# Universal Accessibility The holy name of the Lord is available to everyone—regardless of caste, country, age, or social position. It is the easiest means of spiritual advancement, and even the lowest of human beings and lower species of life can be elevated by its power. --- ## Not Limited to Kali-yuga The chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa is not limited to the Kali-yuga but is applicable to other ages as well: According to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there are different processes for different ages, but the principle of each process remains valid in all ages. **It is not that the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa is effective in this age and not in Satya-yuga.** Nor is it that people were not chanting the holy names of Kṛṣṇa in Satya-yuga... Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare as a great means of propaganda for spreading love of God. **It is not that it is recommended only for Kali-yuga. Actually, it is recommended for every age.** There have always been many devotees who have chanted and reached perfection in all ages. That is the beauty of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. It is not simply for one age, or for one country, or for one class of people. **Hare Kṛṣṇa can be chanted by any man in any social position, in any country and in any age**, for Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord of all people in all social positions, in all countries, in all ages. —*Elevation to Kṛṣṇa Consciousness* --- ## The Easiest Means for Spiritual Advancement ![[sb/2/1/12#purport|the easiest possible procedure to attain this end is to chant the holy name of the Lord]] —SB [[sb/2/1/12|2.1.12]] Purport --- Kṛṣṇa says that out of many thousands of people, one may try to make perfection of this life; and out of many millions of such persons on the path of perfection, only one may understand Kṛṣṇa. So understanding Kṛṣṇa is not very easy. **But it is also the easiest. It is not easy, but at the same time it is the easiest.** It is the easiest if you follow the prescribed forms. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu has introduced this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa. He has not exactly introduced it; it is in the scriptures. But He has especially propagated this formula. **In this age this is the easiest method of self-realization. Simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. It can be done by everyone.** —*The Path of Perfection* --- **Spiritual perfection is very easily attained through the process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa:** The bhakti-yoga process should be completed in this life, because in this life we have all the instruments necessary to become fully Kṛṣṇa conscious. We have mṛdaṅgas and cymbals and tongues with which to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Even if we don't have mṛdaṅgas and cymbals, we have a tongue. No one has to purchase a tongue. We also have ears with which to hear the sound that the tongue vibrates. **Therefore we have all the instruments we need with us—a tongue and ears. We have only to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and use our ears to hear this vibration, and all perfection will be there.** We don't have to become highly educated scientists or philosophers. We have only to chant and hear. —*The Path of Perfection* --- ![[cc/antya/3/100#purport|chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and becoming highly elevated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is very simple]] —Cc. [[cc/antya/3/100|Antya 3.100]] Purport --- Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a very simple process. It is not necessary to become a great philosopher, scientist, or whatever. **We need only chant the holy name of the Lord**, understanding that His personality, His name, and His qualities are all absolute. —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- **If one chants even for one week, he will make solid progress in spiritual life:** If one takes to Caitanya Mahāprabhu's method, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, the first installment of gain will be ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam: all the dirty things will be cleansed from the heart simply by chanting. Chant. **There is no expenditure, and there is no loss.** If one simply chants for one week, he will see how much he will progress in spiritual knowledge. —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- **Simply by keeping a picture of Lord Caitanya and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, one can worship God and realize Him:** One simply has to keep this picture. One can keep it anywhere. It is not that one has to come to us to see this picture. Anyone can have this picture in his home, chant this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and thus worship Lord Caitanya. That is the simple method. But who will capture this simple method? Those who have good brains. Without much bother, if one simply keeps a picture of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at home and chants Hare Kṛṣṇa, then one will realize God. **Anyone can adopt this simple method. There is no expenditure, there is no tax, nor is there any need to build a very big church or temple.