# Chanting from Previous Lives Only one who has worshiped Kṛṣṇa for many births can chant the holy name. Anyone who chants should be respected, for one who realizes that the Lord and His name are identical is a pure devotee. --- ## Chanting Due to Past Devotional Service **Only one who has worshiped Kṛṣṇa for many births can chant the holy name:** In the Padma Purāṇa it is stated: **"The chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is present only on the lips of a person who has for many births worshiped Vāsudeva."** —*The Nectar of Devotion* --- **Devotional service performed in a previous life may lead one to the chanting of the holy name:** ![[sb/2/7/15#purport|The leader of the elephants was much distressed when he was attacked by the crocodile. Although the elephant is always stronger than the crocodile, the latter is stronger than the elephant when it is in the water. And because the elephant was a great devotee of the Lord in his previous birth, he was able to chant the holy name of the Lord by dint of his past good deeds]] —SB [[sb/2/7/15|2.7.15]] Purport Every living entity is always distressed in this material world because this place is such that at every step one has to meet with some kind of distress. But **one who is supported by his past good deeds engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord**, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.16). Those who are supported by impious acts cannot be engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, even though they are distressed. —SB [[sb/2/7/15|2.7.15]] Purport --- ## Respect for Those Who Chant **One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name:** ![[books/noi/5|One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa]] —*The Nectar of Instruction* [[books/noi/5|Text 5]] The kaniṣṭha-adhikārī is a neophyte who has received the hari-nāma initiation from the spiritual master and is trying to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. **One should respect such a person within his mind as a kaniṣṭha-vaiṣṇava.** —*The Nectar of Instruction* [[books/noi/5|Text 5]] Purport --- **Any person trying to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness by chanting the holy name should be respected by Vaiṣṇavas:** One of our friends, a famous English musician, has become attracted to chanting the holy names of Kṛṣṇa, and even in his records he has several times mentioned the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. At his home he offers respect to pictures of Kṛṣṇa and also to the preachers of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In all regards, he has a very high estimation for Kṛṣṇa's name and Kṛṣṇa's activities; therefore we offer respects to him without reservation, for we are actually seeing that this gentleman is advancing gradually in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. **Such a person should always be shown respect. The conclusion is that anyone who is trying to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness by regularly chanting the holy name should always be respected by Vaiṣṇavas.** —*The Nectar of Instruction* Text 5 Purport --- **A devotee who believes that the holy name is identical with the Lord is a pure devotee:** ![[cc/madhya/15/106#purport|A devotee who believes that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Lord is a pure devotee, even though he may be in the neophyte stage. By his association, others may also become Vaiṣṇavas]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/15/106|Madhya 15.106]] Purport --- **One who has realized that the Lord and His name are identical should be very much respected:** ![[books/noi/5|The chanting of the holy names of Kṛṣṇa is so sublime that if one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra offenselessly, carefully avoiding the ten offenses, he can certainly be gradually elevated to the point of understanding that there is no difference between the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself. One who has reached such an understanding should be very much respected by neophyte devotees]] —*The Nectar of Instruction* [[books/noi/5|Text 5]] Purport --- **[← Back to Śrī Nāmāmṛta](wiki/compile/sri-namamrita)**