The Ten Offenses to the Holy Name

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<font color="green"> The Ten Offenses to the Holy Name

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The ten offenses to the holy name are listed as follows in the Padma Purana, as quoted in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 8.24, purport):

 

satam ninda namnah paramam aparadham vitanute

yatah khyatim yatam katham u sahate tad-vigarham

 

1. To blaspheme the great saintly persons who are preaching the glories of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is the worst offense at the lotus feet of the holy name. The Nama-prabhu, who is identical with Krsna, will never tolerate such blasphemous activities, even from one who passes as a great devotee.

 

 

sivasya sri-visnor ya iha guna-namadi-sakalam

dhiya bhinnam pasyet sa khalu hari-namahita-karah

 

2. In this material world the holy name of Visnu is all-auspicious. Visnu's name, form, qualities, and pastimes are all transcendental, absolute knowledge. Therefore, if one tries to separate the Absolute Personality of Godhead from His holy name or His transcendental form, qualities, and pastimes, thinking them material, that is offensive. Similarly, to think that the names of demigods such as Lord Siva are as good as the name of Lord Visnu is also blasphemous.

 

 

guror avajna

3. It is offensive to consider the spiritual master material and therefore to envy his exalted position.

 

 

sruti-sastra-nindanam

 

4. It is offensive to blaspheme the Vedic literature such as the four Vedas and the Puranas.

 

 

artha-vadah

 

5. It is offensive to consider the glories of the holy name exaggerations.

 

 

hari-namni kalpanam

 

6. It is offensive to consider the holy name of the Lord imaginary.

namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhir

 

 

na vidyate tasya yamair hi suddhih

 

7. The greatest offense at the lotus feet of the holy name is to think that since chanting the holy name can counteract all sinful reactions one may therefore go on sinning and at the same time chant the holy name to neutralize the reactions. One who thinks in this way cannot be purified by any program of sense restraint and severe austerities, nor by the various punishments of Yamaraja.

 

 

dharma-vrata-tyaga-hutadi-sarva-

subha-kriya-samyam api pramadah

 

8. It is offensive to consider the chanting of the holy name equal to the performance of ordinary religious ceremonies or fire sacrifices, the observance of austere vows, or the practice of renunciation, all of which are materialistic auspicious activities.

 

 

asraddadhane vimukhe 'py asrnvati

yas copadesah siva-namaparadhah

 

9. It is an offense to preach the glories of the holy name to those unwilling to hear, to atheists, or to those who have no faith in chanting the holy name.

 

 

srutvapi nama-mahatmyam yah priti-rahito 'dhamah

aham-mamadi-paramo namni so 'py aparadha-krt

 

10. If a person has heard the glories of the transcendental holy name of the Lord but nevertheless continues in the materialistic concept of life, thinking, "I am this body and everything belonging to this body is mine," and if he thus shows no respect or love for the chanting of the holy name, that is an offense.

 

 

api pramadah

 

It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting.

Every devotee who claims to be a Vaisnava must carefully guard against these ten offenses in order to quickly achieve the desired success, Krsna-prema