# Mantras and Transcendental Literature *Why mantras must be received and literature must be written in accordance with disciplic succession.* ← Back to [[wiki/compile/spiritual-master-disciple|The Spiritual Master and the Disciple]] --- ## Mantras Must Be Received Through Disciplic Succession ### For a mantra to have effect, it must be received from a bona fide spiritual master > *sampradāya-vihīnā ye* > *mantrās te niṣphalā matāḥ* > > "Unless you are initiated by a bona fide spiritual master in the disciplic succession, the *mantra* that you might have received is without any effect." —Padma Purāṇa --- ### Unless received through disciplic succession, a mantra has no efficacy ![[sb/4/8/53#purport|One may receive a published mantra anywhere, but unless it is accepted through the chain of disciplic succession, the mantra chanted without having been received from the disciplic succession has no efficacy]] —SB [[sb/4/8/53|4.8.53]] Purport --- ### Unless received through the paramparā system, a mantra will have no effect ![[sb/8/16/24#purport|Nowadays there are so many rascal gurus who manufacture their mantras as a process for material advancement, not spiritual advancement. Still, the mantra cannot be successful if it is manufactured]] —SB [[sb/8/16/24|8.16.24]] Purport --- ### One must receive mantras from the authorized guru in a bona fide sampradāya ![[sb/6/8/42#purport|If one wants to advance in spiritual power, one must receive his mantras from one of these bona fide sampradāyas; otherwise he will never successfully advance in spiritual life]] —SB [[sb/6/8/42|6.8.42]] Purport --- ## Transcendental Literature Must Be Written in Disciplic Succession ### Transcendental literature must be written according to the principle of disciplic succession > At the end of every chapter, the author admits the value of the disciplic succession. He never claims to have written this transcendental literature by carrying out research work. He simply admits his indebtedness to the notes taken by Svarūpa Dāmodara, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī and other authoritative persons. This is the way of describing transcendental literatures, which are never meant for so-called scholars and research workers. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/8/312|Madhya 8.312]] Purport --- ### To write commentaries, one must depend on the previous ācāryas > "You have dared criticize Śrīdhara Svāmī, and you have begun your own commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, not accepting his authority. That is your false pride." > > PURPORT: The *paramparā* system does not allow one to deviate from the commentaries of the previous *ācāryas.* By depending upon the previous *ācāryas,* one can write beautiful commentaries. However, one cannot defy the previous *ācāryas.* —Cc. [[cc/antya/7/133|Antya 7.133]] Purport --- ### A writer of transcendental literature never tries to surpass the previous ācāryas > This acceptance of *Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata* by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī indicates his acceptance of the disciplic succession. A writer of transcendental literature never tries to surpass the previous *ācāryas.* —Cc. [[cc/adi/8/33|Ādi 8.33]] Purport --- ### Etiquette regarding writing in the paramparā > This incident has been described in detail by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura. Therefore I have described it only in brief. > > PURPORT: This is a matter of etiquette. If a previous *ācārya* has already written about something, there is no need to repeat it for personal sense gratification or to out-do the previous *ācārya.* Unless there is some definite improvement, one should not repeat. —Cc. [[cc/madhya/12/150|Madhya 12.150]] Purport --- ## The Reception of Bhāgavatam ### The science of Godhead should be heard from a bona fide representative ![[sb/2/7/51#purport|unless one hears the science of Godhead from the bona fide representative of the disciplic succession...for one to understand the theme of the science of Godhead will be a difficult job]] —SB [[sb/2/7/51|2.7.51]] Purport --- ### The reception of Vedic knowledge is not bona fide if not received through the paramparā system ![[sb/1/3/42#purport|Unless therefore Bhāgavatam or any other Vedic literatures are received through the paramparā system, the reception of knowledge is not bona fide]] —SB [[sb/1/3/42|1.3.42]] Purport --- ### No one should reach any conclusion about the Vedas without receiving instructions from the disciplic succession > There is complete agreement amongst the *Upaniṣads, Vedānta,* the *Vedas, Bhagavad-gītā* and *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,* and no one should try to reach any conclusion about the *Vedas* without receiving instructions from members of Vyāsadeva's disciplic succession. —Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 6, Purport