pleasure, love for one's own family members, disciplinary guidance of family members, scolding and reverence mixed with awe and submission surely these desires emerge out of impetus for fulfillment of one's own apparent non-eternal interest. But actually all the desires originating from the conception of the real self, devoted to the knowledge that I am eternal servant of Krishna', can be accepted as desire for the propitiation of Sri Krishna. All other desires emerging out of the misconception of self, posing I am the enjoyer of the fruits of my own actions' are born out of lust. Self-interest is the criterion of conditioned souls to determine what is dear and what is not dear. For the reason of a wrong criterion of self-interest, conditioned souls are burning in the forest fire of this material world. Clashing is inevitable where there are many centers of interest. There will be no clashing provided that love for the Absolute Reality Sri Krishna becomes the centre of interest. This will also bestow positive good, namely a love-relation to all living-beings. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has taught this cultivation of pure love for Sri Krishna and love for all in relation to Him. This is the real teaching of the Vedas. Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami has indicated it very clearly in Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya, 20/124:- veda-Sastra kahesambandha', abhidheya', prayojana' krsna'prapya sambandha, bhakti'praptyera sadhana abhidheya-nama bhakti', prema'prayojana purusartha-Siromani prema maha-dhana "The Vedas have taught three themes: Sambandha (Relation), Abhidheya (Means) and Prayojan (End). Our relation with Krishna is that he is the Ultimate Object to be attained. The means for attaining the object is bhakti, and the ultimate end is pure transcendental divine lovethe highest objective and highest wealth." Sriman Mahaprabhu has instructed in the third verse of his teachings of Siksastakam to chant the Holy Name of Hari after achieving four qualities: trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih Excerpt from commentary of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur Sanmodan Bhasya' niraparadhena harinama krtam visyaviraktijanita dainyam nirmatsaratala" krta daya, mithyabhimana Sunyata sarvesam yathayogya sammanana caitani laksnani Utterance of Harinam without offences will be possible after acquiring these four qualities: humbleness due to indifference to material objects, compassion devoid of envy, thoroughly void of false ego and giving due respect to all. Being adorned with these four qualities, utterance of Holy Name of Krishna will bestow the highest objective. This is the teaching of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur has given his exposition in his commentary of Siksastaka: "The consideration of the third verse of Siksastaka is important for bestowing knowledge, so that we cannot commit offence and there is no apprehension of Namabhas (glow of the Holy Name) while doing Harinam. One whose mind is not inclined to Sri Krishna and is frenzied for worldly enjoyments, can never realize his insignificance. One who has the vanity of the enjoyer-ego cannot be humble. Also, there cannot be endurance in him who has the vanity of being the enjoyer. An enjoyer is never capable of giving up his material ego and desire for worldly name and fame. An enjoyer of the objects of sense-organs can never have the willingness to give respect to another enjoyer of this world. Only a Vaishnava who has dedicated his life for worship of Krishna is humbler than blade of grass, more forbearing than tree, indifferent for his own name and fame, yet always eager to give respect to others." Srila Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad, with unwavering firmness, has used the word never' to indicate that a person who has misconception of self can never be adorned with the aforesaid four qualities. The teachings of Siksastaka written by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are to be practiced by sincere votaries for their eternal welfare and not for only giving instructions to others. A person who is sincerely practicing in his own life will automatically inspire others through his example.

If you say Shiva is God, then you offend Lord Shiva thus you can't love Krishna. That's a fact. If you say Shiva and Krishna are same as in they always think of each other. {even then achintya bheda bheda applies} then you love both. End.

Even Advaita's can be attracted to Him. He is your best friend eternally.

<center> <html> <head> <title>Sri Siksastakam</title> </head> <body> <font size="1"> <font face="ariel" size="3" color="red">Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaj</font> <font face="times" size="3"><font color="blue">Sri Siksastakam</font></font> <font size="2"><font size="4">of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu</font> Diving deep into the reality of His own beauty and sweetness, Krsna took the mood of Radharani, and garbing Himself in Her brilliant lustre, appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. For the last twelve years of His manifested pastimes he was deeply absorbed in union and separation and shared His heart's inner feelings with His most confidential devotees. In the agony of separation from Sri Krsna torrents of ecstasy flowed from his heart and His teachings, known as Sri Siksastakam, appeared from His lips like eight unbounded rivers of Golden Nectar.</font> <font face="times" size="4" color="red">The Holy Names of Krsna</font> ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-mahadavagni-nirvapanam sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam cetah - of the heart; darpana - the mirror; marjanam -cleansing; bhava - of birth and death; maha-davagni - forestal conflagration; nirvapanam - extinguishes; sreyah - real fortune (gradual opening of the soul's inner treasure); kairava - the evening lotus; candika - the moon's cooling rays; vitaranam - blossom; vidya-vadhu-jivanam - a life of unconditional surrender in conjugal love; ananda - of extatic joy; ambuddhi - the ocean; vardhanam - ever-increasing; pratipadam -again and again; purna-amrta - of full nectar; asvadanam - tasting; sarva-atma - all phases of the self; snapanam - satisfied, purified and conquered; paranam - the topmost; vijayate - auspicious; sri-krsna -of Sri Krsna; sankirtanam - congregational chanting of the holy name. <font color="green"> The holy name of Krsna cleanses the mirror of the heart and forever extinguishes.the fire of misery, that great conflagration in the forest of birth and death. As the evening lotus blooms in the moon's cooling rays, the heart begins to blossom in the nectar of the name. And at last the soul awakens to its real inner treasure - a life of unconditional surrender for Krsna's sweetest pleasure. Again and again tasting nectar, the soul dives and surfaces in the ever-increasing ocean of ecstatic joy. All phases of the self we may conceive are fully satisfied, purified, and at last conquered by the all-auspicious influence of the holy name of Krsna. </font> <font face="times" size="4" color="red">Unlimited Names of God</font> namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis tatrarpita nyamitah smarane na kalah etadrsi tava krpa bhagavan mamapi durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragah namnam - the holy names; akari - revealed: bahudha - different types of; nija-sarva-saktih - all kinds of potencies; tatrarpita - allotted therein; niyamita - restriction; smarane - chanting (the holy names); na - not; kalah - time, (place and circumstances); etadrsi - so.much; tava - Your; krpa - causeless mercy; bhagavan - Oh Lord; mama - my; api - but; durdaivam - misfortune; idrsam - such; iha - for them; ajani - innate; na - not; anunaragah - hankering and love. <font color="green"> O my Lord, Your holy name bestows auspiciousness upon all; and You have unlimited names by which You reveal Yourself. In Your many holy names you have kindly invested all Your transcendental potencies; and in chanting these names there are no strict rules concerning time or place. Out of Your causeless mercy, you have descended in the form of divine sound, but my great misfortune is that I have no love for Your holy names. </font> <font face="times" size="4" color="red">Humbler Than a Blade of Grass</font> Trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada karih trnat - ablade of grass; api - more than; sunicena - lower; taroh - tree; api - more than; sahisnuna - forbearing; amanina - humble; manadena - giving honor to others; kirtaniya - chanting; sada - always; harih - the holy name of Krsna.. <font color="green"> One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree, who gives all honour to others without desiring it for himself, is qualified to always chant the holy name of Krsna. </font> <font face="times" size="4" color="red">Unalloyed Devotion</font> na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi na - not; dhanam - the wealth which comes from following one's prescribed duties; na - not; janam - popularity and followers, or physical comforts provided by wife, and children; na - not; sundarim - association of beautiful ladies; kavitam - liberation, like poetry, of very high value, but only in words; va - or; jagad-isa - O Lord of the Universe; kamaye - hankering; mama - my; janmani - birth; janmani - birth; isvare - the Supreme Lord; bhavatad - let there be; bhaktih - devotional service; ahaituki - unmotivated; tvayi - to You. <font color="green"> Oh Lord, I don't want to enjoy the wealth which comes from following my prescribed duties. I have no attraction for popularity or followers, or for the comforts.of a physical relationship with wife and children. I do not desire the company of beautiful ladies, nor do I aspire for liberation. Oh Lord of the Universe! I only pray for unmotivated service to You, birth after birth. </font> <font face="times" size="4" color="red">King of the Land of Love</font> ayi nandana-tanuja kinkaram patitam mam visame bhavambudhau krpaya tava .-pankaja sthita-dhuli-sadrisam vicintaya ayi - oh, My Lord; nanda-tanuja - the son of Nanda maharaj, Krsna, King of the land of love; kikaram - servant; patitam - fallen; me - I; visame - terrible; bhavambudhau - in the ocean of birth and death; krpa - mercy; tava - Your; .-pankaja - lotus feet; sthita - at; dhuli-sadrsam - as a particle of dust; vicintaya - please consider. <font color="green"> Oh son of Nanda Maharaj, I am Your eternal servant yet because of my misfortune I have fallen into this terrible ocean of birth and death. Under these adverse circumstances I invoke Your grace:.please consider me a particle of dust at Your lotus feet. </font> <font face="times" size="4" color="red">Higher Hankerings</font> nayanam galad-asru-dharaya vadanam gadgaya-ruddhaya gira pulakair nicitam vapuh kada tava name-grahane bhavisyati nayanam - the eyes; galat-asru-dharaya - incessantly shedding tears; vadanam - voice; gadgada - trembling; rudhaya - suffocated; gira - words; pulakaih - standing of the hair due to devotional ecstasy; nicitam - covered; vapuh - the body; kada - when; tava - Your; nama - holy name; grahane - chanting; bhavisyate - will there be. <font color="green"> O Lord, when will incessant waves of tears flow from my eyes? When will my trembling voice be suffocated in ecstasy, and the hairs of my body stand on end while chanting Your holy name? </font> <font face="times" size="4" color="red">Forever Without You.</font> Yugayitam nimesena Caksusa pravrsayitam Sunyayitam jagat sarvam Govinda-virahena me Yugayitam - like forever; nimesana - a moment; caksusa - from the eyes; pravrsayitam - torrents of tears; sunyayitam - empty; jagat - the world; sarvam - the whole; govinda-virahena - separation from Govinda, Lord Krsna; me - me. <font color="green"> O Govinda! Without You the whole world appears empty&#8230; Tears are flooding my eyes like torrents of rain, and a moment seems like forever. </font> <font face="times" size="4" color="red">My Eternal Lord</font> aslisya va .-ratam pinastu mam adarsanam marma-hatam karotu va yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah aslisya - embracing with great affection; va - or; .-ratam - who has fallen at the lotus feet; pinastu - let Him trample; mam - me;.adarsanat - by being absent of indifferent; marma-hatam - brokenhearted; karotu - let Him make; va - or; yatha - whatever; tatha - so; va - or; vidadhatu - let Him do; lampatah - seducer of many women; mat-prana-nathah - the Lord of my life; tu - but; sah - He; eva - only; naparah - not anyone else. <font color="green"> Krsna may embrace me in love or trample me under His feet. He may even break my heart by being indifferent to me. Let that seducer do whatever he likes - He will always be the only Lord of my life. </font> <font size="2"> From the Book Ocean of Nectar {Chapter Four: Sri Siksastakam} By Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaj</font> </body> </html> </center></font>

