# Japa, Kīrtana, and Saṅkīrtana There are different methods of chanting the holy name: japa (soft personal chanting), kīrtana (loud chanting), and saṅkīrtana (congregational chanting). Each has its own benefits and purposes in devotional service. --- ## The Difference Between Japa and Kīrtana **When a mantra is chanted softly, it is japa; when chanted loudly, it is kīrtana:** When a mantra or hymn is chanted softly and slowly, that is called japa. The same mantra, when chanted loudly, is called kīrtana. For example, the mahā-mantra (Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare) when uttered very softly only for one's own hearing is called japa. The same mantra, when chanted loudly for being heard by all others, is called kīrtana. **The mahā-mantra can be used for japa and kīrtana also. When japa is practiced it is for the personal benefit of the chanter, but when kīrtana is performed it is for the benefit of all others who may hear.** In the Padma Purāṇa there is a statement: "For any person who is chanting the holy name either softly or loudly, the paths to liberation and even heavenly happiness are at once open." —*The Nectar of Devotion* --- ## The Meaning of Kīrtana and Saṅkīrtana **Kīrtana means "glorifying" the Supreme:** The chanting process offered by Lord Caitanya for achieving love of God is called saṅkīrtana. Saṅkīrtana is a Sanskrit word. **Sam means samyak—"complete." And kīrtana means "glorifying" or "describing."** So complete description means complete glorification of the Supreme, or the Supreme Complete Whole. **It is not that one can describe anything or glorify anything and that will be kīrtana.** From the grammatical point of view that may be kīrtana, but according to the Vedic system, **kīrtana means describing the supreme authority, the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.** That is called kīrtana. —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- **Śravaṇa and kīrtana are the beginning of devotional service:** This devotional service begins with the method of śravaṇa. **Śravaṇa means "hearing," and kīrtana means "describing."** One should describe, and another should hear. Or the same man himself can both describe and hear. He does not need anyone else's help. When we chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, we chant and hear. This is complete. This is a complete method. But what is that chanting and hearing? One must chant and hear about Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa. Not of anything else. **Śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ: one can understand Viṣṇu, the all-pervading Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by the method of hearing.** —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- ## Definition of Saṅkīrtana **Saṅkīrtana: loud chanting of the Lord's glories or congregational chanting:** When a person loudly chants the glories of the Lord's activities, qualities, form, etc., it is called saṅkīrtana. **Saṅkīrtana also refers to the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord.** —*The Nectar of Devotion* --- ## Definition of Śravaṇa **Śravaṇa: hearing the name and glories of the Lord:** The nine processes of devotional service are as follows: 1. [śravaṇa] hearing the name and glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. —*The Nectar of Instruction* Text 3 --- ## Other Transcendental Attributes of the Holy Name **The holy name is the life and soul of all education:** "...[chanting of the holy name] is the life and soul of all education..." —*Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā* [[cc/antya/20/12|20.12]] --- **The vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute is represented by the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra:** The vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute is always prominent in the ears of the gopīs. Naturally they cannot hear anything else. Constant remembrance of the holy sound of Kṛṣṇa's flute keeps them enlightened and enlivened, and they do not allow any other sound to enter their ears. **This vibration of Kṛṣṇa's flute is represented by the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.** —*Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/21/144|21.144]] --- **The mahā-mantra is so attractive that people participate when it is chanted publicly:** Although the mahā-mantra is in the Sanskrit language and many people do not know its meaning, **it is still so attractive that people participate when it is chanted publicly.** —*The Path of Perfection* --- **The holy name is the essence of all bliss:** The Absolute Truth is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and loving devotion to Śrī Kṛṣṇa exhibited in pure love is achieved through congregational chanting of the holy name, **which is the essence of all bliss.