** Anyone, anywhere, can sit down on the road or beneath a tree and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and worship God. Therefore it is a great opportunity. —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- ## The Foundation of Spiritual Life ![[sb/3/29/18#purport|Lord Caitanya has given special stress to chanting of these holy names of the Lord as the basic principle of spiritual advancement]] —SB [[sb/3/29/18|3.29.18]] Purport --- ![[sb/6/3/22#purport|Devotional service begins with chanting of the holy name of the Lord]] —SB [[sb/6/3/22|6.3.22]] Purport --- **Service to Kṛṣṇa begins with chanting His holy name and tasting His prasāda:** With our material senses, we cannot see Kṛṣṇa, nor can we even hear His name. We can begin to perceive Him when we advance in devotional service. **That devotional service begins with the tongue**, not the legs, eyes or ears. The tongue must be utilized to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare and take Kṛṣṇa prasāda. Thus the tongue has a dual function, and by utilizing it in this way, we will realize Kṛṣṇa. —*Elevation to Kṛṣṇa Consciousness* --- **Surrender begins with giving up bad habits and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra on beads:** Reporter: Does "surrender" mean that someone would have to leave his family? Śrīla Prabhupāda: No. Reporter: But suppose I were to become an initiate. Wouldn't I have to come and live in the temple? Śrīla Prabhupāda: Not necessarily. Reporter: I can stay at home? Śrīla Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Reporter: What about work? Would I have to give up my job? Śrīla Prabhupāda: **No, you'd simply have to give up your bad habits and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra on these beads—that's all.** —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- ## The Most Important Element of Devotional Service ![[cc/madhya/6/241#purport|the most important item was the chanting of the holy name of the Lord]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/6/241|Madhya 6.241]] Purport --- ![[cc/antya/4/70#purport|Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead]] —Cc. [[cc/antya/4/70|Antya 4.70-71]] Purport --- ![[cc/madhya/15/107#purport|all of our centers...preceded and followed by the chanting of the holy name of the Lord]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/15/107|Madhya 15.107]] Purport --- ![[cc/madhya/22/128#purport|One should associate with devotees, chant the holy name of the Lord]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/22/128|Madhya 22.128-29]] Purport --- ## Meant for All Persons **The entire world should glorify Lord Kṛṣṇa by the easy process of chanting the mahā-mantra:** Following in the footsteps of Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and all the ācāryas in disciplic succession, the whole population of the world should glorify Lord Kṛṣṇa, and for their best interest they should take to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. **The process is easy and helpful. It is simply to chant the mahā-mantra**, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. —*Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead* --- **Let there be one mantra for the whole world—the mahā-mantra:** In this present day, man is very eager to have one scripture, one God, one religion, and one occupation. So let there be one common scripture for the whole world—Bhagavad-gītā. And let there be one God only for the whole world—Śrī Kṛṣṇa. **And one mantra only—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.** And let there be one work only—the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. —*Bhagavad-gītā As It Is* Introduction --- **Chanting is free and open for everyone:** We are not charging anything, we are not asking for fees and giving the people some secret mantra and promising them that within six months they will become God. No. **This is open for everyone—children, women, girls, boys, old people—everyone can chant and see the results.