<CENTER> <H1><font face="Times New Roman" size="5"><font color="BLACK"> SRI CAITANYA BHAGAVATA</CENTER></font></font></H1> <center> </center> <center> <font face="Times" size="3">by Vrndavana dasa Thakura</font></center> <H2><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Adi Lila</font></H2> <H3><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Chapter 1</font></H3> I worship their Lordships Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu, whose long arms extend down to their knees, whose beautiful complexions are the radiant yellow of molten gold and whose elongated eyes are like red lotuses. They are the topmost of the brahmanas, the guardians of religious principles for this age, the munificent benefactors of all living entities, and the most compassionate incarnations of Godhead. They initiated the congregational chanting of the names of Lord Krsna. O Lord! You are the eternal truth - past, present, and future - and You appeared as the son of Sri Jagannatha Misra. I offer my repeated obeisances unto You along with Your inseparable servitors, Your unalloyed devotees, Your sons (referring to His renounced Gosvami disciples, or the devotional process of chanting the holy name of Lord Krishna), and Your relatives (Bhudevi as Sri Vishnu Priya, Sridevi as Sri Laksmi Priya, and Lila, Nila or Durga as Navadvipa Dhama). According to devotional tastes there are the two Gadadharas, Damodara, Narahari, Ramananda, Jagadananda etc. One is Sri Gadadhara Pandita - the expansion of Srimati Radharani and Sri Gadadhara Bhatta from South India who is Rangadevi. I worship the two brothers, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who are the embodiment of magnanimity. By Their inconceivable potency They are the transcendental, eternal supreme controllers of all. Now They have descended to the material world. All glories to Sri Gaurasundara, the supremely powerful Lord of pure transcendence. He has an aura of molten gold, with lotus petal eyes, and His long graceful arms extend to His knees. While He sings the glories of the Lord, He dances in various pleasing postures, His heart inundated by the ecstatic emotions of devotional mellows. All glories, all glories to the moonlike Sri Krishna Caitanya. He is the fully independent Supreme Person, always engaged in transcendental pastimes. He is the Lord of the universe, the supreme controller of all controllers, and the personification of transcendence. All glories, all glories to the devotees of Sri Gauracandra. All glories, all glories to the ecstatic dancing of the Lord's intimate associates. In the beginning I offer my humble obeisances to the feet of the loving, confidential devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya. I then offer my obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna Caitanya. He incarnated in Navadvipa, and He is known as Visvambhara. That same Supreme Personality of Godhead has declared in the Vedas and Bhagavat, "Worship of My devotees is superior to worship of Me." Lord Krishna said to Uddhava, "O Uddhava, serving My devotees is many times better than worshiping Me." (SB 11:19:21). Therefore, I offer my worshipful prayers unto the devotees of the Lord before I begin to write this book. By this act may my present endeavor be successful. I offer my respectful obeisances to my worshipable Lord and spiritual master, Sri Nityananda Raya, by whose mercy the transcendental pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya become spontaneously manifest. With a thousand tongues we should incessantly glorify the Supreme Lord Balarama, because His thousand mouths as Ananta Sesa constantly glorify Lord Krishna. Just as priceless gems are kept in secure custody, so also the invaluable jewel of knowledge about Krsna's pastimes is kept safely in the mouth of Anantadeva. Therefore the tongue which initially glorifies Balarama will automatically be qualified to vibrate the transcendental pastime of Sri Caitanya. The Supreme Lord Haladhara holds His thousand hoods like snakes. He is a gigantic figure and the source of all inspiration. As Nityananda He is fully transcendental and eternally existent, intoxicated by the nectar of Sri Caitanya. Whoever sings or hears about Nityananda's supramundane character is offered the supreme shelter of Lord Caitanya. Mahesa and his consort Parvatidevi take great pleasure in eulogizing the object of their love - Sankarsana, Nityananda Prabhu. In the midst of a million fresh young maidens, the pure devotee, Sri Siva, and his consort pour out nectarean devotional hymns to Lord Sankarsana. All this is revealed in the Fifth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Balarama is worshiped by the entire Vaisnava world with songs of praise. Balarama danced with His gopis in Vrndavana, and their rasa dance is the pinnacle of sublimity. The Puranas describe that Balarama performed His rasa dance during the two months of spring, Madhava and Madhu. The Srimad Bhagavatam verses narrating this subject were spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit. Balarama spent the moonlit nights of the months of Vaisaka and Caitra with the cowherd damsels in the supramundane abode of Vrndavana. The place was set aglow with the rays of the moon. The lotus and kadamba flowers bloomed freely under the influence of the moon's rays, and a soft breeze circulated their scent. In the groves on the bank of the Jamuna, Balarama danced with the gopis, increasing their conjugal mood. The Supreme Lord Balarama, like a exquisite gem decorated by the cluster of gopis, performed His pleasurable pastimes. He behaved like Indra's elephant Airavata - the controller of many she-elephants. The Gandharvas observed the rasa dance and offered their prayers. The sound of kettle drums rose from the heavens, the demigods joyously showered flowers upon Them, and the Gandharvas and sages worshiped the Supreme Lord Balarama with verses praising His activities. The sages unequivocally denounce association with women, yet they sung hymns in praise of Balarama's rasa dance with His cowherd damsels. The demigods attended Balarama's rasa dance to shower flower petals. They knew that there was no difference between Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama, Haladhara. The transcendental qualities of Balarama are obscure in the four Vedas, but the Puranas describe them boldly. What power do I have to describe them? Out of ignorance, some people disregard the Puranas and reject Balarama's rasa dance as inauthentic. The two brothers, Lord Krsna and Balarama, performed the rasa dance with the gopis in the same place in Vrndavana. On the radiant full moon night of holi, at the end of sivaratri vrata, Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama, accompanied by Their cowherd boy friends, enjoyed Themselves in the midst of the beautiful maidens of Vrndavana. They were both pleasingly decorated with the finest jewelry, sandalwood pulp, wildflower garlands and exquisite clothes. The fortunate gopis sang sweetly, their hearts enraptured by love for Krishna and Balarama. Evening had not set in; the moon and the stars appeared. The fragrance of Arabian jasmine intoxicated the bumblebees, and a light breeze carried the aromas of white lilies and lotus flowers. Considering that very moment to be appropriate, Krsna and Balarama began Their pleasurable dalliances. They sang together for the pleasure of all living entities, Their voices rising and falling melodiously. If a person, after reading Srimad Bhagavatam, is not affectionately inclined towards Lord Balarama, then he is rejected by the Supreme Lord Vishnu and His devotees. In the words of Srimad Bhagavatam, a non-believer is a yavana (a barbarian). He is destined to suffer in hell, birth after birth. There are others who, like eunuchs, make emotional gesticulations, challenging, "Which scripture describes the rasa dance of Balarama?" Who is so sinful that even after reading the scriptures, he can not accept the truth, but misinterprets the real meaning and gives his own distorted understanding? Lord Balarama is the abode of Lord Caitanya's deep affection. Offense at Balarama's lotus feet destroys all possibilities for salvation. In His incarnation as Laksmana the younger brother of Lord Ramacandra, Balarama enacted the role of the Lord's servitor. Yet in His manifestation as the Supreme Lord, Balarama serves Himself in every respect - as a friend and a brother, by fanning Him, putting Him to sleep, glorifying Him with Vedic invocations and expanding Himself as His house, umbrella, attire, jewelry and seat. "O Lord ! Your direct, partial expansion, Ananta Sesa, is the source of all the various ingredients for Your service in the transcendental realm of Vaikuntha. Ananta Sesa is famous because He is manifest as Your residence, bed, throne, shoes, clothes, jewelry, etc. When shall I see you with Laksmidevi seated on the throne of Ananta Sesa? Ananta Sesa's partial expansion is the mighty Sri Garuda whose satisfaction is derived from acting as the Lord's carrier in every pastime. Ananta's devotees include Brahma, Siva, the four Kumaras, Srila Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami, Narada Muni and others. His glorious qualities are unlimited and are not fully understood by anyone. He is the original personality, the greatest mystic, the Supreme Lord, and the greatest devotee of the Vaisnavas. Thus far you have heard about the wonderful services performed by Ananta Sesa; now hear about His great opulence. He is enthroned in the lower planetary system of patala as his own source and repose. He is worshiped by all as His thousand mouths continually taste the full nectar of love of Godhead. In the court of Brahma, Narada Muni plays on his vina, and with well-composed verses he sings the wonderful glories of Ananta. Is it humanly possible to know the supramundane nature of Anantadeva? Just by His glance, He sets in motion the three modes of material nature which are the cause of this world's creation, maintenance, and annihilation. Although He is one, He supports the entire variegated material cosmic manifestation Himself (within the pores of His person). He is beginningless and eternal. Other then Lord Sankarsana, who can offer shelter to persons devoid of all material aspirations? He is the support on which the material world manifests and acts. That Supreme Lord, the cause of all causes, has appeared in His sublime spiritual form. He is the most powerful; in comparison, the power of a lion is insignificant. He performs pure transcendental pastimes to capture the hearts of His dear devotees, and He destroys countless sins by manifesting His transcendental form. What more is there to say than this? One becomes purified by hearing or calling out the name of Lord Anantadeva, either respectfully or accidentally. Even a degraded person is purified when he tauntingly utters the name of Sri Ananta. Anantadeva's mighty potency is beyond measure. That Supreme Lord carries on just one of His thousand heads the entire universe with all its living entities, mountains, and rivers, and that universe appears to be only a minute, atomic speck. Even if a person acquires a thousand tongues, how can he describe the power of the omnipotent Supreme Lord? Anantadeva is His own shelter and source, filled with unlimited power and strength. While residing in the lower planetary system of rasatala, He holds this gigantic cosmic manifestation with ease born of detachment. This material world's creation, maintenance, and annihilation, as well as the three modes of material nature, are activated by His glance. Who can fathom Anantadeva's non-dual, transcendental, eternal and unborn existence? Out of mercy toward the living entities the Lord manifests His supramundane spiritual form while He performs His variegated pastimes. All living entities reside within that transcendental form. The mighty Lord Nrsimhadeva represents but a wave in the ocean of the Lord's unlimited pastimes which satisfy the hearts of His devotees. Anantadeva's unlimited names, when heard or chanted by anyone in any manner, immediately sever the noose of innumerable births and deaths. Thus the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord always appreciated those who glorify Him. Ananta Sesa is the supreme destination of the entire universe; His holy name is the only means for the living entities's redemption. The Lord holds on His head the unlimited material nature - along with its mountains and oceans - simply for its protection and maintenance. The entire universe is a speck on one of His thousand hoods, and because of His unlimited strength, He does not feel the burden. Lord Anantadeva, the original Supreme Personality and maintainer of the entire cosmic manifestation, incessantly sings in glorification of Lord Krsna. He continuously describes every aspect of the Lord's divine attributes. Lord Krsna is eternal and His attributes are unending, therefore He can never be fully described or glorified. But Ananta is also eternal and His ability to glorify the Lord is unending. In Their divine relationship, neither is ever victorious. Even today Ananta Sesa's thousand mouths continuously sing the glories of the Supreme Lord Krsna Caitanya. How wonderfully Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama compete with each other! Brahma, Siva, other demigods and the perfected sages look on, feeling great exhilaration. The eulogies of Anantadeva pursue the ever-expanding, elusive shores of Lord Krsna's ocean of qualities. O Narada, I Brahma, and your elders, Sanaka and other sages cannot even fathom the extent of this material nature, what to speak of knowing the Supreme Lord's spiritual potencies. Anantadeva, the origin of all demigods, is unable to exhaustively glorify the Supreme Lord's transcendental opulence and potencies with His thousand mouths. Therefore how is it possible for ordinary mortals to understand these divine potencies? Anantadeva is Himself the master of unlimited attributes, and He resides in rasatala simply to support the vast material creation. In the court of Brahma, Narada Muni plays His vina and sings about these very same transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord. Brahma and others are stunned in ecstasy upon hearing about the supramundane qualities of the Supreme Lord, and Narada Muni is worshiped by all because he sings about those qualities. I have also been moved to write a few phrases in praise of the unlimited potencies of Lord Nityananda, Anantadeva, so I humbly request all of you to develop a loving devotional mood toward the Lord. Those who desire to cross over the dangerous ocean of material existence, yet drown in the ocean of devotional ecstasy, may take shelter of Lord Nityananda. I pray to the merciful Vaisnava devotees of the Lord to fulfill my hearts yearning, that I may serve my Lord Balarama