# Chanting in the Liberated State Even a self-realized devotee must continue to execute all scriptural injunctions, especially hearing and chanting. Chanting a fixed number of rounds on beads is necessary for everyone, even a paramahaṁsa. The process of chanting continues even after one reaches Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, and in Vaikuṇṭha the liberated souls are always chanting. --- ## Chanting Continues for Self-Realized Devotees **Even a self-realized devotee must continue to execute all scriptural injunctions, especially hearing and chanting:** ![[cc/madhya/22/156|There are two processes by which one may execute this rāgānugā-bhakti—external and internal. When self-realized, the advanced devotee externally remains like a neophyte and executes all the śāstric injunctions, especially hearing and chanting. However, within his mind, in his original purified self-realized position, he serves Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana in his particular way. He serves Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours, all day and night]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/22/156|Madhya 22.156-57]] --- **An uttama-adhikārī chants the prescribed number of rounds on japa beads:** ![[books/noi/5|Out of many such Vaiṣṇavas, one may be found to be very seriously engaged in the service of the Lord and strictly following all the regulative principles, chanting the prescribed number of rounds on japa beads and always thinking of how to expand the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Such a Vaiṣṇava should be accepted as an uttama-adhikārī, a highly advanced devotee, and his association should always be sought]] —*The Nectar of Instruction* [[books/noi/5|Text 5]] Purport --- **Chanting a fixed number of rounds on beads is necessary for everyone, even a paramahaṁsa:** ![[cc/madhya/4/125#purport|Although Mādhavendra Purī was not interested in eating and sleeping, his interest in chanting the mahā-mantra was as acute as if he were an aspiring transcendentalist rather than a paramahaṁsa. This means that even in the paramahaṁsa stage, one cannot give up chanting. Haridāsa Ṭhākura and the Gosvāmīs were all engaged in chanting a fixed number of rounds; therefore chanting on beads is very important for everyone, even though one may become a paramahaṁsa]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/4/125|Madhya 4.125]] Purport --- ## Chanting in the Spiritual World **The process of chanting continues even after the bhakti-yoga creeper reaches the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana:** ![[sb/2/2/30#purport|The primary practice of bhakti-yoga will cause the seed already sowed in the heart to sprout, and by a regular watering process...the bhakti-yoga creeper will begin to grow...Above all of them is Kṛṣṇaloka, or Goloka Vṛndāvana, wherein the growing creeper enters and takes repose at the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the original Personality of Godhead. When one reaches the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa at Goloka Vṛndāvana, the watering process of hearing and reading, as also chanting of the holy name in the pure devotional stage, fructifies, and the fruits grown there in the form of love of God are tangibly tasted by the devotee, even though he is here in this material world]] —SB [[sb/2/2/30|2.2.30]] Purport --- **In Vaikuṇṭha, the liberated souls are always chanting:** In Vaikuṇṭha, the spiritual world, there is no anxiety. Vaikuṇṭha means "freedom from anxiety," and **in Vaikuṇṭha the liberated souls are always dancing, chanting, and taking prasāda.** There are no factories, hard work, or technical institutions. There is no need for these artificial things. In Vedānta-sūtra it is stated, *ānandamayo 'bhyāsāt:* God is ānandamaya, full of bliss and pleasure. Since we are part and parcel of God, we also possess these same qualities. So the goal of our yoga process is to join with the supreme ānandamaya, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, to join His dance party. Then we will be actually happy. —*The Path of Perfection* --- ## Chanting in Kṛṣṇa-līlā **Unable to find Kṛṣṇa, and completely absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the gopīs gathered on the bank of the Yamunā and chanted the names of Kṛṣṇa:** All the gopīs, including Rādhārāṇī, began to proceed further into the forest until they could no longer see the moonlight. When they saw that it was getting gradually darker, they stopped. Their mind and intelligence became absorbed in the thoughts of Kṛṣṇa; they all imitated the activities of Kṛṣṇa and His speeches. Due to their heart and soul being completely given to Kṛṣṇa, **they began to chant His glories, completely forgetting their family interests. In this way, all the gopīs assembled together on the bank of the Yamunā, and expecting that Kṛṣṇa must return to them, they simply engaged in the chanting of the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.** —*Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead* --- **Rādhārāṇī's hearing is eternally fixed on Kṛṣṇa's name and fame:** **Rādhārāṇī's sense of hearing is eternally fixed on Kṛṣṇa's name and fame.** —*Teachings of Lord Caitanya* --- **Rādhārāṇī's alertness caused by hearing Kṛṣṇa's name:** When Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī first saw Kṛṣṇa, She suddenly became conscious of all transcendental happiness, and the functions of Her different limbs were stunned. **When Lalitā, Her constant companion, whispered into Her ear the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, Rādhārāṇī immediately opened Her eyes wide.** This is an instance of alertness caused by hearing the sound of Kṛṣṇa's name. —*The Nectar of Devotion* --- **The ecstatic, devotional chanting of Rādhārāṇī:** In the Kṛṣṇa-karnāmṛta there is another statement about the chanting of Rādhārāṇī. It is said by one of the associates of Rādhārāṇī: **"O Lord Govinda, the girl who is the daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu is now shedding tears, and She is anxiously chanting Your holy name—Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!"** —*The Nectar of Devotion* --- **[← Back to Śrī Nāmāmṛta](wiki/compile/sri-namamrita)**