## Chapter I The Holy Name: The Universal and Supreme Religion for this Age ### 1. The Prime Religious Practice for the Kali-yuga Is the Chanting of the Holy name The chanting of the holy name is the most sublime religion for the Kali-yuga: The Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra* is* *specifically mentioned in many *Upaniṣads, *such as the *Kali-santaraṇa Upaniṣad, *where it is said: > *hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa k*ṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare > *itiṣoḍaśakaṁ nāmnāṁ *kali -kalmaṣa-nāśanam nātaḥ parataropāyaḥ sarva-vedeṣu dṛśyate **"After searching through all the Vedic literature one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/3/40|3.40]]* In Kali-yuga, simply by chanting the holy name one can attain the goal of life: [Karabhājana Ṛṣi to Mahārāja Nimi]: " 'Those who are advanced and highly qualified and are interested in the essence of life know the good qualities of Kali-yuga. Such people worship the Age of Kali because in this age, simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra*, one can advance in spiritual knowledge and attain life's goal.' " This is a quotation from *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* ([[sb/11/5/36|11.5.36]]) spoken by the great sage Karabhājana Ṛṣi, one of the nine Yogendras. The sage was informing Mahārāja Nimi about the people's duty to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead according to different processes in different *yugas.* *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/20/347|20.347]]* In Kali-yuga, one can attain liberation and return to the spiritual kingdom by chanting the holy name: **[Śukadeva Gosvāmī to Mahārāja Parīkṣit]: " 'My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.' "** *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/12/3/5|12.3.5]] [cited: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/20/344|20.344]]]* Saṅkīrtana is the present yuga-dharma: **[Lord Caitanya to Sanātana Gosvāmī]: "...In the Kali-yuga the occupational duty of the people is to chant congregationally the holy name of Kṛṣṇa."** In Kali-yuga one worships Lord Kṛṣṇa by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/20/339|20.339]]* The only religious principle in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name: **[Īśvara Purī to Lord Caitanya]: " 'In this Age of Kali there is no other religious principle than the chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all Vedic hymns. This is the purport of all scriptures.' "** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā *[[cc/adi/7/74|7.74]]* In Kali-yuga, chanting of the holy name is the most feasible means of salvation: **In great jubilation, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "My dear Svarūpa Dāmodara and Rāmānanda Rāya, know from Me that chanting of the holy names is the most feasible means of salvation in this Age of Kali."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā* [[cc/antya/20/8|20.8]]* The universal religious practice for the Kali-yuga is the chanting of the holy name: **The religious practice for the Age of Kali is to broadcast the glories of the holy name. Only for this purpose has the Lord, in a yellow color, descended as Lord Caitanya.** In this Age of Kali the practical system of religion for everyone is the chanting of the name of Godhead. This was introduced in this age by Lord Caitanya. *Bhakti-yoga *actually begins with the chanting of the holy name, as confirmed by Madhvācārya in his commentary on the *Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad. *He quotes this verse from the *Nārāyaṇa-saṁhitā:* > dvāparīyair janair viṣṇuḥ pañcarātraiś tu kevalaiḥ kalau tu nāma-mātreṇa pūjyate bhagavān hariḥ **"In the Dvāpara-yuga people should worship Lord Viṣṇu only by the regulative principles of the *Nārada Pañcarātra *and other such authorized books. In the Age of Kali, however, people should simply chant the holy names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/3/40|3.40]]* The *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* advocates nāma-saṅkīrtana as the essence of religion in the Age of Kali: **In ***Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam*** it is repeatedly and clearly said that the essence of religion in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ā*di-līlā* [[cc/adi/3/50|3.50]]* ** Rather than inventing one's own religious process, one should accept the approved method of religion for this age hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana: **[Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to King Pratāparudra]: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "This sweet transcendental sound is a special creation of the Lord known as prema-saṅkīrtana, congregational chanting in love of Godhead. In this Age of Kali, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has descended to preach the religion of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore the chanting of the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa is the religious principle for this age. Anyone who worships Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu by congregational chanting should be understood to be very intelligent. One who does not do so must be considered a victim of this age and bereft of all intelligence."** Rascals propose that anyone can invent his own religious process, and this proposition is condemned herein. If one actually wants to become religious, he must take up the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *rnahā-mantra.... Dharma, *or religion, cannot be manufactured by a human being. Religion is the law or code of the Lord.... *Dharma *refers to the science of *bhakti-yoga, *which begins by the novice's chanting the holy name of the Lord (*tan-nāma-grahaṇādibhiḥ*). In this Age of Kali it is recommended in *Caitanya-caritāmṛta, kali-kale dharma-kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana. *In the Age of Kali the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is the method of religion approved by all Vedic scriptures. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/11/97|11.97-99]]* Chanting the holy name is the sum and substance of sanātana-dharma: **In this Age of Kali, there are no genuine religious principles. There are only the Vaiṣṇava devotees and the Vaiṣṇava devotional scriptures. This is the sum and substance of everything.** In this age a person should not envy Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's movement but should chant the holy names of Hari and Kṛṣṇa, the *mahā-mantra. *That is the sum and substance of eternal religion, known as *sanātana-dharma.* *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/9/362|9.362]]* In Kali-yuga Kṛṣṇa has incarnated as the holy name in order to deliver the sinful, who are suffering greatly: As the Lord says in *Bhagavad-gītā *([[bg/4/7|4.7]]): > yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham **"Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, descendant of Bhārata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself."** In the present age, Kali-yuga, people are very much sinful and are consequently suffering greatly. Therefore Kṛṣṇa has incarnated in the form of His name, as found in the *mahā-mantra: *Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. *— Teachings of Queen Kuntī* Because Kali-yuga is such a degraded and miserable age, Lord Caitanya advises everyone simply to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa: According to the Vedic conception, there must be men in society who are factually *brāhmaṇas, *capable of expounding the real truth. If everyone becomes a *śūdra, *the Absolute Truth cannot be understood. It is said that at the present moment in Kali-yuga everyone is a *śūdra* (*kalau śūdra-sambhavaḥ*),* *and it is very difficult in this age to find qualified *brāhmaṇas, *for they are very rare. There is practically not a single qualified *brāhmaṇa *in this age. > prāyeṇālpāyuṣaḥ sabhya kalāv asmin yuge janāḥ mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ **"O learned one, in this iron Age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed."** (S.B.* *[[sb/1/1/10|1.1.10]]) The people in this age are very short-lived and slow in understanding spiritual life. Actually, human life is meant for understaṇding spiritual values, but because everyone in this age is a *śūdra, *no one is interested. People have forgotten life's real purpose. The word *manda *means both slow and bad, and everyone in this age is either bad or slow or a combination of both. People are unfortunate and disturbed by so many things. According to *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *there will eventually be no rain and consequently a scarcity of food. The governments will also levy very heavy taxes. The characteristics of this age predicted by *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *are already being experienced to some degree. Since Kali-yuga is a very miserable age, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself, advises everyone simply to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] **"In this Age of Kali there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative for spiritual progress than the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord." (*Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa*)* *** This process is not Caitanya Mahāprabhu's invention, but is advised by the *śāstras, *the *Purāṇas. *The process for this Kali-yuga is very simple. One need only chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra.* *— Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti* Although God has given us all facilities to live peacefully on this earth, cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and finally to come to Him, in this age we're unfortunate. We are short-lived, and there are so many people without food, shelter, married life or defense from the onslaughts of nature. This is due to the influence of this Age of Kali. Therefore Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, seeing the dreadful situation in this age, emphasized the absolute necessity for cultivating spiritual life. And how should we do it? Caitanya Mahāprabhu gives the formula: > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] "Just always chant Hare Kṛṣṇa." Never mind whether you are in a factory or in hell, in a shack or in a skyscraper—it doesn't matter. Just go on chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. There is no expense, there is no impediment, there is no caste, there is no creed, there is no color—anyone can do it. Just chant and hear. *— On the Way to Kṛṣṇa* Everywhere in this age of iron everything is degraded, degraded in this sense: *prayeṇālpāyuṣaḥ sabhya kalāv asmin yuge janāḥ* [*S.B.* [[sb/1/1/10|1.1.10]]]. In this Age of Kali the duration of life is diminished, and men are not moved to understand self-realization, and if they are, they are invariably misled by so many deceitful leaders. The age is very corrupt. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu's process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa is the best and the simplest method. > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] **"In this Age of Kali there is no other religion than glorifying the Lord by utterance of His holy name, and that is the injunction of all the revealed scriptures. There is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way."** This verse appears in the *Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa. Harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam. *Simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. There is no other alternative. *Kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā. *In this Age of Kali, there is no other alternative for self-realization. So we have to accept it. There is another similar verse in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. *In the Twelfth Canto, Third Chapter ([[sb/12/3/51|12.3.51]]), Parīkṣit Mahārāja was informed by Śukadeva Gosvāmī of the faults of this age, and now all the symptoms of the Age of Kali are apparent. In the conclusive portion, however, Śukadeva Gosvāmī said, *kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ*: "My dear king, this age, Kali, is full of faulty things, but there is one good opportunity." What is that? *Kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet: *"Simply by chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *one can become liberated and go back to Godhead." *— The Science of Self-Realization* The lack of religious principles in Kali-yuga is more than compensated by the process of chanting the holy name: It is said that this Age of Kali is three-fourths devoid of religious principles. Hardly one-fourth of the principles of religion are still observed in this age. But by the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa, this vacancy of Kali-yuga has not only been completely filled, but the religious process has been made so easy that simply by rendering transcendental loving service unto Lord Kṛṣṇa by chanting His holy names, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, one can achieve the highest result of religion, namely, being transferred to the highest planet within the spiritual world, Goloka Vṛndāvana. *— Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead* Chanting of the holy names of the Lord is the common platform for the universal religion of mankind in the Kali-yuga: In this present age quarrels take place even over trifles, and therefore the *śāstras *have recommended for this age a common platform for realization, namely chanting the holy names of the Lord. People can hold meetings to glorify the Lord in their respective languages and with melodious songs, and if such perfommances are executed in an offenseless manner, it is certain that the participants will gradually attain spiritual perfection without having to undergo more rigorous methods. At such meetings everyone, the learned and the foolish, the rich and the poor, the Hindus and the Muslims, the Englishmen and the Indians, and the *caṇḍālas *and the *brāhmaṇas, *can all hear the transcendental sounds and thus cleanse the dust of material association from the mirror of the heart. To confirm the Lord's mission, all the people of the world will accept the holy name of the Lord as the common platform for the universal religion of mankind. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* 1,* *Intro.* In the age of logic, argument and disagreement, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa is the only means of self-realization: In three out of the four millenniums (namely Satya-yuga, Tretā-yuga and Dvāpara-yuga) people had the honor to be able to understand transcendence through the path of disciplic succession. However, in the present age, people have no interest in the disciplic succession. Instead, they have invented many paths of logic and argument. This individual attempt to understand the supreme transcendence (called the ascending process) is not approved by the *Vedas. *The Absolute Truth must descend from the absolute platform. He is not to be understood by the ascending process. The holy name of the Lord—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare—is a transcendental vibration because it comes from the transcendental platform, the supreme abode of Kṛṣṇa. Because there is no difference between Kṛṣṇa and His name, the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is as pure, perfect and liberated as Kṛṣṇa Himself. Academic scholars have no entrance by means of logic and other argument into the understanding of the transcendental nature of the holy name of God. The single path in understanding the transcendental nature of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare is the chanting of these names with faith and adherence. Such chanting will release one from designated conditions arising from the gross and subtle bodies. In this age of logic, argument and disagreement, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa is the only means for self-realization. *— Teachings of Lord Caitanya* The Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is especially suited to deliver us from the dangers of the Kali-yuga: Only the *dvijas* (the* brāhmaṇas*)* *and the *devas* (the* *demigods) can be delivered from material existence by the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Whatever is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is a *mantra* and is suitable for delivering the conditioned souls from mental speculation. The conditioned souls are engaged in a struggle for existence (*manaḥ* *ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati* [Bg [[bg/15/7|15.7]]]*). *Deliverance from this struggle constitutes the highest benefit, but unless one gets a *mantra *from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, deliverance is impossible. The beginning *mantra* is the Gāyatrī *mantra*. Therefore, after purification, when one is qualified to become a *brāhmaṇa* (*dvija*),* *he is offered the Gāyatrī *mantra. *Simply by chanting the Gāyatrī *mantra, *one can be delivered. This *mantra, *however, is suitable only for the *brāhmaṇas *and demigods. In Kali-yuga, we are all in a very difficult position, in which we need a suitable *mantra *that can deliver us from the dangers of this age. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His incarnation as Lord Caitanya, gives us the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra*.... In His *Śikṣāṣṭaka, *Lord Caitanya says, *paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam:* "All* *glories to the chanting of *śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana!" *The *mahā-mantra*—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare—is directly chanted by the Lord Himself, who gives us this *mantra* for deliverance. We cannot invent any means to be delivered from the dangers of material existence.... Sparks are beautiful as long as they are in the fire. Similarly, we have to remain in the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and always engage in devotional service, for then we shall always be brilliant and illuminating. As soon as we fall from the service of the Lord, our brilliance and illumination will immediately be extinguished, or at least stopped for some time. When we living entities, who are like sparks of the original fire, the Supreme Lord, fall into a material condition, we must take the *mantra *from the Supreme Personality of Godhead as it is offered by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. By chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *we shall be delivered from all the difficulties of this material world. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/8/6/15|8.6.15]]* ### 2. In the Kali-yuga, Lord Kṛṣṇa Is Worshiped by Chanting of the Holy Name In the Kali-yuga, one can satisfy and worship the Lord simply by chanting His holy name: Śrī Madhvācārya has brought our attention to this quotation from the *Nārāyaṇa-saṁhitā:* > dvāparīyair janair viṣṇuḥ pañcarātraiś tu kevalaiḥ kalau tu nāma-mātreṇa pūjyate bhagavān hariḥ **"In the Dvāpara-yuga one could satisfy Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu only by worshiping opulently according to the *pāñcarātrikī *system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting His holy name."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā *[[cc/antya/7/12|7.12]]* In this Age of Kali, real religious propapada should induce people to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra*.... Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments in this regard in his *Anubhāṣya, *wherein he quotes a verse from *Nārāyaṇa-saṁhitā:* > dvāparīyair janair viṣṇuḥ pañcarātraiś tu kevalaiḥ kalau tu nāma-mātreṇa pūjyate bhagavān hariḥ **"In Dvāpara-yuga, devotees of Lord Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa rendered devotional service according to the principles of *pāñcarātrika. *In this Age of Kali, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped simply by the chanting of His holy names."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/25/9|25.9]]* Learned scholars in the Age of Kali worship Lord Kṛṣṇa through nāma-saṅkīrtana: "By performing the sacrifice of congregational chanting of the holy name, learned scholars in the Age of Kali worship Lord Kṛṣṇa..." *— *Stava-mālā *of Rūpa Gosvāmī [cited: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/3/58|3.58]]]* In Kali-yuga, the process of worshiping Kṛṣṇa is the sacrifice of chanting the holy name: **[Lord Caitanya to Svarūpa Dāmodara & Rāmānanda Rāya]: "In this Age of Kali, the process of worshiping Kṛṣṇa is to perform sacrifice by chanting the holy name of the Lord. One who does so is certainly very intelligent, and he attains shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā *[[cc/antya/20/9|20.9]]* ### 3. The Yuga-dharma Is Personally Introduced by Lord Kṛṣṇa in His Incarnation as Lord Caitanya Kṛṣṇa personally inaugurates the religion of the age—nama-saṅkīrtana—as Lord Caitanya: **[Lord Kṛṣṇa, thinking to Himself]: "I shall personally inaugurate the religion of the age—nāma-saṅkīrtana, the congregational chanting of the holy name. I shall make the world dance in ecstasy, realizing the four mellows of loving devotional service."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/3/19|3.19]]* The Kali-yuga dharma, chanting the holy name, is introduced by Lord Caitanya: **[Karabhājana Ṛṣi to Mahārāja Nimi]: "Accompanied by His personal devotees, Lord Kṛṣṇa, assuming a golden color, introduces the hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, in the Age of Kali. By this process, He delivers love for Kṛṣṇa to the general populace. Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, personally introduces the occupational duty of the Age of Kali. He personally chants and dances in ecstatic love, and thus the entire world chants congregationally."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/20/340|20.340-41]]* Kṛṣṇa came again as Lord Caitanya to teach us the path by which to cross the ocean of Kali-yuga: Just before the beginning of Kali-yuga—or, in other words, at the end of Dvāpara-yuga—Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa appeared and left His instructions in the form of *Bhagavad-gītā, *in which He asked all living entities to surrender unto Him. Since the beginning of Kali-yuga, however, people have practically been unable to surrender to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, and therefore, after some five thousand years, Kṛṣṇa came again as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu just to teach the entire world how to surrender unto Him, unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and thus be purified.... Kali-yuga is full of contamination. This is described in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* ([[sb/12/3/51|12.3.51]]): > kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet This Age of Kali is full of unlimited faults. Indeed, it is just like an ocean of faults (*doṣa-nidhi*). But there is one chance, one opportunity. *Kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet: *simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *one can be freed from the contamination of Kali-yuga and, in his original spiritual body, can return home, back to Godhead. This is the opportunity of Kali-yuga. When Kṛṣṇa appeared, He gave His orders, and when Kṛṣṇa Himself appeared as a devotee, as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He showed us the path by which to cross the ocean of Kali-yuga. That is the path of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared, He ushered in the era for the *saṅkīrtana *movement. It is also said that for ten thousand years this era will continue. This means that simply by accepting the *saṅkīrtana *movement and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *the fallen souls of this Kali-yuga will be delivered. After the Battle of Kurukṣetra, at which *Bhagavad-gītā* was spoken, Kali-yuga continues for 432,000 years, of which only 5,000 years have passed. Thus there is still a balance of 427,000 years to come. Of these 427,000 years, the 10,000 years of the *saṅkīrtana *movement inaugurated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu 500 years ago provide the opportunity for the fallen souls of Kali-yuga to take to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra *and thus be delivered from the clutches of material existence and return home, back to Godhead. Chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra* is potent always, but it is especially potent in this Age of Kali. Therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī, while instructing Mahārāja Parīkṣit, stressed this chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra.* > kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet **"My dear king, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom." (*S.B. *[[sb/12/3/51|12.3.51]])** Those who have accepted the task of spreading the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra *in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness should take this opportunity to deliver people very easily from the clutches of material existence. Our duty, therefore, is to follow the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and preach the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement all over the world very sincerely. This is the best welfare activity for the peace and prosperity of human society. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/8/5/23|8.5.23]]* The chanting of the holy name is Lord Caitanya's special concession to the animallike human beings of this age: Love of Kṛṣṇa is not an easy thing to obtain, because by this love one can purchase Kṛṣṇa, but Caitanya Mahāprabhu distributed this love of Kṛṣṇa to anyone and everyone, even to the two drunkards Jagāi and Mādhāi. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has therefore sung: > dīna-hīna yata chilo hari-nāme uddhārilo, tā'ra sākṣī jagāi-mādhāi **"Caitanya Mahāprabhu is so magnanimous that He delivered all kinds of sinful men simply by allowing them to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra. *The evidence of this is Jagāi and Mādhāi."** At that time, of course, there were two Jagāis and Mādhāis, but at the present moment, by the grace of Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His process of teaching, so many Jagāis and Mādhāis are being delivered. If Caitanya Mahāprabhu is pleased, He can give *kṛṣṇa-prema, *love of Kṛṣṇa, to anyone, regardless of that person's qualification. If a person is giving charity, he can select anyone to take it. Without the mercy of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, understanding Kṛṣṇa is very, very difficult. *Manuṣyānāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye *(*Bg*. [[bg/7/3|7.3]]): out of many millions of people, hardly one tries to make his life spiritually successful. People simply work like animals, not knowing how to make a success of human life. One's human life is successful when one understands Kṛṣṇa; otherwise one remains an animal. Anyone who is not Kṛṣṇa conscious, who does not know who Kṛṣṇa is, is no better than an animal. But Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave this concession to the fallen souls of this age: "Simply chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa* mahā-mantra *and you will be delivered." This is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's special concession (*kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet, S.B. *[[sb/12/3/51|12.3.51]]). *— Teachings of Queen Kuntī* Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa personally came as Lord Caitanya in order to distribute the process of chanting—the easiest means, in this age, to the highest perfection of life: Out of many thousands of persons who are in self-knowledge as to what and who they are, only one or two may be actually liberated. And out of many thousands who are liberated, only one or two may understand what and who Kṛṣṇa is. So understanding Kṛṣṇa is not such an easy job. Thus in this Age of Kali, an age characterized by ignorance and chaos, liberation is out of the reach of practically everyone. One has to go through the whole ordeal of becoming civilized, then religious, and then one has to perform charities and sacrifices and come to the platform of knowledge, then to the stage of liberation, and finally, after liberation, to the understanding of what Kṛṣṇa is.... Practically speaking, this process is not very easy in this Age of Kali. In *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *a description is given of the people of this age. Their duration of life is said to be very short, they tend to be phlegmatic and slow and to sleep a great deal, and when they're not sleeping, they are busy earning money. At the most they only have two hours a day for spiritual activities, so what is the hope for spiritual understanding? It is also stated that even if one is anxious to make spiritual progress, there are many pseudospiritual societies to take advantage of him. People are also characterized in this age as being unfortunate. They have a great deal of difficulty meeting the primary demands of life—eating, defending, mating, and sleeping—necessities which are met even by the animals. Even if people are meeting these necessities in this age, they are always anxious about war, either defending themselves from aggressors or having to go to war themselves. In addition to this, there are always disturbing diseases and economic problems in Kali-yuga. Therefore Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa considered that in this age it is impossible for people to come to the perfectional stage of liberation by following the prescribed rules and regulations. Thus out of His causeless mercy, Śrī Kṛṣṇa came as Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and distributed the means to the highest perfection of life and spiritual ecstasy by the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. This process of chanting is most practical, and it does not depend on whether one is liberated or not, or whether one's condition is conducive to spiritual life or not—whoever takes to this process becomes immediately purified. Therefore it is called *pavitram *(pure). Furthermore, for one who takes to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness process, the seeds of latent reactions to his sinful actions are all nullified. Just as a fire turns whatever we put into it to ashes, this process turns to ashes all the sinful reactions of our past lives. *— Rāja-vidyā: The King of Knowledge* ### 4. In the Kali-yuga, Chanting Yields the Results of Other Religious Practices Performed in Previous Ages By chanting the holy name in the Kali-yuga, one can obtain the results of various spiritual activities performed in the previous three ages: **[Śukadeva Gosvāmī to Mahārāja Parīkṣit]: "'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.'"** *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/12/3/52|12.3.52]] [cited: *Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta* *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/20/345|20.345]]]* **"'Whatever is achieved by meditation in Satya-yuga, by the performance of yajña in Tretā-yuga or by the worship of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet in Dvāpara-yuga is also **obtained** in the Age of Kali simply by chanting and glorifying Lord Keśava.'"** *— *Viṣṇu Purāṇa *6.2.17, *Padma Purāṇa* (*Uttara-khaṇḍa *72.25), and *Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa *38.97 [cited: *Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/20/346|20.346]]]* **[Lord Caitanya to Sanātana Gosvāmī]: "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 the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/20/343|20.343]]* In this age, hari-kīrtana is the only practical means of self-realization: If one actually wants to solve the problems of life in this age, then he has to take to this process of *kīrtana. *That is the recommended process. > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] In this age, Kali-yuga, one cannot execute any process of self-realization or perfection of life other than *kīrtana. Kīrtana* is essential in this age. In all Vedic literatures it is confirmed that one must meditate on the Supreme Absolute Truth, Viṣṇu, not on anything else. But there are different processes of meditation recommended for different ages. The process of mystic yogic meditation was possible in Satya-yuga, when men lived for many thousands of years. Now people will not believe this, but in a previous age there were people who lived for one hundred thousand years. That age was called Satya-yuga, and the meditation of mystic *yoga* was possible at that time. In that age the great yogī Vālmīki Muni meditated for sixty thousand years. So that is a long-term process, which is not possible to execute in this age. If one wishes to conduct a farce, that is another matter. But if one actually wants to practice such meditation, it takes an extremely long time to perfect. In the next age, Tretā-yuga, the process of realization was to perform the various ritualistic sacrifices recommended in the *Vedas. *In the next age, Dvāpara-yuga, the process was temple worship. In this present age the same result can be achieved by the process of *hari-kīrtana, *glorification of Hari, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. *— The Science of Self-Realization* In the age of quarrel, chanting of the holy name is the only recommended means of self-realization: The *yoga* system, as it was recommended in the Satya-yuga, the Golden Age, was to always meditate on Viṣṇu. In the Tretā-yuga one could practice *yoga *by performing great sacrifices, and in the next age, Dvāpara-yuga, one could achieve perfection by temple worship. The present age is called Kali-yuga. Kali-yuga means the age of quarrel and disagreement. No one agrees with anyone else. Everyone has his own theory; everyone has his own philosophy. If I don't agree with you, you fight me. This is the symptom of Kali-yuga. The only method recommended in this age is chanting the holy name. Simply by chanting the holy name of God, one can attain that perfect self-realization which was attained by the *yoga *system in the Satya-yuga, by performance of great sacrifices in the Tretā-yuga, and by large-scale temple worship in the Dvāpara-yuga. That perfection can be attained by the simple method of *hari-kīrtana. Hari *means the Supreme Personality of Godhead; *kīrtana *means to glorify. *— Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System* ### 5. Saṅkīrtana-yajña Is the Only Recommended Yajña for this Age General Instructions Lord Caitanya introduced the saṅkīrtana-yajña for the deliverance of all men in this Age of Kali: **[Lord Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna]: In the beginning of creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Viṣṇu, and blessed them by saying, "Be thou happy by this yajña [sacrifice] because its performance will bestow upon you all desirable things."