birth after birth. Just as dvija, vipra, and brahma are different names for the same person, similarly Nityananda, Ananta and Balarama are different names for the same Supreme Personality. My Lord Nityananda Prabhu appeared within my heart and instructed me to narrate the transcendental qualities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this book. The pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are revealed by Nityananda's mercy only, because His personal expansion, Ananta Sesa, is the storehouse of information about Lord Caitanya and Lord Krsna's pastimes. Although Sri Ananta Sesa is the embodiment of Krsna kirtana, I have been able to offer only a humble prayer in His honor. Hearing Lord Caitanya's qualities and pastimes can clean away all material contaminations. Know for certain that such pastimes are revealed only through a pure devotee's grace. For who can know the nature and pastimes of Lord Caitanya? It is a hidden mystery even in the Vedas. Therefore, I have compiled only first-hand accounts taken directly from the lips of the associates of the Lord. I see no beginning or end to Lord Caitanya's pastimes. They are eternal and unlimited, and only the Lord's grace gives me the potency to compose them. I am simply Lord Caitanya's mouthpiece, repeating as He desires, just like a doll moved by some unseen hand. I throw myself at the feet of all pure Vaisnava devotees so they may cleanse me of all offenses. O my brothers! Please listen very attentively to the transcendental pastimes Lord Caitanya performed with His devotee associates. The ecstatic pastimes of Lord Caitanya have been divided into three periods - early, intermediate and later (Adi, Madhya and Antya). The early period includes a description of the Lord's education, and the intermediate portion reveals Mahaprabhu's pastimes of congregational chanting. The concluding portion describes the Lord's pastimes as a sannyasi in Nilacala, Orissa. He had allocated to Nityananda the mission of preaching in Bengal. The pious Sri Jagannatha Misra, Caitanya's father, lived in Navadvipa. Like Vasudeva, he conscientiously performed his spiritual duties. His devout and faithful wife Srimati Sacidevi was a second Devaki - the beloved mother of everyone. The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Narayana appeared in the womb of Srimati Sacidevi, and as Sri Krsna Caitanya, He became the most precious possession of everyone's heart. The Adi Khanda begins by describing the appearance of Lord Caitanya on an auspicious full moon evening in the month of Phalguna when the moon went into eclipse. The tumultuous chanting of Lord Hari's holy name filled all directions, inspiring everyone to sing together. The Supreme Lord Caitanya was born amidst the chanting. The Adi Khanda also describes the Lord's numerous childhood pastimes. Lord Caitanya revealed to His parents His otherwise unmanifest place of residence, the holy dhama. And as they stared in wonder, He showed them the physical signs of divinity on His feet. This portion of the book describes how one day thieves kidnaped baby Nimai from his house, but He tricked them into bringing Him back home. Another story narrated here is how the Lord ate all the food offered to Vishnu in the house of Jagadisa and Hiranya on ekadasi day. Yet another story describes how the Lord once sat on a pile of contaminated cooking pots and used the situation to instruct His mother in philosophy. He also acted like a crying baby, using His tears as a ploy to make everyone chant the holy names of God. The Adi Khanda discusses the Lord as a child playing with His friends as if He were Krsna in Gokula. It describes how He began His education and with little effort mastered all the scriptures. It narrates Sri Jagannatha Misra's disappearance and Visvarupa's acceptance of sannyasa and how these two disasters afflicted Mother Saci. Then it describes the Lord's wonderful pastimes as a student. He was pride personified before the other student scholars. Caitanya's travels through eastern Bengal are also described here, elaborating on how the land became a place of pilgrimage by the touch of His lotus feet. Caitanya was the master of all different scriptures. There was no one in the three worlds to challenge His erudition. The Adi Khanda describes the Lord sporting with His fellow students and their water pastimes in the waves of the Ganga. Then came the Lord's first marriage and the glorious disappearance of His first wife. He duly accepted a second wife, the daughter of a royal scholar. Once He pretended to be sick from a wind disorder. He took that opportunity to reveal symptoms of love of Godhead. While the Lord roamed about as a great scholar, He empowered all the devotees who surrendered to Him. The narration of the early life of Sri Caitanya includes a description of the immense joy on Mother Saci's face when she looked at the moon-like, blissful face and the graceful clothes of the Lord. Then there is the story of how Nimai Pandita piqued the pride of a scholar who was renowned as Digvijaya, the world conqueror. Ultimately the Lord slashed the scholar's material bonds. The Lord put everyone - even His devotees - into illusion about His real identity, and He roamed the streets of Navadvipa deceiving all. There is also a description of the Lord's pilgrimage to Gaya dhama and how He showered causeless mercy on Isvara Puri by accepting him as His spiritual master. Adi Khanda is a reservoir of the Lord's never-ending pleasurable pastimes. In the future Srila Vyasadeva, the greatest of sages, will describe other pastimes. But herein I reveal the early pastimes of the Lord up to the time He returns from His visit to Gaya dhama. In Madhya Khanda the Lord's omnipotence becomes known, and gradually His devotees are identified as they collect around His lotus feet like bees. Caitanya reveals His absolute identity as Lord Narayana by sitting on the altar of Vishnu in the houses of Sri Advaita and Srivasa Pandita. Sri Caitanya meets Nityananda Prabhu and together the brothers make wonderful Krsna kirtana. Then Nityananda's vision of the transcendental six-handed form of Caitanya Mahaprabhu is described. Later the Lord exhibited His universal form to Advaita Acarya Prabhu. Nityananda's vyasapuja has been described in Madhya Khanda along with a story of how He was slandered by some faithless atheists. Thereafter comes the description of Lord Caitanya's manifestation as Balarama when Nityananda gave Him His plough and club. The wonderful redemption of the two reprobates Jagai and Madhai - who were later to become quite famous - is told in detail. Mother Saci's vision of Sri Caitanya in a blackish complexion and Sri Nityananda in a whitish complexion is also discussed. Lord Caitanya once showed His unlimitedly opulent maha prakash form for several hours, and that story is told in Madhya Khanda. On that occasion He revealed the transcendental truth about Himself and the real identity of all His devotees. Thereafter comes a description of the occasion when Lord Caitanya, who is Narayana the Lord of Vaikuntha and the supreme absolute reality, danced and chanted as He narrated the truth about Himself. In Madhya Khanda the Lord breaks Canda Kazi's pride, and manifesting His own spiritual potency, He engages in continuous congregational chanting. Canda Kazi accepted devotional service by the Lord's grace. Immersed in ecstatic bliss, Sri Caitanya thereafter moved from village to village performing kirtana. He declared the truth about Himself as He exhibited His Varaharupa - a four-armed form - while riding around the courtyard on the back of His devotee, Murari Gupta. The Lord also ate some rice which Suklambara had collected by begging, and performed many wonderful pastimes in His manifestation of Lord Narayana. In Madhya Khanda Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appears before the devotees in the guise of Mahalaksmi or Rukminidevi, the Universal Mother who breast-fed all the devotees who were Her dependent sons. The Lord once chastised Mukunda for keeping bad company and later, when He was satisfied with Mukunda's obedience, He favored him with grace. Then there is a narration of the ecstatic all-night kirtanas in Navadvipa which were held regularly for a complete year. Madhya Khanda describes the mock verbal fights between Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Advaita Acarya. Only a foolish person thinks that these were actual disagreements. Then the Lord instructed His mother and simultaneously warned the whole world about the grievous consequences of offending the Vaisnava devotees. Satisfied by the prayers of His devotees, the Lord gave individual benedictions to each of them. Srila Haridasa Thakura received Mahaprabhu's mercy and the Lord showed compassion toward Sridhara by drinking water from his pot. Sri Caitanya blissfully performed daily pastimes in the waters of the Ganga with all his devotees. Once He and Nityananda Prabhu visited the house of Advaita Acarya for a specific reason. It is described that the Lord severely chastised Advaita Acarya, but at last He showed immeasurable grace on him. Then the Madhya Khanda describes how the extremely fortunate Sri Murari Gupta became enlightened about the true identity of Lord Caitanya as Krsna and Nityananda as Balarama. Those two Supreme Personalities danced in ecstasy in the house of Srivasa. In Madhya Khanda the Lord explains the entire philosophical truth about human life, using Srivasa's expired son as the speaker. In this way He alleviated everyone's suffering. News of this incident spread far, and by the Lord's grace Srivasa could overcome the shock of his son's death. In another story narrated in Madhya Khanda the Lord threw Himself into the Ganga, and Nityananda Prabhu and Srila Haridasa Thakura lifted Him out. Then Srimati Narayani received a treasure desired even by the demigods and Brahma; she received the remnants of the Lord's foodstuffs. The final story in the Madhya Khanda is the pastime of the Lord leaving home and accepting the renounced order of life for the salvation of every living entity. There are uncountable pastimes of the Lord in the Madhya Khanda; whatever remains untouched will be described later by Srila Vyasadeva. As the Sesa Khanda opens, Visvambhara is in the sannyasa order of life, and He has accepted the name Sri Krsna Caitanya. He has shaven his head clean, thereby plunging Advaita Acarya Prabhu into deep despondency. Mother Saci's suffering is unbearable, yet she is sustained by the Lord's mercy. Nityananda, the manifestation of Balarama, smashed Caitanya's sannyasa danda, and thereafter the Lord concealed His real identity and went to Nilacala Puri. Caitanya playfully taunted Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya when they first meet, but later He exhibited His six-handed form to him. The Lord mercifully graced King Prataparudra with devotional service and lived thereafter in the house of Kasi Misra. During Caitanya's stay in Puri, both Svarupa Damodara and Paramananda Puri became eligible to serve the Lord in confidential relationships. Sesa Khanda also describes Caitanya's trip through Bengal on His way to Mathura and Vrndavana. He stayed in Vidya Vacaspati's residence before moving on to the village of Kulia in Bengal. Millions of people gathered to see the Lord on His return to Bengal, and all who saw Him were liberated. Caitanya attempted to continue on His trip to Mathura, but after a short distance He turned back to Bengal. When the Lord returned to Nilacala, He engaged in continuous kirtana with His associates. He sent Nityananda to preach in Bengal, while He Himself remained in Nilacala with a handful of devotees. The Lord and all His devotees danced ecstatically before Lord Jagannatha's chariot. Caitanya's travels to Ramesvaram in South India and His journey to Mathura through the Jharakhanda forest are also described in Sesa Khanda. Later the Lord showered grace on Raya Ramananda and revealed other divine pastimes He had previously performed in Mathura. The magnanimous Caitanya Mahaprabhu also graced Dabir Khas by revealing His identity to him. He liberated Dabir Khas and his brother and renamed them both. They became the famous Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami. In Sesa Khanda the Lord's travels to Varanasi are described. The sannyasis of Varanasi could not recognize the Supreme Lord because they were too critical of the Vaisnavas. Caitanya Mahaprabhu thereafter returned to Nilacala and became engrossed in congregational Hari kirtana throughout the day and night. Nityananda traveled throughout India as a wandering mendicant. His pilgrimage is described in Sesa Khanda. Who can understand Nityananda's unfathomable transcendental character? He roamed about Mathura with ankle bells on His feet. On Sri Caitanya's request He went to Panihati and distributed devotional service - love of God - to everyone. Through His causeless mercy He saved Nahamalla Raya and other merchants of that locality. In Sesa Khanda, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's remaining eighteen years in Nilacala are described. Although numerous pastimes are related about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Vedavyasa will later tell them all in detail. Nityananda finds endless joy in glorifying Lord Caitanya, and He is an unmatched expert in that art. O Lord Caitanya, please bless me so that I may receive the transcendental service of Nityananda's lotus feet. He is the Lord of the entire universe. I have narrated in brief the contents of this book at the very outset. All of you please hear with undivided attention the pastimes of Sri Krsna Caitanya. Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda are my life and soul. I, Vrndavana dasa, offer my humble song at Their lotus feet. http://geocities.com/caitanyamahaprabhu/bhagavat.htm http://www.mandala.com.au