** —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- ![[sb/2/1/11#purport|this way of attaining success is an established fact...recommended not only for the progressive students...but also for those who are already successful]] —SB [[sb/2/1/11|2.1.11]] Purport --- **Three kinds of men take pleasure in chanting the holy name:** In this world there are three kinds of men: those who are liberated, those trying to be liberated, and those entangled in sense enjoyment. Of these three, **those who are already liberated chant and hear the holy name of the Lord**, knowing perfectly that to glorify the Lord is the only way to keep oneself in a transcendental position. **Those who are trying to be liberated**, the second class, may regard the chanting and hearing of the Lord's holy name as a process of liberation, and they too will feel the transcendental pleasure of this chanting. **As for karmīs and persons engaged in sense gratification**, they also may take pleasure in hearing the pastimes of the Lord... Everyone, therefore, including the mumukṣus, the vimuktas and the karmīs, should chant and hear the glories of the Lord, and in this way everyone will benefit. —*Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* 10.1 "Additional Notes" --- **Saṅkīrtana is meant both for the poor and the rich:** Lieutenant Mozee: Would you want to start the program in an area of affluence or an area of poverty? Śrīla Prabhupāda: **We do not draw such distinctions.** Any place easily available to all kinds of men would be very suitable to hold saṅkīrtana. There is no restriction that only the poor men need the benefit but the rich do not. Everyone needs to be purified... Our treatment is for the spiritually diseased person. When a person is afflicted with a disease, there are no distinctions between a poor man and a rich man. They are both admitted to the same hospital... **Since everyone is materially infected, everyone should be able to take advantage.** —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- ## The Holy Name Benefits All Human Society ![[sb/4/30/35#purport|This saṅkīrtana movement started by the Society for Krishna Consciousness is meant for creating Vaikuṇṭha, the transcendental world that is without anxiety, even in this material world]] —SB [[sb/4/30/35|4.30.35]] Purport --- **Nāma-saṅkīrtana can turn the masses toward spiritual realization and bring peace and friendship:** The Lord's congregational saṅkīrtana movement at Purī was a unique exhibition for the mass of people. That is the way to turn the mass mind towards spiritual realization. **The Lord inaugurated this system of mass saṅkīrtana, and leaders of all countries can take advantage of this spiritual movement in order to keep the mass of people in a pure state of peace and friendship with one another.** This is now the demand of the present human society all over the world. —*Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* Introduction --- ![[sb/4/30/36#purport|When we are no longer envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there will be real peace, unity and fraternity in human society]] —SB [[sb/4/30/36|4.30.36]] Purport --- **The chanting of the holy name is the only remedy for setting the world aright:** People try to rectify one mistake by making another mistake. This is the way of the struggle for existence in the material world... This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is being spread all over the world just to remedy this gross ignorance... However, one must know that for jaundice, sugar candy is the only specific medicine. Similarly, **in the present confused state of humanity, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare—is the only remedy for setting the world aright.** —*The Nectar of Instruction* Text 7 --- ### It Brings Material Prosperity ![[sb/4/18/8#purport|In its present condition, the world can only be saved by introducing this saṅkīrtana, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement]] —SB [[sb/4/18/8|4.18.8]] Purport --- ![[sb/7/14/7#purport|If people throughout the world take to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and chant the easy sound vibration...there will be no scarcity of rainfall; consequently food grains, fruits and flowers will be properly produced]] —SB [[sb/7/14/7|7.14.7]] Purport --- ![[sb/9/1/17#purport|people can gain relief from scarcity of rain and food by the simple method of the Hare Kṛṣṇa yajña]] —SB [[sb/9/1/17|9.1.17]] Purport --- ![[sb/9/20/24#purport|people will be happy economically, politically, socially, religiously and culturally]] —SB [[sb/9/20/24|9.20.24-26]] Purport --- ### It Creates a More Auspicious Political Situation ![[sb/7/2/11#purport|Through the popularizing of hari-kīrtana, or the saṅkīrtana movement, the brahminical culture and kṣatriya government will automatically come back]] —SB [[sb/7/2/11|7.2.11]] Purport --- ![[sb/9/10/53#purport|If we chant offenselessly, Rāma and Kṛṣṇa are still present in this age. The kingdom of Rāma was immensely popular and beneficial]] —SB [[sb/9/10/53|9.10.53]] Purport --- ![[sb/4/14/12#purport|saintly persons should engage in chanting the mahā-mantra...the general populace can derive all benefits without political implications]] —SB [[sb/4/14/12|4.14.12]] Purport --- ### It Eradicates Crime **Crime can be eradicated by mass saṅkīrtana, which changes the heart:** Śrīla Prabhupāda: The difference between a pious man and a criminal is that one is pure in heart and the other is dirty. This dirt is like a disease in the form of uncontrollable lust and greed in the heart of the criminal... **The simplest process of purification is to assemble in congregation and chant the holy names of God. This is called saṅkīrtana** and is the basis of our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. So, if you want to stop crime, then you must gather as many people as possible for mass saṅkīrtana. **This congregational chanting of the holy name of God will dissipate all the dirty things in everyone's heart.