** The Lord created this material world for the conditioned souls to learn how to perform *yajñas *(sacrifice) for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu, so that while in the material world they can live very comfortably without anxiety. Then after finishing the present material body, they can enter into the kingdom of God. That is the whole program for the conditioned soul. By performance of *yajña, *the conditioned souls gradually become Kṛṣṇa conscious and become godly in all respects. 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 for the deliverance of all men in this age. *Sankīrtana-yajña *and Kṛṣṇa consciousness go well together. Lord Kṛṣṇa in His devotional form (as Lord Caitanya) is mentioned in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *as follows, with special reference to the *saṅkīrtana-yajña:* > kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ **"In this Age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of *saṅkīrtana-yajña*." (*S.B. *[[sb/11/5/32|11.5.32]])** Other *yajñas *prescribed in the Vedic literatures are not easy to perform in this Age of Kali, but the *saṅkīrtana-yajña *is easy and sublime for all purposes. *— Bhagavad-gītā As It Is [[bg/3/10|3.10]]* Of all sacrifices, chanting of the holy name is the simplest and purest: **[Lord Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna]:... Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa]...** 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. Sometimes animal sacrifices are recommended, but in the sacrifice of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, there is no question of violence. It is the simplest and the purest. *— Bhagavad-gītā As It Is [[bg/10/25|10.25]]* In the Age of Kali, the greatest common formula of sacrifice is the saṅkīrtana-yajña: **[King Parīkṣit to the personality of Kali]: Therefore, friend of irreligion, you do not deserve to remain in a place where experts perform sacrifices according to truth and religious principles for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.** Yajñeśvara, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the beneficiary of all kinds of sacrificial ceremonies. Such sacrificial ceremonies are prescribed differently in the scriptures for different ages. In other words, sacrifice means to accept the supremacy of the Lord and thereby perform acts by which the Lord may be satisfied in all respects.... In this Age of Kali, the greatest common formula of sacrifice is the *saṅkīrtana-yajña. *That is the opinion of the experts who know how to propagate the process of *yajña. *Lord Caitanya preached this method of *yajña, *and it is understood from this verse that the sacrificial method of *saṅkīrtana-yajña *may be performed anywhere and everywhere in order to drive away the personality of Kali and save human society from falling prey to the influence of the age. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/1/17/33|1.17.33]]* In the Age of Kali, the only fruitful sacrifice is the sacrifice of the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord: The sacrificial fire kindled by the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya was certainly full of smoke and doubts because of so many flaws. The first flaw is that there is an acute scarcity of expert *brāhmaṇas *able to carry out such performances successfully in this Age of Kali. Any discrepancy in such sacrifices spoils the whole show, and the result is uncertain, like agricultural enterprises. The good result of tilling the paddy field depends on providential rain, and therefore the result is uncertain. Similarly, performance of any kind of sacrifice in this Age of Kali is also uncertain. Unscrupulous greedy *brāhmaṇas *of the Age of Kali induce the innocent public to such uncertain sacrificial shows without disclosing the scriptural injunction that 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. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *1.18.12* Saṅkīrtana-yajña is the proper yajña for the Kali-yuga: When learned sages and *brāhmaṇas *assemble to chant Vedic *mantras, *some of them also engage in arguing about the conclusion of the scriptures. Thus some of the sages and *brāhmaṇas *were arguing, and some of them were chanting the Vedic *mantras,* so the entire atmosphere was surcharged with transcendental sound vibration. This transcendental sound vibration has been simplified in the transcendental vibration Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. In this age, no one is expected to be highly educated in the Vedic ways of understanding because people are very slow, lazy and unfortunate. Therefore Lord Caitanya has recommended the sound vibration Hare Kṛṣṇa, and in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *([[sb/11/5/32|11.5.32]]) it is also recommended: *yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ. *At the present moment it is impossible to gather sacrificial necessities because of the poverty of the population and their lack of knowledge in Vedic *mantras. *Therefore for this age it is recommended that people gather together and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is accompanied by His associates. Indirectly this indicates Lord Caitanya, who is accompanied by His associates Nityānanda, Advaita and others. That is the process of performing yajña in this age. *— *Śrīm*ad-Bhāgavatam [[sb/4/4/6|4.4.6]]* Because Kṛṣṇa is everything, one who chants Hare Kṛṣṇa is performing all kinds of yajñas: **[The brāhmaṇas at Dakṣa's sacrifice to Lord Viṣṇu]: The brāhmaṇas said: Dear Lord, You are sacrifice personified. You are the offering of clarified butter, You are the fire, You are the chanting of Vedic hymns by which the sacrifice is conducted, You are the fuel, You are the flame, You are the kuśa grass, ant You are the sacrificial pots. You are the priests who perform the yajña, You are the demigods headed by Indra, and You are the sacrificial animal. Everything that is sacrificed is You or Your energy.** In this statement Lord Viṣṇu's all-pervasiveness is partially explained. It is said in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa that as a fire situated in one place emanates its heat and illumination everywhere, so whatever we see within the material or spiritual worlds is nothing but a manifestation of different energies emanating from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The *brāhmaṇas' *statement is that Lord Viṣṇu is everything—the fire, the offering, the clarified butter, the utensils, the place of sacrifice and the *kuśa. *He is everything. It is confirmed herein that 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, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, there is no need to arrange elaborate paraphernalia for the prescribed sacrificial ceremonies recommended in the *Vedas. *In the chant of the holy names, Hare and Kṛṣṇa, *Hare *means the energy of Kṛṣṇa, and *Kṛṣṇa* is the *viṣṇu-tattva*. Combined together they are everything. In this age, persons are harassed by the influence of Kali-yuga and cannot arrange for all the requisite paraphernalia for performing sacrifice as recommended in the *Vedas. *But if one simply chants Hare Kṛṣṇa, it is to be understood that he is performing all kinds of *yajña *because there is nothing within our vision except Hare (the energy of Kṛṣṇa) and Kṛṣṇa. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/7/45|4.7.45]]* In this age, saṅkīrtana-yajña, chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is more important than Vedic ritualistic sacrifices: **[Yamarāja to the Yamadūtas]: Because they are bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Yājñavalkya, Jaimini and other compilers of the religious scriptures cannot know the secret, confidential religious system of the twelve mahājanas. They cannot understand the transcendental value of performing devotional service or chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra*. Because their minds are attracted to the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas—especially the Yajur Veda, Sāma Veda and Ṛg Veda—their intelligence has become dull. They are busy collecting the ingredients for ritualistic ceremonies that yield only temporary benefits, such as elevation to Svargaloka for material happiness. They are not attracted to the saṅkīrtana movement; instead they are interested in dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa.** Since one may easily achieve the highest success by chanting the holy name of the Lord, one may ask why there are so many Vedic ritualistic ceremonies and why people are attracted to them. This verse answers that question. As stated in *Bhagavad-gītā *([[bg/15/15|15.15]]), *vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ: *the real purpose of studying the *Vedas* is to approach the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Unfortunately, unintelligent people bewildered by the grandeur of Vedic *yajñas *want to see gorgeous sacrifices performed. They want Vedic *mantras *chanted and huge amounts of money spent for such ceremonies. Sometimes we have to observe the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies to please such unintelligent men. Recently, when we established a large Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma temple in Vṛndavana, we were obliged to have Vedic ceremonies enacted by *brāhmaṇas *because the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, especially the *smārta-brāhmaṇas, *would not accept Europeans and Americans as bona fide *brāhmaṇas. *Thus we had to engage *brāhmaṇas *to perform costly *yajñas. *In spite of these *yajñas, *the members of our Society performed *saṅkīrtana *loudly with *mṛdaṅgas, *and I considered the *saṅkīrtana *more important than the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. Both the ceremonies and the *saṅkīrtana *were going on simultaneously. The ceremonies were meant for persons interested in Vedic rituals for elevation to heavenly planets (*jādī-kṛta-matir madhu-puṣpitāyām), *whereas the *saṅkīrtana *was meant for pure devotees interested in pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We would simply have performed *saṅkīrtana, *but then the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana would not have taken the installation ceremony seriously. As explained here, the Vedic performances are meant for those whose intelligence has been dulled by the flowery language of the *Vedas, *which describe fruitive activities intended to elevate one to the higher planets. 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, especially before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they will remain perfect. There is no need of any other performances. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/6/3/25|6.3.25]]* **[Śukrācārya to Lord Viṣṇu]: There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship's holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.** Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has recommended: > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] **"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way." (*Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa* 38.126)** In this Age of Kali, it is extremely difficult to perform Vedic ritualistic ceremonies or sacrifices perfectly. Hardly anyone can chant the Vedic *mantras *with perfect pronunciation or accumulate the paraphernalia for Vedic performances. Therefore the sacrifice recommended in this age is *saṅkīrtana, *constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord. *Yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ *(*Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/11/5/32|11.5.32]]). Instead of wasting time performing Vedic sacrifices, those who are intelligent, those who possess good brain substance, should take to the chanting of the Lord's holy name and thus perform sacrifice perfectly. I have seen that many religious leaders are addicted to performing *yajñas *and spending hundreds and thousands of rupees for imperfect sacrificial performances. This is a lesson for those who unnecessarily execute such imperfect sacrifices. We should take the advice of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu (*yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ*). Although Śukrācārya was a strict *brāhmaṇa *addicted to ritualistic activities, he also admitted, *niśchidram anusaṅkīrtanaṁ tava: *"My Lord, constant chanting of the holy name of Your Lordship makes everything perfect." In Kali-yuga the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies cannot be performed as perfectly as before. Therefore Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has recommended that although one should take care to follow all the principles in every kind of spiritual activity, especially in worship of the Deity, there is still a chance of discrepancies, and one should compensate for this by chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement we therefore give special stress to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *in all activities. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/8/23/16|8.23.16]]* Those who are intelligent in this age take to saṅkīrtana yajña rather than karma-kāṇḍīya-yajñas: It is said, *tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ: *in Tretā-yuga, if one performed *yajñas, *he would get the results of those *yajñas. *By performing *viṣṇu-yajña *specifically, one could even achieve the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Of course, *yajña *is intended to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.... *Yajñas *for enjoyment of the senses are called *karma-kāṇḍīya-yajñas.... Karma-kāṇḍīya yajñas *are meant for sensuous persons, whereas *yajña *should actually be performed to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To please the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Kali-yuga, the *saṅkīrtana-yajña* is recommended. *Yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ* [SB [[sb/11/5/32|11.5.32]]]*. *Only those who are very intelligent take to *saṅkīrtana-yajña *to fulfill all their desires, material and spiritual, whereas those who are lusty for sense enjoyment perform *karma-kāṇḍīya-yajñas.* *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/9/14/43|9.14.43]]* Because there are no qualified brāhmaṇas and priests in Kali-yuga to perform Vedic sacrifices and chant Vedic mantras, only the sacrifice of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is recommended: On the day of extracting the *soma *juice, King Yudhiṣṭhira very respectfully received the special priest who had been engaged to detect any mistake in the formalities of sacrificial procedures. The idea is that the Vedic *mantras *must be enunciated perfectly and chanted with the proper accent; if the priests who are engaged in this business commit any mistake, the checker or referee priest immediately corrects the procedure, and thus the ritualistic performances are perfectly executed. Unless it is perfectly executed, a sacrifice cannot yield the desired result. In this Age of Kali there is no such learned *brāhmaṇa *or priest available; therefore, all such sacrifices are forbidden. The only sacrifice recommended in the *sāstras* is the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra.* *— Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead* To perform a sacrifice successfully, at least four expert priests are needed: one who can offer (*hotā*), one who can chant (*udgātā*), one who can kindle the sacrificial fire without the aid of separate fire (*adhvaryu*), and one who can supervise (*brahmā*). Such sacrifices were conducted from the birth of Brahmā, the first living creature, and were carried on till the reign of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. But such expert *brāhmaṇa *priests are very rare in this age of corruption and quarrel, and therefore in the present age only the *yajña *of chanting the holy name of the Lord is recommended. The scriptures enjoin: > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] The whole process of offering sacrifice is under the category of fruitive action, and such activities are extremely scientific. They mainly depend on the process of vibrating sounds with a particular accent. It is a great science, and due to being out of proper use for more than four thousand years, for want of qualified *brāhmaṇas, *such performances of sacrifice are no longer effective. Nor are they recommended in this fallen age. Any such sacrifice undertaken in this age as a matter of show may simply be a cheating process by the clever priestly order. But such a show of sacrifices cannot be effective at any stage.... Since the ultimate aim of life is spiritual realization, the direct way of invoking the holy name of the Lord, as mentioned above, is precisely recommended by Lord Caitanya, and people of the modern age can easily take advantage of this simple process, which is tenable for the condition of the complicated social structure. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/2/6/25|2.6.25-26]]* In the present Age of Kali, it is not possible to find expert *mantra *chanters; therefore all the sacrifices recommended in the *Vedas *are forbidden in this age. The only sacrifice recommended in this age is the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *because in this age it is not possible to accumulate the needed funds for performing sacrifices, not to speak of finding expert *brāhmaṇas *who can chant the *mantras *perfectly.... It is stated here that many thousands of demigods named Ṛbhus became manifested because of the oblations offered in the fire and the chanting of the hymns from the *Yajur Veda. Brāhmaṇas *like Bhṛgu Muni were so powerful that they could create such powerful demigods simply by chanting the Vedic *mantras. *Vedic *mantras *are still available, but the chanters are not. By chanting *mantras *or chanting the Gāyatrī or *ṛg-mantra *one can attain the results one desires. In the present Age of Kali it is recommended by Lord Caitanya that simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa one can attain all perfection.... The word *brahma-tejasā, *used in this verse, is significant. In those days, *brāhmaṇas *were so powerful that simply by desiring and by chanting a Vedic *mantra, *they could accomplish very wonderful effects. But in the present age of degradation there are no such *brāhmaṇas. *According to the *pāñcarātrika *system, in this age the entire population is supposed to consist of *śūdras *because the brahminical culture has been lost. But if anyone displays the signs of understanding Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he should be accepted, according to Vaiṣṇava *smṛti *regulations, as a prospective *brāhmaṇa *and should be given all facilities to achieve the highest perfection. The most magnanimous gift of Lord Caitanya's is that the highest perfection of life is available in this fallen age if one simply adopts the process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, which is able to bring about the fulfillment of all activities in self-realization. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/4/32|4.4.32-34]]* It is the practice of the *brāhmaṇas *conversant with the science to pronounce a Vedic *mantra *in the right accent. The combination of the *mantra *and Sanskrit words must be chanted with the right pronunciation, otherwise it will not be successful. In this age the *brāhmaṇas *are neither well versed in the Sanskrit language nor very pure in practical life. But by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *one can attain the highest benefit of sacrificial performances. Even if the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra* is not chanted properly, it still has so much potency that the chanter gains the effect. *— *Śrīm*ad-Bhāgavatam [[sb/4/13/27|4.13.27]]* A Vedic sacrifice is not an ordinary performance. The demigods used to participate in such sacrifices, and the animals sacrificed in such performances were reincarnated with new life. In this Age of Kali there are no powerful *brāhmaṇas *who can invite the demigods or give renewed life to animals. Formerly, the *brāhmaṇas *well conversant in Vedic *mantras *could show the potency of the *mantras, *but in this age, because there are no such *brāhmaṇas, *all such sacrifices are forbidden. The sacrifice in which horses were offered was called *aśvamedha. *Sometimes cows were sacrificed *(gavālambha), *not for eating purposes, but to give them new life in order to show the potency of the *mantra. *In this age, therefore, the only practical *yajña* is* saṅkīrtana-yajña, *or chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *twenty-four hours a day. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/4/13/25|4.13.25]]* The best purpose of Vedic rituals, Vedānta philosophy and Vedic mysticism is served by chanting the holy name: **[Lord Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna]: All purposes that are served by the small pond can at once be served by the great reservoirs of water. Similarly, all the purposes of the Vedas can be served to one who knows the purpose behind them.** The rituals and sacrifices mentioned in the *karma-kāṇḍa *division of the Vedic literature are to encourage gradual development of selfrealization. And the purpose of self-realization is clearly stated in the Fifteenth Chapter of the *Bhagavad-gītā* ([[bg/15/15|15.15]]): the purpose of studying the *Vedas* is to know Lord Kṛṣṇa, the primeval cause of everything. So, self-realization means understanding Kṛṣṇa and one's eternal relationship with Him. The relationship of the living entities with Kṛṣṇa is also mentioned in the Fifteenth Chapter of *Bhagavad-gītā. *The living entities are parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa; therefore, revival of Kṛṣṇa consciousness by the individual living entity is the highest perfectional stage of Vedic knowledge. This is confirmed in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *([[sb/3/33/7|3.33.7]]) as follows: > aho bata śva-paco 'to garīyān yaj-jihvāgre vartate nāma tubhyam tepus tapas te juhuvuḥ sasnur āryā brahmānūcur nāma gṛṇanti ye te **"O my Lord, a person who is chanting Your holy name, although born of a low family like that of a *caṇḍāla *[dog-eater], is situated on the highest platform of self-realization. Such a person must have performed all kinds of penances and sacrifices according to Vedic rituals and studied the Vedic literatures many, many times after taking his bath in all the holy places of pilgrimage. Such a person is considered to be the best of the Aryan family."** So one must be intelligent enough to understand the purpose of the *Vedas, *without being attached to the rituals only, and must not desire to be elevated to the heavenly kingdoms for a better quality of sense gratification. It is not possible for the common man in this age to follow all the rules and regulations of the Vedic rituals and the injunctions of the *Vedāntas *and the *Upaniṣads. *It requires much time, energy, knowledge and resources to execute the purposes of the *Vedas. *This is hardly possible in this age. The best purpose of Vedic culture is served, however, by chanting the holy name of the Lord, as recommended by Lord Caitanya, the deliverer of all fallen souls. When Lord Caitanya was asked by a great Vedic scholar, Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, why He, the Lord, was chanting the holy name of the Lord like a sentimentalist instead of studying *Vedānta *philosophy, the Lord replied that His spiritual master found Him to be a great fool, and thus he asked Him to chant the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa. He did so, and became ecstatic like a madman. In this Age of Kali, most of the population is foolish and not adequately educated to understand Vedānta philosophy; the best purpose of Vedānta philosophy is served by inoffensively chanting the holy name of the Lord. Vedānta is the last word in Vedic wisdom, and the author and knower of the Vedānta philosophy is Lord Kṛṣṇa; and the highest Vedāntist is the great soul who takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord. That is the ultimate purpose of all Vedic mysticism. *— Bhagavad-gītā As It Is [[bg/2/46|2.46]]* By chanting the holy name, one need not perform any other kind of yajña to free one from indebtedness: [Lord Caitanya to Sanātana Gosvāmī]: "'One who has given up all material duties and taken full shelter at the lotus feet of Mukunda, who gives shelter to all, is not indebted to the demigods, great sages, ordinary living beings, relatives, friends, mankind or even one's forefathers who have passed away.'" It is said: > adhyāpanaṁ brahma-yajñaḥ pitṛ-yajñas tu tarpaṇam homo daivo balir bhauto nṛ-yajño 'tithi-pūjanam **"By performing oblations with ghee, the demigods are satisfied. By studying the *Vedas, brahma-yajña* is performed, and by this the great sages are satisfied. Offering oblations of water before one's forefathers is called *pitṛ-yajña*. By offering tribute, *bhūta-yajña* is performed. By properly receiving guests, *nṛ-yajña* is performed."** There are five *yajñas* and five kinds of indebtedness—indebtedness to the demigods, great sages, forefathers, living entities and common men. Therefore one has to perform five kinds of *yajñas, *but when one takes to *saṅkīrtana-yajña *(the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra*) one doesn't have to perform any other *yajña. *In *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, *Nārada Muni made a statement about the systematic performance of *bhāgavata-dharma *in connection with statements previously made by the nine Yogendras before Mahārāja Nimi. The sage Karabhājana Ṛṣi explained the four incarnations of the four *yugas, *and at the end, in this verse (text 141), he explained the position of Kṛṣṇa's pure devotee and how he is absolved of all debts. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līla 22.141 In Kali-yuga, sacrifice to the demigods is satisfied by saṅkīrtana-yajña: By worshiping the Supreme Lord, one automatically serves all the demigods because they are parts and parcels of the whole. If one supplies water to the root of a tree, all the parts of the tree, such as the leaves and branches, are automatically satisfied, and if one supplies food to the stomach, all the limbs of the body—the hands, legs, fingers, etc.—are nourished. Thus by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead one can satisfy all the demigods, but by worshiping all the demigods one does not completely worship the Supreme Lord. Therefore worship of the demigods is irregular, and it is disrespectful to the scriptural injunctions. In this Age of Kali it is practically impossible to perform the *deva-yajña, *or sacrifices to the demigods. As such, in this age *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *recommends *saṅkīrtana-yajña. Yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ* (*Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/11/5/32|11.5.32]]). "In this age the intelligent person completes the performances of all kinds of *yajñas *simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare." *Tasmin tuṣṭe jagat tuṣṭam: *"When Lord Viṣṇu is satisfied, all the demigods, who are parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, are satisfied." *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/2/35|4.2.35]] The performance of *yajña* is a very difficult task because all the demigods must be invited to participate in the *yajña. *In this Kali-yuga it is not possible to perform such costly sacrifices, nor is it possible to invite the demigods to participate. Therefore in this age it is recommended, *yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ *(*Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/11/5/32|11.5.32]]). Those who are intelligent should know that in the Kali-yuga there is no possibility of performing the Vedic sacrifices. But unless one pleases the demigods, there will be no regulated seasonal activities or rainfall. Everything is controlled by the demigods. Under the circumstances, in this age, in order to keep the balance of social peace and prosperity, all intelligent men should execute the performance of *saṅkīrtana-yajña *by chanting the holy names Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. One should invite people, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and then distribute *prasāda. *This *yajña *will satisfy all the demigods, and thus there will be peace and prosperity in the world. Another difficulty in performing the Vedic rituals is that if one fails to satisfy even one demigod out of the many hundreds of thousands of demigods, just as Dakṣa failed to satisfy Lord Śiva, there will be disaster. But in this age the performance of sacrifice has been simplified. One can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and by pleasing Kṛṣṇa one can satisfy all the demigods automatically. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/6/53|4.6.53]]* Lord Caitanya is the saṅkīrtana-yajña-puruṣa As, in previous ages, Lord Viṣṇu appeared to accept Vedic yajña, in this age, Lord Caitanya has appeared to accept our saṅkīrtana-yajña: In the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *it is clearly stated that in this Age of Kali the only successful performance of *yajña, *or sacrifice, is *yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyaiḥ: *the best type of sacrifice is simply to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. This *yajña* is offered before the form of Lord Caitanya, as other *yajñas *are offered before the form of Lord Viṣṇu. These recommendations are found in the Eleventh Canto of the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. *Moreover, this *yajña *performance confirms that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Viṣṇu Himself. As Lord Viṣṇu appeared at the Dakṣa-yajña long, long ago, Lord Caitanya has appeared in this age to accept our *saṅkīrtana-yajña.* *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/7/41|4.7.41]]* By performing saṅkīrtana-yajña and satisfying the yajña-puruṣa, Lord Caitanya, one can derive all the results derived by great sacrifices in the past: Yajña means Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and sacrifice means working for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this age, however, it is very difficult to find qualified *brāhmaṇas *who can perform sacrifices as prescribed in the *Vedas. *Therefore it is recommended in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyaiḥ) *that by performing *sankīrtana-yajña *and by satisfying the *yajña-puruṣa, *Lord Caitanya, one can derive all the results derived by great sacrifices in the past. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/19/7|4.19.7]]* The Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa, is worshiped in His incarnation as Lord Caitanya by saṅkīrtana-yajña, the chanting of the holy names of the Lord: **[The sons of King Prācīnabarhi to Lord Viṣṇu]: The Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa, is present among devotees who are engaged in hearing and chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Nārāyaṇa is the ultimate goal of *sannyāsīs*, those in the renounced order of life, and Nārāyaṇa is worshiped through this saṅkīrtana movement by those who are liberated from material contamination. Indeed, they recite the holy name again and again.** The fact is that by performing *saṅkīrtana-yajña *one can immediately please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then Nārāyaṇa Himself descends and immediately is present. In this Age of Kali, Nārāyaṇa is immediately present in the form of Lord Caitanya. Concerning Lord Caitanya, *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *([[sb/11/5/32|11.5.32]]) states: > kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ **"In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions."** After all, human life is meant for pleasing Nārāyaṇa, and this can easily be done by performing *saṅkīrtana-yajña. *Whenever there is congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord, Gaura Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Lord Caitanya, immediately appears and is worshiped by *saṅkīrtana-yajña.