Part One <style> h1 {color: red} </style> <h1>The Holy Name: The Universal and Supreme Religion for this Age</h1> 1. The Prime Religious Practice for the Kali-yuga Is the Chanting of the Holy name The chanting of the holy name is the most sublime religion for the Kali-yuga: The Hare Krsna mantra is specifically mentioned in many Upanisads, such as the Kali-santarana Upanisad, where it is said: hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare itisodasakam namnam kali -kalmasa-nasanam natah parataropayah sarva-vedesu drsyate "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." ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 3.40 In Kali-yuga, simply by chanting the holy name one can attain the goal of life: [Karabhajana Rsi to Maharaja Nimi]: " 'Those who are advanced and highly qualified and are interested in the essence of life know the good qualitles of Kali-yuga. Such people worship the age of Kali because in this age, simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can advance in spiritual knowledge and attain life's goal.' " This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.36) spoken by the great sage Karabhajana Rsi, one of the nine Yogendras. The sage was informing Maharaja Nimi about the people's duty to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead according to different processes in different yugas. ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 20.347 In Kali-yuga, one can attain liberation and return to the spiritual kingdom by chanting the holy name: [sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit]: " 'My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.' " ¯Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.3.5 ¯ [cited: Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 20.344] Sankirtana is the present yuga-dharma: [Lord Caitanya to Sanatana Gosvami]: "&#8230;In the Kali-yuga the occupational duty of the people is to chant congregationally the holy name of Krsna." In Kali-yuga one worships Lord Krsna by chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 20.339 The only religious principle in the age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name: [isvara Puri to Lord Caitanya]: " 'In this age of Kali there is no other religious principle than the chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all Vedic hymns. This is the purport of all scriptures.' " ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 7.74 In Kali-yuga, chanting of the holy name is the most feasible means of salvation: In great jubilation, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "My clear Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya, know from Me that chanting of the holy names is the most feasible means of salvation in this age of Kali." ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 20.8 The universal religious practice for the Kali-yuga is the chanting of the holy name: 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 color, descended as Lord Caitanya. In this age of Kali the practical system of religion for everyone is the chanting of the name of Godhead. This was introduced in this age by Lord Caitanya. Bhakti-yoga actually begins with the chanting of the holy name, as confirmed by Madhvacarya in his commentary on the Mundaka Upanisad. He quotes this verse from the Narayana-samhita: dvapariyair janair visnuh pancaratrais tu kevalaih kalau tu nama-matrena pujyate bhagavan harih "In the Dvapara-yuga people should worship Lord Visnu only by the regulative principles of the Narada-pancaratra and other such authorized books. In the age of Kali, however, people should simply chant the holy names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 3.40 The Srimad-Bhagavatam advocates nama-sankirtana as the essence of religion in the age of Kali: 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 Krsna. ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 3.50 Rather than inventing one's own religious process, one should accept the approved method of religion for this age-hari-nama-sankirtana: [sarvabhauma Bhattacarya to King Prataparudra]: Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya replied, "This sweet transcendental sound is a special creation of the Lord known as prema-sankirtana, congregational chanting in love of Godhead. In this age of Kali, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has descended to preach the religion of Krsna consciousness. Therefore the chanting of the holy names of Lord Krsna is the religious principle for this age. Anyone who worships Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu by congregational chanting should be understood to be very intelligent. One who does not do so must be considered a victim of this age and bereft of all intelligence." Rascals propose that anyone can invent his own religious process, and this proposition is condemned herein. If one actually wants to become religious, he must take up the chanting of the Hare Krsna rnaha-mantra... Dharma, or religion, cannot be manufactured by a human being. Religion is the law or code of the Lord... Dharma refers to the science of bhakti-yoga, which begins by the novice's chanting the holy name of the Lord (tan-nama-grahanadibhih). In this age of Kali it is recommended in Caitanya-caritamrta, kali-kale dharma-krsna-nama-sankirtana. In the age of Kali the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is the method of religion approved by all Vedic scriptures. ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 11.97-99 Chanting the holy name is the sum and substance of sanatana-dharma: In this age of Kali, there are no genuine religious principles. There are only the Vaisnava devotees and the Vaisnava devotional scriptures. This is the sum and substance of everything. In this age a person should not envy Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement but should chant the holy names of Hari and Krsna, the maha-mantra. That is the sum and substance of eternal religion, known as sanatana-dharma. ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 9.362 In Kali-yuga Krsna has incarnated as the holy name in order to deliver the sinful, who are suffering greatly: As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (4.7): yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srjamy aham "Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion-at that time I descend Myself." In the present age, Kali-yuga, people are very much sinful and are consequently suffering greatly. Therefore Krsna has incarnated in the form of His name, as found in the maha-mantra: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. ¯Teachings of Queen Kunti Because Kali-yuga is such a degraded and miserable age, Lord Caitanya advises everyone simply to chant Hare Krsna: According to the Vedic conception, there must be men in society who are factually brahmanas, capable of expounding the real truth. If everyone becomes a sudra, the Absolute Truth cannot be understood. It is said that at the present moment in Kali-yuga everyone is a sudra (kalau sudra-sambhavah), and it is very difficult in this age to find qualified brahmanas, for they are very rare. There is practically not a single qualified brahmana in this age. prayenalpayusah sabhya kalav asmin yuge janah mandah sumanda-matayo manda-bhagya hy upadrutah "O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed." (S.B. 1.1.10) The people in this age are very short-lived and slow in understanding spiritual life. Actually, human life is meant for understanding spiritual values, but because everyone in this age is a sudra, no one is interested. People have forgotten life's real purpose. The word manda means both slow and bad, and everyone in this age is either bad or slow or a combination of both. People are unfortunate and disturbed by so many things. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam there will eventually be no rain and consequently a scarcity of food. The governments will also levy very heavy taxes. The characteristics of this age predicted by Srimad-Bhagavatam are already being experienced to some degree. Since Kali-yuga is a very miserable age, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Sri Krsna Himself, advises everyone simply to chant Hare Krsna. harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Adi 17.21] "In this age of Kali there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative for spiritual progress than the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord." (Brhan-naradiya Purana) This process is not Caitanya Mahaprabhu's invention, but is advised by the sastras, the Puranas. The process for this Kali-yuga is very simple. One need only chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. ¯Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahuti Although God has given us all facilities to live peacefully on this earth, cultivate Krsna consciousness, and finally to come to Him, in this age we're unfortunate. We are short-lived, and there are so many people without food, shelter, married life or defense from the onslaughts of nature. This is due to the influence of this age of Kali. Therefore Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, seeing the dreadful situation in this age, emphasized the absolute necessity for cultivating spiritual life. And how should we do it? Caitanya Mahaprabhu gives the formula: harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Adi 17.21] "Just always chant Hare Krsna." Never mind whether you are in a factory or in hell, in a shack or in a skyscraper-it doesn't matter. Just go on chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. There is no expense, there is no impediment, there is no caste, there is no creed, there is no color-anyone can do it. Just chant and hear. ¯On the Way to Krsna Everywhere in this age of iron everything is degraded, degraded in this sense: prayenalpayusah sabhya kalav asmin yuge janah [s.B. 1.1.10]. In this age of Kali the duration of life is diminished, and men are not moved to understand self-realization, and if they are, they are invariably misled by so many deceitful leaders. The age is very corrupt. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu's process of chanting Hare Krsna is the best and the simplest method. harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Adi 17.21] "In this age of Kali there is no other religion than glorifying the Lord by utterance of His holy name, and that is the injunction of all the revealed scriptures. There is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way." This verse appears in the Brhan-naradiya Purana. Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam. Simply chant Hare Krsna. There is no other alternative. Kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha. In this age of Kali, there is no other alternative for self-realization. So we have to accept it. There is another similar verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. In the Twelfth Canto, Third Chapter (12.3.51), Pariksit Maharaja was informed by Sukadeva Gosvami of the faults of this age, and now all the symptoms of the age of Kali are apparent. In the conclusive portion, however, Sukadeva Gosvami said, kaler dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah: "My dear king, this age, Kali, is full of faulty things, but there is one good opportunity." What is that? Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet: "Simply by chanting this Hare Krsna mantra one can become liberated and go back to Godhead." ¯The Science of Self-Realization The lack of religious principles in Kali-yuga is more than compensated by the process of chanting the holy name: It is said that this age of Kali is three-fourths devoid of religious principles. Hardly one-fourth of the principles of religion are still observed in this age. But by the mercy of Lord Krsna, this vacancy of Kali-yuga has not only been completely filled, but the religious process has been made so easy that simply by rendering transcendental loving service unto Lord Krsna by chanting His holy names, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, one can achieve the highest result of religion, namely, being transferred to the highest planet within the spiritual world, Goloka Vrndavana. ¯Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Chanting of the holy names of the Lord is the common platform for the universal religion of mankind in the Kali-yuga: In this present age quarrels take place even over trifles, and therefore the sastras have recommended for this age a common platform for realization, namely chanting the holy names of the Lord. People can hold meetings to glorify the Lord in their respective languages and with melodious songs, and if such perfommances are executed in an offenseless manner, it is certain that the participants will gradually attain spiritual perfection without having to undergo more rigorous methods. At such meetings everyone, the learned and the foolish, the rich and the poor, the Hindus and the Muslims, the Englishmen and the Indians, and the candalas and the brahmanas, can all hear the transcendental sounds and thus cleanse the dust of material association from the mirror of the heart. To confirm the Lord's mission, all the people of the world will accept the holy name of the Lord as the common platform for the universal religion of mankind. ¯Srimad-Bhagavatam 1, Intro. In the age of logic, argument and disagreement, the chanting of Hare Krsna is the only means of self-realization: In three out of the four millenniums (namely Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga and Dvapara-yuga) people had the honor to be able to understand transcendence through the path of disciplic succession. However, in the present age, people have no interest in the disciplic succession. Instead, they have invented many paths of logic and argument. This individual attempt to understand the supreme transcendence (called the ascending process) is not approved by the Vedas. The Absolute Truth must