** —*Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/1/96|1.96]] --- **The benefits of chanting cannot be taken away:** It is said that the sun is taking away our duration of life—every minute, every hour, every day—but if we engage ourselves in the topics of Uttama-śloka, the topics of the Lord, that time cannot be taken away. The time one devotes in a Kṛṣṇa consciousness temple cannot be taken away. **It is an asset—a plus, not a minus.** The duration of life, so far as the body is concerned, may be taken; however one tries to keep it intact, no one can do it. **But the spiritual education we receive in Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be taken away by the sun. It becomes a solid asset.** Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare is a very easy thing to do. **Time spent chanting cannot be taken away like time pertaining to the body.** Fifty years ago I was a young man, but that time has been taken and cannot be returned. **The spiritual knowledge I received from my spiritual master, however, cannot be taken away, but will go with me.** Even after I quit this body, it will go with me; and if it is perfect in this life, then it will take me to the eternal abode. —*Easy Journey to Other Planets* --- **The Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra does not require śodhana (purification):** As enjoined in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: > *na cātra śātravā doṣā* > *narṇasvādi-vicāraṇā* > *ṛkṣarāśi-vicāro vā* > *na kartavyo manau priye* There is śodhana, or purification of the mantra, but there is no such consideration for the Kṛṣṇa mantra. *Balitvāt kṛṣṇa-mantrāṇāṁ saṁskārāpekṣaṇaṁ na hi.* **"The Kṛṣṇa mantra is so strong that there is no question of śodhana."** —*Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/24/331|24.331]] --- ## The Name of Christ **The relationship of the names "Kṛṣṇa" and "Christ":** Śrīla Prabhupāda: What is the meaning of the word Christ? Father Emmanuel: Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning "the anointed one." Śrīla Prabhupāda: **Christos is the Greek version of the word Kṛṣṇa.** Father Emmanuel: This is very interesting. Śrīla Prabhupāda: When an Indian person calls on Kṛṣṇa, he often says, "Kṛṣṭa." Kṛṣṭa is a Sanskrit word meaning "attraction." So when we address God as "Christ," "Kṛṣṭa," or "Kṛṣṇa," we indicate the same all-attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead. —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- **By chanting the holy name of Christ, Christians can attain the spiritual platform:** Śrīla Prabhupāda: If you stop killing animals and chant the holy name Christ, everything will be perfect. I have not come to teach you, but only to request you to please chant the name of God. The Bible also demands this of you. **So let's kindly cooperate and chant, and if you have a prejudice against chanting the name Kṛṣṇa, then chant "Christos" or "Kṛṣṭa"—there is no difference.** Śrī Caitanya said: *nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktiḥ*. "God has millions and millions of names, and because there is no difference between God's name and Himself, each one of these names has the same potency as God." Therefore, **even if you accept designations like "Hindu," "Christian," or "Muhammadan," if you simply chant the name of God found in your own scriptures, you will attain the spiritual platform.** Human life is meant for self-realization—to learn how to love God. That is the actual beauty of man. Whether you discharge this duty as a Hindu, a Christian, or a Muhammadan, it doesn't matter—but discharge it! —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- **If one thinks Hare Kṛṣṇa is sectarian, he can sing in the Christian church:** Kṛṣṇa specifically states that this process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is *susukham*, very pleasant and easy to practice. Indeed, the devotional process is very pleasant; we melodiously sing with instruments, and someone will listen and also join (*śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam*)... Of course if one thinks that Bhagavad-gītā and the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra are part of the Hindu system and doesn't want to accept them because of this, **he can nonetheless attend the Christian church and sing there. There is no difference between this process and that process; the point is whatever process one follows, he must become God conscious.** God is neither Muslim nor Hindu nor Christian—He is God. Nor are we to be considered Hindu, Muslim or Christian. These are bodily designations. We are all pure spirit, part and parcel of the Supreme. —*Rāja-vidyā: The King of Knowledge* --- **[← Back to Śrī Nāmāmṛta](wiki/compile/sri-namamrita)**