* *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/30/36|4.30.36]]* ### 6. In this Age, Chanting of the Holy Name Is the Supreme Form of Yoga The chanting of the mahā-mantra is the most practical form of yoga in the present age: The breathing exercises and meditational practices of *yoga *are very difficult in this age. They were difficult even five thousand years ago, or else Arjuna would not have rejected the proposal of Kṛṣṇa. This Age of Kali is called a fallen age. At the present moment, people in general are short-living and very slow in understanding self-realization, or spiritual life. They are mostly unfortunate, and as such, if someone is a little bit interested in self-realization, he is misguided by so many frauds. The only actual way to realization of the perfect stage of *yoga *is to follow the principles of the *Bhagavad-gītā *as they were practiced by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This is the simplest and highest perfection of *yoga *practice. Lord Caitanya practically demonstrated Kṛṣṇa consciousness *yoga *simply by chanting the holy names of Kṛṣṇa, as they are mentioned in the *Vedānta, *the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, *and many important *Purāṇas. *The largest number of Indians follow this *yoga *practice, and in the United States and other countries also it is gradually growing in many cities. It is very easy and practical for this age, especially for those who are serious about success in *yoga*. No other process can be successful in this age. The meditational process in right earnest was possible in the Golden Age, Satya-yuga, because the people at that time lived for a hundred thousand years on the average. In the present age, however, 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* All the perfections of the yoga system can be realized through mantra-yoga, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa: From authoritative sources we learn that this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare is the embodiment of the perfection of *yoga *for this age. Today we have great difficulties living fifty or sixty years. A man may live at the utmost eighty or a hundred years. In addition, these brief years are always fraught with anxiety, with difficulties due to circumstances of war, pestilence, famine and so many other disturbances. We're also not very intelligent, and, at the same time, we're unfortunate. These are the characteristics of man living in Kali-yuga, a degraded age. So properly speaking we can never attain success in this meditational *yoga *system described by Kṛṣṇa. At the utmost we can only gratify our personal whims by some pseudoadaptation of this system. Thus people are paying money to attend some classes in gymnastic exercises and deep-breathing, and they're happy if they think they can lengthen their lifetimes by a few years or enjoy better sex life. But we must understand that this is not the actual *yoga *system. In this age that meditational system cannot be properly executed. Instead, all of the perfections of that system can be realized through *bhakti-yoga, *the sublime process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, specifically *mantra-yoga, *the glorification of Śrī Kṛṣṇa through the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa. That is recommended in Vedic scriptures and is introduced by great authorities like Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Indeed, the *Bhagavad-gītā *proclaims that the *mahātmās, *the great souls, are always chanting the glories of the Lord. If one wants to be a *mahātmā *in terms of the Vedic literature, in terms of *Bhagavad-gītā *and in terms of the great authorities, then one has to adopt this process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. But if we're content at making a show of meditation by sitting very straight in lotus position and going into a trance like some sort of performer, then that is a different thing. But we should understand that such show-bottle performances have nothing to do with the actual perfection of *yoga. *The material disease cannot be cured by artificial medicine. We have to take the real cure straight from Kṛṣṇa. *— The Perfection of Yoga* By chanting, the process of yoga—mind and sense control—becomes perfected: Yoga means training the mind and the senses to be fixed on the Self. This is not possible by meditating only fifteen minutes a day and then going out and doing whatever the senses dictate. How can the problems of life be solved so cheaply? If we want something precious, we have to pay for it. By the grace of Lord Caitanya, this payment has been made very easy—just chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. By your chanting, this system of control, this *yoga *system, becomes perfected. Īhā haite sarva siddhi haibe tomāra [*Caitanya*-*bhāgavata* *Madhya* 23.78]*. *Thus Lord Caitanya has blessed us. Simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, we will achieve the perfection of self-realization. In this Age of Kali-yuga, when people are so fallen, other processes will not be successful. This is the only process, and it is easy, sublime, effective, and practical. By it, one can realize oneself. *— The Path of Perfection* Because chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa fixes the mind on Kṛṣṇa, success in yoga is immediately attained by chanting: "For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate, and very strong, Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it is, it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind." (*Bhagavad-gītā As It Is* [[bg/6/34|6.34]]) By chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, one captures the mind immediately. 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, and Kṛṣṇa is the original personality from whom all these Viṣṇu forms are expanded.... Thus one who concentrates his mind on Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, immediately attains the perfection of *yoga.* *— The Path of Perfection* Chanting is more effective than the yoga system in this age: This material world has been likened to a great forest fire. As in the forest, fire may automatically take place, so in this material world, although we may try to live peacefully, there is always a great conflagration. It is not possible to live in peace anywhere in the material world. But for one who is transcendentally situated—either by the meditational *yoga *system or by the empirical philosophical method or by *bhakti-yoga*—Peace is possible. All forms of *yoga *are meant for transcendental life, but the method of chanting is especially effective in this age. *Kīrtana *may go on for hours, and one may not feel tired, but it is difficult to sit in lotus position perfectly still for more than a few minutes. *— The Perfection of Yoga* Chanting the holy name is more suitable for spiritual realization in this age than yoga or meditation: In India the *yogīs, *the transcendentalists or the devotees all leave home and reside in sacred places such as Prayāga, Mathurā, Vṛndāvana, Hṛṣīkeśa, and Hardwar and in solitude practice *yoga *where the sacred rivers like the Yamunā and the Ganges flow. But often this is not possible, especially for Westerners. The so-called *yoga *societies in big cities may be successful in earning material benefit, but they are not at all suitable for the actual practice of *yoga. *One who is not self-controlled and whose mind is not undisturbed cannot practice meditation. Therefore, in the *Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa *it is said that in the Kali-yuga (the present *yuga *or age) 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. > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] **"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way."** *— Bhagavad-gītā As It Is [[bg/6/11 bg 6.12 bg 6.11-12|6.11-12]]* Chanting the holy name is more important than mechanical, meditational yoga in this age: **[Maitreya to Vidura]: By thus practicing severe austerities, Mahārāja Pṛthu gradually became steadfast in spiritual life and completely free of all desires for fruitive activities. He also practiced breathing exercises to control his mind and senses, and by such control he became completely free from all desires for fruitive activity.** The word *prāṇāyāmaiḥ* is very important in this verse because the *haṭha-yogīs *and *aṣṭāṅga-yogīs *practice *prāṇāyāma, *but generally they do not know the purpose behind it. The purpose of *prāṇāyāma,* or mystic *yoga,* is to stop the mind and senses from engaging in fruitive activities. The so-called *yogīs *who practice in Western countries have no idea of this. The aim of *prāṇāyāma* is not to make the body strong and fit for working hard. The aim is worship of Kṛṣṇa. In the previous verse it was specifically mentioned that whatever austerity, *prāṇāyāma* and mystic *yoga *practices Pṛthu Mahārāja performed were performed for the sake of worshiping Kṛṣṇa. Thus Pṛthu Mahārāja serves as a perfect example for *yogīs *also. Whatever he did, he did to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. The minds of those who are addicted to fruitive activity are always filled with unclean desires. Fruitive activities are symptomatic of our polluted desire to dominate material nature. As long as one continues to be subject to polluted desires, he has to accept one material body after another. So-called *yogīs, *without knowledge of the real purpose of *yoga, *practice it in order to keep the body fit. Thus they engage themselves in fruitive activities, and thus they are bound by desire to accept another body. They are not aware that the ultimate goal of life is to approach Kṛṣṇa. In order to save such *yogīs* from wandering throughout the different species of life, the *śāstras *warn that in this age such yogic practice is simply a waste of time. The only means of elevation is the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra.* King Pṛthu's activities took place in Satya-yuga, and in this age this practice of *yoga* is misunderstood by fallen souls who are not capable of practicing anything. Consequently the *śāstras *enjoin: *kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā. *The conclusion is that unless the *karmīs, jñānīs *and *yogīs *come to the point of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, their so-called austerities and *yoga *have no value. *Nārādhitaḥ: *if Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is not worshiped, there is no point in practicing meditational *yoga, *performing *karma-yoga *or culturing empiric knowledge. As far as *prāṇāyāma *is concerned, chanting of the holy name of the Lord and dancing in ecstasy are also considered *prāṇāyāma.... *Here the word *prāṇāyāma *does not refer to any ulterior motive. The actual aim is to strengthen the mind and senses in order to engage them in devotional service. In the present age this determination can be very easily acquired simply by chanting the holy names—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/23/8|4.23.8]]* Because the aṣṭāṅga-yoga system is too difficult to practice in this age, the bhakti-yoga system of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa is recommended: Five thousand years ago, Arjuna had much better facilities than we do now, yet he refused to accept this system of *yoga. *In fact, we do not find any record in history of his practicing it at any time. Therefore, this system must be considered generally impossible in this Age of Kali. Of course, it may be possible for some very few, rare men, but for the people in general it is an impossible proposal. If this were so five thousand years ago, what of the present day? Those who are imitating this *yoga *system in different so-called schools and societies, although complacent, are certainly wasting their time. They are completely ignorant of the desired goal. Since this *aṣṭāṅga-yoga *system is considered impossible, the *bhakti-yoga *system is recommended for everyone. Without training or education, one can automatically participate in *bhakti-yoga. *Even a small child can clap at *kīrtana. *Therefore Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu has proclaimed *bhakti-yoga *the only system practical for this age. > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] **"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way."** Chanting is very simple, and one will feel the results immediately. *Pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyam. *If we attempt to practice other *yoga *systems, we will remain in darkness; we will not know whether or not we are making progress. In *bhakti-yoga, *one can understand, "Yes, now I am making progress." This is the only *yoga *system by which one can quickly attain self-realization and liberation in this life. One doesn't have to wait for another lifetime. *— The Path of Perfection* Because in this age it is not always possible to find a secluded place, hari-nama saṅkīrtana is more practical than the yoga system: In India there are sacred places where *yogīs *go to meditate in solitude, as prescribed in *Bhagavad-gītā. *Traditionally, *yoga *cannot be executed in a public place, but insofar as *kīrtana—mantra-yoga, *or the *yoga *of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra: *Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare—is concerned, the more people present, the better. When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was performing *kīrtana *in India some five hundred years ago, He organized in each group sixteen persons to lead the chanting, and thousands of persons chanted with them. This participation in *kīrtana, *in the public chanting of the names and glories of God, is very possible and is actually easy in this age; but as far as the meditational process of *yoga* is concerned, that is very difficult. It is specifically stated in *Bhagavad-gītā *that to perform meditational *yoga *one should go to a secluded and holy place. In other words, it is necessary to leave home. In this age of overpopulation it is not always possible to find a secluded place, but this is not necessary in *bhakti-yoga.* In the *bhakti-yoga *system there are nine different processes: hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, worshiping the Deity in the temple, praying, carrying out orders, serving Kṛṣṇa as a friend and sacrificing for Him. Out of these, *śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam* [SB 7.5.23]*,* hearing and chanting, are considered the most important. At a public *kīrtana *one person can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, while a group listens, and at the end of the *mantra*, the group can respond, and in this way there is a reciprocation of hearing and chanting. This can easily be performed in one's own home, with a small group of friends or with many people in a large public place. One may attempt to practice meditational *yoga *in a large city or in a society, but one must understand that this is one's own concoction and is not the method recommended in *Bhagavad-gītā.* *— The Perfection of Yoga* Self-purification is more effectively attained by chanting the mahā-mantra than by the yoga system: [In practicing the yoga system] one must be always undisturbed. If the mind is agītāted, or if there is a great deal of activity going on, one will not be able to concentrate. In meditational *yoga *one must also be devoid of fear. There is no question of fear when one enters spiritual life. And one must also be *brahmacārī, *completely free from sex life. Nor can there be any demands on one meditating in this way. When there are no demands, and one executes this system properly, then he can control his mind. After one has met all the requirements for meditation, he must transfer his whole thought to Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu. It is not that one is to transfer his thoughts to vacancy. Thus Kṛṣṇa says that one absorbed in the meditational *yoga *system is "always thinking of Me." The *yogī *obviously has to go through a great deal of difficulty to purify the *ātmā* (mind, body and soul), but it is a fact that this can be done most effectively in this age simply by the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. Why is this? Because this transcendental sound vibration is nondifferent from Him. When we chant His name with devotion, then Kṛṣṇa is with us, and when Kṛṣṇa is with us, then what is the possibility of remaining impure? Consequently, one absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, in chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa and serving Him always, receives the benefit of the highest form of *yoga. *The advantage is that he doesn't have to take all the trouble of the meditational process. That is the beauty of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. *— The Perfection of Yoga* In Kali-yuga, constant chanting of the holy name is more effective than the yoga system for controlling the mind: The mind is *cañcala, *flickering, and it changes very strongly. Therefore Arjuna admitted that controlling the mind is not at all possible; this would be as difficult as controlling the wind. For example, if one were in a boat moving according to the wind on a river or the sea, and the wind were uncontrollable, the tilting boat would be very much disturbed and extremely difficult to control. It might even capsize. Therefore, in the *bhava-samudra, *the ocean of mental speculation and transmigration to different types of bodies, one must first control the mind. By regulative practice one can control the mind, and this is the purpose of the *yoga *system (*abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena* [Bg [[bg/8/8|8.8]]]). But there is a chance of failure with the *yoga *system, especially in this Age of Kali, because the *yoga *system uses artificial means. If the mind is engaged in *bhakti-yoga, *however, by the grace of Kṛṣṇa one can very easily control it. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has recommended, *harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam* [*Cc Ādi *[[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]]*. *One should chant the holy name of the Lord constantly, for the holy name of the Lord is nondifferent from Hari, the Supreme Person. By chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *constantly, one can fix the mind on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa (*sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padaravindayoḥ* [SB 9.4.18]),* *and in this way achieve the perfection of *yoga. *Otherwise, the flickering mind will hover on the platform of mental speculation for sense enjoyment, and one will have to transmigrate from one type of body to another... *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/10/1/42|10.1.42]]* "From whatever and wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under the control of the Self." (*Bg*. [[bg/6/26|6.26]]) This is the real yogic process. If you are trying to concentrate your mind on Kṛṣṇa and the mind is diverted—wandering to some cinema or wherever—you should withdraw the mind, thinking, "Not there, please. Here." This is* yoga: *not allowing the mind to wander from Kṛṣṇa. Very intense training is required to keep the mind fixed on Kṛṣṇa while sitting in one place. That is very hard work indeed. If one is not so practiced and tries to imitate this process, he will surely be confused. Instead, we always have to engage ourselves in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, dovetailing everything we do to Kṛṣṇa. Our usual activities should be so molded that they are rendered for Kṛṣṇa's sake. In this way the mind will remain fixed on Kṛṣṇa. As stated before, we should not try to sit down and stare at the tip of our nose. At the present moment, attempts to engage in that type of *yoga* are artificial. Rather, the recommended method is chanting loudly and hearing Hare Kṛṣṇa. Then, even if the mind is diverted, it will be forced to concentrate on the sound vibration "Kṛṣṇa." It isn't necessary to withdraw the mind from everything; it will automatically be withdrawn, because it will be concentrated on the sound vibration. If we hear an automobile pass, our attention is automatically diverted. Similarly, if we constantly chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, our mind will automatically be fixed on Kṛṣṇa, although we are accustomed to think of so many other things. *— The Path of Perfection* The expert *yogī* who has thoroughly practiced the control of the life air by the prescribed method of the *yoga *system is advised to quit the body as follows. He should plug up the evacuating hole with the heel of the foot and then progressively move the life air on and on to six places: the navel, abdomen, heart, chest, palate, eyebrows and cerebral pit. Controlling the life air by the prescribed yogic process is mechanical, and the practice is more or less a physical endeavor for spiritual perfection. In olden days such practice was very common for the transcendentalist, for the mode of life and character in those days were favorable. But in modern days, when the influence of Kali Age is so disturbing, practically everyone is untrained in this art of bodily exercise. Concentration of the mind is more easily attained in these days by the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The results are more effective than those derived from the inner exercise of the life air. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/2/2/19|2.2.19]]* In the present age, chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is more effective than yogic breathing exercises for controlling the mind: **[Nārada Muni to Dhruva]: After sitting on your seat, practice the three kinds of breathing exercises, and thus gradually control the life air, the mind and the senses. Completely free yourself from all material contamination, and with great patience begin to meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.** In this verse the entire *yoga *system is described in summary, and special stress is given to the breathing exercises for stopping the disturbing mind. The mind, by nature, is always oscillating, for it is very fickle, but the breathing exercise is meant to control it. This process of controlling the mind might have been very possible in those days millions of years ago when Dhruva Mahārāja took to it, but at the present moment the mind has to be fixed directly on the lotus feet of the Lord by the chanting process. By chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *one immediately concentrates on the sound vibration and thinks of the lotus feet of the Lord, and very quickly one is elevated to the position of *samādhi, *or trance. If one goes on chanting the holy names of the Lord, which are not different from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, naturally his mind becomes absorbed in thought of the Lord. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/4/8/44|4.8.44]]* The process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and to hear the sound attentively so that the mind is fixed upon the transcendental vibration of Kṛṣṇa's name, which is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa the personality. The real purpose of controlling the mind by the prescribed method of clearing the passage of the life air is achieved immediately if one fixes his mind directly on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. 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.... As stated in *Bhagavad-gītā, *one's mind is his enemy, and one's mind is also his friend; its position varies according to the different dealings of the living entity. If we divert our mind to thoughts of material enjoyment, then our mind becomes an enemy, and if we concentrate our mind on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, then our mind is a friend.... In *Bhagavad-gītā* ([[bg/8/8|8.8]]) it is said that one must practice the breathing exercise (*abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena). *By virtue of these processes of control, the mind cannot wander to external thoughts (*cetasā nānya-gāminā). *Thus one can fix his mind constantly on the Supreme Personality of Godhead and can attain (*yāti*)* *Him.... This process of purifying the mind is also recommended by Lord Caitanya; He says that one should chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. He says further, *paraṁ vijayate:* "All glories to Śrī Kṛṣṇa *saṅkīrtana*!" All glories are given to the chanting of the holy names of Kṛṣṇa because as soon as one begins this process of chanting, the mind becomes purified. *Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam:* [Cc Antya [[cc/antya/20/12|20.12]]]* *by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa one is cleansed of the dirt that accumulates in the mind. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/3/28/9|3.28.9-10]]* 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, *which refers to ordinary, fruitive activity. Ordinary activities include sinful activities, but *karma-yoga *excludes such activities. *Karma-yoga *refers only to good, pious activities, or those actions which are prescribed. After performing *karma-yoga, *one comes to the platform of *jñāna-yoga, *knowledge. From the platform of knowledge, one attains to this *aṣṭāṅga-yoga*, the eightfold *yoga *system—*dhyāna*, *dhāraṇā, prāṇāyāma, āsana*, etc.—and from *aṣṭāṅga-yoga*, as one concentrates on Viṣṇu, one comes to the point of *bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yoga* is the perfectional stage, and if one practices Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one attains this stage from the very beginning. That is the direct route. If one practices *jñāna-yoga *and thinks that he has attained the ultimate, he is mistaken. He has to make further progress. If we are on a staircase and have to reach the top floor, which is the hundredth floor, we are mistaken if we think we have arrived when we are on the thirtieth floor. As stated before, the whole *yoga *system may be likened to a staircase, connecting or linking us to God. In order to attain the ultimate, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we must go to the highest platform, and that is *bhakti-yoga.* 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. We can go step by step, following all the other *yoga *systems, or we can go directly. 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. Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmī offers respects to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, *namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te:* [*Cc Madhya *[[cc/madhya/19/53|19.53]]]* *"Oh, You are the most munificent incarnation because You are directly giving love of Kṛṣṇa. To attain pure love of Kṛṣṇa, one has to pass through so many stages of *yoga, *but You are giving this love directly. Therefore You are the most munificent." *— The Path of Perfection* ### 7. Chanting of the Holy Name Yields All Results of Austerity By chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa one attains the highest perfectional stage, formerly attained only by great austerities: If one wants to perform austerities and penances in order to attain the supreme goal, one must attain the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one achieves the favor of the Supreme Lord, it is to be understood that he has finished all kinds of austerities and penances and has attained efficiency in their execution. On the other hand, if one does not attain the perfect stage of devotional service, all austerities and penances actually have no meaning, for without the Supreme Lord no one can attain the highest results derived from performing them. As stated in *Bhagavad-gītā *([[bg/5/29|5.29]]), Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the master of all penances and sacrifices. *Bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram. *Thus the desired result of performing austerities may be derived from Lord Kṛṣṇa.... Even if a person is born in a family of *caṇḍālas—*the lowest birth one can get in human society—he is glorious if he chants the holy names of the Lord, for it is to be understood that by such chanting a devotee definitely proves that he underwent all kinds of austerities in his previous life. 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 entered the ocean and executed austerities for ten thousand years. In this Age of Kali, if a person does not take advantage of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *which is offered as a great concession to the fallen human beings of this age, it is to be understood that he is very much bewildered by the illusory energy of the Lord. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/4/24/14|4.24.14]]* In Kali-yuga, one can attain the same results attained in previous ages by severe austerities by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra: Although Dhruva Mahārāja was only a five-year-old boy, he underwent severe austerities by eating simply dry foliage, drinking only water and taking no food. In this way, after six months, he was able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. When he saw the Lord, he forgot all his austerities and said, *svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi: *"My dear Lord, I am very pleased." Of course, these austerities were performed in the Satya-yuga, Dvāpara-yuga and Tretā-yuga, but not in this Age of Kali. 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. Simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra*, one can attain the same results. *— *Śrīm*ad-Bhāgavatam [[sb/4/30/4|4.30.4]]* 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. We want to taste something tasty to the tongue, regardless of whether it is edible or not. Hogs very readily eat stool, and they do so without discrimination. They have no idea of *tapasya, *penance. When one engages in spiritual realization, one has to undergo *tapasya. *However, this has been made very easy by Caitanya Mahāprabhu. *Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpanam* [Cc Antya [[cc/antya/20/12|20.12]]]*. *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* [*Cc Ādi *[[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]]*. *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* In this age, spiritual knowledge is attained not by penances and austerities, but by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa: In former ages people underwent so many penances and austerities to acquire knowledge, but in this age this process is not possible because our lives are very short and we are always disturbed. The process for this age is the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, which was inaugurated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. If, by this process, we can kindle the fire of knowledge, all of the reactions of our activities will be reduced to ashes, and we will be purified. > na hi jñānena sadṛśaṁ pavitram iha vidyate tat svayaṁ yoga-saṁsiddhaḥ kālenātmani vindati **"In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism. And one who has achieved this enjoys the self within himself in due course of time." (*Bg*. [[bg/4/38|4.38]])** *— Rāja-vidyā: The King of Knowledge* In Kali-yuga, chanting the holy name rather than performing severe austerities is the easiest means for attaining Kṛṣṇa consciousness: **[Maitreya to Vidura]: Mahārāja Pṛthu underwent all these severe austerities in order to control his words and his senses, to refrain from discharging his semen and to control the life air within his body. All this he did for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. He had no other purpose.** In Kali-yuga the following is recommended: > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] (*Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa*) In order to be recognized by Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one should chant the holy name of the Lord continuously, twenty-four hours a day. Unfortunate persons who cannot accept this formula prefer to execute some type of pseudomeditation, without accepting the other processes of austerity. The fact is, however, that one must accept either the severe method of austerity described above to become purified or take to the process of devotional service recommended for pleasing the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa. The person who is Kṛṣṇa conscious is most intelligent because in Kali-yuga it is not at all possible to undergo such severe austerities. We need only follow great personalities like Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In His Śikṣāṣṭaka, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu wrote, *paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam: *all glories to the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which from the very beginning purify the heart and immediately liberate one. *Bhava-mahādāvāgni-nirvāpanam. *If the real purpose of all *yoga* is to please Lord Kṛṣṇa, then this simple *bhakti-yoga *system recommended for this age is sufficient. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/4/23/7|4.23.7]]* Scripture prescribes the austerity of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra to become free from material contamination and go back home, back to Godhead: Human life is meant not for becoming a hog or dog, but for *tapo divyam* [SB [[sb/5/5/1|5.5.1]]]*, *transcendental austerity. Everyone should be taught to undergo austerity, *tapasya. *Although it may not be possible to undergo *tapasya *like that of Pṛśni and Sutapā, the *śāstra *has given an opportunity for a method of *tapasya *very easy to perform—the *saṅkīrtana *movement. One cannot expect to undergo *tapasya *to get Kṛṣṇa as one's child, yet simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra (kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya* [SB [[sb/12/3/51|12.3.51]]]*), *one can become so pure that one becomes free from all the contamination of this material world (*mukta-saṅgaḥ*) and goes back home, back to Godhead (*paraṁ vrajet*).* *The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, therefore, is teaching people not to adopt artificial means of happiness, but to take the real path of happiness as prescribed in the *śāstra*—the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra*—and become perfect in every aspect of material existence. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *10.3.34-35* ### 8. Chanting Versus Other Spiritual Practices (Other than Yajña, Yoga, and Austerity) Although there are other bona fide processes of spiritual realization, no other process is as effective in this age as the constant chanting of the mahā-mantra: We have to accept everything favorable to the circumstances. Rejection of other methods in a particular circumstance does not mean that the rejected ones are not bona fide. But for the time being, taking into consideration the age, time, and object, methods are sometimes rejected even though bona fide. We have to test everything by its practical result. By such a test, in this age the constant chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra *undoubtedly proves very effective. *— The Science of Self-Realization* In Kali-yuga, the direct method of attaining perfection in spiritual life is chanting the holy name: Whether one practices *yoga *or speculates and does research to find God, one's efforts must be mixed with the process of devotion. Without devotion, nothing can be perfect. The target of perfection and realization is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.... One has to surrender unto the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, Hari, or Kṛṣṇa, in order to achieve real success. Devotional service, or engagement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is the direct method, and all other methods, although recommended, are indirect. In this Age of Kali the direct method is especially more feasible than the indirect because people are short-living, their intelligence is poor, and they are poverty-stricken and embarrassed by so many miserable disturbances. 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. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/3/21/7|3.21.7]]* The supreme destination can be approached most easily by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, not by any other process of religion: Any intelligent man should always prefer the process of devotional service to all other paths. In the *Nārāyaṇīya *this is confirmed as follows: > yā vai sādhana-sampattiḥ puruṣārtha-catuṣṭaye tayā vinā tad āpnoti naro nārāyaṇāśrayaḥ The purport of this verse is that one should not engage in the different processes of fruitive activity or cultivate knowledge by the mental speculative process. One who is devoted to the Supreme Personality can attain all the benefits derived from other yogic processes, speculation, rituals, sacrifices, charities, etc. That is the specific benediction of devotional service. 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. *— Bhagavad-gītā As It Is [[bg/12/6-7|12.6-7]]* The chanting of the holy name is the highest form of spiritual practice: Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī has praised the chanting of the holy name as follows in his *Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta* (Chapter One, verse 9): > jayati jayati nāmānanda-rūpaṁ murārer viramita-nija-dharma-dhyāna-pūjādi-yatnam katham api sakṛd āttaṁ mukti-daṁ prāṇināṁ yat paramam amṛtam ekaṁ jīvanaṁ bhūṣaṇaṁ me **"All glories, all glories to the all-blissful holy name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, which causes the devotee to give up all conventional religious duties, meditation and worship. When somehow or other uttered even once by a living entity, the holy name awards him liberation. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is the highest nectar. It is my very life and my only treasure."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā* [[cc/antya/4/71|4.71]]* Congregational chanting of the holy name fulfills the highest religious purpose in this age: **[Karabhājana Muni to King Nimi]: "In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions."** Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī cites a verse from the Vedic literature which says that there is no necessity of performing sacrificial demonstrations or ceremonial functions. He comments that instead of engaging in such external, pompous exhibitions, all people, regardless of caste, color or creed, can assemble together and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa to worship Lord Caitanya. *Kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇam* [SB [[sb/11/5/32|11.5.32]]]* *indicates that prominence should be given to the name of Kṛṣṇa. Lord Caitanya taught Kṛṣṇa consciousness and chanted the name of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, to worship Lord Caitanya, everyone should together chant the *mahā-mantra—*Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. To propagate worship in churches, temples or mosques is not possible, because people have lost interest in that. But anywhere and everywhere, people can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Thus worshiping Lord Caitanya, they can perform the highest activity and fulfill the highest religious purpose of satisfying the Supreme Lord. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi* [[cc/adi/3/52|3.52]]* In Kali-yuga, the chanting of the holy name is especially recommended for success in spiritual life: It is understood from the authoritative source of Vedic literature that especially in this age; Kali-yuga, people are generally short-living, extremely bad in their habits, and inclined to accept methods of devotional service that are not bona fide. Moreover, they are always disturbed by material conditions, and they are mostly unfortunate. Under the circumstances, the performance of other processes, such as *yajña, dana, tapaḥ *and *kriyā*—sacrifices, charity and so on—are not at all possible. Therefore it is recommended: > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] **"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting of the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way."** Simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord, one advances perfectly in spiritual life. This is the best process for success in life. In other ages, the chanting of the holy name is equally powerful, but especially in this age, Kali-yuga, it is most powerful. *— *Śrīm*ad-Bhāgavatam 7.5.23-24* By chanting, one is elevated to the transcendental platform beyond those stages attained by philosophers, religionists, yogīs, karmīs, etc.: Lord Caitanya gives His judgment on the authority of *śāstras *that the chanting of the holy names of the Lord is the only means to elevate one to the transcendental platform, and actually we can see it is effective. Each and every one of our students who has seriously taken to this process may be examined individually, and any impartial judge will find it easy to see that they have advanced in their transcendental realization further than any philosophers, religionists, *yogīs, karmīs, *etc. *— The Science of Self-Realization* By chanting the mahā-mantra, one achieves the results of karma, jñāna and yoga automatically: The importance of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare is very strongly stressed in the Second Canto, First Chapter, [[sb/2/1/11|verse 11]], of the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *in the following way: 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. *Śukadeva uses the word *nirṇītam, *which means "it is already decided." He was a liberated soul and therefore could not accept anything which was not conclusive. So Śukadeva Gosvāmī especially stresses that it is already concluded that one who has come to the stage of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *with determination and steadiness must be considered as having already passed the trials of fruitive activities, mental speculation and mystic *yoga.* *— The Nectar of Devotion* Chanting the holy name is more effective than karma, jñāna, and yoga for becoming free from material bondage: **[Śukadeva Gosvāmī to King Parīkṣit]: Ajāmila was a brāhmaṇa who because of bad association had given up all brahminical culture and religious principles. Becoming most fallen, he stole, drank and performed other abominable acts. He even kept a prostitute. Thus he was destined to be carried away to hell by the order carriers of Yamarāja, but he was immediately rescued simply by a glimpse of the chanting of the holy name Nārāyaṇa. Therefore one who desires freedom from material bondage should adopt the process of chanting and glorifying the name, fame, form and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at whose feet all the holy places stand. One cannot derive the proper benefit from other methods, such as pious atonement, speculative knowledge and meditation in mystic yoga, because 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.** It has actually been seen that even after achieving so-called perfection, many *karmīs, jñānīs *and *yogīs *become attached to material activities again. Many so-called *svāmīs *and *yogīs *give up material activities as false (*jagan mithya*), but after some time they nevertheless resume material activities by opening hospitals and schools or performing other activities for the benefit of the public. Sometimes they participate in politics, although still falsely declaring themselves *sannyāsīs, *members of the renounced order. The perfect conclusion, however, is that if one actually desires to get out of the material world, he must take to devotional service, which begins with *śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ:* [SB 7.5.23]* *chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement has actually proved this. In the Western countries, many young boys who were addicted to drugs and who had many other bad habits, which they could not give up, abandoned all those propensities and very seriously engaged in chanting the glories of the Lord as soon as they joined the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. In other words, this process is the perfect method of atonement for actions performed in *rajaḥ *and *tamaḥ *(passion and ignorance). As stated in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *([[sb/1/2/19|1.2.19]]): > tadā rajas-tamo-bhāvāḥ kāma-lobhādayaś ca ye ceta etair anāviddhaṁ sthitaṁ sattve prasīdati As a result of *rajaḥ *and *tamaḥ, *one becomes increasingly lusty and greedy, but when one takes to the process of chanting and hearing, one comes to the platform of goodness and becomes happy. As he advances in devotional service, all his doubts are completely eradicated (*bhidyate hṛdaya-granthiś chidyante sarva-saṁśayaḥ*). Thus the knot of his desire for fruitive activities is cut to pieces. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/6/2/45|6.2.45-46]]* Explanation of the "harer nāma" verse in the Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa: After this incident the Lord ate raw rice given by Śuklāmbara Brahmacārī and explained very elaborately the import of the "harer nāma" [*Cc Ādi *[[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] śloka mentioned in the Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa: "In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari." In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered. This verse repeats the word eva [certainly] three times for emphasis, and it also three times repeats harer nāma [the holy name of the Lord] just to make common people understand. 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. This verse clearly states that anyone who accepts any other path cannot be delivered. This is the reason for the triple repetition "nothing else, nothing else, nothing else," which emphasizes the real process of self-realization. To emphasize something to an ordinary person, one may repeat it three times, just as one might say, "You must do this! You must do this! You must do this!" Thus the *Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa *repeatedly emphasizes the chanting of the holy name so that people may take it seriously and thus free themselves from the clutches of *māyā....* Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement stresses the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *only, whereas those who do not know the secret of success for this Age of Kali unnecessarily indulge in the cultivation of knowledge, the practice of mystic *yoga *or the performance of fruitive activities or useless austerities. They are simply wasting their time and misleading their followers. When we point this out very plainly to an audience, members of opposing groups become angry at us. But according to the injunctions of the *śāstras, *we cannot make compromises with these so-called *jñānīs, yogīs, karmīs *and *tapasvīs. *When they say they are as good as we are, we must say that only we are good and that they are not good. This is not our obstinacy; it is the injunction of the *śāstras. *We must not deviate from the injunctions of the *śāstras.* *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/17/20|17.20-25]]* The systems of yoga and jñāna are not practicable in this age—only the system of hari-kīrtana, chanting the holy name: Other systems of self-realization, the *jñāna *process or *yoga *process, are also recognized, but it is not possible to practice them in this age. That is the verdict of the *Vedas:* > kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇuṁ tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ dvāpare paricaryāyāṁ kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt [*Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/12/3/52|12.3.52]]] In the Satya-yuga, the Golden Age, it was possible to execute the meditation process. For instance, Vālmīki Muni meditated for sixty thousand years to get perfection. But where is our old age? Besides that, for the meditation process, as described in the *Bhagavad-gītā, *one has to select a secluded place, he has to execute it alone, he has to sit down in a rigid posture, he has to lead a life of complete celibacy, and so on. There are many rules and regulations. Thus *aṣṭāṅga-yoga *meditation is not possible. If one is satisfied by imitating, that is a different thing, but if one wants perfection, then he has to execute all the eight stages of *aṣṭāṅga-yoga. *If this is not possible, then it is a waste of time. What is the ultimate goal of the *yoga *process or meditation? Contact with the Supreme, the Supersoul, the Supreme Lord, is the aim and object of all *yoga *processes. Similarly, philosophical research, the *jñāna *process, also aims at understanding the Supreme Brahman. These are recognized processes, undoubtedly, but according to authoritative description, they are not practical in this Iron Age of Kali. Therefore one has to take to this process of *hari-kīrtana. *Anyone can practice without prequalification. *— The Science of Self-Realization* **The processes of jñāna, yoga, meditation and pious activities are not as effective in cleansing the heart as chanting the holy name:** *Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam*: [Cc Antya [[cc/antya/20/12|20.12]]] one has to cleanse his heart. There are different processes to cleanse the heart—the *jñāna *process, the *yoga *process, the meditation process, pious activities. *Karma *also cleanses the heart. If one acts very piously, his heart will gradually be cleansed. But although these processes are recommended for cleansing the heart, in this age they are all difficult. To follow the path of philosophical knowledge one must become a very learned scholar, one must read so many books, one must go to learned professors and scholars and speculate. One must search out a person who has seen the light. So these are all philosophical processes. Meditation is also a recommended process. One should question, "What am I?" Just consider: Am I this body? No. Am I this finger? No, this is my finger. If you contemplate your leg, you will see, "Oh, this is my leg." Similarly, you will find everything to be "mine." And where is that "I"? Everything is mine, but where is that "I"? When one is searching for that "I," that is meditation. Real meditation means concentrating all the senses in that way. But that meditation process is very difficult. One must control the senses. The senses are dragging one outward, and one has to bring them inward for introspection. Therefore there are eight processes in the *yoga *system. The first is controlling the senses by regulative principles. Then sitting postures—that will help to concentrate the mind. If one sits leaning over, that will not help; if one sits up straight, that will help. Then controlling the breathing, then meditation, then *samādhi.* But today these are very, very difficult processes. No one can immediately perform them. The so-called *yoga* processes are fragmental—only the sitting postures and a few breathing exercises are practiced. But that cannot bring one to the perfectional stage. The actual *yoga* process, although a recommended Vedic process, is very difficult in this age. Similarly one can try to get knowledge by the speculative philosophical process: "This is Brahman, this is not Brahman, so what is Brahman? What is spirit soul?" Such empiric philosophical discussion is also recommended, but it is useless in this age. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu—not only Caitanya Mahāprabhu but also the Vedic literature—says: > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] Kalau means "in this age." *Nāsty eva, nāsty eva, nāsty eva*—three times *nāsty eva. Eva* means "certainly," and *nāsti* means "not." "Certainly not, certainly not, certainly not." What is that "certainly not"? One cannot realize oneself by *karma*. That is the first "certainly not." One cannot realize oneself by *jñāna*. That is the second "certainly not." One cannot realize oneself by *yoga*. Certainly not. *Kalau. Kalau *means "in this age." *Kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā*. In this age one certainly cannot achieve success by any of these three methods. Then what is the recommended process? *Harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam. *Simply chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra*. *Kevalam *means "only." Simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. It is the easiest and most sublime process. This is recommended, practical, and authorized. So take it. Accept it in any condition of life. Chant. There is no expenditure, there is no loss. We are not chanting a secret. No. It is open. And by chanting you will cleanse your heart. *— The Science of Self-Realization* Chanting the holy name brings the perfection of penance, sacrifice and fruitive activity: It is said in the *Skanda Purāṇa:* > yasya smṛtyā ca nāmoktyā tapo-yajña-kriyādīṣu nūnaṁ sampūrṇatām eti sadyo vande tam acyutam **"I offer my obeisances unto Him, the infallible, because simply by either remembering Him or vibrating His holy name one can attain the perfection of all penances, sacrifices or fruitive activities, and this process can be universally followed."** *— *Śrīm*ad-Bhāgavatam [[sb/2/9/36|2.9.36]]* In Kali-yuga, chanting the holy name is more important than study of Vedānta philosophy: **[Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī to Lord Caitanya]: "You are a sannyāsī. Why then do You indulge in chanting and dancing, engaging in Your saṅkīrtana movement in the company of fanatics? Meditation and the study of Vedānta are the sole duties of a sannyāsī. Why do You abandon these to dance with fanatics? You look as brilliant as if You were Nārāyaṇa Himself. Will You kindly explain the reason that You have adopted the behavior of lower-class people?" Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied to Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī: "My dear sir, kindly hear the reason. My spiritual master considered Me a fool, and therefore he chastised Me** [*Cc Adi* [[cc/adi/7/71|7.71]]]**. 'You are a fool,' he said. 'You are not qualified to study Vedānta philosophy, and therefore You must always chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. This is the essence of all mantras or Vedic hymns.'"** When Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī inquired from Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu why He neither studied Vedānta nor performed meditation, Lord Caitanya presented Himself as a number one fool in order to indicate that the present age, Kali-yuga, is an age of fools and rascals in which it is not possible to obtain perfection simply by reading Vedānta philosophy and meditating. The *śāstras *strongly recommend: > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] **"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way."** People in general in Kali-yuga are so fallen that it is not possible for them to obtain perfection simply by studying *Vedānta-sūtra. *One should therefore seriously take to the constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord.... Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa, the spiritual master of the entire universe, He nevertheless took the position of a disciple in order to teach by example how a devotee should strictly follow the orders of a spiritual master in executing the duty of always chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra. *One who is very much attracted to the study of Vedānta philosophy must take lessons from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. 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, as Kṛṣṇa Himself confirms in *Bhagavad-gītā,* > vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo vedānta-kṛd veda-vid eva cāham **"By all the *Vedas *am I to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the *Vedas*." (*Bg*. [[bg/15/15|15.15]])** One who imperfectly knows Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot know Vedānta philosophy. A showy display of Vedānta study without Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a feature of the external energy, *māyā, *and as long as one is attracted by the inebrieties of this ever-changing material energy, he deviates from devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. An actual follower of Vedānta philosophy is a devotee of Lord Viṣṇu, who is the greatest of the great and the maintainer of the entire universe. Unless one surpasses the field of activities in service to the limited, one cannot reach the unlimited. Knowledge of the unlimited is actual *brahma-jñāna, *or knowledge of the Supreme. Those who are addicted to fruitive activities and speculative knowledge cannot understand the value of the holy name of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa, who is always completely pure, eternally liberated and full of spiritual bliss. One who has taken shelter of the holy name of the Lord, which is identical with the Lord, does not have to study Vedānta philosophy, for he has already completed all such study. One who is unfit to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa but thinks that the holy name is different from Kṛṣṇa and thus takes shelter of Vedānta study in order to understand Him must be considered a number one fool, as confirmed by Caitanya Mahāprabhu by His personal behavior, and philosophical speculators who want to make Vedānta philosophy an academic career are also considered to be within the material energy. A person who always chants the holy name of the Lord, however, is already beyond the ocean of nescience, and thus even a person born in a low family who engages in chanting the holy name of the Lord is considered to be beyond the study of Vedānta philosophy. In this connection the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *states: > aho bata śva-paco 'to garīyān yaj-jihvāgre vartate nāma tubhyam tepus tapas te juhuvuḥ sasnur āryā brahmānūcur nāma gṛṇanti ye te **"If a person born in a family of dog-eaters takes to the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, it is to be understood that in his previous life he must have executed all kinds of austerities and penances and performed all the Vedic *yajñas*." (*S.B.* [[sb/3/33/7|3.33.7]])** **Another quotation states:** ṛg-vedo 'tha yajur-vedaḥ sāma-vedo 'py atharvaṇaḥ adhītās tena yenoktaṁ harir ity akṣara-dvayam "A person who chants the two syllables *ha-ri *has already studied the four *Vedas-Sāma, Ṛg, Yajur *and *Atharva*." Taking advantage of these verses, there are some *sahajiyās *who, taking everything very cheaply, consider themselves elevated Vaiṣṇavas but do not care even to touch the *Vedānta-sūtras *or Vedānta philosophy. A real Vaiṣṇava should, however, study Vedānta philosophy, but if after studying the Vedānta one does not adopt the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, he is no better than a Māyāvādī. Therefore, one should not be a Māyāvādī, yet one should not be unaware of the subject matter of Vedānta philosophy. Indeed, Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited His knowledge of Vedānta in His discourses with Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī. Thus it is to be understood that a Vaiṣṇava should be completely conversant with Vedānta philosophy, yet he should not think that studying Vedānta is all in all and therefore be unattached to the chanting of the holy name. A devotee must know the importance of simultaneously understanding Vedānta philosophy and chanting the holy names. If by studying Vedānta one becomes an impersonalist, he has not been able to understand Vedānta. This is confirmed in *Bhagavad-gītā *([[bg/15/15|15.15]]). *Vedānta *means "the end of knowledge." The ultimate end of knowledge is knowledge of Kṛṣṇa, who is identical with His holy name. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/7/68|7.68-72]]* In Kali-yuga, chanting the holy name is more important than accepting sannyāsa for attaining self-realization: In this Age of Kali-yuga *sannyāsa* is prohibited because persons in this age are all *śūdras *and cannot follow the rules and regulations of *sannyāsa *life. It is very commonly found that so-called *sannyāsīs *are addicted to nonsense—even to having private relationships with women. This is the abominable situation in this age. Although they dress themselves as *sannyāsīs, *they still cannot free themselves from the four principles of sinful life, namely illicit sex life, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. Since they are not freed from these four principles, they are cheating the public by posing as *svāmīs.* In Kali-yuga the injunction is that no one should accept *sannyāsa. *Of course, those who actually follow the rules and regulations must take *sannyāsa. *Generally, however, people are unable to accept *sannyāsa *life, and therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu stressed, *kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā. *In this age there is no other alternative, no other alternative, no other alternative than to chant the holy name of the Lord: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare. The main purpose of *sannyāsa *life is to be in constant companionship with the Supreme Lord, either by thinking of Him within the heart or hearing of Him through aural reception. In this age, hearing is more important than thinking because one's thinking may be disturbed by mental agītātion, but if one concentrates on hearing, he will be forced to associate with the sound vibration of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa and the sound vibration "Kṛṣṇa" are nondifferent, so if one loudly vibrates Hare Kṛṣṇa, he will be able to think of Kṛṣṇa immediately. This process of chanting is the best process of self-realization in this age; therefore Lord Caitanya preached it so nicely for the benefit of all humanity. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/3/24/35|3.24.35]]* Because yogic celibacy is not possible in this age, Lord Caitanya recommended the chanting of the holy name as the only means of spiritual realization: **[Lord Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna]: Persons learned in the Vedas, who utter oṁkāra and who are great sages in the renounced order, enter into Brahman. Desiring such perfection, one practices celibacy...** In the Vedic system of knowledge, students, from the very beginning, are taught to vibrate *oṁ* and learn of the ultimate impersonal Brahman by living with the spiritual master in complete celibacy. In this way they realize two of Brahman's features. This practice is very essential for the student's advancement in spiritual life, but at the moment such *brahmacārī *(unmarried celibate) life is not at all possible. The social construction of the world has changed so much that there is no possibility of one's practicing celibacy from the beginning of student life. Throughout the world there are many institutions for different departments of knowledge, but there is no recognized institution where students can be educated in the *brahmacārī* principles. Unless one practices celibacy, advancement in spiritual life is very difficult. Therefore Lord Caitanya has announced, according to the scriptural injunctions for this Age of Kali, that no process of realizing the Supreme is possible except the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. *— Bhagavad-gītā As It Is [[bg/8/11|8.11]]* Rather than hear the impersonalist conceptions of Śaṅkara, the common man should chant the mahā-mantra for self-realization: Lord Caitanya immediately informed Prakāśānanda that in the modern age people in general are more or less bereft of all spiritual intellect. When such people come under the influence of Śaṅkarācārya's Māyāvādī (impersonalist) philosophy before beginning the most confidential *Vedānta-sūtras, *their natural tendency toward obedience to the Supreme is checked. The supreme source of everything is naturally respected by everyone, but this natural tendency is hampered when one takes to the impersonalist conceptions of Śaṅkara. Thus the spiritual master of Lord Caitanya suggested that it is better that one not study the *Śārīraka-bhāṣya *of Śaṅkarācārya, for it is very harmful to people in general. Indeed, the common man does not even have the intelligence to penetrate into the jugglery of words. He is better advised to chant the *mahā-mantra: *Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. In this quarrelsome Age of Kali there is no alternative for self-realization. *— Teachings of Lord Caitanya* In Kali-yuga, rather than looking toward the light of mental speculation and atheists, people should take advantage of Lord Caitanya's movement of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa: During the rainy season, in the evening, there are many glowworms visible about the tops of trees, hither and thither, and they glitter just like lights. But the luminaries of the sky, the stars and the moons, are not visible. Similarly, in the Age of Kali, persons who are atheists or miscreants become very prominently visible, whereas persons who are actually following the Vedic principles for spiritual emancipation are practically obscured. This age, Kali-yuga, is compared to the cloudy season of the living entities. In this age, real knowledge is covered by the influence of material advancement of civilization. The cheap mental speculators, atheists and manufacturers of so-called religious principles become prominent like the glowworms, whereas persons strictly following the Vedic principles or scriptural injunctions become covered by the clouds of this age. People should learn to take advantage of the actual luminaries of the sky, the sun, moon, and stars, instead of the glowworm's light. Actually, the glowworm cannot give any light in the darkness of night. As clouds sometimes clear, even in the rainy season, and sometimes the moon, stars and sun become visible, so even in this Kali-yuga there are sometimes advantages. The Vedic movement of Lord Caitanya's—the distribution of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra—*is heard in this way. People seriously anxious to find real life should take advantage of this movement instead of looking toward the light of mental speculators and atheists. *— Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead* In this age, worship of the śālagrāma-śilā is not as important as chanting the holy name: It has been a custom since time immemorial that a person born in a *brāhmaṇa *family must.worship the *śālagrāma-śilā* in all circumstances. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness society, some of the members are very anxious to introduce the *śālagrāma-śilā, *but we have purposely refrained from introducing it because most of the members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement do not originally come from families of the *brāhmaṇa *caste. After some time, when we find that they are actually situated strictly in the line of brahminical behavior, this *śālagrāma-śilā* will be introduced. In this age, the worship of the *śālagrāma-śilā is *not as important as the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. That is the injunction of the *śāstra.* > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī's opinion is that by chanting the holy name offenselessly one becomes completely perfect. Nevertheless, just to purify the situation of the mind, worship of the Deity in the temple is also necessary. Therefore when one is advanced in spiritual consciousness or is perfectly situated on a spiritual platform he may take to the worship of the *śālagrāma-śilā.* *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/13/86|13.86]]* ### 9. Lord Caitanya Introduced the Mahā-mantra to Counteract the Philosophy of Impersonalism Lord Caitanya introduced the mahā-mantra to counteract the philosophy of impersonalism: **[Lord Caitanya to Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī]: "The Māyāvāda philosophy is so degraded that it has taken the insignificant living entities to be the Lord, the Supreme Truth, thus covering the glory and supremacy of the Absolute Truth with monism."** Śrīpāda Śaṅkarācārya purposely claimed the *jīva-tattva, *or living entities, to be equal to the Supreme God. Therefore his entire philosophy is based on a misunderstanding, and it misguides people to become atheists whose mission in life is unfulfilled. The mission of human life, as described in *Bhagavad-gītā,* is to surrender unto the Supreme Lord and become His devotee, but the Māyāvāda philosophy misleads one to defy the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and pose oneself as the Supreme Lord. Thus it has misguided hundreds and thousands of innocent men....the Māyāvāda philosophy, misguiding people by claiming the living entity to be the Lord, has created havoc throughout the entire world and led almost everyone to godlessness. By thus covering the glories of the Supreme Lord, the Māyāvādī philosophers have done the greatest disservice to human society. It is to counteract these most abominable activities of the Māyāvādī philosophers that Lord Caitanya has introduced the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra.* > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] **"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way."** People should simply engage in the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *for thus they will gradually come to understand that they are not the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as they have been taught by the Māyāvādī philosophers, but are eternal servants of the Lord. As soon as one engages himself in the transcendental service of the Lord, he becomes free. > māṁ ca yo 'vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate **"One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman." (*Bg*. [[bg/14/26|14.26]])** Therefore the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement or Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is the only light for the foolish living entities who think either that there is no God or that if God exists He is formless and they themselves are also God. These misconceptions are very dangerous, and the only way to counteract them is to spread the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā *[[cc/adi/7/120|7.120]]* ### 10. In This Age, Chanting of the Holy Name Is More Important than Varṇāśrama-dharma Because varṇāśrama-dharma has been lost in this age, Lord Caitanya has introduced the chanting of the mahā-mantra: In *Bhagavad-gītā* ([[bg/18/46|18.46]]) Śrī Kṛṣṇa says that every man can become perfect by following his qualities of work: > yataḥ pravṛttir bhutānāṁ yena sarvam idaṁ tatam sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya siddhiṁ vindatī mānavaḥ **"By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all-pervading, man can, in the performance of his own duty, attain perfection."