descend from the absolute platform. He is not to be understood by the ascending process. The holy name of the Lord-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-is a transcendental vibration because it comes from the transcendental platform, the supreme abode of Krsna. Because there is no difference between Krsna and His name, the holy name of Krsna is as pure, perfect and liberated as Krsna Himself. Academic scholars have no entrance by means of logic and other argument into the understanding of the transcendental nature of the holy name of God. The single path in understanding the transcendental nature of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is the chanting of these names with faith and adherence. Such chanting will release one from designated conditions arising from the gross and subtle bodies. In this age of logic, argument and disagreement, the chanting of Hare Krsna is the only means for self-realization. ¯Teachings of Lord Caitanya The Hare Krsna mantra is especially suited to deliver us from the dangers of the Kali-yuga: Only the dvijas (the brahmanas) and the devas (the demigods) can be delivered from material existence by the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Whatever is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is a mantra and is suitable for delivering the conditioned souls from mental speculation. The conditioned souls are engaged in a struggle for existence (manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati [bg. 15.7]). Deliverance from this struggle constitutes the highest benefit, but unless one gets a mantra from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, deliverance is impossible. The beginning mantra is the Gayatri mantra. Therefore, after purification, when one is qualified to become a brahmana (dvija), he is offered the Gayatri mantra. Simply by chanting the Gayatri mantra, one can be delivered. This mantra, however, is suitable only for the brahmanas and demigods. In Kali-yuga, we are all in a very difficult position, in which we need a suitable mantra that can deliver us from the dangers of this age. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His incarnation as Lord Caitanya, gives us the Hare Krsna mantra... In His Siksastaka, Lord Caitanya says, param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam: "All glories to the chanting of sri-krsna-sankirtana!" The maha-mantra-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-is directly chanted by the Lord Himself, who gives us this mantra for deliverance. We cannot invent any means to be delivered from the dangers of material existence... Sparks are beautiful as long as they are in the fire. Similarly, we have to remain in the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and always engage in devotional service, for then we shall always be brilliant and illuminating. As soon as we fall from the service of the Lord, our brilliance and illumination will immediately be extinguished, or at least stopped for some time. When we living entities, who are like sparks of the original fire, the Supreme Lord, fall into a material condition, we must take the mantra from the Supreme Personality of Godhead as it is offered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. By chanting this Hare Krsna mantra, we shall be delivered from all the difficulties of this material world. ¯Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.6.15 2. In the Kali-yuga, Lord Krsna Is Worshiped by Chanting of the Holy Name In the Kali-yuga, one can satisfy and worship the Lord simply by chanting His holy name: Sri Madhvacarya has brought our attention to this quotation from the Narayana-samhita: dvapariyair janair visnuh pancaratrais tu kevalaih kalau tu nama-matrena pujyate bhagavan harih "In the Dvapara-yuga one could satisfy Krsna or Visnu only by worshiping opulently according to the pancaratriki system, but in the age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting His holy name." ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 7.12 In this age of Kali, real religious propapada should induce people to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra... Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati thakura comments in this regard in his Anubhasya, wherein he quotes a verse from Narayana-samhita: dvapariyair janair visnuh pancaratrais tu kevalaih kalau tu nama-matrena pujyate bhagavan harih "In Dvapara-yuga, devotees of Lord Visnu and Krsna rendered devotional service according to the principles of pancaratrika. In this age of Kali, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped simply by the chanting of His holy names." ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 25.9 Learned scholars in the age of Kali worship Lord Krsna through nama-sankirtana: "By performing the sacrifice of congregational chanting of the holy name, learned scholars in the age of Kali worship Lord Krsna&#8230;" ¯Stava-mala of Rupa Gosvami ¯[cited: Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 3.58] In Kali-yuga, the process of worshiping Krsna is the sacrifice of chanting the holy name: [Lord Caitanya to Svarupa Damodara & Ramananda Raya]: "In this age of Kali, the process of worshiping Krsna is to perform sacrifice by chanting the holy name of the Lord. One who does so is certainly very intelligent, and he attains shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna." ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 20.9 3. The Yuga-dharma Is Personally Introduced by Lord Krsna in His Incarnation as Lord Caitanya Krsna personally inaugurates the religion of the age-nama-sankirtana-as Lord Caltanya: [Lord Krsna, thinking to Himself]: "I shall personally inaugurate the religion of the age-nama-sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy name. I shall make the world dance in ecstasy, realizing the four mellows of loving devotional service." ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 3.19 The Kali-yuga dharma, chanting the holy name, is introduced by Lord Caitanya: [Karabhajana Rsi to Maharaja Nimi]: "Accompanied by His personal devotees, Lord Krsna, assuming a golden color, introduces the hari-nama-sankirtana, the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, in the age of Kali. By this process, He delivers love for Krsna to the general populace. Lord Krsna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, 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." ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 20.340-41 Krsna came again as Lord Caitanya to teach us the path by which to cross the ocean of Kali-yuga: Just before the beginning of Kali-yuga-or, in other words, at the end of Dvapara-yuga-Lord Sri Krsna appeared and left His instructions in the form of Bhagavad-gita, in which He asked all living entities to surrender unto Him. Since the beginning of Kali-yuga, however, people have practically been unable to surrender to the lotus feet of Krsna, and therefore, after some five thousand years, Krsna came again as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu just to teach the entire world how to surrender unto Him, unto Sri Krsna, and thus be purified... Kali-yuga is full of contamination. This is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.3.51): kaler dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet This age of Kali is full of unlimited faults. Indeed, it is just like an ocean of faults (dosa-nidhi). But there is one chance, one opportunity. Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet: simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, one can be freed from the contamination of Kali-yuga and, in his original spiritual body, can return home, back to Godhead. This is the opportunity of Kali-yuga. When Krsna appeared, He gave His orders, and when Krsna Himself appeared as a devotee, as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He showed us the path by which to cross the ocean of Kali-yuga. That is the path of the Hare Krsna movement. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared, He ushered in the era for the sankirtana movement. It is also said that for ten thousand years this era will continue. This means that simply by accepting the sankirtana movement and chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, the fallen souls of this Kali-yuga will be delivered. After the Battle of Kuruksetra, at which Bhagavad-gita was spoken, Kali-yuga continues for 432,000 years, of which only 5,000 years have passed. Thus there is still a balance of 427,000 years to come. Of these 427,000 years, the 10,000 years of the sankirtana movement inaugurated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 500 years ago provide the opportunity for the fallen souls of Kali-yuga to take to the Krsna consciousness movement, chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and thus be delivered from the clutches of material existence and return home, back to Godhead. Chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is potent always, but it is especially potent in this age of Kali. Therefore Sukadeva Gosvami, while instructing Maharaja Pariksit, stressed this chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra. kaler dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet "My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom." (S.B. 12.3.51) Those who have accepted the task of spreading the Hare Krsna maha-mantra in full Krsna consciousness should take this opportunity to deliver people very easily from the clutches of material existence. Our duty, therefore, is to follow the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and preach the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world very sincerely. This is the best welfare activity for the peace and prosperity of human society. ¯Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.5.23 The chanting of the holy name is Lord Caitanya's special concession to the animallike human beings of this age: Love of Krsna is not an easy thing to obtain, because by this love one can purchase Krsna, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu distributed this love of Krsna to anyone and everyone, even to the two drunkards Jagai and Madhai. Narottama dasa thakura has therefore sung: dina-hina yata chilo hari-name uddharilo, ta'ra saksi jagai-madhai "Caitanya Mahaprabhu is so magnanimous that He delivered all kinds of sinful men simply by allowing them to chant the Hare Krsna mantra. The evidence of this is Jagai and Madhai." At that time, of course, there were two Jagais and Madhais, but at the present moment, by the grace of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His process of teaching, so many Jagais and Madhais are being delivered. If Caitanya Mahaprabhu is pleased, He can give krsna-prema, love of Krsna, to anyone, regardless of that person's qualification. If a person is giving charity, he can select anyone to take it. Without the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, understanding Krsna is very, very difficult. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye (Bg. 7.3): out of many millions of people, hardly one tries to make his life spiritually successful. People simply work like animals, not knowing how to make a success of human life. One's human life is successful when one understands Krsna; otherwise one remains an animal. Anyone who is not Krsna conscious, who does not know who Krsna is, is no better than an animal. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave this concession to the fallen souls of this age: "Simply chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and you will be delivered." This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's special concession (kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet, S.B. 12.3.51). ¯Teachings of Queen Kunti Lord Sri Krsna personally came as Lord Caitanya in order to distribute the process of chanting-the easiest means, in this age, to the highest perfection of life: Out of many thousands of persons who are in self-knowledge as to what and who they are, only one or two may be actually liberated. And out of many thousands who are liberated, only one or two may understand what and who Krsna is. So understanding Krsna is not such an easy job. Thus in this age of Kali, an age characterized by ignorance and chaos, liberation is out of the reach of practically everyone. One has to go through the whole ordeal of becoming civilized, then religious, and then one has to perform charities and sacrifices and come to the platform of knowledge, then to the stage of liberation, and finally, after liberation, to the understanding of what Krsna is... Practically speaking, this process is not very easy in this age of Kali. In Srimad-Bhagavatam a description is given of the people of this age. Their duration of life is said to be very short, they tend to be phlegmatic and slow and to sleep a great deal, and when they're not sleeping, they are busy earning money. At the most they only have two hours a day for spiritual activities, so what is the hope for spiritual understanding? It is also stated that even if one is anxious to make spiritual progress, there are many pseudospiritual societies to take advantage of him. People are also characterized in this age as being unfortunate. They have a great deal of difficulty meeting the primary demands of life-eating, defending, mating, and sleeping-necessities which are met even by the animals. Even if people are meeting these necessities in this age, they are always anxious about war, either defending themselves from aggressors or having to go to war themselves. In addition to this, there are always disturbing diseases and economic problems in Kali-yuga. Therefore Lord Sri Krsna considered that in this age it is impossible for people to come to the perfectional stage of liberation by following the prescribed rules and regulations. Thus out of His causeless mercy, Sri Krsna