## Chapter V Other Important Instructions Concerning the Holy Name ### 1. The Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Movement and the Holy Name The Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Movement Is Based Upon the Chanting of the Holy Name **Chanting the holy name is the basis of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement:** 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.... 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. *— The Science of Self-Realization* **The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is based upon the principle of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra at every moment, everywhere:** 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 temple, 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]]* **The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is based upon the principles of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, etc.:** **In the house of Advaita Ācārya, all the Vaiṣṇavas took pleasure in always talking of Kṛṣṇa, always worshiping Kṛṣṇa and always chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.** On these principles only does the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement go on. We have no business other than to talk of Kṛṣṇa, worship Kṛṣṇa and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā*-*mantra.* *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā *[[cc/adi/13/66|13.66]]* The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is chiefly engaged in chanting the mahā-mantra all over the world: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced the congregational chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *to give everyone a chance to hear Kṛṣṇa's holy name, for simply by hearing Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, one becomes purified (*ceto*-*darpaṇa*-*mārjanam* [Cc Antya [[cc/antya/20/12|20.12]]])*. *Therefore our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is chiefly engaged in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *all over the world. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/5/18/11|5.18.11]]* The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is spreading all over the world due to the chanting of the holy name **The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is being distributed all over the world through the chanting of the holy name:** **[Lord Caitanya]: "If the fruits are distributed all over the world, My reputation as a pious man will be known everywhere, and thus all people will glorify My name with great pleasure."** This prediction of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is now actually coming to pass. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is being distributed all over the world through the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā*-*mantra, *and people who were leading confused, chaotic lives are now feeling transcendental happiness. They are finding peace in *saṅkīrtana, *and therefore they are acknowledging the supreme benefit of this movement. This is the blessing of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. His prediction is now factually being fulfilled, and those who are sober and conscientious are appreciating the value of this great movement. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/9/40|9.40]]* **Thousands of people are attracted to the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement by the mahā-mantra:** The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is especially meant for creating an atmosphere in which people can take to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra. *One must begin with faith, and when this faith is increased by chanting, a person can become a member of the Society. We are sending *saṅkīrtana *parties all over the world, and they are experiencing that even in the remotest part of the world, where there is no knowledge of Kṛṣṇa, the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra *attracts thousands of men to our camp. In some areas, people begin to imitate the devotees by shaving their heads and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *only a few days after hearing the *mantra. *This may be imitative, but imitation of a good thing is desired. Some imitators gradually become interested in being initiated by the spiritual master and offer themselves for initiation. *— The Nectar of Instruction Text 7* **The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement began and developed simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa:** Śrīla Prabhupāda: ... I started my movement simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. I chanted in New York in a place called Tompkins Square Park, and soon people began to come to me. In this way, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement gradually developed. Many accepted, and many did not accept. Those who are fortunate have accepted. *— The Science of Self-Realization* **Many people are attracted to ISKCON simply by chanting:** By the grace of Lord Caitanya, this movement is already introduced in the Western countries, beginning from New York. Our *saṅkīrtana *movement was first introduced in New York in 1966. At that time I came and began to chant this Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *in Tompkins Square. I was chanting there for three hours with a small *mṛdaṅga *(drum), and these American boys assembled and gradually joined, and so it is increasing.... We are attracting many students simply by chanting, and they are understanding the entire philosophy and becoming purified. This Society's movement started only four years ago, in 1966, and we have so many branches already. The American boys and girls are taking it very seriously, and they are happy. Ask any one of them. *Ceto*-*darpaṇa*-*mārjanam* [Cc Antya [[cc/antya/20/12|20.12]]]*. *They are cleansing the dirty things from the heart, simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. *— The Science of Self-Realization* Other instructions **The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement will increase only if its leaders remain firmly Kṛṣṇa conscious by following the regulative principles and regularly chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra:** 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 Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself."** In this age, at the present moment, there are inordinate discrepancies in the discharge of human duties. Human life is meant for God realization, but unfortunately the materialistic civilization is stressing only the senses of the body, not understanding the living force within the body. As clearly stated in *Bhagavad*-*gītā *(*dehino 'smin yathā dehe* [Bg [[bg/2/13|2.13]]])*, *within the body is the body's proprietor, the living force, which is more important. But human society has become so fallen that instead of understanding the living force within the body, people have become busy with external things. This is a discrepancy in human duties. Therefore Kṛṣṇa has taken birth or taken shelter within the womb of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Men of Kaṁsa's class, therefore, are very much afraid and are busy trying to stop this movement, especially in the Western countries. One politician has remarked that the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is spreading like an epidemic and that if not checked immediately, within ten years it may capture governmental power. There is, of course, such potency in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. As stated by authorities (*Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta* *Ādi-līlā *[[cc/adi/17/22|17.22]]), *kali*-*kāle nāma*-*rūpa kṛṣṇa-avatāra: *in this age, Kṛṣṇa has appeared in the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra. *The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is spreading like wildfire all over the world, and it will go on doing so. Men who are like Kaṁsa are very much afraid of the movement's progress and acceptance by the younger generation, but as Kṛṣṇa could not be killed by Kaṁsa, this movement cannot be checked by men of Kaṁsa's class. The movement will go on increasing more and more, provided the leaders of the movement remain firmly Kṛṣṇa conscious by following the regulative principles and the primary activities of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *regularly. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/10/2/20|10.2.20]]* **Dealings with the material world for spreading the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement are spiritual, as long as one daily chants sixteen rounds of the mahā-mantra:** In our preaching work, we deal with so much property and money and so many books bought and sold, but because these dealings all pertain to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, they should never be considered material. That one is absorbed in thoughts of such management does not mean that he is outside of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If one rigidly observes the regulative principle of chanting sixteen rounds of the *mahā-mantra *every day, his dealings with the material world for the sake of spreading the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement are not different from the spiritual cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/5/16/3|5.16.3]]* **By chanting sixteen rounds of the mahā-mantra (etc.) one gets the spiritual strength with which to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world:** **[Chand Kazi to the devotees of Lord Caitanya]: "For so long you did not follow the regulative principles of the Hindu religion, but now you are following them with great enthusiasm. May I know by whose strength you are doing so?"** It appears that from the aggression of Vaktiyāra Khiliji in Bengal until the time of Chand Kazi, Hindus, or the followers of the Vedic principles, were greatly suppressed. Like the Hindus in present—day Pakistan, practically no one could execute the Hindu religious principles freely. Chand Kazi referred to this condition of Hindu society. Formerly the Hindus had not been straightforward in executing their Hindu principles, but now they were freely chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā*-*mantra. *Therefore it must have been by the strength of someone else that they were so daring. Actually, that was the fact. Although the members of the so-called Hindu society had followed the social customs and formulas, they had practically forgotten to execute their religious principles strictly. But with the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu they actually began following the regulative principles according to His order. That order is still existing, and anywhere and everywhere, in all parts of the world, one can execute it. That order is to become a spiritual master under the direction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by following the regulative principles, chanting daily at least sixteen rounds of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *and preaching the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. If we adhere to the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, we shall get spiritual strength without a doubt, and we shall be free to preach this cult of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement and not be hampered by anyone. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā *[[cc/adi/17/126|17.126]]* **Persecution of ISKCON's public chanting of the holy name proves that the movement is pure and genuine:** **[Chand Kazi to some devotees of Lord Caitanya]: "No one should perform saṅkīrtana on the streets of the city. Today I am excusing the offense and returning home."** Such orders stopping *saṅkīrtana *in the streets of the world's great cities have been imposed upon members of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. We have hundreds of centers all over the world, and we have been specifically persecuted in Australia. In most cities of the Western world we have been arrested many times by the police, but we are nevertheless executing the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by chanting on the streets of all the important cities, like New York, London, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne, Paris and Hamburg. We must remember that such incidents took place in the past, five hundred years ago, and the fact that they are still going on indicates that our *saṅkīrtana *movement is really authorized, for if *saṅkīrtana *were an insignificant material affair, demons would not object to it. The demons of the time tried to obstruct the *saṅkīrtana *movement started by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Similar demons are trying to obstruct the *saṅkīrtana *movement we are executing all over the world, and this proves that our *saṅkīrtana *movement is still pure and genuine, following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā *[[cc/adi/17/127|17.127]]* **At ISKCON's world center in Mayapur, there should be constant chanting of the holy names of the Lord:** **When the saṅkīrtana movement thus started, no one in Navadvīpa could hear any other sound than the words "Hari! Hari!" and the beating of the mṛdaṅga and clashing of hand bells.