** Then there will be no more crime... The only way to permanently change the criminal habit is to change the heart of the criminal... **Therefore without cleansing the heart of the criminal, you cannot stop crime simply by more stringent law enforcement.** The thief and the murderer already know the law, yet they still commit violent crimes, due to their unclean hearts. So our process is to cleanse the heart. Then all the troubles of this material world will be solved. —*The Science of Self-Realization* --- ## Even the Lowest of Men Can Be Elevated ![[cc/madhya/23/1|The most munificent Supreme Personality of Godhead...distributed to everyone—even the lowest of men—His own confidential treasury in the form of the nectar of love of Himself and the holy name]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/23/1|Madhya 23.1]] --- ![[cc/madhya/14/44#purport|One can overcome the spell of māyā and attain the transcendental platform by agreeing to engage in the devotional service of the Lord]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/14/44|Madhya 14.44-46]] Purport --- ![[cc/madhya/19/69#purport|Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu actually started a revolution against this brahminical system by inaugurating the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. By this chanting, one can be delivered regardless of caste, creed, color or social position]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/19/69|Madhya 19.69]] Purport --- ![[sb/6/16/44#purport|simply by hearing the holy name of the Lord, one is immediately purified...even caṇḍālas, men of the lowest class, are freed from all material contamination]] —SB [[sb/6/16/44|6.16.44]] Purport --- ![[sb/3/33/6#purport|a person who chants the holy name of the Lord, even if born in a family of caṇḍālas, dog-eaters, does not need reformation. Simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, he immediately becomes purified and becomes as good as the most learned brāhmaṇa]] —SB [[sb/3/33/6|3.33.6]] Purport --- ![[cc/antya/3/124#purport|Haridāsa Ṭhākura, although born in a mleccha or yavana family, became Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura because he performed the nāma-yajña a minimum of 300,000 times every day]] —Cc. [[cc/antya/3/124|Antya 3.124]] Purport --- ![[cc/adi/17/1#purport|even unclean yavanas become perfectly well-bred gentlemen by chanting the holy name of the Lord]] —Cc. [[cc/adi/17/1|Ādi 17.1]] Purport --- ## The Holy Name Benefits Even Lower Species of Life ![[cc/antya/3/69#purport|the deliverance of all moving and nonmoving living entities takes place only by Your mercy]] —Cc. [[cc/antya/3/67|Antya 3.67-76]] Summary --- ![[cc/madhya/17/45#purport|The loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is so powerful that it can even penetrate the ears of trees and creepers—what to speak of animals and human beings]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/17/45|Madhya 17.45]] Purport --- **Not only is the chanter of the holy name purified but all hearers as well, even animals:** Not only is the chanter of the mahā-mantra purified, but **the heart of anyone who happens to hear the transcendental vibration** of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare **is also cleansed. Even the souls embodied in lower animals, insects, trees and other species of life also become purified** and prepared to become fully Kṛṣṇa conscious simply by hearing the transcendental vibration. This was explained by Ṭhākura Haridāsa when Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired from him how living entities lower than human beings can be delivered from material bondage. Haridāsa Ṭhākura said that the chanting of the holy names is so powerful that **even if one chants in the remotest parts of the jungle, the trees and animals will advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness simply by hearing the vibration.** —*The Nectar of Instruction* Text 4 --- ![[sb/4/31/19#purport|when one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra loudly, he actually shows mercy to all living entities]] —SB [[sb/4/31/19|4.31.19]] Purport --- **[← Back to Śrī Nāmāmṛta](wiki/compile/sri-namamrita)**