came as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and distributed the means to the highest perfection of life and spiritual ecstasy by the chanting of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. This process of chanting is most practical, and it does not depend on whether one is liberated or not, or whether one's condition is conducive to spiritual life or not-whoever takes to this process becomes immediately purified. Therefore it is called pavitram (pure). Furthermore, for one who takes to this Krsna consciousness process, the seeds of latent reactions to his sinful actions are all nullified. Just as a fire turns whatever we put into it to ashes, this process turns to ashes all the sinful reactions of our past lives. ¯Raja-vidya: The King of Knowledge 4. In the Kali-yuga, Chanting Yields the Results of Other Religious Practices Performed in Previous Ages By chanting the holy name in the Kali-yuga, one can obtain the results of various spiritual activities performed in the previous three ages: [sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit]: "'Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Visnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices and in Dvapara-yuga by seeing the Lord's lotus feet can also be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.'" ¯Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.3.52 ¯ [cited: Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 20.345] "'Whatever is achieved by meditation in Satya-yuga, by the performance of yajna in Treta-yuga or by the worship of Krsna's lotus feet in Dvapara-yuga is also obtdned in the age of Kali simply by chanting and glorifying Lord Kesava.'" Visnu Purana 6.2.17, ¯Padma Purana (Uttara-khanda 72.25), ¯and Brhan-naradiya Purana 38.97 ¯ [cited: Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 20.346] [Lord Caitanya to Sanatana Gosvami]: "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 the Hare Krsna maha-mantra." ¯Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 20.343 In this age, hari-kirtana is the only practical means of self-realization: If one actually wants to solve the problems of life in this age, then he has to take to this process of kirtana. That is the recommended process. harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Adi 17.21] In this age, Kali-yuga, one cannot execute any process of self-realization or perfection of life other than kirtana. Kirtana is essential in this age. In all Vedic literatures it is confirmed that one must meditate on the Supreme Absolute Truth, Visnu, not on anything else. But there are different processes of meditation recommended for different ages. The process of mystic yogic meditation was possible in Satya-yuga, when men lived for many thousands of years. Now people will not believe this, but in a previous age there were people who lived for one hundred thousand years. That age was called Satya-yuga, and the meditation of mystic yoga was possible at that time. In that age the great yogi Valmiki Muni meditated for sixty thousand years. So that is a long-term process, which is not possible to execute in this age. If one wishes to conduct a farce, that is another matter. But if one actually wants to practice such meditation, it takes an extremely long time to perfect. In the next age, Treta-yuga, the process of realization was to perform the various ritualistic sacrifices recommended in the Vedas. In the next age, Dvapara-yuga, the process was temple worship. In this present age the same result can be achieved by the process of hari-kirtana, glorification of Hari, Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. ¯The Science of Self-Realization In the age of quarrel, chanting of the holy name is the only recommended means of self-realization: The yoga system, as it was recommended in the Satya-yuga, the Golden Age, was to always meditate on Visnu. In the Treta-yuga one could practice yoga by performing great sacrifices, and in the next age, Dvapara-yuga, one could achieve perfection by temple worship. The present age is called Kali-yuga. Kali-yuga means the age of quarrel and disagreement. No one agrees with anyone else. Everyone has his own theory; everyone has his own philosophy. If I don't agree with you, you fight me. This is the symptom of Kali-yuga. The only method recommended in this age is chanting the holy name. Simply by chanting the holy name of God, one can attain that perfect self-realization which was attained by the yoga system in the Satya-yuga, by performance of great sacrifices in the Treta-yuga, and by large-scale temple worship in the Dvapara-yuga. That perfection can be attained by the simple method of hari-kirtana. Hari means the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kirtana means to glorify. ¯Krsna Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System 5. Sankirtana-yajna Is the Only Recommended Yajna for this Age General Instructions Lord Caitanya introduced the sankirtana-yajna for the deliverance of all men in this age of Kali: [Lord Krsna to Arjuna]: In the beginning of creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Visnu, and blessed them by saying, "Be thou happy by this yajna [sacrifice] because its performance will bestow upon you all desirable things." The Lord created this material world for the conditioned souls to learn how to perform yajnas (sacrifice) for the satisfaction of Visnu, so that while in the material world they can live very comfortably without anxiety. Then after finishing the present material body, they can enter into the kingdom of God. That is the whole program for the conditioned soul. By performance of yajna, the conditioned souls gradually become Krsna conscious and become godly in all respects. In this age of Kali, the sankirtana-yajna (the chanting of the names of God) is recommended by the Vedic scriptures, and this transcendental system was introduced by Lord Caitanya for the deliverance of all men in this age. Sankirtana-yajna and Krsna consciousness go well together. Lord Krsna in His devotional form (as Lord Caitanya) is mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam as follows, with special reference to the sankirtana-yajna: krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah "In this age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sankirtana-yajna." (S.B. 11.5.32) Other yajnas prescribed in the Vedic literatures are not easy to perform in this age of Kali, but the sankirtana-yajna is easy and sublime for all purposes. ¯Bhagavad-gita As It Is 3.10 Of all sacrifices, chanting of the holy name is the simplest and purest: [Lord Krsna to Arjuna]: &#8230; Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa]&#8230; Of all the sacrifices, the chanting of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is the purest representation of Krsna. Sometimes animal sacrifices are recommended, but in the sacrifice of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, there is no question of violence. It is the simplest and the purest. ¯Bhagavad-gita As It Is 10.25 In the age of Kali, the greatest common formula of sacrifice is the sankirtana-yajna: [King Pariksit to the personality of Kali]: Therefore, O friend of irreligion, you do not deserve to remain in a place where experts perform sacrifices according to truth and religious principles for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yajnesvara, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the beneficiary of all kinds of sacrificial ceremonies. Such sacrificial ceremonies are prescribed differently in the scriptures for different ages. In other words, sacrifice means to accept the supremacy of the Lord and thereby perform acts by which the Lord may be satisfied in all respects... In this age of Kali, the greatest common formula of sacrifice is the sankirtana-yajna. That is the opinion of the experts who know how to propagate the process of yajna. Lord Caitanya preached this method of yajna, and it is understood from this verse that the sacrificial method of sankirtana-yajna may be performed anywhere and everywhere in order to drive away the personality of Kali and save human society from falling prey to the influence of the age. ¯Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.17.33 In the age of Kali, the only fruitful sacrifice is the sacrifice of the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord: The sacrificial fire kindled by the sages of Naimisaranya was certainly full of smoke and doubts because of so many flaws. The first flaw is that there is an acute scarcity of expert brahmanas able to carry out such performances successfully in this age of Kali. Any discrepancy in such sacrifices spoils the whole show, and the result is uncertain, like agricultural enterprises. The good result of tilling the paddy field depends on providential rain, and therefore the result is uncertain. Similarly, performance of any kind of sacrifice in this age of Kali is also uncertain. Unscrupulous greedy brahmanas of the age of Kali induce the innocent public to such uncertain sacrificial shows without disclosing the scriptural injunction that in the age of Kali there is no fruitful sacrificial performance but the sacrifice of the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord. ¯Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.18.12 Sankirtana-yajna is the proper yajna for the Kali-yuga: When learned sages and brahmanas assemble to chant Vedic mantras, some of them also engage in arguing about the conclusion of the scriptures. Thus some of the sages and brahmanas were arguing, and some of them were chanting the Vedic mantras, so the entire atmosphere was surcharged with transcendental sound vibration. This transcendental sound vibration has been simplified in the transcendental vibration Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. In this age, no one is expected to be highly educated in the Vedic ways of understanding because people are very slow, lazy and unfortunate. Therefore Lord Caitanya has recommended the sound vibration Hare Krsna, and in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32) it is also recommended: yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah. At the present moment it is impossible to gather sacrificial necessities because of the poverty of the population and their lack of knowledge in Vedic mantras. Therefore for this age it is recommended that people gather together and chant the Hare Krsna mantra to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is accompanied by His associates. Indirectly this indicates Lord Caitanya, who is accompanied by His associates Nityananda, Advaita and others. That is the process of performing yajna in this age. ¯Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.4.6 Because Krsna is everything, one who chants Hare Krsna is performing all kinds of yajnas: [The brahmanas at Daksa's sacrifice to Lord Visnu]: The brahmanas said: Dear Lord, You are sacrifice personified. You are the offering of clarified butter, You are the fire, You are the chanting of Vedic hymns by which the sacrifice is conducted, You are the fuel, You are the flame, You are the kusa grass, ant You are the sacrificial pots. You are the priests who perform the yajna, You are the demigods headed by Indra, and You are the sacrificial animal. Everything that is sacrificed is You or Your energy. In this statement Lord Visnu's all-pervasiveness is partially explained. It is said in the Visnu Purana that as a fire situated in one place emanates its heat and illumination everywhere, so whatever we see within the material or spiritual worlds is nothing but a manifestation of different energies emanating from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The brahmanas' statement is that Lord Visnu is everything-the fire, the offering, the clarified butter, the utensils, the place of sacrifice and the kusa. He is everything. It is confirmed herein that the performance of sankirtana-yajna in this age is as good as all other yajnas in all other ages. If one performs sankirtana-yajna by chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, there is no need to arrange elaborate paraphernalia for the prescribed sacrificial ceremonies recommended in the Vedas. In the chant of the holy names, Hare and Krsna, Hare means the energy of Krsna, and Krsna is the visnu-tattva. Combined together they are everything. In this age, persons are harassed by the influence of Kali-yuga and cannot arrange for all the requisite paraphernalia for performing sacrifice as recommended in the Vedas. But if one simply chants Hare Krsna, it is to be understood that he is performing all kinds of yajna because there is nothing within our vision except Hare (the energy of Krsna) and Krsna. ¯Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.7.45 In this age, sankirtana-yajna, chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is more important than Vedic ritualistic sacrifices: [Yamaraja to the Yamadutas]: Because they are bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Yajnavalkya, Jaimini and other compilers of the religious scriptures cannot know the secret, confidential religious system of the twelve mahajanas. They cannot understand the transcendental value of performing devotional service or chanting the Hare Krsna mantra. Because their minds are attracted to the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas-especially the Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Rg Veda-their intelligence has become dull. They are busy collecting the ingredients for ritualistic ceremonies that yield only temporary benefits, such as elevation to Svargaloka for material happiness. They are not attracted to the sankirtana movement; instead they are interested in dharma, artha, kama and moksa. Since one may easily achieve the highest success by chanting the holy name of the Lord, one may ask why there are so many Vedic ritualistic ceremonies and why people are attracted to them. This verse answers that question. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (15.15), vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah: the real purpose of studying the Vedas is to approach the lotus feet of Lord Krsna. Unfortunately, unintelligent people bewildered by the grandeur of Vedic yajnas want to see gorgeous sacrifices performed. They want Vedic mantras chanted and huge amounts of money spent for such ceremonies. Sometimes we have to observe the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies to please such unintelligent men. Recently, when we established a large Krsna-Balarama temple in Vrndavana, we were obliged to have Vedic ceremonies enacted by brahmanas because the inhabitants of Vrndavana, especially the smarta-brahmanas, would not accept Europeans and Americans as bona fide brahmanas. Thus we had to engage brahmanas to perform costly yajnas. In spite of these yajnas, the members of our Society performed sankirtana loudly with mrdangas, and I considered the sankirtana more important than the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. Both the ceremonies and the sankirtana were going on simultaneously. The ceremonies were meant for persons interested in Vedic rituals for elevation to heavenly planets (jadi-krta-matir madhu-puspitayam), whereas the sankirtana was meant for pure devotees interested in pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We would simply have performed sankirtana, but then the inhabitants of Vrndavana would not have taken the installation ceremony seriously. As explained here, the Vedic performances are meant for those whose intelligence has been dulled by the flowery language of the Vedas, which describe fruitive activities intended to elevate one to the higher planets. Especially in this age of Kali, sankirtana alone is sufficient. If the members of our temples in the different parts of the world simply continue sankirtana before the Deity, especially before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they will remain perfect. There is no need of any other performances. ¯Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.25 [sukracarya to Lord Visnu]: There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship's holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended: harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Adi 17.21] "In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way." (Brhan-naradiya Purana 38.126) In this age of Kali, it is extremely difficult to perform Vedic ritualistic ceremonies or sacrifices perfectly. Hardly anyone can chant the Vedic mantras with perfect pronunciation or accumulate the paraphernalia for Vedic performances. Therefore the sacrifice recommended in this age is sankirtana, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.5.32). Instead of wasting time performing Vedic sacrifices, those who are intelligent, those who possess good brain substance, should take to the chanting of the Lord's holy name and thus perform sacrifice perfectly. I have seen that many religious leaders are addicted to performing yajnas and spending hundreds and thousands of rupees for imperfect sacrificial performances. This is a lesson for those who unnecessarily execute such imperfect sacrifices. We should take the advice of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah). Although Sukracarya was a strict brahmana addicted to ritualistic activities, he also admitted, nischidram anusankirtanam tava: "My Lord, constant chanting of the holy name of Your Lordship makes everything perfect." In Kali-yuga the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies cannot be performed as perfectly as before. Therefore Srila Jiva Gosvami has recommended that although one should take care to follow all the principles in every kind of spiritual activity, especially in worship of the Deity, there is still a chance of discrepancies, and one should compensate for this by chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In our Krsna consciousness movement we therefore give special stress to the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra in all activities. ¯Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.23.16

na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi O Lord of the universe, I do not desire material wealth, materialistic followers, a beautiful wife or fruitive activities described in flowery language. All I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service to You. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's purport: "My dear Lord krsna, I do not want material wealth from You, nor do I want followers, a beautiful wife or the results of fruitive activities, I only pray that by Your causeless mercy You give Me pure devotional service to You, life after life." (Cc. Antya 20.29-30) One who attains unshakable faith in chanting rises to the stage of ruci, where he continually relishes the "taste" of Krsna's name. Fixed in Krsna consciousness, he shuns all material sense enjoyment due to experiencing a higher taste in association of the Lord. At this stage, one's taste or attraction for devotional practises (sravanam, kirtanam, arcanam) exceeds his attraction to any type of mundane engagement. The forth sloka describes the symptoms of a person with nama-ruci: He does not care a fig for women, wealth, fame, followers or fruitive gain. Purchase the Book from KrishnaCulture.com From 'The Art of Chanting' by Mahanidhi Swami Page 99 Entitled Illumination on Sri Caitanya's Siksastaka

The Friction Stick Phenomena The sastra state that by chanting Krsna's holy name one will eventually see the Lord's transcendental form, qualities and pastimes. How does this happen? The Svetasvatara Upanishad 1.13-14 gives a wonderful explanation how transcendental sound reveals the form of God: "The material form (murti) of fire when latent in its source (i.e. the firewood) is not perceived-but yet remains there in its subtle form. When two sticks of wood are rubbed together with enough force or friction, then that dormant fire manifests. "Similarly, by making one's own body the lower friction stick (arani) and the syllable om (pranava) the upper friction stick, and by practising the friction of meditation (dhyana) one may see the Supreme Personality of Godhead hidden within one's heart." The verse above explains that the form of God is within every body (friction stick), and the form of God is within the name Om, (the second friction stick). However, without applying the proper process of sadhana, namely chanting and meditation, one will not perceive the Lord either in his heart or in the holy name. One can conclude from this sastric statement that by sincerely chanting and meditating upon the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, which contains om, one will perceive the form of Krsna within his heart. Therefore, using the "friction stick" of the maha-mantra is a prerequisite for attaining either internal or external darsana of Lord Sri Krsna. Purchase the Book from KrishnaCulture.com From 'The Art of Chanting' by Mahanidhi Swami Page 178 Entitled Nama, Rupa, Guna and Lila in the Holy Name.

Change the Vision (from the Chapter Nama-aparadha) Page 40 Implementing these four principles will help overcome the offence of sadhu ninda (offending saintly persons): Cultivate the "finding good" nature-No devotee is absolutely bad. Everyone has some good qualities; so try to see the good in everybody. Develop the mood of sincerely appreciating the value of others. This will act as a powerful antidote against faultfinding. No one is an eternal rogue-Before passing judgment on others, one should always remember that every saint had a past (Valmiki, Mrgari) and every sinner has a future (Ajamila, Jagai & Madhai). Even a first-class rogue is a potential saint of the future. Place a sinner in the company of saints, and his bad nature will change in a moment. Lord Jesus said, "Hate the sin, not the sinner." Try to see Krsna everywhere-The ultimate doer behind all action is Krsna, the cause of all causes. Krsna is within everything and everyone; and everything is within Him. Try to feel Krsna's presence everywhere, and see His divine hand in all events. Change the attitude-Turn the mind from bad to good, negative to positive; and suddenly you will find heaven on earth. What is the use of reading sastra and chanting Hare Krsna if one keeps an evil eye and a foul tongue? Why do you maintain a vision of enemies and speak badly of others? Always remember that the environment around us is positive and favourable. It is helping us. Sri Krsna personally arranges it for our improvement and spiritual elevation. Everyone and everything in the environment is friendly, moving us toward our goal of surrendering to Krsna, taking full shelter only in Him, and loving Him without reservation. Learn to see all with love and you will see love everywhere! Gauranga Worships the Devotees In this pastime, Lord Gauranga reveals how to rid the heart of envy, which is the fundamental cause of offending others. Always serve the devotees with humility, and think of yourself as a "servant of the servant of the servants of the Lord". "When Lord Caitanya returned to Mayapur after receiving initiation from Isvara Puri in Gaya. He was a different person. He was no longer arrogant and proud of His learning. Now due to tasting krsna-prema, Lord Caitanya displayed genuine humility and respect for all. Seeing the Lord's transformation, Advaita Acarya, Srivasa Thakura and other senior Vaisnavas were pleased and offered their blessings, "May you attain pure devotion to Krsna". "Lord Caitanya replied, "Because you are Krsna's devotees you have the power to give someone the gift of devotion. Whoever serves you will certainly attain devotion to Krsna, because Krsna is merciful to anyone who serves His devotees.' After saying this, the Lord began to humbly, cheerfully and enthusiastically serve all the devotees. "Lord Caitanya washed their clothes and folded their dhotis. Respectfully folding His hands, Lord Caitanya honoured all the devotees. He was not ashamed to serve. All the Vaisnavas, who were actually His servants, would try to stop the Lord by saying, "Stop what are you doing, what are you doing?" In this way, every day Lord Caitanya acted like a servant of His servants. What will the Supreme Lord not do for His servants? Just to serve them He renounces His own nature. By personally serving the Vaisnavas, Lord Caitanya taught this truth to everybody: 'Whoever desires to worship Lord Krsna must first worship Krsna's dear and saintly servant.'" (Caitanya-bhagavata) Purchase the Book from KrishnaCulture.com From 'The Art of Chanting' by Mahanidhi Swami

The Three M's-Method, Mood and Mellow The Three M's-method, mood and mellow is a technique wherein the chanter concentrates on one area according to his level of advancement. For instance, due to a lack of mood and mellow, a neophyte chanter (kanistha-adhikari) may focus all his attention on perfecting the methods of chanting. As the sadhaka advances in surrender and realization, he rises to the intermediate stage of steady chanting (madhyama-adhikari) where mood comes into play. On the platform of mood the mind begins to melt for sri-nama. Genuine feelings for Krsna and Krsna's devotees arise and grow within the heart. At this level the mood of devotion deepens, humility intensifies and the hankering to attain Radha-Govinda prema accelerates. The sadhaka now serves and relishes sri-nama with great joy and enthusiasm. Rising to the platform of mellow, the sadhaka continually chants on his beads, and within his mind while ever increasing the flavour of his love for sri-nama and Yugal-Kishor. By chanting with mellow or bhakti-rasa the sadhaka advances to the topmost platform of pure devotion (uttama-adhikari), and becomes fixed in his eternal loving service to Radha-Syama. 1. Method-The method of chanting refers to physical considerations such as sitting straight on an asana, chanting during the peaceful predawn hours, and associating with lovers of nama. It also includes using tulasi beads; clear pronunciation; concentrating on the meaning of the mantra; reviewing and avoiding the ten offences, and repentance for transgressions. 2. Mood-The mood of chanting the holy name combines the actions of mind and heart-namely thinking and feeling. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised all devotees to be free from false ego, and to think oneself lower than a blade of grass. With feelings of deep submission and surrender one should beg Sri Radha for service. Haridasa Swami, a medieval saint of Vrindavana, wrote wonderful vraja-bhasa songs in praise of his Lord Bankibihari. Whenever he sang one of his compositions, all the trees, birds and forest animals would become completely captivated. Similarly, you must learn to chant Krsna's names with so much devotion and sweetness that the birds stop chirping to listen to your chanting; the deer gather around to gaze at you with tear-filled eyes; and the trees bend over to touch you with their leaves, being so moved by the sweet sound of nama. From the beginning of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada emphasized the mood of chanting. Merely chanting the holy name of not enough. The chanting must be backed up with such feelings of separation that one's eyes fill with tears. Prabhupada instructed devotees to cry out the holy names like a lonely child in separation from his loving mother. "Tears for Krsna are as good as associating with Him personally. Your feelings and tears of Krsna Consciousness will make you more enriched in spiritual advancement." (SPL 16/9/67) The combination of chanting and crying for krsna is an essential practice for followers of Srila Prabhupada. In fact, one of Prabhupada's disciples institutionalized these practices. Our glorious Godbrothers Gaura-Govinda Swami once said in reference to the elegant ISKCON temple in Bhubanesvara, "I have opened a crying school here so we may cry our hearts out in harinama; begging for the mercy of Nitai and Gaura!" 3. Mellow-This is the advanced stage of chanting japa where the holy name combines with mellow. Realizing his sthayi-bhava, permanent loving relationship with Krsna in a particular mellow or rasa such as madhurya rasa, a sadhaka will chant purely while tasting bhakti-rasa (mellow) and remembering the naimittic (occasional) nitya-lila (eternal pastimes) of Krsna. While chanting the holy name the sadhaka will meditate on his spiritual body (siddha deha), and serve Radha-Govinda's eight-fold daily pastimes (asta-kaliya lila) within his mind (manasi-seva). In the beginning, the rock stubborn, lazy mind will rebel with a thousand excuses and obstacles to foil one's attempt to implement the three M's. Persevere; hold on to your beads! By the mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga one will patiently progress through the three stages of method, mood and mellow. With a little practice any sincere devotee can chant japa, and remember the exciting pastimes of Lord Gauranga and Radha-Govinda. It is not difficult; always remember that the word "impossible" does not exist in the dictionary of Prabhupada's followers. "For the simple person it is very easy {to become vasudeva-parayanah) and for those who are crooked, demons, it is very difficult" (SPT 16/5/76) Purchase the Book from KrishnaCulture.com From 'The Art of Chanting' by Mahanidhi Swami Page 203 Entitled Japa Meditation Techniques