** Thus if one executes his duties as a perfect *kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, *or whatever, Viṣṇu will be pleased. The purpose of work is to please Viṣṇu. Unfortunately, people have forgotten this. *Varṇāśrama-dharma, *the Vedic system of society, is therefore very important in that it is meant to give human beings a chance to perfect their lives by pleasing Kṛṣṇa. Unfortunately, the *varṇāśrama-dharma *has been lost in this age. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu, just to give relief to the rotting, conditioned souls of this Age of Kali-yuga, has given us the *mahā-mantra.* > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] **"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way." (*Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa*)** Although we may try to revive the perfect *varṇāśrama *system, it is not possible in this age. People are fallen, disturbed and unfortunate: > prāyeṇālpāyuṣaḥ sabhya kalāv asmin yuge janāḥ mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ **"O learned one, in this iron Age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed." (*S.B. *[[sb/1/1/10|1.1.10]])** In this age, there will be insufficient rainfall and food, and the government will plunder one's income by heavy taxation. All of these characteristics of Kali-yuga are described in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. *People will become so disgusted that they will suddenly leave their wife and children and go to the forest. How can the peaceful *varṇāśrama-dharma *be revived when people are so harassed in this age? It is virtually impossible. Therefore the system of *bhakti-yoga, *the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *should be adopted. The whole aim of *bhakti-yoga* is to satisfy Viṣṇu. *Yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prayaiḥ: *Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa, came Himself as Caitanya Mahāprabhu to teach us the way of *saṅkīrtana.* *— Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti* For attaining the topmost goal, hearing and chanting about Lord Viṣṇu is more important than varṇāśrama-dharma: **The chief ācārya of the Tattvavāda community was very learned in the revealed scriptures. Out of humility, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu questioned him. Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "I do not know very well the aim of life and how to achieve it. Please tell me of the best ideal for humanity and how to attain it." The ācārya replied, "When the activities of the four castes and the four āśramas are dedicated to Kṛṣṇa, they constitute the best means whereby one can attain the highest goal of life. When one dedicates the duties of varṇāśrama-dharma to Kṛṣṇa, he is eligible for five kinds of liberation. Thus he is transferred to the spiritual world in Vaikuṇṭha. This is the highest goal of life and the verdict of all revealed scriptures." Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "According to the verdict of the śāstras, the process of hearing and chanting is the best means to attain loving service to Kṛṣṇa."** According to the Tattvavādīs, the best process is to execute the duties of the four *varṇas *and *āśramas. *In the material world, unless one is situated in one of the *varṇas (brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya *and *śūdra) *one cannot manage social affairs properly to attain the ultimate goal. One also has to follow the principles of the *āśramas (brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha *and *sannyāsa), *which are considered essential for the attainment of the highest goal. In this way the Tattvavādīs establish that the execution of the principles of *varṇa *and *āśrama *for the sake of Kṛṣṇa is the best way to attain the topmost goal. The Tattvavādīs thus established their principles in terms of human society. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, differed when He said that the best process is hearing and chanting about Lord Viṣṇu. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/9/254|9.254-58]]* ### 11. The Holy Name Counteracts the Effects of the Kali-yuga The chanting of the mahā-mantra is especially meant for counteracting the contaminations of Kali: In the *Kali-santaraṇa Upaniṣad *it is stated: > hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare > iti ṣoḍaśakaṁ nāmnāṁ kali-kalmaṣa-nāśanam nātaḥ parataropāyaḥ sarva-vedeṣu dṛśyate **"The sixteen words—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare—are especially meant for counteracting the contaminations of Kali. To save oneself from the contamination of Kali, there is no alternative but the chanting of these sixteen words."** *— Teachings of Lord Caitanya* To counteract the effects of Kali-yuga and cross the ocean of nescience, one must chant the holy name: The *Kali-santaraṇa Upaniṣad *states, "Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare—these sixteen names composed of thirty-two syllables are the only means to counteract the evil effects of Kali-yuga. In all the *Vedas *it is seen that to cross the ocean of nescience there is no alternative to the chanting of the holy name." *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/7/76|7.76]]* Mahārāja Parīkṣit saved his citizens from the clutches of Kali by propagating the holy name: Even though all nefarious activities of the personality of Kali are present, there is a great advantage in the Age of Kali. One can attain salvation simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord. Thus Mahārāja Parīkṣit made an organized effort to propagate the chanting of the Lord's holy name, and thus he saved the citizens from the clutches of Kali. It is for this advantage only that great sages sometimes wish all good for the Age of Kali. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/1/18/7|1.18.7]]* The constant chanting of the holy names will drive away the personality of Kali from the world: The Personality of Godhead and His holy name, qualities, etc., are all identical. The personality of Kali was not able to enter the jurisdiction of the earth due to the presence of the Personality of Godhead. And similarly, if there is an arrangement for the constant chanting of the holy names, qualities, etc., of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no chance at all for the personality of Kali to enter. That is the technique of driving away the personality of Kali from the world. In modernized human society there are great advancements of material science, and they have invented the radio to distribute sound in the air. So instead of vibrating some nuisance sound for sense enjoyment, if the state arranges to distribute transcendental sound by resounding the holy name, fame and activities of the Lord, as they are authorized in the *Bhagavad-gītā *or *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, *then a favorable condition will be created, the principles of religion in the world will be reestablished, and thus the executive heads, who are so anxious to drive away corruption from the world, will be successful. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/1/18/6|1.18.6]]* To become immune from the effects of the Kali-yuga, one must chant the holy name of the Lord: In this age, when everything is polluted by the contamination of Kali, it is instructed in the scriptures and preached by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that by chanting the holy name of the Lord, we can at once be free from contamination and gradually rise to the state of transcendence and go back to Godhead. The offenseless chanter of the holy name is as auspicious as the Lord Himself, and the movement of pure devotees of the Lord all over the world can at once change the troublesome face of the world. Only by the propagation of the chanting of the holy name of the Lord can we be immune from all effects of the Age of Kali. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *1.16.32-33* If people in general take to the chanting of the mahā-mantra, they will be freed from the contamination of Kali-yuga: **[Śukadeva Gosvāmī to King Parīkṣit]: Lord Rāmacandra became King during Tretā-yuga, but because of His good government, the age was like Satya-yuga. Everyone was religious and completely happy.** Among the four *yugas-*Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali—the Kali-yuga is the worst, but if the process of *varṇāśrama-dharma* is introduced, even in this Age of Kali, the situation of Satya-yuga can be invoked. The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, is meant for this purpose. > kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet **"My dear king, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom." (*S.B. *[[sb/12/3/51|12.3.51]])** If people take to this *saṅkīrtana *movement of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Rāma, they will certainly be freed from the contamination of Kali-yuga, and the people of this age will be happy, as people were in Satya-yuga, the golden age. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/9/10/51|9.10.51]]* ### 12. In This Age, Kṛṣṇa Appears in His Name in Order to Annihilate the Demons and Protect the Devotees Kṛṣṇa has now appeared in His holy name through the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement to annihilate the demons and protect the devotees: **[Vasudeva to Lord Kṛṣṇa]: my Lord, proprietor of all creation, You have now appeared in my house, desiring to protect this world. I am sure that You will kill all the armies that are moving all over the world under the leadership of politicians who are dressed as kṣatriya rulers but who are factually demons. They must be killed by You for the protection of the innocent public.** Kṛṣṇa appears in this world for two purposes, *paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtam:* [Bg [[bg/4/8|4.8]]]* *to protect the innocent, religious devotees of the Lord and to annihilate all the uneducated, uncultured *asuras, *who unnecessarily bark like dogs and fight among themselves for political power. It is said, *kali-kāle nāma-rūpe kṛṣṇa avatāra. *The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is also an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa in the form of the holy name (*nāma-rūpe*). Every one of us who is actually afraid of the asuric rulers and politicians must welcome this incarnation of Kṛṣṇa: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. Then we will surely be protected from the harassment of asuric rulers. At the present moment these rulers are so powerful that by hook or by crook they capture the highest posts in government and harass countless numbers of people on the plea of national security or some emergency. Then again, one *asura *defeats another *asura, *but the public continues to suffer. Therefore the entire world is in a precarious condition, and the only hope is this Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva appeared when Prahlāda was excessively harassed by his asuric father. Because of such asuric fathers—that is, the ruling politicians—it is very difficult to press forward the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, but because Kṛṣṇa has now appeared in His holy name through this movement, we can hope that these asuric fathers will be annihilated and the kingdom of God established all over the world. The entire world is now full of many *asuras *in the guise of politicians, gurus, *sādhus, yogīs *and incarnations, and they are misleading the general public away from Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which can offer true benefit to human society. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/10/3/21|10.3.21]]* Just as formerly Kṛṣṇa appeared personally to decrease the military burden on the earth, He has now appeared by His name in the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement for the same purpose: In this verse from *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *we find the words *puraiva puṁsāvadhṛto dharā-jvaraḥ. *The word *puṁsā *refers to Kṛṣṇa, who was already aware of how the whole world was suffering because of the increase of demons. Without reference to the supreme power of the Personality of Godhead, the demons assert themselves to be independent kings and presidents, and thus they create a disturbance by increasing their military power. When such disturbances are very prominent, Kṛṣṇa appears. At present also, various demoniac states all over the world are increasing their military power in many ways, and the whole situation has become distressful. Therefore Kṛṣṇa has appeared by His name, in the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, which will certainly diminish the burden of the world. Philosophers, religionists, and people in general must take to this movement very seriously, for man-made plans and devices will not help bring peace on earth. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/10/1/22|10.1.22]]* ### 13. The Holy Name Destroys the Demoniac Mentality of the People in General As Kṛṣṇa appeared in order to kill the demons, the demoniac mentality of the people in general is killed in this age by the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra: Whenever there is a burden created by the demons and whenever the innocent devotees are distressed by demoniac rulers, the Lord appears in due course of time to kill the demons with the assistance of His real representatives, who are technically called demigods. In the *Upaniṣads *it is stated that the demigods are different parts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As it is the duty of the parts of the body to serve the whole, it is the duty of Kṛṣṇa's devotees to serve Kṛṣṇa as He wants. Kṛṣṇa's business is to kill the demons, and therefore this should be a devotee's business also. Because the people of Kali-yuga are fallen, however, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, out of kindness for them, did not bring any weapon to kill them. Rather, by spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness, love of Kṛṣṇa, He wanted to kill their nefarious, demoniac activities. This is the purpose of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Unless the demoniac activities on the surface of the world are diminished or vanquished, no one can be happy. The program for the conditioned soul is fully described in *Bhagavad-gītā, *and one simply has to follow these instructions to become happy. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has therefore prescribed: > harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] Let people chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *constantly. Then their demoniac tendencies will be killed, and they will become first-class devotees, happy in this life and in the next. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/10/1/64|10.1.64]]* The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is killing the demoniac mentality of the people by the chanting of the holy name: Whenever God incarnates He has two missions, as stated in the *Bhagavad-gītā. *There Kṛṣṇa says, "Whenever I appear, My mission is to deliver the pious devotees and to annihilate the demons." When Kṛṣṇa appeared, He had to kill many demons. If we see a picture of Viṣṇu we will notice that He has a conchshell, lotus flower, club, and disc. These last two items are meant for killing demons. Within this world there are two classes of men—the demons and the devotees. The devotees are called demigods; they are almost like God because they have godly qualities. Those who are devotees are called godly persons, and those who are nondevotees, atheists, are called demons. So Kṛṣṇa, or God, comes with two missions: to give protection to the devotees and to destroy the demons. In this age Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mission is also like that: to deliver the devotees and annihilate the nondevotees, the demons. But in this age He has a different weapon. That weapon is not a club or disc or lethal weapon—His weapon is the *saṅkīrtana *movement. He killed the demoniac mentality of the people by introducing the *saṅkīrtana *movement. That is the specific significance of Lord Caitanya. In this age people are already killing themselves. They have discovered atomic weapons with which to kill themselves, so there is no need for God to kill them. But He appeared to kill their demoniac mentality. That is possible by this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. *— The Science of Self-Realization* *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/13/86|13.86]]* ### 14. The Glories of Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura Haridāsa Ṭhākura—the ācārya of the holy name: Sanātana Gosvāmī replied: "O Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who is equal to you? You are one of the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore you are the most fortunate. The mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for which He has descended as an incarnation, is to spread the importance of chanting the holy name of the Lord. Now instead of personally doing so, He is spreading it through you. My dear sir, you are chanting the holy name 300,000 times daily and informing everyone of the importance of such chanting. Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly. You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore you are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world." *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā *[[cc/antya/4/99|4.99-103]]* Although born in a Muhammadan family, Haridāsa Ṭhākura became a regularly initiated brāhmaṇa as well as Nāmācārya by dint of chanting the holy name: According to external vision, Haridāsa Ṭhākura belonged to a Muhammadan family. Nevertheless, because he engaged himself in performing the *yajña *of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *he became a regularly initiated *brāhmaṇa. *As stated in *Srīmad-Bhāgavatam *([[sb/3/33/6|3.33.6]]): > yan-nāmadheya-śravaṇānukīrtanād yat-prahvaṇad yat-smaraṇād api kvacit śvādo 'pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate kutaḥ punas te bhagavan nu darśanāt Even if a devotee comes from a family of dog-eaters, if he surrenders to the Personality of Godhead he immediately becomes a qualified *brāhmaṇa *and is immediately fit to perform *yajña, *whereas a person born in a family of *brāhmaṇas *has to wait until completing the reformatory processes before he may be called *saṁskṛta, *purified.... A person who is not purified by the prescribed process of *saṁskāra *is called *asaṁskṛta, *but if one remains *kriyā-hīna *even after being purified by initiation—in other words, if one fails to actually apply the principles of purity in his life—he remains an unpurified *mleccha *or *yavana. *On the other hand, we find that 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. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā *[[cc/antya/3/124|3.124]]* Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited the glories of the holy name through Haridāsa Ṭhākura: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited the glories of the holy name of the Lord through Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who was born in a Muhammadan family.... *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā *[[cc/antya/5/86|5.86]]* Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says that He understands the glories of the holy name by the mercy of Haridāsa Ṭhākura: [Lord Caitanya to Vallabha Bhaṭṭa]: "Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the teacher of the holy name, is among the most exalted of all devotees. Every day he chants 300,000 holy names of the Lord. I have learned about the glories of the Lord's holy name from Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and by his mercy I have understood these glories." *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā *[[cc/antya/7/48|7.48-49]]* Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura was the incarnation of Lord Brahmā: **[Lord Caitanya to Haridāsa Ṭhākura]: "Your role in this incarnation is to deliver the people in general. You have sufficiently preached the glories of the holy name in this world."** Haridāsa Ṭhākura is known as *nāmācārya* because it is he who preached the glories of chanting *hari-nāma, *the holy name of God. By using the words *tomāra avatāra *("your incarnation"), Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirms that Haridāsa Ṭhākura is the incarnation of Lord Brahmā. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that advanced devotees help the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His mission and that such devotees or personal associates incarnate by the will of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord incarnates by His own will, and, by His will, competent devotees also incarnate to help Him in His mission. Haridāsa Ṭhākura is thus the incarnation of Lord Brahmā, and other devotees are likewise incarnations to help in the prosecution of the Lord's mission. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā *[[cc/antya/11/25|11.25]]* Haridāsa Ṭhākura delivers the prostitute sent by Rāmacandra Khān by his chanting of the holy name: After leaving his home, Haridāsa Ṭhākura stayed for some time in the forest of Benāpola. Haridāsa Ṭhākura constructed a cottage in a solitary forest. There he planted a tulasī plant, and in front of the tulasī he would chant the holy name of the Lord 300,000 times daily. He chanted throughout the entire day and night. For his bodily maintenance he would go to a brāhmaṇa's house and beg some food. He was spiritually so influential that all the neighboring people worshiped him. A landholder named Rāmacandra Khān was the zamindar of that district. He was envious of Vaiṣṇavas and was therefore a great atheist. Unable to tolerate that such respect was being offered to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Rāmacandra Khan planned in various ways to dishonor him. By no means could he find any fault in the character of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Therefore he called for local prostitutes and began a plan to discredit His Holiness. Rāmacandra Khān said to the prostitutes, "There is a mendicant named Haridāsa Ṭhākura. All of you devise a way to deviate him from his vows of austerity." Among the prostitutes, one attractive young girl was selected. "I shall attract the mind of Haridāsa Ṭhākura," she promised, "within three days." Rāmacandra Khān said to the prostitute, "My constable will go with you so that as soon as he sees you with Haridāsa Ṭhākura, immediately he will arrest him and bring both of you to me." The prostitute replied, "First let me have union with him once; then the second time I shall take your constable with me to arrest him." At night the prostitute, after dressing herself most attractively, went to the cottage of Haridāsa Ṭhākura with great jubilation. After offering obeisances to the tulasī plant, she went to the door of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, offered him obeisances and stood there. Exposing part of her body to his view, she sat down on the threshold of the door and spoke to him in very sweet words. "My dear Ṭhākura, great preacher, great devotee, you are so beautifully built, and your youth is just beginning. Who is the woman who could control her mind after seeing you? I am eager to be united with you. My mind is greedy for this. If I don't obtain you, I shall not be able to keep my body and soul together." Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "I shall accept you without fail, but you will have to wait until I have finished chanting my regular rounds on my beads. Until that time, please sit and listen to the chanting of the holy name. As soon as I am finished, I shall fulfill your desire." Hearing this, the prostitute remained sitting there while Haridāsa Ṭhākura chanted on his beads until the light of morning appeared. When she saw that it was morning, the prostitute stood up and left. Coming before Rāmacandra Khān, she informed him of all the news. "Today Haridāsa Ṭhākura has promised to enjoy with me. Tomorrow certainly I shall have union with him." The next night, when the prostitute came again, Haridāsa Ṭhākura gave her many assurances. "Last night you were disappointed. Please excuse my offense. I shall certainly accept you. Please sit down and hear the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra until my regular chanting is finished. Then your desire will surely be fulfilled." After offering her obeisances to the tulasī plant and Haridāsa Ṭhākura, she sat down at the door. Hearing Haridāsa Ṭhākura chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, she also chanted, "O my Lord Hari, my Lord Hari." When the night came to an end, the prostitute was restless. Seeing this, Haridāsa Ṭhākura spoke to her as follows. "I have vowed to chant ten million names in a month. I have taken this vow, but now it is nearing its end. I thought that today I would be able to finish my performance of yajña, my chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. I tried my best to chant the holy name all night, but I still did not finish. Tomorrow I will surely finish, and my vow will be fulfilled. Then it will be possible for me to enjoy with you in full freedom." The prostitute returned to Rāmacandra Khān and informed him of what had happened. The next day she came earlier, at the beginning of the evening, and stayed with Haridāsa Ṭhākura. After offering obeisances to the tulasī plant and Haridāsa Ṭhākura, she sat down on the threshold of the room. Thus she began to hear Haridāsa Ṭhākura's chanting, and she also personally chanted "Hari, Hari," the holy name of the Lord. "Today it will be possible for me to finish my chanting," Haridāsa Ṭhākura informed her. "Then I shall satisfy all your desires." The night ended while Haridāsa Ṭhākura was chanting, but by his association the mind of the prostitute had changed. The prostitute, now purified, fell at the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and confessed that Rāmacandra Khān had appointed her to pollute him. "Because I have taken the profession of a prostitute," she said, "I have performed unlimited sinful acts. My lord, be merciful to me. Deliver my fallen soul." Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "I know everything about the conspiracy of Rāmacandra Khān. He is nothing but an ignorant fool. Therefore his activities do not make me feel unhappy. On the very day Rāmacandra Khān was planning his intrigue against me, I would have left this place immediately, but because you came to me I stayed here for three days to deliver you." The prostitute said, "Kindly act as my spiritual master. Instruct me in my duty by which to get relief from material existence." Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "Immediately go home and distribute to the brāhmaṇas whatever property you have. Then come back to this room and stay here forever in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra continuously and render service to the tulasī plant by watering her and offering prayers to her. In this way you will very soon get the opportunity to be sheltered at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa." After thus instructing the prostitute about the process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, Haridāsa Ṭhākura stood up and left, continuously chanting "Hari, Hari." Thereafter, the prostitute distributed to the brāhmaṇas whatever household possessions she had, following the order of her spiritual master. The prostitute shaved her head clean in accordance with Vaiṣṇava principles and stayed in that room wearing only one cloth. Following in the footsteps of her spiritual master, she began chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra 300,000 times a day. She chanted throughout the entire day and night. She worshiped the tulasī plant, following in the footsteps of her spiritual master. Instead of eating regularly, she chewed whatever food she received as alms, and if nothing was supplied she would fast. Thus by eating frugally, and fasting she conquered her senses, and as soon as her senses were controlled, symptoms of love of Godhead appeared in her person. Thus the prostitute became a celebrated devotee. She became very advanced in spiritual life, and many stalwart Vaiṣṇavas would come to see her. Seeing the sublime character of the prostitute, everyone was astonished. Everyone glorified the influence of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and offered him obeisances. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā* [[cc/antya/3/99|3.99-143]]* Haridāsa Ṭhākura defeats Māyā, in the form of a prostitute, and initiates her in the chanting of the holy name: There is another incident concerning Haridāsa Ṭhākura's uncommon behavior. One will be astonished to hear about it. Hear about such incidents without putting forth dry arguments, for these incidents are beyond our material reasoning. One must believe in them with faith. One day Haridāsa Ṭhākura was sitting in his cave, reciting very loudly the holy name of the Lord. The night was full of moonlight, which made the waves of the Ganges look dazzling. All directions were clear and bright. Thus everyone who saw the beauty of the cave, with the tulasī plant on a clean altar, was astonished ant satisfied at heart. At that time, in that beautiful scene, a woman appeared in the courtyard. The beauty of her body was so bright that it tinged the entire place with a hue of yellow. The scent of her body perfumed all directions, and the tinkling of her ornaments startled the ear. After coming there, the woman offered obeisances to the tulasī plant, and after circumambulating the tulasī plant she came to the door of the cave where Haridāsa Ṭhākura was sitting. With folded hands she offered obeisances at the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Sitting at the door, she then spoke in a very sweet voice. "My dear friend," she said, "you are the friend of the entire world. You are so beautiful and qualified. I have come here only for union with you. My dear sir, kindly accept me and be merciful toward me, for it is a characteristic of all saintly persons to be kind toward the poor and fallen." After saying this, she began to manifest various postures, which even the greatest philosopher would lose his patience upon seeing. Haridāsa Ṭhākura was immovable, for he was deeply determined. He began to speak to her, being very merciful toward her. "I have been initiated into a vow to perform a great sacrifice by chanting the holy name a certain number of times every day. As long as the vow to chant is unfulfilled, I do not desire anything else. When I finish my chanting, then I have an opportunity to do anything. Sit down at the door and hear the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. As soon as the chanting is finished, I shall satisfy you as you desire." After saying this, Haridāsa Ṭhākura continued to chant the holy name of the Lord. Thus the woman sitting before him began to hear the chanting of the holy name. In this way, as he chanted and chanted, the morning approached, and when the woman saw that it was morning, she got up and left. For three days she approached Haridāsa Ṭhākura in this way, exhibiting various feminine postures that would bewilder the mind of even Lord Brahmā. Haridāsa Ṭhākura was always absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa and the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore the feminine poses the woman exhibited were just like crying in the forest. At the end of the night of the third day, the woman spoke to Haridāsa Ṭhākura as follows. "My dear sir, for three days you have cheated me by giving me false assurances, for I see that throughout the entire day and night your chanting of the holy name is never finished." Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, "My dear friend, what can I do? I have made a vow. How, then, can I give it up?" After offering obeisances to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the woman said: "I am the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I came here to test you. I have previously captivated the mind of even Brahmā, not to speak of others. Your mind alone have I failed to attract. My dear sir, you are the foremost devotee. Simply seeing you and hearing you chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa has purified my consciousness. Now I want to chant the holy name of the Lord. Please be kind to me by instructing me about the ecstasy of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. There is now a flood of the eternal nectar of love of Godhead due to the incarnation of Lord Caitanya. All living entities are floating in that flood. The entire world is now thankful to the Lord. Anyone who does not float in this inundation is most condemned. Such a person cannot be delivered for millions of kalpas. Formerly I received the holy name of Lord Rāma from Lord Śiva, but now, due to your association, I am greatly eager to chant the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The holy name of Lord Rāma certainly gives liberation, but the holy name of Kṛṣṇa transports one to the other side of the ocean of nescience and at last gives one ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. Please give me the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and thus make me fortunate, so that I also may float in the flood of love of Godhead inaugurated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu." After speaking in this way, Māyā worshiped the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who initiated her by saying, "Just perform chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra." After thus being instructed by Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Māyā left with great pleasure. Unfortunately, some people have no faith in these narrations. Therefore I shall explain the reasons why people should have faith. Everyone who hears this will be faithful. During the incarnation of Lord Caitanya to inaugurate the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, even such personalities as Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the four Kumāras took birth upon this earth, being allured by ecstatic love of Lord Kṛṣṇa. All of them, including the great sage Nārada and devotees like Prahlāda, came here as if human beings, chanting the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa together and dancing and floating in the inundation of love of Godhead. The goddess of fortune and others, allured by love of Kṛṣṇa, also came down in the form of human beings and tasted the holy name of the Lord in love. What to speak of others, even Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, personally descends to taste the nectar of love of Godhead in the form of the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa. What is the wonder if the maidservant of Kṛṣṇa, His external energy, begs for love of Godhead? Without the mercy of a devotee and without the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, love of Godhead cannot be possible. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā* [[cc/antya/3/221|3.221-66]]* Haridāsa Ṭhākura could defeat Māyā because he was absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa by constantly chanting His holy name: [Māyā to Haridāsa Ṭhākura]: After offering obeisances to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the woman said: "I am the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I came here to test you." In *Bhagavad-gītā *([[bg/7/14|7.14]]) Lord Kṛṣṇa says: > daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te **"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it."** This was actually proved by the behavior of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. *Māyā *enchants the entire world. Indeed, people have forgotten the ultimate goal of life because of the dazzling attractions of the material world. But this dazzling attraction, especially the attractive beauty of a woman, is meant for persons who are not surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord says, *mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te:* [Bg [[bg/7/14|7.14]]]* *"One who is surrendered unto Me cannot be conquered by the illusory energy." The illusory energy personally came to test Haridāsa Ṭhākura, but herein she admits her defeat, for she was unable to captivate him. How is this possible? It was because Haridāsa Ṭhākura, fully surrendered to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, was always absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa by chanting the holy names of the Lord 300,000 times daily as a vow. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā* [[cc/antya/3/250|3.250]]* ### 15. The Chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa Is Not Limited to the 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. In Satya-yuga meditation was the main process, and great *munis* meditated for periods extending upward of 60,000 years.... 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* ### 16. Chanting of the Holy Name Is the Easiest Means for Spiritual Advancement Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa is the easiest means of self-realization: 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. In my classroom, I am perhaps the only Indian. My students are all Americans, and they are taking part in the chanting very nicely, chanting and dancing. That means that, in any country, in any place, this can be performed. Therefore it is the easiest. You may not understand the philosophy of the *Bhagavad-gītā. *That is also not very difficult; but still, if you think that you cannot understand, you can still chant very easily: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa. If we want to understand God, Kṛṣṇa, this is the beginning. The easiest beginning—simply chanting. Now, there are many students of my ISKCON institution. This institution is open a little over a year; but some of the students, by simply chanting, by the grace of Kṛṣṇa, have advanced in such a way that they can talk about the science of God, and they will very easily answer those human questions. So, this is the easiest method of transcendental meditation. Kṛṣṇa says that out of many millions of people, one may understand Him. But, by chanting of this Hare Kṛṣṇa, as introduced by Lord Caitanya—chanting and dancing—you can understand Kṛṣṇa within a very short time. *— The Path of Perfection* In Kali-yuga, chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa is the simplest means to perfection: In Satya-yuga meditation was the main process, and great *munis* meditated for periods extending upward of 60,000 years. In this age, however, perfection by that means of meditation is not possible because we are so short-lived. Consequently in this age it is especially recommended that we all sit down together and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. It is very easy, and everyone can take part in it. There is no necessity of education, nor are any previous qualifications required. In this age people are also very slow and unfortunate, and they are contaminated with bad association. 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. *— Elevation to Kṛṣṇa Consciousness* 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 The easiest means of achieving spiritual success is to chant the holy names of the Lord: **[Śukadeva Gosvāmī to King Parīkṣit]: What is the value of a prolonged life which is wasted, inexperienced by years in this world? Better a moment of full consciousness, because that gives one a start in searching after his supreme interest.** Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī instructed Mahārāja Parīkṣit about the importance of the chanting of the holy name of the Lord by every progressive gentleman. In order to encourage the king, who had only seven remaining days of life, Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī asserted that there is no use in living hundreds of years without any knowledge of the problems of life—better to live for a moment with full consciousness of the supreme interest to be fulfilled. The supreme interest of life is eternal, with full knowledge and bliss. Those who are bewildered by the external features of the material world and are engaged in the animal propensities of the eat-drink-and-be-merry type of life are simply wasting their lives by the unseen passing away of valuable years. We should know in perfect consciousness that human life is bestowed upon the conditioned soul to achieve spiritual success, and the easiest possible procedure to attain this end is to chant the holy name of the Lord.... One should, therefore, utilize one's life in glorifying the Lord by all means, without any offense. Such activity of life, even for a moment, is never to be compared to a prolonged life of ignorance, like the lives of the tree and other living entities who may live for thousands of years without prosecuting spiritual advancement. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/2/1/12|2.1.12]]* Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a simple process, based upon chanting the holy name: 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:* [Cc Antya [[cc/antya/20/12|20.12]]]* *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* Chanting produces immediate effects: "'... **Simply by touching the holy name with one's tongue, immediate effects are produced....'"** *— *Padyāvalī *(24), by Rūpa Gosvāmī [cited: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/15/110|15.110]]]* Simply by keeping a picture of Lord Caitanya and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, one can worship God and realize Him: In the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *it is said that [Lord Caitanya] is the incarnation of God in this age. And who worships Him? The process is very simple. Just keep a picture of Lord Caitanya with His associates. Lord Caitanya is in the middle, accompanied by His principal associates—Nityānanda, Advaita, Gadādhara, and Śrīvāsa. 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* From Haridāsa Ṭhākura's personal example we can understand that becoming highly elevated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness by chanting the holy name is very simple: **Haridāsa Ṭhākura constructed a cottage in a solitary forest. There he planted a tulasī plant, and in front of the tulasī he would chant the holy name of the Lord 300,000 times daily. He chanted throughout the entire day and night.** The village of Benāpola is situated in the district of Yaśohara, which is now in Bangladesh. Benāpola is near the Banagāṅo station, which is at the border of Bangladesh and may be reached by the Eastern Railway from Sealdah Station in Calcutta. Haridāsa Ṭhākura, being the *ācārya* of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra*, is called Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura. From his personal example we can understand that chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra* and becoming highly elevated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is very simple. Without difficulty one can sit down anywhere, especially on the bank of the Ganges, Yamunā or any sacred river, devise a sitting place or cottage, plant a *tulasī, *and before the *tulasī *chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra* undisturbed. Haridāsa Ṭhākura used to chant the holy name on his beads 300,000 times daily. Throughout the entire day and night, he would chant the sixteen names of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra*. One should not, however, imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura, for no one else can chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra* 300,000 times a day. Such chanting is for the *mukta-puruṣa, *or liberated soul. We can follow his example, however, by chanting sixteen rounds of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra* on beads every day and offering respect to the *tulasī* plant. This is not at all difficult for anyone, and the process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra* with a vow before the *tulasī* plant has such great spiritual potency that simply by doing this one can become spiritually strong. Therefore we request the members of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement to follow Haridāsa Ṭhākura's example rigidly. Chanting sixteen rounds does not take much time, nor is offering respects to the *tulasī *plant difficult. The process has immense spiritual potency. One should not miss this opportunity. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā* [[cc/antya/3/100|3.100]]* ### 17. Chanting of the Holy Name Is the Foundation of Spiritual Life Chanting the holy name is the basic principle of spiritual advancement: [Lord Kapila to Devahūti]: A devotee should always try to hear about spiritual matters and should always utilize his time in chanting the holy name of the Lord.... It is especially mentioned here, *nāma-sankīrtanāc ca: *one should chant the holy names of the Lord—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare—either individually or with others. Lord Caitanya has given special stress to chanting of these holy names of the Lord as the basic principle of spiritual advancement. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/3/29/18|3.29.18]]* Devotional service begins with chanting of the holy name: **[Yamarāja to the Yamadūtas]: Devotional service, beginning with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is the ultimate religious principle for the living entity in human society.** The *Bhāgavatam *further says, *sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje:* [SB [[sb/1/2/6|1.2.6]]]* *the supreme religion is that which teaches its followers how to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond the reach of experimental knowledge. Such a religious system begins with *tan-nāma-grahaṇa, *chanting of the holy name of the Lord (*śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam* [SB 7.5.23]). After chanting the holy name of the Lord and dancing in ecstasy, one gradually sees the form of the Lord, the pastimes of the Lord and the transcendental qualities of the Lord. This way one fully understands the situation of the Personality of Godhead. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/6/3/22|6.3.22]]* **Devotional service begins with hearing the holy name chanted by a pure Vaiṣṇava:** Because the living entities are minute, atomic parts and parcels of the Lord, devotional service is already present within them in a dormant condition. Devotional service begins with *śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam* [SB 7.5.23]*, *hearing and chanting. When a man is sleeping, he can be awakened by sound vibration; therefore every conditioned soul should be given the chance to hear the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *chanted by a pure Vaiṣṇava. One who hears the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *thus vibrated is awakened to spiritual consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In this way one's mind gradually becomes purified, as stated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu (*ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam* [Cc Antya [[cc/antya/20/12|20.12]]]). When the mind is purified, the senses are also purified. Instead of using the senses for sense gratification, the awakened devotee employs the senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. This is the process by which dormant love for Kṛṣṇa is awakened. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/22/105|22.105]]* 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. We cannot see Kṛṣṇa with our material eyes, nor hear about Him with material ears, nor touch Him with our hands; but if we engage our tongue in His service, He will reveal Himself, saying, "Here I am." *— Elevation to Kṛṣṇa Consciousness* *Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau* [*Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu*. 1.2.234] means that the service of the Lord begins with the tongue. This refers to chanting. By chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, one begins the service of the Lord.... The tongue should be engaged in chanting and in eating the Lord's *prasāda* so that the other senses will be controlled. Chanting is the medicine, and *prasāda* is the diet. With these processes one can begin his service, and as the service increases, the Lord reveals more and more to the devotee. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/7/24|4.7.24]]* If no one knows the Supreme Personality of Godhead, how can He be known? He can be known when the Supreme Lord comes before you and reveals Himself to you. Then you can know. Our senses are imperfect, and they cannot realize the Supreme Truth. When you adopt a submissive attitude and chant, realization begins from the tongue. To eat and to vibrate sound is the business of the tongue. If you can control your tongue for *prasāda, *spiritual food, and make the sound vibration of the holy name, then by surrender of the tongue you can control all the other senses. If you cannot control your tongue, you cannot control your senses. Taste *prasāda *and become spiritually advanced. You can have this process at your home: offer vegetarian foods to Kṛṣṇa, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *and offer obeisances: > namo brāhmaṇya-devāya go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca jagad-dhitāya kṛṣṇāya govindāya namo namaḥ Everyone can offer, and then take the food with friends. And chant before the picture of Kṛṣṇa, and lead a pure life. Just see the result—the whole world will become Vaikuṇṭha, where there is no anxiety. *— Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System* Surrender begins with giving up bad habits and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra on beads: **Reporter:** Do you think your movement is the only way to know God? **Śrīla Prabhupāda:** Yes. **Reporter: **How are you assured of that? **Śrīla Prabhupāda:** From the authorities and from God, Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa says: > sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ **"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear." [*Bhagavad-gītā* [[bg/18/66|18.66]]]** ** 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* Continuous chanting of the holy name as part of the foundation of spiritual life: **[Nārada Muni to the reformed hunter]: "Nārada Muni continued, 'Leave your home and go to the river. There you should construct a small cottage, and in front of the cottage you should grow a tulasī plant on a raised platform. After planting the tulasī tree before your house, you should daily circumambulate that tulasī plant, serve her by giving her water and other things, and continuously chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.'"** This is the beginning of spiritual life. After leaving householder life, one may go to a holy place, such as the bank of the Ganges or Yamunā, and erect a small cottage. A small cottage can be constructed without any expenditure. Four logs serving as pillars can be secured by any man from the forest. The roof can be covered with leaves, and one can cleanse the inside. Thus one can live very peacefully. In any condition, any man can live in a small cottage, plant a *tulasī *tree, water it in the morning, offer it prayers, and continuously chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra. *Thus one can make vigorous spiritual advancement. This is not at all difficult. One simply has to follow the instructions of the spiritual master strictly. Then everything will be successful in due course of time. As far as eating is concerned, there is no problem. If Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, supplies everyone with eatables, why should He not supply His devotee? Sometimes a devotee will not even bother to construct a cottage. He will simply go to live in a mountain cave. One may live in a cave, in a cottage beside a river, in a palace or in a big city like New York or London. In any case, a devotee can follow the instructions of his spiritual master and engage in devotional service by watering the *tulasī *plant and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra. *Taking the advice of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and our spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja, one can go to any part of the world and instruct people to become devotees of the Lord by following the regulative principles, worshiping the *tulasī *plant and continuously chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra.* *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/24/260|24.260-61]]* By hearing the transcendental vibration of the mahā-mantra, a sincere person can make spiritual advancement: **[Lord Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna]: Again there are those who, although not conversant in spiritual knowledge, begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about Him from others. Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death.** This verse is particularly applicable to modern society because in modern society there is practically no education in spiritual matters. Some of the people may appear to be atheistic or agnostic or philosophical, but actually there is no knowledge of philosophy. As for the common man, if he is a good soul, then there is a chance for advancement by hearing. This hearing process is very important. Lord Caitanya, who preached Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the modern world, gave great stress to hearing because if the common man simply hears from authoritative sources, he can progress, especially, according to Lord Caitanya, if he hears the transcendental vibration Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. It is stated, therefore, that all men should take advantage of hearing from realized souls and gradually become able to understand everything. The worship of the Supreme Lord will then undoubtedly take place. Lord Caitanya has said that in this age no one needs to change his position, but one should give up the endeavor to understand the Absolute Truth by speculative reasoning. One should learn to become the servant of those who are in knowledge of the Supreme Lord. If one is fortunate enough to take shelter of a pure devotee, hear from him about self-realization and follow in his footsteps, he will be gradually elevated to the position of a pure devotee. In this verse particularly the process of hearing is strongly recommended, and this is very appropriate. Although the common man is often not as capable as so-called philosophers, faithful hearing from an authoritative person will help one transcend this material existence and go back to Godhead, back to home. *— Bhagavad-gītā As It Is [[bg/13/26|13.26]]* By minimizing bodily necessities, the devotee can primarily devote his time to cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness through chanting the holy name: [Lord Caitanya explains that] a devotee should accept only those things that are favorable to keep his body and soul together and should reject those things that increase the demands of the body. Only the bare necessities for bodily maintenance should be accepted. By minimizing bodily necessities, one can primarily devote his time to the cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness through the chanting of the holy names of God. *— Teachings of Lord Caitanya* Saṅkīrtana and chanting as fundamental principles for the execution of devotional service: The next important items are as follows: ... 14) *Saṅkīrtana. *15) Chanting.... *— The Nectar of Devotion* Unless one follows the regulative principles governing chanting and hearing of the holy name, one cannot become a pure devotee: Unless one follows the spiritual master's instructions and the regulative principles governing chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, one cannot become a pure devotee. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/19/157|19.157]]* ### 18. Chanting of the Holy Name Is the Most Important Element of Devotional Service The most important item in the execution of devotional service is the chanting of the holy name: **Then the Bhaṭṭācārya asked Caitanya Mahāprabhu: "Which item is the most important in the execution of devotional service?" The Lord replied that the most important item was the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.** There are nine items to be executed in devotional service. These are enumerated in the following verse from *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *(7.5.23): > śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam Hearing the glories of the Lord, chanting, remembering, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering worship in the temple, offering prayers, becoming a servant of the Lord, becoming the Lord's friend, and *sarvātma-nivedana, *offering oneself fully at the lotus feet of the Lord—these are the nine devotional processes. In *The Nectar of Devotion, *these are expanded into sixty-four items. When Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya asked the Lord which item was most important, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately answered that the most important item is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/6/241|6.241]]* Of the nine processes of devotional service, chanting the holy name is the most important: **[Lord Caitanya to Sanātana Gosvāmī]: "Among the ways of executing devotional service, the nine prescribed methods are the best, for these processes have great potency to deliver Kṛṣṇa and ecstatic love for Him. Of the nine processes of devotional service, the most important is to always chant the holy name of the Lord. If one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very easily obtains the most valuable love of Godhead."** Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī Prabhu gives the following directions in his *Bhakti-sandarbha *(270) > iyaṁ ca kīrtanākhyā bhaktir bhagavato dravya-jāti-guṇa-kriyābhir dīna-janaika-viṣayāpāra-karuṇā-mayīti śruti-purāṇadi-viśrutiḥ. ata eva kalau svabhāvata evātidīneṣu lokeṣv āvirbhūya tān anāyāsenaiva tat-tad-yuga-gata-mahā-sādhanānāṁ sarvam eva phalaṁ dadānā sā kṛtārthayati. yata eva tayaiva kalau bhagavato viśeṣataś ca santoṣo bhavati. **"Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead. This chanting or devotional service does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor on one's having taken birth in a good family. By humility and meekness one attracts the attention of Kṛṣṇa. That is the verdict of all the *Vedas. *Therefore if one becomes very humble and meek, he can easily attain the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa in this Age of Kali. That is the fulfillment of all great sacrifices, penances and austerities because when one achieves ecstatic love of Godhead, he attains the complete perfection of life. Therefore whatever one does in executing devotional service must be accompanied with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā *[[cc/antya/4/70|4.70-71]]* Of the nine processes of devotional service, hearing and chanting the mahā-mantra is the most important: In the *bhakti-yoga *system there are nine different processes: hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, worshiping the Deity in the temple, praying, carrying out orders, serving Kṛṣṇa as a friend and sacrificing for Him. Out of these, *śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam* [SB 7.5.23]*, *hearing and chanting, are considered the most important. At a public *kīrtana *one person can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, while a group listens, and at the end of the *mantra, *the group can respond, and in this way there is a reciprocation of hearing and chanting. *— The Perfection of Yoga* Hearing of the holy name of the Lord (śravaṇa) is the basis for understanding the other processes of devotional service: **[Prahlāda Mahārāja to Hiraṇyakaśipu]: Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (In other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words)—these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Kṛṣṇa through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.** Hearing of the holy name of the Lord (*śravaṇa*) is the beginning of devotional service. Although any one of the nine processes is sufficient, in chronological order the hearing of the holy name of the Lord is the beginning. Indeed, it is essential.... Unless one hears about the holy name, form and qualities of the Lord, one cannot clearly understand the other processes of devotional service. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommends that one chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. *Paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam. *If one is fortunate enough to hear from the mouth of realized devotees, he is very easily successful on the path of devotional service. Therefore hearing of the holy name, form and qualities of the Lord is essential. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *7.5.23-24* All processes of devotional service must be preceded and followed by kīrtana, which is the most important process: **[Lord Caitanya to Satyarāja]: "... One can complete the nine processes of devotional service simply by chanting the holy name."** The nine devotional processes such as *śravaṇa *and *kīrtana *can all be attained at once if one simply chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly. In this regard, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī states in his book *Bhakti-sandarbha* (173):* yadyapy anyā bhaktiḥ kalau kartavyā, tadā kīrtanākhya-bhakti-saṁyogenaiva. *Out of the nine processes of devotional service, *kīrtana* is very important. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī therefore instructs that the other processes, such as *arcana, vandana, dāsya *and *sakhya, *should be executed, but they must be preceded and followed by *kīrtana, *the chanting of the holy name. We have therefore introduced this system in all of our centers. *Arcana, ārati, bhoga *offering, Deity dressing and decoration are all preceded and followed by 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. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/15/107|15.107]]* Chanting of the holy name is one of the five most important practices of devotional service: **[Lord Caitanya to Sanātana Gosvāmī]: "One should associate with devotees, chant the holy name of the Lord, hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, reside at Mathurā and worship the Deity with faith and veneration. These live limbs of devotional service are the best of all. Even a slight performance of these five awakens love for Kṛṣṇa."** In the *Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, *Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī states: > aṅgānāṁ pañcakasyāsya pūrva-vilikhitasya ca nikhila-śraiṣṭhya-bodhāya punar apy atra śaṁsanam **"The glorification of these five items [association with devotees, chanting the holy name and so on] is to make known the complete superiority of these five practices of devotional service."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/22/128|22.128-29]]* ### 19. The Holy Name Is Meant to Be Chanted by All Persons The entire world should glorify Lord Kṛṣṇa by the easy process of chanting the mahā-mantra: In the beginning of *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, *Śrīla Vyāsadeva offered his respectful obeisances to the Supreme Truth, Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa. After that he taught his son, Sukadeva Gosvāmī, to preach *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. *It is in this connection that Śukadeva Gosvāmī glorifies the Lord as *jayati*. 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* The chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa is universally applicable: 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* 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 Intro* 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* The holy name is readily available to everyone: "**'The holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa ...** **is so powerful that save for the dumb who cannot chant it, it is readily available to everyone, including the lowest type of man, the caṇḍāla....**'" *— *Padyāvalī* (24), by Rūpa Gosvāmī [cited: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/15/110|15.110]]]* Three kinds of men—those who are liberated, those trying to be liberated, and those entangled in sense gratification—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, like His fighting on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra and His dancing in Vṛndāvana with the *gopīs.... *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. Although the sound vibration of the transcendental qualities of the Lord is equally beneficial to all, for those who are *muktas, *liberated, it is especially pleasing. As described in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, *Eighth Canto, Third Chapter, verse twenty, because pure devotees, who no longer have any material desires, surrender fully to the lotus feet of the Lord, they always merge in the ocean of bliss by chanting and hearing the Lord's holy name. According to this verse, devotees like Nārada and other residents of Śvetadvīpa are seen always engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord because by such chanting they are always externally and internally blissful. The *mumukṣus, *persons desiring to be liberated, do not depend on the pleasures of the senses; instead, they concentrate fully on becoming liberated by chanting the holy name of the Lord. *Karmīs *like to create something pleasing to their ears and hearts, and although they sometimes like to chant or hear the glories of the Lord, they do not do it openly. Devotees, however, always spontaneously hear, chant about and remember the activities of the Lord... *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *10.1 "Additional Notes"* Saṅkīrtana, chanting of the holy name, 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. Do you think criminality exists only in the poorer section of society? **Lieutenant Mozee:** No. But I meant to ask whether there would be more of a beneficial influence—more of a strengthening of the community—if the program were held in a poorer area rather than an affluent area. **Śrīla Prabhupāda:** 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. Just as the hospital should be in a place where both the poor man and the rich man can easily come, the location of the *saṅkīrtana *facility should be easily accessible to all. Since everyone is materially infected, everyone should be able to take advantage. *— The Science of Self-Realization* Chanting of the holy name is recommended for not only the devotees, but for karmīs and jñānīs as well: **[Śukadeva Gosvāmī to King Parīkṣit]: ** **King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.** In this verse, Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī recommends the transcendental chanting of the holy name of the Lord.... This process is recommended not only for the successful execution of devotional service, but also even for those who are materially attached. According to Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, this way of attaining success is an established fact, concluded not only by him, but also by all other previous *ācāryas. *Therefore, there is no need of further evidence. The process is recommended not only for the progressive students in different departments of ideological success, but also for those who are already successful in their achievement as fruitive workers, as philosophers or as devotees of the Lord. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/2/1/11|2.1.11]]* ### 20. The Holy Name Benefits All Human Society It creates a spiritual atmosphere in the world Chanting of the holy name evokes the Vaikuṇṭha atmosphere, freeing the world from material hankering, envy and anxiety: **[Pracetās to Lord Viṣṇu]: Whenever pure topics of the transcendental world are discussed, the members of the audience forget all kinds of material hankerings, at least for the time being. Not only that, but they are no longer envious of one another, nor do they suffer from anxiety or fear.