# Chanting Vs. Other Practices In Kali-yuga, the chanting of the holy name yields all the results that were previously obtained through Vedic sacrifices, yogic practices, austerities, and other spiritual methods. --- ## Chanting Yields the Results of Previous Ages ![[sb/12/3/52|Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viṣṇu, in Tretā-yuga by performing sacrifices and in Dvāpara-yuga by seeing the Lord's lotus feet can also be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra]] —SB [[sb/12/3/52|12.3.52]] --- ![[cc/madhya/20/343|In the other three yugas—Satya, Tretā and Dvāpara—people perform different types of spiritual activities. Whatever results they achieve in that way, they can achieve in Kali-yuga simply by chanting]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/20/343|Madhya 20.343]] --- ## Saṅkīrtana-yajña: The Only Recommended Sacrifice ![[bg/3/10#purport|In this Age of Kali, the saṅkīrtana-yajña (the chanting of the names of God) is recommended by the Vedic scriptures, and this transcendental system was introduced by Lord Caitanya]] —Bg. [[bg/3/10|3.10]] Purport --- ![[bg/10/25#purport|Of all the sacrifices, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare is the purest representation of Kṛṣṇa]] —Bg. [[bg/10/25|10.25]] Purport --- ![[sb/1/17/33#purport|In this Age of Kali, the greatest common formula of sacrifice is the saṅkīrtana-yajña]] —SB [[sb/1/17/33|1.17.33]] Purport --- ![[sb/1/18/12#purport|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]] —SB [[sb/1/18/12|1.18.12]] Purport --- ![[sb/4/7/45#purport|the performance of saṅkīrtana-yajña in this age is as good as all other yajñas in all other ages. If one performs saṅkīrtana-yajña by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa]] —SB [[sb/4/7/45|4.7.45]] Purport --- ![[sb/6/3/25#purport|Especially in this Age of Kali, saṅkīrtana alone is sufficient. If the members of our temples in the different parts of the world simply continue saṅkīrtana before the Deity]] —SB [[sb/6/3/25|6.3.25]] Purport --- ![[sb/8/23/16#purport|In this Age of Kali, it is extremely difficult to perform Vedic ritualistic ceremonies or sacrifices perfectly...Therefore the sacrifice recommended in this age is saṅkīrtana, constant chanting of the holy name]] —SB [[sb/8/23/16|8.23.16]] Purport --- ## Chanting Is the Supreme Form of Yoga The breathing exercises and meditational practices of yoga are very difficult in this age. In the present age, if you want success in practical yoga, take to the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, and feel for yourself how you are making progress. —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- ![[bg/6/11#purport|in the Kali-yuga when people in general are short-lived, slow in spiritual realization and always disturbed by various anxieties, the best means of spiritual realization is chanting the holy name of the Lord]] —Bg. [[bg/6/11|6.11-12]] Purport --- ![[sb/4/8/44#purport|In this age the breathing exercise is not always practical, but the chanting of the holy name of the Lord can be utilized instead]] —SB [[sb/4/8/44|4.8.44]] Purport --- ![[sb/3/28/9#purport|The haṭha-yoga system, or breathing system, is especially recommended for those who are very absorbed in the concept of bodily existence, but one who can perform the simple process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa can fix the mind more easily]] —SB [[sb/3/28/9|3.28.9-10]] Purport --- Because chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa fixes the mind on Kṛṣṇa, success in yoga is immediately attained by chanting. Just by saying the name Kṛṣṇa and hearing it, the mind is automatically fixed on Kṛṣṇa. This means that the yoga system is immediately attained. The entire yoga system aims at concentration on the form of Viṣṇu. —*The Path of Perfection* --- The chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa is the elevator by which we can come immediately to the platform of bhakti-yoga: The general progress of yoga is gradual. First one practices karma-yoga... After performing karma-yoga, one comes to the platform of jñāna-yoga, knowledge. From the platform of knowledge, one attains to this aṣṭāṅga-yoga... and from aṣṭāṅga-yoga, as one concentrates on Viṣṇu, one comes to the point of bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yoga is the perfectional stage... But why walk up all these steps if we have a chance to take an elevator? By means of an elevator, we can reach the top in a matter of seconds. **Bhakti-yoga is this elevator, the direct process by which we can reach the top in a matter of seconds.** Since in this Age of Kali-yuga people have short life spans and are always disturbed and anxious, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, by His causeless mercy, has given us the elevator by which we can come immediately to the platform of bhakti-yoga. **That direct means is the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, and that is the special gift of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.** —*The Path of Perfection* --- ## Chanting Yields All Results of Austerity ![[sb/4/24/14#purport|By the grace of Lord Caitanya, one who chants the mahā-mantra (Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare) attains the highest perfectional stage, which had previously been attained by people who...executed austerities for ten thousand years]] —SB [[sb/4/24/14|4.24.14]] Purport --- ![[sb/4/30/4#purport|In this Kali-yuga, one can attain the same results simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Because the people of this age are fallen, the Lord is kind enough to give them the easiest method]] —SB [[sb/4/30/4|4.30.4]] Purport --- Tapasyā, austerity, has been made easy by Lord Caitanya in the form of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa: Generally people are interested in things that give immediate pleasure... When one engages in spiritual realization, one has to undergo tapasya. However, this has been made very easy by Caitanya Mahāprabhu. All we have to do is spare a little time and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, but we are not even ready for this much tapasya. Kṛṣṇa is more interested in leading us down the path of liberation than we are in going. He has given us a very simple method: harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam. **We need only chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. To perfect this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, there is no hard-and-fast rule.** Simply by chanting, we will attain perfection. —*Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti* --- ## Chanting Vs. Other Spiritual Methods ![[sb/3/21/7#purport|In this Age of Kali the direct method is especially more feasible...Lord Caitanya, therefore, has given the greatest boon: in this age one simply has to chant the holy name of God to attain perfection in spiritual life]] —SB [[sb/3/21/7|3.21.7]] Purport --- ![[bg/12/6#purport|Simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare—a devotee of the Lord can approach the supreme destination easily and happily, but this destination cannot be approached by any other processes of religion]] —Bg. [[bg/12/6|12.6-7]] Purport --- ![[sb/6/2/45#purport|even after following such methods one takes to fruitive activities again, unable to control his mind, which is contaminated by the base qualities of nature, namely passion and ignorance]] —SB [[sb/6/2/45|6.2.45-46]] Purport --- ![[cc/adi/17/20#purport|the use of the word kevalam [only] prohibits all other processes, such as cultivation of knowledge, practice of mystic yoga, and performance of austerities and fruitive activities]] —Cc. [[cc/adi/17/20|Ādi 17.20-25]] Purport --- ![[cc/adi/7/68#purport|In this age, no one is actually competent to study Vedānta, and therefore it is better that one chant the holy name of the Lord, which is the essence of all Vedic knowledge]] —Cc. [[cc/adi/7/68|Ādi 7.68-72]] Purport --- By chanting the mahā-mantra, one achieves the results of karma, jñāna and yoga automatically: Śukadeva Gosvāmī tells Mahārāja Parīkṣit: "My dear King, if one is spontaneously attached to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, it is to be understood that he has attained the highest perfectional stage." It is specifically mentioned that the karmīs who are aspiring after the fruitive results of their activities, the salvationists who are aspiring to become one with the Supreme Person, and the yogīs who are aspiring after mystic perfections can achieve the results of all perfectional stages simply by chanting the mahā-mantra. —*The Nectar of Devotion* --- **[← Back to Śrī Nāmāmṛta](wiki/compile/sri-namamrita)**