Sridara Dasa's Eight Steps to Better Japa A helpful Godbrother once gave us the following eight ways to perfect japa. These suggestions basically coincide with the teachings of Bhativinoda Thakura. 1. Establish a disturbance free environment for intensified chanting, because distraction or inattention leads to all other offences. Earplugs or hearing protector headphones can be used to block out external noise distractions. Such induced silence helps fix the mind and heart on the beautiful names, forms and pastimes of Radha-Syamasundara. 2. Keep your eyes closed and concentrate with a submissive mind and a humble heart full of prayer and petition. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura recommends covering the head with a cloth to prevent the eyes from roaming. 3. Sit firmly and fix the mind by a mechanical process of pranayama. Incidentally, Hari-bhakti-vilasa recommends pranayama before chanting Gayatri. 4. Clearly understand the sense perceptual process, and then learn to negate or turn off all sensory stimuli except the hearing the maha-mantra. 5. Enter into the four states mentioned in the trinad api sahisnuna verse: (Humility, tolerance, pridelessness, respecting all). Visualize and conceptualize your tiny infinitesimal nature through Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's graphic examples (straw, tree). 6. While chanting, always remember the mantra is a personal address to Radha and Krsna; not a parrot's vibrato. 7. While chanting, repeatedly fill the mind with the wonderful meanings of the holy name given by the previous acaryas. 8. Expect exhaled experiences and spiritual realizations by this most powerful and sublime sound vibration. Purchase the Book from KrishnaCulture.com From 'The Art of Chanting' by Mahanidhi Swami

11. Offense: Inattentive Chanting Inattention while chanting is also considered an offence. In fact Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that distraction (inattention) or attraction to other things while chanting japa is the root cause of all offences: "Distraction in chanting produces a type of illusion, creating serious offenses against the holy name that are difficult to overcome. This illusion leads to craving for wealth, women, position, success, and cheating. When these material attractions cover the heart, one loses interest in chanting the holy name." (Harinama-cintamani) "If you become inattentive that is offense. You should know this. Try to avoid. Krsna is giving us chance to meet Him in so many ways: nama, rupa, lila, parikara, vasistha." (SPT 30/10/72) Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes three types of inattention under the category of pramada, which means complete madness. In other words, it is definitely a symptom of insanity if one begs Krsna to come by calling out His names, and then simultaneously ignore Him and pays no attention to Him. The three types of inattention are apathy, laziness and distraction. Apathy, indifference (audasinya) 1) The heart of a neophyte devotee is usually infested with many material attachments. At the time of chanting he will feel a strong attraction to them, and this will prevent him form putting his heart into the holy name. Even if he chants sixty-four rounds, he will still remain apathetic and derive no taste from chanting. For the indifferent chanter it is a Herculean task to complete sixteen rounds without interruption. Remedy: Chant with advanced Vaisnavas while observing their concentration and enthusiasm for japa. Inspired by their example, one will abandon his apathy and fix his mind on the holy name. Gradually the honey sweetness of the holy name will inundate the heart, and intoxicate the mind with eagerness for more nectar. It is also extremely favourable to chant before Tulasi-devi or in Vrndavana at one of Radha-Madhava's lila-sthalis. Another way to remove apathy is it sit alone in a locked room and carefully meditate on the name. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura recommends covering the head and face with a cloth to facilitate full concentration on the transcendental sound vibration. As one cultivates attraction and taste for the name, the offense of inattention and apathy will automatically vanish. 2) Laziness (jadya) Inattention arising from laziness (jadya) prevents one from relishing nectar of the holy name. Laziness means chanting with a dull mind, pausing in the middle of a round to do something else, or interrupting japa to take rest. Remedy: Associate with Vaisnavas who do not waste time with useless talks or acts, but who constantly chant and mediate upon the holy name. One will receive the mercy and enthusiasm to conquer the lazy mind by following in the footsteps of advanced Vaisnavas. 3) Distraction (viksepa) Distraction in chanting begets illusion, the cause of all other forms of inattention chanting such laziness and apathy. Distraction also produces many offenses and keeps one from giving up attraction to women, wealth, position, success and the cheating propensity. Absorption in these items of attachment results in distraction, and the inability to concentrate on anything else. At this stage, the mind is tuned into worldly things and not really hearing the holy name at all. Remedy: To conquer distraction one must make a concerted effort to drive out such attractions from the mind by diligently following rules of Vaisnava behaviour, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives a practical remedy to remove the disease of distraction. He says one can increase his taste for chanting by enthusiastically observing festival days such as Ekadasi, Janamastami, Radhastami and various Vaisnava tirobhavas. On Ekadasi, for example, one can take a vow to not eat or drink even a drop of water. One can then pass the whole day and night singing the glories of the Lord in the association of rupanuga Vaisnava, preferably in a holy dhama (Mayapur or Vrindavana). Along with chanting japa, kirtana and bhajans, one can read and discuss sastras like Srimad-Bhagavatam. As the ears eagerly drink the sweet nectar of asta-kaliya-lila bhajanas sung by expert kirtaniyas, the mind will become completely enchanted and fixed on the transcendental vibration. The serene devotee will now steadily chant the holy name in a joyous mood, forever free from the offense of inattention. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that enthusiastic participation in such festivals without anxiety or hesitation will rekindle the dying spark of spiritual taste. Thus a genuine attraction for radha-Govinda's blissful pastimes will awaken, and completely rid the heart of all mundane distractions. Relishing the refined tastes of pure Krsna consciousness, one will never again indulge in his former material attachments. Praying for Krsna's mercy is another good way to overcome distraction. The compassionate Lord always helps a sincere sadhaka. Pray to krsna to help you chant distinctly and attentively. Everything is possible if the mind focuses on Krsna: "Please Krsna! I don't chant very well and I can't concentrate. Today, my deviant mind refuses to follow my direction. Please help me! Please allow me to taste the full nectar of the name. Without Your mercy, there is no hope at all for such a fool as me." Eleventh Offense: Rectification In addition to the suggestions given above, one can remove offense of inattention by chanting the holy name with great enthusiasm. "Even if one gives up all other nama-aparadhas, if he is still inattentive, he can never have attraction for the holy names. If one maintains his enthusiasm for devotional service, one will never become apathetic, lazy or distracted in chanting the holy names. By enthusiastically chanting the holy names one can quickly come to the platform of steadiness (nistha) in devotional service". (Bhaktyaloka) Summary on Overcoming Distraction When chanting the Hare krsna maha-mantra one should not be restless, thinking, "I have to do this or I have to go there. I must finish my rounds quickly so I can solve a pressing problem." Just chant japa; don't think of business, personal needs or family concerns. Tolerate the impish mind; remain aloof, unaffected and undisturbed. Krsna will personally adjust everything if we surrender to His holy names. There is actually only one problem facing everyone: "How can we attain krsna-prema?" Once a disciple asked, "How will it be possible, Prabhupada, for a man whose mind is clouded to constantly chant Hare Krsna? A man who is always thinking thoughts about family, friends, country, and nation?" Srila Prabhupada replied, "Yes. Think of but at the same time chant. Two things will go on and this chanting of Hare Krishna will conquer. As maya is forcing you to drag you from Krsna consciousness, you also force maya by chanting Hare Krsna. There is fight. And maya will go away"! (SPC 23/12/68) One must set aside some time to peacefully remember Krsna's names. During these precious moments alone with the Lord, one should concentrate all his desires, thoughts and feelings on Krsna's divine names, forms, qualities, pastimes and associates. Attentive japa pleases the Lord and ultimately solves all problems. "A devotee can very peacefully chant the holy name of the Lord by behaving more humbly than the grass, being tolerant like a tree and offering respects to everyone, without expecting honour from anyone else. Such qualifications make it easier to chant the holy name of the Lord". (SB 7.5.23-24 p.) The previous acaryas were particular about chanting in ultra quiet, undisturbed settings. Just imagine how tranquil Vrndavana was five hundred years ago? Yet to avoid any possible distractions the medieval saints Sanatana Gosvami chanted japa in a cave twenty feet under the ground in Goloka! Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura recommends chanting in a quiet "distraction free zone" to fully concentrate on the holy name. In his house in Godrumadvipa, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura constructed a small "meditation room" with a thick door to create a quiet place for concentrated japa. He advices sadhakas to make similar arrangements for staying alone in a secluded place in order to absorb the mind in the holy name. When the mind wanders, one must withdraw it from sense objects and concentrate intently on the mantra. A transcendental sound vibration that can free or deliver (tra or trayate) the mind (mana) from material attraction and attachment is called a mantra. Meditate deeply on the meaning of the maha-mantra. Do not be distracted by random thoughts or external influences. Chant Krsna's names with feelings of devotion. Lastly and most importantly, one must turn to Krsna in the mood of a beggar, praying intensely for His mercy. Seeing your sincerity, Krsna will surely reciprocate and capture your full attention once again. The Reality of Attraction The sublime teaching of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura give additional insight for stopping the offense of distraction or inattention: "The personality called "Krsna" attracts the three worlds. It is reality that attracts. Whom does Krsna attract? Magnets attract iron, not wood. Similarly, the Lord attracts the servitors who are eager to serve and worship Him. The servitors are attracted by charm of the service. "But on his path, if the servitor is distracted by something else, then this original attraction will evade him. On one side there is the attraction of the material world, which is the cause of bondage. On the other side is the attraction of Krsna, which is the cause of all bliss. "In this world the objects of the senses-the form, the smell, the touch and the sounds of external objects are very close to me. That is why I-the weak person, become attached to them. Under circumstances, only if we can continuously hear about the Supreme Lord from the guru and sadhus can we be protected from these nearby enemies. "If we are not attracted by the lotus feet of Krsna then we will definitely be attracted by maya. When Krsna's name, form, and pastimes will attract us, we will get relief from our present role as the enjoyer. The more we discuss topics of Krsna, the more we rid ourselves of the false identity of the enjoyer. Then Krsna will really attract us." (Prabhupada Sarasvati Thakura p.94) Purchase the Book from KrishnaCulture.com From 'The Art of Chanting' by Mahanidhi Swami Page 52 Entitled Nama-aparadha