** Vaikuṇṭha means "without anxiety," and the material world means full of anxiety. As stated by Prahlāda Mahārāja: *sadā samudvigna-dhiyām asad-grahāt. *The living entities who have accepted this material world as a residence are full of anxiety. A place immediately becomes Vaikuṇṭha whenever the holy topics of the Personality of Godhead are discussed by pure devotees. This is the process of *śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ* [SB 7.5.23]*, *chanting and hearing about the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu. As the Supreme Lord Himself confirms: > nāhaṁ tiṣṭhāmi vaikuṇṭhe yogināṁ hṛdayeṣu vā tatra tiṣṭhāmi nārada yatra gāyanti mad-bhaktāḥ **"My dear Nārada, actually I do not reside in My abode, Vaikuṇṭha, nor do I reside within the hearts of the *yogīs, *but I reside in that place where My pure devotees chant My holy name and discuss My form, pastimes and qualities."** Because of the presence of the Lord in the form of the transcendental vibration, the Vaikuṇṭha atmosphere is evoked. This atmosphere is without fear and anxiety. One living entity does not fear another. By hearing the holy names and glories of the Lord, a person executes pious activities. *Śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ* (*S.B. *[[sb/1/2/17|1.2.17]]). Thus his material hankerings immediately stop. 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. The method is the propagation of the *śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam *process throughout the world [SB 7.5.23]. In the material world everyone is envious of his fellow man. Animalistic envy exists in human society as long as there is no performance of *saṅkīrtana-yajña, *the chanting of the holy names—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/30/35|4.30.35]]* 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 *Intro* **It brings peace** The formula for world peace is to develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness by the simple process of chanting the holy name of God: The earth is ... the property of God, but we, the living entities, especially the so-called civilized human beings, are claiming God's property as our own, under both an individual and collective false conception. If you want peace, you have to remove this false conception from your mind and from the world. This false claim of proprietorship by the human race on earth is partly or wholly the cause of all disturbances of peace on earth. Foolish and so-called civilized men are claiming proprietary rights on the property of God because they have now become godless. You cannot be happy and peaceful in a godless society. In the *Bhagavad-gitā *Lord Kṛṣṇa says that He is the factual enjoyer of all activities of the living entities, that He is the Supreme Lord of all universes, and that He is.the well-wishing friend of all beings. When the people of the world know this as the formula for peace, it is then and there that peace will prevail. Therefore, if you want peace at all, you will have to change your consciousness into Kṛṣṇa consciousness, both individually and collectively, by the simple process of chanting the holy name of God. This is a standard and recognized process for achieving peace in the world. We therefore recommend that everyone become Kṛṣṇa conscious by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. This is practical, simple, and sublime. Four hundred and eighty years ago this formula was introduced in India by Lord Śrī Caitanya, and now it is available in your country. Take to this simple process of chanting as above mentioned, realize your factual position by reading the *Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, *and reestablish your lost relationship with Kṛṣṇa, God. Peace and prosperity will be the immediate worldwide result. *— The Science of Self-Realization* Chanting can bring peace to the world: Lord Caitanya recommended that simply by glorifying the Lord's holy name, a tremendous change of heart can take place by which the complete misunderstanding between the human nations created by politicians can at once be extinguished. And after the extinction of the fire of misunderstanding, other profits will follow. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/2/4/18|2.4.18]]* Chanting of the holy name eradicates envy, and thus can bring real peace, unity and fraternity to human society: When one chants or discusses the transcendental activities of the Lord, he immediately becomes nonenvious. In this material world everyone is envious of everyone else, but by vibrating or discussing the holy name of the Lord, one becomes nonenvious and devoid of material hankering. Because of our envy for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we have become envious of all other living entities. When we are no longer envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there will be real peace, unity and fraternity in human society. Without Nārāyaṇa or *saṅkīrtana-yajña *there cannot be peace in this material world. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/4/30/36|4.30.36]]* If the Lord is pleased by the performance of hari-nāma saṅkīrtana, then the entire world will be in a peaceful and happy condition: My dear Mr. Kapadia, Please accept my greetings. With reference to your letter and your personal interview, I beg to inform you that without pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, no one can become happy. Unfortunately people do not know who God is and how to make Him happy. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is therefore meant to present the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly to the people. As stated in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, *Seventh Canto, [[sb/7/6/25|Sixth Chapter]]: *tuṣṭe ca tatra kim alabhyam ananta ādye/ kiṁ tair guṇa-vyatikarād iha ye sva-siddhāḥ.* The idea stated in this verse is that by pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we please everyone, and there is no question of scarcity. Because people do not know this secret of success, they are making their own independent plans to be happy. However, it is not possible to achieve happiness in this way. On your letterhead I find many important men in this country who are interested in relieving the sufferings of the people, but they should know for certain that without pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead all their attempts will be futile. A diseased man cannot live simply on the strength of the help of an expert physician and medicine. If this were so, then no rich man would ever die. One must be favored by Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore if you want to perform relief work simply by collecting funds, I think that it will not be successful. You have to please the supreme authority, and that is the way to success. For example, due to the performance of *saṅkīrtana *here, the rain has begun to fall after a drought of two years. The last time we performed a Hare Kṛṣṇa Festival in Delhi, there was imminent danger of Pakistan's declaring war, and when a newspaper man approached me for my opinion, I said there must be fighting because the other party was aggressive. However, because of our *saṅkīrtana *movement, India emerged victorious. Similarly, when we held a festival in Calcutta, the Naxalite [Communist] movement stopped. These are facts. Through the *saṅkīrtana *movement we can not only get all facilities for living, but also at the end can go back home, back to Godhead. Those who are of a demoniac nature cannot understand this, but it is a fact. I therefore request you, as leading members of society, to join this movement. There is no loss on anyone's part for chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *but the gain is great. According to *Bhagavad-gītā *[[[bg/3/21|3.21]]], what is accepted by leading men is also accepted by common men: > yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas yat tad evetaro janaḥ sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate "Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues." The *saṅkīrtana *movement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is very important. Therefore, through you I wish to appeal to all the leading men of India to accept this movement very seriously and give us all facility to spread this movement throughout the world. Then there will be a very happy condition, not only in India but all over the world. Hoping this will meet you in good health; Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami *— The Science of Self-Realization* The chanting of the holy name is the only remedy for setting the world aright: This world of māyā is called *durāśrayā, *which means "false or bad shelter." One who puts his faith in *durāśrayā *becomes a candidate for hoping against hope. In the material world everyone is trying to become happy, and although their material attempts are baffled in every way, due to their nescience they cannot understand their mistakes. People try to rectify one mistake by making another mistake. This is the way of the struggle for existence in the material world. If one in this condition is advised to take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and be happy, he does not accept such instructions. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is being spread all over the world just to remedy this gross ignorance. People in general are misled by blind leaders. The leaders of human society—the politicians, philosophers and scientists—are blind because they are not Kṛṣṇa conscious. According to *Bhagavad-gītā, *because they are bereft of all factual knowledge due to their atheistic way of life, they are actually sinful rascals and are the lowest among men. > na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ māyayāpahṛta jñānā āsuraṁ bhāvam āśritāḥ **"Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons do not surrender unto Me." (*Bg*. [[bg/7/15|7.15]])** Such people never surrender to Kṛṣṇa, and they oppose the endeavor of those who wish to take Kṛṣṇa's shelter. When such atheists become leaders of society, the entire atmosphere is surcharged with nescience. In such a condition, people do not become very enthusiastic to receive this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, just as a diseased person suffering from jaundice does not relish the taste of sugar candy. 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 **Scarcity of food in this age can be counteracted by propagation of saṅkīrtana-yajña, chanting of the holy name:** **[The personified earth planet to King Pṛthu]: Due to being stocked for a very long time, all the grain seeds within me have certainly deteriorated. Therefore you should immediately arrange to take these seeds out by the standard process, which is recommended by the ācāryas or śāstras.** When there is a scarcity of grain, the government should follow the methods prescribed in the *śāstra *and approved by the *ācāryas; *thus there will be a sufficient production of grains, and food scarcity and famine can be checked. *Bhagavad-gītā *recommends that we perform *yajña, *sacrifices. By the performance of *yajña, *sufficient clouds gather in the sky, and when there are sufficient clouds, there is also sufficient rainfall. In this way agricultural matters are taken care of. When there is sufficient grain production, the general populace eats the grains, and animals like cows, goats and other domestic animals eat the grasses and grains also. According to this arrangement, human beings should perform the sacrifices recommended in the *śāstras, *and if they do so there will no longer be food scarcity. In Kali-yuga, the only sacrifice recommended is *saṅkīrtana-yajña.* In this verse there are two significant words: *yogena, *"by the approved method," and *dṛṣṭena,* "as exemplified by the former *ācāryas*." One is mistaken if he thinks that by applying modern machines such as tractors, grains can be produced. If one goes to a desert and uses a tractor, there is still no possibility of producing grains. We may adopt various means, but it is essential to know that the planet earth will stop producing grains if sacrifices are not performed. The earth has already explained that because nondevotees are enjoying the production of food, she has reserved food seeds for the performance of sacrifice. Now, of course, atheists will not believe in this spiritual method of producing grains, but whether they believe or not, the fact remains that we are not independent to produce grain by mechanical means. As far as the approved method is concerned, it is enjoined in the *śāstras *that intelligent men in this age will take to the *saṅkīrtana *movement, and by so doing they shall worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Caitanya, whose bodily complexion is golden and who is always accompanied by His confidential devotees to preach this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement all over the world. In its present condition, the world can only be saved by introducing this *saṅkīrtana, *this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. As we have learned from the previous verse, one who is not in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is considered a thief. Even though he may be materially very advanced, a thief cannot be placed in a comfortable position. A thief is a thief, and he is punishable. Because people are without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they have become thieves, and consequently they are being punished by the laws of material nature. No one can check this, not even by introducing so many relief funds and humanitarian institutions. Unless the people of the world take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, there will be a scarcity of food and much suffering. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/4/18/8|4.18.8]]* If people in general chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, the necessities of life will automatically follow: "All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of *yajña* [sacrifice], and *yajña* is born of prescribed duties." (*Bg*. [[bg/3/14|3.14]]) When food grains are sufficiently produced, both animals and human beings can be nourished without difficulty for their maintenance. This is nature's arrangement. *Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvasaḥ* [Bg [[bg/3/27|3.27]]]*. *Everyone is acting under the influence of material nature, and only fools think they can improve upon what God has created. The householders are specifically responsible for seeing that the laws of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are maintained, without fighting between men, communities, societies or nations. Human society should properly utilize the gifts of God, especially the food grains that grow because of rain falling from the sky. As stated in *Bhagavad-gītā, yajñād bhavati parjanyaḥ* [Bg [[bg/3/14|3.14]]]*.* So that rainfall will be regulated, humanity should perform *yajñas, *sacrifices. *Yajñas *were previously performed with offerings of oblations of ghee and food grains, but in this age, of course, this is no longer possible, for the production of ghee and food grains has diminished because of the sinful life of human society. However, people should take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *as recommended in the *śāstras *(*yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ* [SB [[sb/11/5/32|11.5.32]]]). If people throughout the world take to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and chant the easy sound vibration of the transcendental name and fame of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there will be no scarcity of rainfall; consequently food grains, fruits and flowers will be properly produced, and all the necessities of life will be easily obtained. *Gṛhasthas, *or householders, should take the responsibility for organizing such natural production. It is therefore said, *tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovidaḥ. *An intelligent person should try to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness through the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, and all the necessities of life will automatically follow. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/7/14/7|7.14.7]]* In this age, people can be freed from drought and scarcity of rain by congregational chanting of the holy name: When the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra* is chanted by many men together, the chanting is called *saṅkīrtana, *and as a result of such a *yajña *there will be clouds in the sky (*yajñād bhavati parjanyaḥ* [Bg [[bg/3/14|3.14]]]). In these days of drought, people can gain relief from scarcity of rain and food by the simple method of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *yajña. *Indeed, this can relieve all of human society. At present there are droughts throughout Europe and America, and people are suffering, but if people take this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement seriously, if they stop their sinful activities and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *all their problems will be solved without difficulty. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/9/1/17|9.1.17]]* In order to counteract scarcity in this age, people must perform saṅkīrtana-yajña, chanting of the holy names: In the present Age of Kali there will eventually be a great scarcity of water *(anāvṛṣti), *for the general populace, due to ignorance and the scarcity of *yajña *ingredients, will neglect to perform *yajñas. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *therefore advises: *yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prayaiḥ yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ. *After all, *yajña* is meant to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this Age of Kali, there is great scarcity and ignorance; nonetheless, everyone can perform *saṅkīrtana-yajña. *Every family in every society can conduct *saṅkīrtana-yajña *at least every evening. In this way there will be no disturbance or scarcity of rain. It is essential for the people in this age to perform the *saṅkīrtana-yajña *in order to be materially happy and to advance spiritually. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/5/4/3|5.4.3]]* By performance of saṅkīrtana-yajña, the congregational chanting of the holy name, people will be happy economically, politically, socially, religiously and culturally: Yajña must be performed, for otherwise people will be entangled in sinful activities and will suffer immensely. Therefore the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement has taken charge of introducing the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa all over the world. This Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is also *yajña, *but without the difficulties involved in securing paraphernalia and qualified *brāhmaṇas. *This congregational chanting can be performed anywhere and everywhere. If people somehow or other assemble together and are induced to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, all the purposes of *yajña *will be fulfilled. The first purpose is that there must be sufficient rain, for without rain there cannot be any produce (*annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ* [Bg [[bg/3/14|3.14]]]). All our necessities can be produced simply by rainfall (*kāmaṁ vavarṣa parjanyaḥ* [SB [[sb/1/10/4|1.10.4]]]), and the earth is the original source of all necessities *(sarva-kāma-dughā mahī). *In conclusion, therefore, in this Age of Kali people all over the world should refrain from the four principles of sinful life—illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling—and in a pure state of existence should perform the simple *yajña *of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra. *Then the earth will certainly produce all the necessities for life, and people will be happy economically, politically, socially, religiously and culturally. Everything will be in proper order. *— *Śrīm*ad-Bhāgavatam 9.20.24-26* The performance of saṅkīrtana-yajña will make the world peaceful and prosperous: Whatever is taken from the earth—either from the mines, from the surface of the globe or from the atmosphere—should always be considered the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and should be used for Yajña, Lord Viṣṇu. As soon as the process of *yajña* is stopped, the earth will withhold all productions—vegetables, trees, plants, fruits, flowers, and other agricultural products and minerals. As confirmed in *Bhagavad-gītā, *the process of *yajña *was instituted from the beginning of creation. By the regular performance of *yajña*, the equal distribution of wealth and the restriction of sense gratification, the entire world will be made peaceful and prosperous. As already mentioned, in this Age of Kali the simple performance of *saṅkīrtana-yajña*—the holding of festivals as initiated by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness—should be introduced in every town and village.... If human society remains satisfied simply by taking grains from the planet earth as well as other necessities for maintaining the body, society will not be sufficiently prosperous.... Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. In Kali-yuga, if this Vedic *maha-mantra* is chanted regularly and heard regularly by the devotional process of *śravaṇaṁ* *kīrtanam, *it will purify all societies, and thus humanity will be happy both materially and spiritually. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/18/13|4.18.13]]* The results derived by great sacrifices in the past can be derived by performing saṅkīrtana-yajña: Unless we are prepared to perform the prescribed sacrifices, our supply of the necessities of life will be checked. *Bhagavad-gītā *confirms that Lord Brahmā created human society along with *yajña*, the performance of sacrifice. *Yajña* means Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and sacrifice means working for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this age, however, it is very difficult to find qualified *brāhmaṇas *who can perform sacrifices as prescribed in the *Vedas. *Therefore it is recommended in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyaiḥ) *that by performing *saṅkīrtana-yajña *and by satisfying the *yajña-puruṣa, *Lord Caitanya, one can derive all the results derived by great sacrifices in the past. King Pṛthu and others derived all the necessities of life from the earthly planet by performing great sacrifices. Now this *saṅkīrtana *movement has already been started by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. People should take advantage of this great sacrifice and join in the Society's activities; then there will be no scarcity. If *saṅkīrtana-yajña* is performed, there will be no difficulty, not even for industrial enterprises. Therefore this system should be introduced in all spheres of life—social, political, industrial, commercial, etc. Then everything will run very peacefully and smoothly. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/19/7|4.19.7]]* The whole world can become peaceful and prosperous through the saṅkīrtana-yajña: The politicians have very little time to think of the welfare of the citizens, whom they oppress with heavy taxes in the form of income tax, sales tax and many other taxes—people sometimes have eighty to ninety percent of their income taken away, and these taxes are lavishly spent for the high salaries drawn by the officers and rulers. Formerly, the taxes accumulated from the citizens were spent for performing great sacrifices as enjoined in the Vedic literature. At the present moment, however, almost all forms of sacrifice are not at all possible; therefore, it is recommended in the *śāstras *that people should perform *saṅkīrtana-yajña. *Any householder, regardless of his position, can perform this *saṅkīrtana-yajña *without expenditure. All the family members can sit down together and simply clap their hands and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra. *Somehow or other, everyone can manage to perform such a *yajña *and distribute *prasāda *to the people in general. That is quite sufficient for this Age of Kali. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is based on this principle: chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *at every moment, as much as possible, both inside and outside of the temples, and, as far as possible, distribute *prasāda.* This process can be accelerated with the cooperation of state administrators and those who are producing the country's wealth. Simply by liberal distribution of *prasāda *and *saṅkīrtana, *the whole world can become peaceful and prosperous. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/12/10|4.12.10]]* It creates a more auspicious political situation Through popularizing the chanting of the holy name, brahminical culture and kṣatriya government will automatically be revived: Because the population of the modern world consists mostly of *śūdras, *the brahminical culture is now lost and is extremely difficult to reestablish in a proper way. Therefore Lord Caitanya has recommended the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, which will revive brahminical culture very easily.... Because of the increment in demoniac population, people have lost brahminical culture. Nor is there a *kṣatriya *government. Instead, the government is a democracy in which any *śūdra *can be voted into taking up the governmental reins and capture the power to rule. Because of the poisonous effects of Kali-yuga, the *śāstra* (*S.B.* 12.2.13) says, *dasyu-prāyeṣu rājasu: *the government will adopt the policies of *dasyus, *or plunderers. Thus there will be no instructions from the *brāhmaṇas, *and even if there are brahminical instructions, there will be no *kṣatriya *rulers who can follow them. Aside from Satya-yuga, even formerly, in the days when demons were flourishing, Hiraṇyakaśipu planned to destroy the brahminical culture and the *kṣatriya *government and thus create chaos all over the world. Although in Satya-yuga this plan was very difficult to execute, in Kali-yuga, which is full of *śūdras *and demons, the brahminical culture is lost and can be revived only by the chanting of the *mahā-mantra. *Therefore the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, or the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, has been inaugurated to revive brahminical culture very easily so that people may become happy and peaceful in this life and prepare for elevation in the next.... Through the popularizing of *hari-kīrtana, *or the *saṅkīrtana *movement, the brahminical culture and *kṣatriya *government will automatically come back, and people will be extremely happy. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/7/2/11|7.2.11]]* If we chant the holy name offenselessly, the kingdom of Rāma can appear even in this Kali-yuga: [Śukadeva Gosvāmī to King Parīkṣit]: When Lord Rāmacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was the king of this world, all bodily and mental suffering, disease, old age, bereavement, lamentation, distress, fear and fatigue were completely absent. There was even no death for those who did not want it. All these facilities existed because of Lord Ramacandra's presence as the king of the entire world. A similar situation could be introduced immediately, even in this age called Kali, the worst of all ages. It is said, *kali-kāle nāma-rūpe kṛṣṇa-avatāra: *Kṛṣṇa descends in this Kali-yuga in the form of His holy name—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Rāma. If we chant offenselessly, Rāma and Kṛṣṇa are still present in this age. The kingdom of Rāma was immensely popular and beneficial, and the spreading of this Hare Kṛṣṇa movement can immediately introduce a similar situation, even in this Kali-yuga. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/9/10/53|9.10.53]]* To counteract the unfortunate situation in government, the general populace should chant the mahā-mantra: The protection of the earthly planet is dependent on proper rainfall, and as stated in *Bhagavad-gītā *and other scriptures, sacrifices are performed to please those demigods who are in charge of rainfall.... Thus the proper execution of *yajña*, sacrifice, is required. As indicated herein, King Pṛthu alone would induce all the citizens to engage in such sacrificial activities so that there would not be scarcity or distress. In Kali-yuga, however, in the so-called secular state, the executive branch of government is in the charge of so-called kings and presidents who are all fools and rascals, ignorant of the intricacies of nature's causes and ignorant of the principles of sacrifice. Such rascals simply make various plans, which always fail, and the people subsequently suffer disturbances. To counteract this situation, the *śāstras *advise: > *harer nāma harer nāma *harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] Thus in order to counteract this unfortunate situation in government, the general populace is advised to chant the *mahā-mantra: *Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/4/16/5|4.16.5]]* In this age, saintly persons should help the general populace not by political action, but by chanting the mahā-mantra: Saintly persons are not interested in political matters, yet they are always thinking of the welfare of the people in general. Consequently they sometimes have to come down to the political field and take steps to correct the misguided government or royalty. However, in Kali-yuga, saintly persons are not as powerful as they previously were. They used to be able to burn any sinful man to ashes by virtue of their spiritual prowess. Now saintly persons have no such power due to the influence of the Age of Kali. Indeed, the *brāhmaṇas *do not even have the power to perform sacrifices in which animals are put into a fire to attain a new life. Under these circumstances, instead of actively taking part in politics, saintly persons should engage in chanting the *mahā-mantra, *Hare Kṛṣṇa. By the grace of Lord Caitanya, by simply chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *the general populace can derive all benefits without political implications. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/14/12|4.14.12]]* It eradicates crime Crime can be eradicted by mass saṅkīrtana, which changes the heart: **Lieutenant Mozee: **I understand you have some ideas that could help us in our efforts to prevent crime. I'd be very interested to hear them. **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. Today people in general are in this diseased condition, and thus crime is very widespread. When the people become purified of these dirty things, crime will disappear. 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 age we live in is called Kali-yuga, the age of forgetting God. It is an age of misunderstanding and quarrel, and the people's hearts are filled with dirty things. But God is so powerful that if we chant His holy name we become purified, just as my disciples have become purified of their bad habits. Our movement is based on this principle of chanting the holy name of God. We give everyone the opportunity, without any distinction. They can come to our temple, chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *take a little *prasāda *as refreshment, and gradually become purified. So if the governmental authorities give us some facilities, then we can hold mass *saṅkīrtana. *Then, without a doubt, the whole society will change.... **Lieutenant Mozee: **If I could return to my original purpose for coming, might I ask what advice you could give to assist us in reducing crime? I recognize that the first and foremost way would be a return to God, as you say—there's no doubt about that—but is there something that we could immediately do to diminish this spreading criminal mentality? **Śrīla Prabhupāda: **Yes. As I've already outlined in the beginning of our talk, you should give us the facility to chant the holy name of God and distribute *prasāda. *Then there will be a tremendous change in the population. I came alone from India, and now I have many followers. What did I do? I asked them to sit down and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *and afterward I distributed a little *prasāda. *If this is done on a mass scale, the entire society will become very pleasing. This is a fact. **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. Do you think criminality exists only in the poorer section of society? **Lieutenant Mozee: **No. But I meant to ask whether there would be more of a beneficial influence—more of a strengthening of the community—if the program were held in a poorer area rather than an affluent area. **Śrīla Prabhupāda: **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. Just as the hospital should be in a place where both the poor man and the rich man can easily come, the location of the *saṅkīrtana *facility should be easily accessible to all. Since everyone is materially infected, everyone should be able to take advantage. The difficulty is that the rich man thinks he's perfectly healthy, although he's the most diseased of all. But as a policeman, you well know that there's criminality among rich men and poor men alike. So our chanting process is for everyone, because it cleanses the heart, regardless of the man's opulence or poverty. The only way to permanently change the criminal habit is to change the heart of the criminal. As you well know, many thieves are arrested numerous times and put into jail. Although they know that if they commit theft they will go to jail, still they are forced to steal, because of their unclean hearts. 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. **Lieutenant Mozee: **That's a very difficult task, sir. **Śrīla Prabhupāda: **It is not difficult. Simply invite everyone: "Come, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, dance, and take sumptuous *prasāda*." What is the difficulty? We are doing this at our centers, and people are coming. But because we have very little money, we can hold *saṅkīrtana *only on a small scale. We invite everyone, and gradually people are coming to our centers and becoming devotees. If the government would give us a large facility, however, we could expand unlimitedly. And the problem is big; otherwise why are there national news articles asking what to do? No civil state wants this criminality. That's a fact. But the leaders do not know how to stop it. If they listen to us, however, we can give them the answer. Why crime? Because people are godless. And what to do? Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and take *prasāda. *If you like, you can adopt this process of *saṅkīrtana. *Otherwise, we will continue conducting it on a small scale. We are just like a poor medical man with a small private practice who could open a big hospital if he were given the facility. The government is the executor. If they take our advice and adopt the process of *saṅkīrtana, *then the problem of crime will be solved. **Lieutenant Mozee:** There are many Christian organizations in the United States that give the holy communion. Why doesn't this work? Why is this not cleansing the heart? **Śrīla Prabhupāda: **To speak frankly, I find it difficult to find even one real Christian. The so-called Christians do not abide by the Bible's order. One of the ten commandments in the Bible is, "Thou shalt not kill." But where is that Christian who does not kill by eating the flesh of the cow? The process of chanting the Lord's holy name and distributing *prasāda *will be effective if carried out by persons who are actually practicing religion. My disciples are trained to strictly follow religious principles, and therefore their chanting of the holy name of God is different from others'. Theirs is not simply a rubber-stamped position. They have realized the purifying power of the holy name through practice. **Lieutenant Mozee: **Sir, isn't the difficulty that although a small circle of priests and devotees may follow the religious principles, those on the fringe deviate and cause trouble? For example, assume that the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement grows to gigantic proportions, as Christianity has. Wouldn't you then have a problem with people on the fringe of the movement who professed to be followers but were actually not? **Śrīla Prabhupāda: **That possibility is always there, but all I am saying is that if you are not a true Christian, then your preaching will not be effective. And because we are strictly following religious principles, our preaching will be effective in spreading God consciousness and alleviating the problem of crime. *— The Science of Self-Realization* ### 21. Even the Lowest of Men Can be Elevated by the Holy Name The holy name is readily available to even the lowest type of man: **"'The holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa ... is so powerful that save for the dumb who cannot chant it, it is readily available to everyone, including the lowest type of man, the caṇḍāla...'"** *— *Padyāvalī *(24), by Rūpa Gosvāmī [cited: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/15/110|15.110]]]* Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu distributed the nectar of the holy name to everyone: **The most munificent Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as Gaurakṛṣṇa, 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. This was never given to the people at any time before. I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/23/1|23.1]]* Regardless of social position, one should chant the holy name to overcome the spell of māyā and attain the transcendental platform: **Following the orders of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Govinda, His personal servant, called for all the poor beggars, who were unhappy due to their poverty, and fed them sumptuously. Observing the beggars eating prasāda, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted, "Hari bol!" and instructed them to chant the holy name. As soon as the beggars chanted the holy name, "Hari bol," they were immediately absorbed in ecstatic love of Godhead. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed wonderful pastimes.** Kṛṣṇa conducts the material world under the three modes of material nature, and consequently there are three platforms of life—higher, middle and lower. On whatever platform one may be situated, one is tossed by the waves of material nature. Someone may be rich, someone may be middle class, and someone may be a poor beggar—it doesn't matter. As long as one is under the spell of the three modes of material nature, he must continue to experience these divisions. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore advised the beggars to chant "Hari bol!" while taking *prasāda. *Chanting means accepting one's self as the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. This is the only solution, regardless of social position. Everyone is suffering under the spell of *māyā; *therefore the best course is to learn how to get out of the clutches of *māyā....* One can overcome the spell of *māyā *and attain the transcendental platform by agreeing to engage in the devotional service of the Lord. Devotional service begins with *śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam;* [SB 7.5.23]* *therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised the beggars to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra *for elevation to the transcendental position. On the transcendental platform, there is no distinction between the rich, the middle class and the poor. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/14/44|14.44-46]]* By chanting the holy name, one can be delivered regardless of caste, creed, color or social position: Generally *brāhmaṇas *are puffed up with false prestige because they belong to the aristocracy and perform many Vedic sacrifices. In South India especially, this fastidious position is most prominent. At any rate, this was the case five hundred years ago. 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. Whoever chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra* is immediately purified due to the transcendental position of devotional service. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is here hinting to Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya that an exalted *brāhmaṇa *who makes sacrifices and follows the Vedic principles should not neglect a person who is engaged in devotional service by chanting the holy name of the Lord. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/19/69|19.69]]* Even the lowest class of men is delivered from sinful activities simply by hearing the holy name of the Lord: **[King Citraketu to Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa]: My Lord, it is not impossible for one to be immediately freed from all material contamination by seeing You. Not to speak of seeing You personally, merely by hearing the holy name of Your Lordship only once, even caṇḍālas, men of the lowest class, are freed from all material contamination. Under the circumstances, who will not be freed from material contamination simply by seeing You?** As stated in the *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* ([[sb/9/5/16|9.5.16]]), *yan-nāma-śruti-mātreṇa pumān bhavati nirmalaḥ: *simply by hearing the holy name of the Lord, one is immediately purified. Therefore, in this Age of Kali, when all people are very contaminated, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is recommended as the only means of improvement. > *harer nāma harer nāma *harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi [[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]] **"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way." *(Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa) *** Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced this chanting of the holy name five hundred years ago, and now through the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, we are actually seeing that men who are considered to belong to the lowest class are being delivered from all sinful activities simply by hearing the holy name of the Lord. *Saṁsāra, *material existence, is a result of sinful actions. Everyone in this material world is condemned, yet as there are different grades of prisoners, there are different grades of men. All of them, in all statuses of life, are suffering. To stop the suffering of material existence, one must take to the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement of *saṅkīrtana *or Kṛṣṇa conscious life. Herein it is said, *yan-nāma sakṛc chravaṇāt: *the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is so powerful that if once heard without offenses, it can purify the lowest of men (*kirāta- hūṇāndhra- pulinda- pulkaśāḥ*). Such men, who are called *caṇḍālas, *are less than *śūdras, *but they also can be purified simply by hearing the holy name of the Lord, not to speak of personally seeing the Lord. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/6/16/44|6.16.44]]* Chanting of the holy names delivers one from the effects of sins and of lower-caste birth: **[Sūta Gosvāmī to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya]: Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said: God, although we are born in a mixed caste, we are still promoted in birthright simply by serving and following the great who are advanced in knowledge. Even by conversing with such great souls, one can without delay cleanse oneself of all disqualifications resulting from lower births. And what to speak of those who are under the direction of the great devotees, chanting the holy name of the Unlimited, who has unlimited potency? The Personality of Godhead, unlimited in potency and transcendental by attributes, is called the ananta [Unlimited].** The *dvija-bandhu, *or the less intelligent, uncultured men born of higher castes, put forward many arguments against the lower-caste men becoming *brāhmaṇas *in this life. They argue that birth in a family of *śūdras *or less than *śūdras* is made possible by one's previous sinful acts and that one therefore has to complete the terms of disadvantages due to lower birth. And to answer these false logicians, *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *asserts that one who chants the holy name of the Lord under the direction of a pure devotee can at once get free from the disadvantages due to a lower-caste birth.... Offenseless chanting indicates that one has fully understood the transcendental nature of the holy name and has thus surrendered unto the Lord. Transcendentally the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself are identical, being absolute. The holy name of the Lord is as powerful as the Lord. The Lord is the all-powerful Personality of Godhead, and He has innumerable names, which are all nondifferent from Him and are equally powerful also. In the last word of the *Bhagavad-gītā *the Lord asserts that one who surrenders fully unto Him is protected from all sins by the grace of the Lord. Since His name and He Himself are identical, the holy name of the Lord can protect the devotee from all effects of sins. The chanting of the holy name of the Lord can undoubtedly deliver one from the disadvantages of a lower-caste birth. The Lord's unlimited power is extended on and on by the unlimited expansion of the devotees and incarnations, and thus every devotee of the Lord and incarnations also can be equally surcharged with the potency of the Lord. Since the devotee is surcharged with the potency of the Lord, even fractionally, the disqualification due to lower birth cannot stand in the way. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/11/8/18|1.18.18-19]]* By chanting the holy name, even a lowborn person's body is changed into that of a brāhmaṇa: **[Śukadeva Gosvāmī to King Parīkṣit]: My** **dear King, a devotee who has taken shelter of the dust from the lotus feet of the Lord can transcend the influence of the six material whips—namely hunger, thirst, lamentation, illusion, old age and death—and he can conquer the mind and five senses. However, this is not very wonderful for a pure devotee of the Lord because even a person beyond the jurisdiction of the four castes—in other words, an untouchable—is immediately relieved of bondage to material existence if he utters the holy name of the Lord even once.** Not to speak of a sanctified devotee, even a *caṇḍāla, *an outcaste, who is untouchable, is immediately freed from material bondage if he utters the holy name of the Lord even once. Sometimes caste *brāhmaṇas *argue that unless one changes his body he cannot be accepted as a *brāhmaṇa, *for since the present body is obtained as a result of past actions, one who has in the past acted as a *brāhmaṇa *takes birth in a *brāhmaṇa *family. Therefore, they contend, without such a brahminical body, one cannot be accepted as a *brāhmaṇa. *Herein it is said, however, that even *vidūra-vigata, *a *caṇḍāla—*a fifth-class untouchable—is freed if he utters the holy name even once. Being freed means that he immediately changes his body. Sanātana Gosvāmī confirms this: > yathā kāñcanatāṁ yati kāṁsyaṁ rasa-vidhānataḥ tathā dīkṣā-vidhānena dvijatvaṁ jāyate nṛṇām When a person, even though a *caṇḍāla,* is initiated by a pure devotee into chanting the holy name of the Lord, his body changes as he follows the instructions of the spiritual master. Although one cannot see how his body has changed, we must accept, on the grounds of the authoritative statements of the *śāstras, *that he changes his body. This is to be understood without arguments. This verse clearly says, *sa* *jahāti bandham: *"He gives up his material bondage." The body is a symbolic representation of material bondage according to one's *karma. *Although sometimes we cannot see the gross body changing, chanting the holy name of the Supreme Lord immediately changes the subtle body, and because the subtle body changes, the living entity is immediately freed from material bondage. After all, changes of the gross body are conducted by the subtle body. After the destruction of the gross body, the subtle body takes the living entity from his present gross body to another. In the subtle body, the mind is predominant, and therefore if one's mind is always absorbed in remembering the activities or the lotus feet of the Lord, he is to be understood to have already changed his present body and become purified. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/5/1/35|5.1.35]]* By chanting the holy name offenselessly, even a person of low birth is freed from sinful reactions, becomes qualified as a brāhmaṇa, and becomes eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices: **[Devahūti to Lord Kapila]: To say nothing of the spiritual advancement of persons who see the Supreme Person face to face, even a person born in a family of dog-eaters immediately becomes eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices if he once utters the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or chants about Him, hears about His pastimes, offers Him obeisances or even remembers Him.** Herein the spiritual potency of chanting, hearing or remembering the holy name of the Supreme Lord is greatly stressed. Rūpa Gosvāmī has discussed the sequence of sinful activities of the conditioned soul, and he has established, in *Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, *that those who engage in devotional service become freed from the reactions of all sinful activities. This is also confirmed in *Bhagavad-gītā. *The Lord says that He takes charge of one who surrenders unto Him, and He makes him immune to all reactions to sinful activities. If by chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead one becomes so swiftly cleared of all reactions to sinful activities, then what is to be said of those persons who see Him face to face? Another consideration here is that persons who are purified by the process of chanting and hearing become immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices. Generally, only a person who is born in a family of *brāhmaṇas, *who has been reformed by the ten kinds of purificatory processes and who is learned in Vedic literature is allowed to perform the Vedic sacrifices. But here the word *sadyaḥ, *"immediately," is used, and Śrīdhara Svāmī also remarks that one can *immediately *become eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices. A person born in a family of the low caste which is accustomed to eat dogs is so positioned due to his past sinful activities, but by chanting or hearing once in pureness, or in an offenseless manner, he is immediately relieved of the sinful reaction. Not only is he relieved of the sinful reaction, but he immediately achieves the result of all purificatory processes. Taking birth in the family of a *brāhmaṇa* is certainly due to pious activities in one's past life. But still a child who is born in a family of a *brāhmaṇa *depends for his further reformation upon initiation into acceptance of a sacred thread and many other reformatory processes. But 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.* Śrīdhara Svāmī especially remarks in this connection, *anena pūjyatvaṁ lakṣyate. *Some caste *brāhmaṇas *remark that by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, purification *begins. *Of course, that depends on the individual process of chanting, but this remark of Śrīdhara Svāmī's is completely applicable if one chants the holy name of the Lord without offense, for he immediately becomes more than a *brāhmaṇa.* As* *Śrīdhara Svāmī says, *pūjyatvam: *he immediately becomes as respectable as a most learned *brāhmaṇa *and can be allowed to perform Vedic sacrifices. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/3/33/6|3.33.6]]* Even a low-class person can become a brāhmaṇa and fit to perform Vedic sacrifices by chanting the holy name: **[Devahūti to Lord Kapila]: "'To say nothing of the spiritual advancement of persons who see the Supreme Person face to face, even a person born in a family of dog-eaters becomes immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices if he once utters the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or chants about Him, hears about His pastimes, offers Him obeisances or even remembers Him.'"** This is a quotation from *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *([[sb/3/33/6|3.33.6]]). According to this verse, it doesn't matter what position a person holds. One may be the lowest of the low—a *caṇḍāla, *or dog-eater—but if he takes to chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, he is immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices. This is especially true in this Age of Kali.... A person born in a *brāhmaṇa *family cannot perform Vedic sacrifices until he is properly purified and has attained his sacred thread. However, according to this verse, it is understood that even a lowborn person can immediately perform sacrifices if he sincerely chants and hears the holy name of the Lord. Sometimes envious people ask how Europeans and Americans in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement can become *brāhmaṇas *and perform sacrifices. They do not know that the Europeans and Americans have already been purified by chanting the holy name of the Lord—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. This is the proof. *Śvādo 'pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate. *One may be born in a family of dog-eaters, but he can perform sacrifices simply by chanting the *mahā-mantra.* Those who find fault in the Western Vaiṣṇavas should consider this statement from *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *and the commentary on this verse by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī. In this regard, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has stated that to become a *brāhmaṇa, *one has to wait for purification and undergo the sacred thread ceremony, but a chanter of the holy name does not have to wait for the sacred thread ceremony. We do not allow devotees to perform sacrifices until they are properly initiated in the sacred thread ceremony. Yet according to this verse, an offenseless chanter of the holy name is already fit to perform a fire ceremony, even though he is not doubly initiated by the sacred thread ceremony. This is the verdict given by Lord Kapiladeva in His instructions to His mother, Devahūti. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/16/186|16.186]]* Although born in a Muhammadan family, Haridāsa Ṭhākura became a regularly initiated brāhmaṇa as well as Nāmācārya by dint of chanting the holy name: According to external vision, Haridāsa Ṭhākura belonged to a Muhammadan family. Nevertheless, because he engaged himself in performing the *yajña *of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *he became a regularly initiated *brāhmaṇa. *As stated in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *([[sb/3/33/6|3.33.6]]): > yan-nāmadheya-śravaṇānukīrtanād yat-prahvaṇād yat-smaraṇād api kvacit śvādo 'pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate kutaḥ punas te bhagavan nu darśanāt Even if a devotee comes from a family of dog-eaters, if he surrenders to the Personality of Godhead he immediately becomes a qualified *brāhmaṇa *and is immediately fit to perform *yajña, *whereas a person born in a family of *brāhmaṇas *has to wait until completing the reformatory processes before he may be called *saṁskṛta, *purified.... A person who is not purified by the prescribed process of *saṁskāra* is called *asaṁskṛta, *but if one remains *kriyā-hīna *even after being purified by initiation—in other words, if one fails to actually apply the principles of purity in his life—he remains an unpurified *mleccha *or *yavana. *On the other hand, we find that Haridāsa Ṭhākura, although born in a *mleccha *or *yavana *family, became Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura because he performed the *nāma-yayña* a minimum of 300,000 times every day. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā *[[cc/antya/3/124|3.124]]* Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya admitted that those who chant the holy name are qualified as brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas: **Thereafter, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa invited Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for lunch, and the Lord introduced the brothers Rūpa and Vallabha to him. From a distance, the brothers Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Vallabha fell on the ground and offered obeisances to Vallabha Bhaṭṭa with great humility. When Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya walked toward them, they ran away to a more distant place. Rūpa Gosvāmī said, "I am untouchable and most sinful. Please do not touch me." Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya was very surprised at this. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, was very pleased, and He therefore spoke to him this descrlption of Rūpa Gosvāmī. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Don't touch him, for he belongs to a very low caste. You are a follower of Vedic principles and are a well experienced performer of many sacrifices. You also belong to the aristocracy." Hearing the holy name constantly vibrated by the two brothers, Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya could understand the hints of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya admitted, "Since these two are constantly chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, how can they be untouchable? On the contrary, they are most exalted."** Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya's admission of the brothers' exalted position should serve as a lesson to one who is falsely proud of his position as a *brāhmaṇa. *Sometimes so-called *brāhmaṇas *do not recognize our European and American disciples as devotees or *brāhmaṇas, *and some *brāhmaṇas *are so proud that they do not allow them to enter temples. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu herein gives a great lesson. Although Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya was a great authority on brāhmaṇism and a learned scholar, he admitted that those who chant the Lord's holy name are bona fide *brāhmaṇas *and Vaiṣṇavas and are therefore exalted. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/19/65|19.65-71]]* By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, even unclean yavanas can become cultured Vaiṣṇavas by chanting the holy name: **Let me offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, by whose mercy even unclean yavanas become perfectly well-bred gentlemen by chanting the holy name of the Lord. Such is the power of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.** There is a persistent misunderstanding between caste *brāhmaṇas *and advanced Vaiṣṇavas or *gosvāmīs *because caste *brāhmaṇas, *or *smārtas, *are of the opinion that one cannot become a *brāhmaṇa *unless he changes his body. As we have discussed several times, it is to be understood that by the supremely powerful potency of the Lord, as described by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, everything is possible. Caitanya Mahāprabhu is as fully independent as Kṛṣṇa. Therefore no one can interfere with His activities. If He wants, by His mercy He can convert even a *yavana, *an unclean follower of non—Vedic principles, into a perfectly well behaved gentleman. This is actually happening in our propagation of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. The members of the present Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement were not born in India, nor do they belong to the Vedic culture, but within the short time of four or five years they have become such wonderful devotees, simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *that even in India they are well received as perfectly well behaved Vaiṣṇavas wherever they go. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/17/1|17.1]]* ### 22. The Holy Name Benefits Even Lower Species of Life All living entities, moving and nonmoving, were liberated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's loud chanting of the holy name: **[Lord Caitanya to Haridāsa Ṭhākura]: "On this earth there are many living entities," the Lord said, "some moving and some not moving. What will happen to the trees, plants, insects and other living entities? How will they be delivered from material bondage?" Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, "My dear Lord, the deliverance of all moving and nonmoving living entities takes place only by Your mercy. You have already granted this mercy and delivered them. You have loudly chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and everyone, moving or not moving, has benefited by hearing it. My Lord, the moving entities who have heard Your loud saṅkīrtana have already been delivered from bondage to the material world, and after the nonmoving living entities like trees hear it, there is an echo. Actually, however, it is not an echo; it is the kīrtana of the nonmoving living entities. All this, although inconceivable, is possible by Your mercy. When loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is performed all over the world by those who follow in Your footsteps, all living entities, moving and nonmoving, dance in ecstatic devotional love. My dear Lord, all the incidents that took place while You were going to Vṛndāvana through the forest known as Jhārikhaṇḍa have been related to me by Your servant Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya. When Your devotee Vāsudeva Datta submitted his plea at Your lotus feet for the deliverance of all living entities, You accepted that request. My dear Lord, You have accepted the form of a devotee just to deliver all the fallen souls of this world. You have preached the loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and in this way freed all moving and nonmoving living entities from material bondage.... By descending as an incarnation at Navadvīpa, You, just like Kṛṣṇa, have already delivered all the living entities of the universe."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā* [[cc/antya/3/67|3.67-76]], [[cc/antya/3/86|86]]* Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastime of causing the animals of Jhārikhaṇḍa forest to chant and dance: **When the Lord passed through the solitary forest chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, the tigers and elephants, seeing Him, gave way. When the Lord passed through the jungle in great ecstasy, packs of tigers, elephants, rhinoceros and boars came, and the Lord passed right through them. Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya was very much afraid to see them, but by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's influence, all the animals stood to one side. One day a tiger was Iying on the path, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, walking along the path in ecstatic love, touched the tiger with His feet. The Lord said, "Chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa!" The tiger immediately got up and began to dance and chant, "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!" Another day, while Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was bathing in a river, a herd of maddened elephants came there to drink water. While the Lord was bathing and murmuring the Gāyatrī mantra, the elephants came before Him. The Lord immediately splashed some water on the elephants and asked them to chant the name of Kṛṣṇa. The elephants whose bodies were touched by the water splashed by the Lord began to chant, "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!" and dance and sing in ecstasy. Some of the elephants fell to the ground, and some screamed in ecstasy. Seeing this, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya was completely astonished. Sometimes Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted very loudly while passing through the jungle. Hearing His sweet voice, all the does came near Him. Hearing the Lord's great vibration, all the does followed Him left and right. While reciting a verse with great curiosity, the Lord patted them. "Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached the son of Mahārāja Nanda, who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed, both the does and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection." While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was passing through the jungle, five or seven tigers came. Joining the deer, the tigers began to follow the Lord. Seeing the tigers and deer following Him, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately remembered the land of Vṛndāvana. He then began to recite a verse describing the transcendental quality of Vṛndāvana. "Vṛndāvana is the transcendental abode of the Lord. There is no hunger, anger or thirst there. Though naturally inimical, both human beings and fierce animals live together there in transcendental friendship." When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "Chant Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!" the tigers and deer began to dance and chant, "Kṛṣṇa!" When all the tigers and does danced and jumped, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya saw them and was struck with wonder. Indeed, the tigers and deer began to embrace one another, and, touching mouths, they began to kiss. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw all this fun, He began to smile. Finally He left the animals and continued on His way. Various birds, including the peacock, saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to follow Him, chanting and dancing. They were all maddened by the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. When the Lord loudly chanted "Hari bol!" the trees and creepers became jubilant to hear Him. Thus all living entities—some moving and some standing still in the forest of Jhārikhaṇḍa—became maddened by hearing the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa vibrated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/17/25|17.25-46]]* The loud chanting of the holy name benefits even plants, creepers, and insects: **When the Lord loudly chanted "Hari bol!" the trees and creepers became jubilant to hear Him.** 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. Śrī Caitanya once asked Haridāsa Ṭhākura how trees and plants could be delivered, and Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied that the loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra *would benefit not only trees and plants but insects and all other living beings. One should therefore not be disturbed by the loud chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, for it is beneficial not only to the chanter but to everyone who gets an opportunity to hear. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/17/45|17.45]]* Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu caused all moving and nonmoving creatures of Vṛndāvana to vibrate the holy name: **The Lord's body was restless, and tears, trembling and jubilation were manifest. He said very loudly, "Chant Kṛṣṇa! Chant Kṛṣṇa!" All moving and nonmoving creatures then began to vibrate the transcendental sound of Hare Kṛṣṇa, as if they were echoing the deep sound of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/17/205|17.205-6]]* 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* The loud chanting of the holy name benefits even lower species of life: Those who are actually servants of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu must seriously distribute this movement all over the world to render the greatest benefit to human society. Of course, animals and other lower species are not capable of understanding this movement, but if even a small number of living beings take it seriously, by their chanting loudly, all living entities, including even trees, animals and other lower species, will be benefited. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired from Haridāsa Ṭhākura how he was to benefit living entities other than humans, Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied that the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra* is so potent that if it is chanted loudly, everyone will benefit, including the lower species of life. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi *[[cc/adi/9/39|9.39]]* One can show mercy to all living entities (even animals and plants) by loudly chanting the mahā-mantra: [**Nārada Muni to the Pracetās]: By showing mercy to all living entities, being satisfied somehow or other and controlling the senses from sense enjoyment, one can very quickly satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Janārdana.** The word *sarva-bhūteṣu* is significant because it applies not only to human beings but to all the living entities appearing in the 8,400,000 species of life. The devotee can do good not only to humanity but to all living entities as well. Everyone can benefit spiritually by the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra. *When the transcendental vibration of Hare Kṛṣṇa is sounded, even the trees, animals and insects benefit. Thus when one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra *loudly, he actually shows mercy to all living entities. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/31/19|4.31.19]]*