** The International Society for Krishna Consciousness now has its world center in Navadvīpa, Māyāpur. The managers of this center should see that twenty-four hours a day there is chanting of the holy names of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *with the addition of *haraye namaḥ, kṛṣṇa yādavāya namaḥ, *for this song was a favorite of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. But all such *saṅkīrtana *must be preceded by the chanting of the holy names of the five *tattvas—śrī*-*kṛṣṇa*-*caitanya prabhu nityānanda śrī*-*advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi*-*gaura*-*bhakta*-*vṛnda. *We are already accustomed to chant these two *mantras—śrī*-*kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda śrī*-*advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi*-*gaura-bhakta*-*vṛnda *and Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. Now, after these, the other two lines—namely, *haraye namaḥ, kṛṣṇa yādavāya namaḥ/ gopāla govinda rāma śrī*-*madhusūdana—*should be added, especially in Māyāpur. Chanting of these six lines should go on so perfectly well that no one there hears any other vibration than the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. That will make the center spiritually all-perfect. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā *[[cc/adi/17/123|17.123]]* **The members of ISKCON should perform nāma-saṅkīrtana in Māyāpur during Gaura-pūrṇimā to attract the attention of important people in India:** The members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness should go to India during the birthday ceremony of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Mayapur and perform *saṅkīrtana *congregationally. This will attract the attention of all the important personalities in India, just as the beauty, bodily luster and *saṅkīrtana *performance by the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu attracted the attention of Mahārāja Pratāparudra. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/11/96|11.96]]* ### 2. Qualifications and Disqualifications for Understanding and Chanting the Holy Name **Only the devotee can understand the transcendental nature of Kṛṣṇa's name:** **[The demigods to Lord Kṛṣṇa in the womb of Devakī]: Lord, Your transcendental name and form are not ascertained by those who merely speculate on the path of imagination. Your name, form and attributes can be ascertained only through devotional service.** As stated in the *Padma Purāṇa:* > ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ [*Cc Madhya* [[cc/madhya/17/136|17.136]]] **"One cannot understand the transcendental nature of the name, form, quality and pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa through one's materially contaminated senses. Only when one becomes spiritually saturated by transcendental service to the Lord are the transcendental name, form, quality and pastimes of the Lord revealed to him."** Since Kṛṣṇa and His transcendental name, form and activities are all of a transcendental nature, ordinary persons or those who are only slightly advanced cannot understand them.... *Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau sveyam eva sphuraty adaḥ:* [*Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu*. 1.2.234]* *Kṛṣṇa's transcendental name, form, attributes and activities can be revealed only when one engages in His service in full consciousness. This confirms Kṛṣṇa's own words in *Bhagavad*-*gītā *([[bg/18/55|18.55]]): > bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ tato māṁ tattvato jñātvā viśate tad-anantaram **"One can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God."** Only by *sevonmukha, *by engaging oneself in the Lord's service, can one realize the name, form and qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.... The Lord is also known as Giridhārī or Girivara-dhārī. Because Kṛṣṇa, for the sake of His devotees, lifted Govardhana Hill, the devotees appreciate the Lord's inconceivable strength; but nondevotees, in spite of directly perceiving the Lord's inconceivable strength and power, regard the Lord's activities as fictitious. This is the difference between a devotee and a nondevotee. Nondevotees cannot give any nomenclature for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, yet the Lord is known as Śyāmasundara and Giridhārī. Similarly, the Lord is known as Devakī-nandana and Yaśodā-nandana because He accepted the role of son for Mother Devakī and Mother Yaśodā, and He is known as Gopāla because He enjoyed the sport of maintaining the cows and calves. Therefore, although He has no mundane name, He is addressed by devotees as Devakī-nandana, Yaśodā-nandana, Gopāla and Śyāmasundara. These are all transcendental names that only devotees can appreciate and nondevotees cannot. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/10/2/36|10.2.36]]* **Although not advanced in purity or Vedic education, the young people of the West could accept the chanting of the holy name because they were not offensive:** **[Lord Caitanya to a brāhmaṇa]: "I have brought a heavy load to sell in this city. To take it back again is a very difficult job; therefore if I get but a fraction of the price, I shall sell it here in this city of Kāśī."** Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was selling the transcendental holy name of the Lord. However, Kāśī was a city of Māyāvādīs (impersonalists), and such people will never chant the holy names of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra. *Consequently Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was feeling disappointed. How could He teach the Māyāvādīs the importance of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra? *The attraction for chanting the holy name of the Lord belongs absolutely to pure devotees, and there was no possibility of finding pure devotees at Kāśī. Consequently Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's commodity was certainly very heavy. The Lord therefore suggested that even though there were no pure devotees in Kāśī, if someone was a little inclined to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *He would deliver this big load, although the proper price was not paid. Actually we experienced this when we came to preach the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement in the West. When we came to New York in 1965, we never expected that the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra *would be accepted in this country. Nonetheless, we invited people to our storefront to join in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *and the Lord's holy name is so attractive that simply by coming to our storefront in New York, fortunate young people became Kṛṣṇa conscious. Although this mission was started with insignificant capital, it is now going nicely. The spreading of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra *in the West has become successful because the young people were not offenders. The youths who joined this movement were not very advanced as far as purity was concerned, nor were they very well educated in Vedic knowledge, but because they were not offenders, they could accept the importance of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. We are now very happy to see that this movement is advancing more and more in the Western countries. We therefore conclude that the so-called *mlecchas *and *yavanas *of the Western countries are more purified than offensive Māyāvādīs or atheistic impersonalists. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/17/145|17.145]]* **The taste of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra can be tasted by one who is free from material hankering:** > nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-'bhirāmāt ka uttamaśloka-guṇānuvādāt pumān virajyeta vinā paśughnāt *(S.B. *[[sb/10/1/4|10.1.4]]) Parīkṣit Mahārāja said to the great sage Śukadeva Gosvāmī, "The discourses on *Śrīmad*-*Bhāgavatam *that you are giving me are not ordinary. These *Bhāgavata *discourses are relishable for persons who are *nivṛtta*-*tṛṣṇa, *free from hankering." Everyone in this material world is hankering for enjoyment, but one who is free from this hankering can taste how relishable the *Bhāgavatam* is. The word *bhāgavata *refers to anything in relationship to Bhagavān, the Supreme Lord, and the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra* is also *bhāgavata. *Thus Parīkṣit Mahārāja said that the taste of the *Bhāgavata *can be relished by one who is free from hankering to satisfy material desires. *— Teachings of Queen Kuntī* **We can understand the name of God as much as our spiritual understanding is developed:** **Śrīla Prabhupāda: **Because God is absolute, His name, His form, and His qualities are also absolute, and they are nondifferent from Him.... **Father Emmanuel:** But our understanding of the name of God is limited. **Śrīla Prabhupāda: **Yes, we are limited, but God is unlimited. And because He is unlimited, or absolute, He has unlimited names, each of which is God. We can understand His names as much as our spiritual understanding is developed. *— The Science of Self-Realization* **By chanting, one comes to understand Kṛṣṇa (and His holy name):** **"'Therefore material senses cannot appreciate Kṛṣṇa's holy name, form, qualities and pastimes. When a conditioned soul is awakened to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and renders service by using his tongue to chant the Lord's holy name and taste the remnants of the Lord's food, the tongue is purified, and one gradually comes to understand who Kṛṣṇa really is."** *— *Bhakti*-*rasāmṛta*-*sindhu *(1.2.234) [cited: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/17/136|17.136]]]* **The holy name can be heard by those who have developed love of Godhead:** [The *mahā-mantra*] is not a material sound like the sounds we hear on the radio. It is a spiritual sound that comes from the spiritual world. Even in the material world we can release a sound from one place, and it can be heard thousands of miles away. A spiritual sound can be released from many trillions of miles away, and it can be heard, provided that one has the machine to capture it. That machine is *bhagavat*-*prema. *Those who have developed love of Godhead can hear it. *— Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti* **One cannot understand the glories of the holy name simply by logic and argument:** **[Haridāsa Ṭhākura to an assembly of scholars]: "One cannot understand the glories of the holy name simply by logic and argument..."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā *[[cc/antya/3/206|3.206]]* **The transcendental nature of the holy name cannot be understood by logic and argument, but by regular chanting with faith:** 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. *— Teachings of Lord Caitanya* **Empiricists who reject the paramparā system cannot understand the transcendental activities of the holy name:** The principles of the *paramparā *system were strictly honored in the ages of Satya-yuga, Tretā-yuga and Dvāpara-yuga, but in the present age, Kali-yuga, people neglect the importance of this system of *śrauta*-*paramparā, *or receiving knowledge by disciplic succession. In this age, people are prepared to argue that they can understand that which is beyond their limited knowledge and perception through so-called scientific observations and experiments, not knowing that actual truth comes down to man from authorities. This argumentative attitude is against the Vedic principles, and it is very difficult for one who adopts it to understand that the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is as good as Kṛṣṇa Himself.... although materialists who are addicted to experimental knowledge and the so-called "scientific method" cannot place their faith in the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā*-*mantra, *it is a fact that simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *offenselessly one can be freed from all subtle and gross material conditions. The spiritual world is called Vaikuṇṭha, which means "without anxiety." In the material world everything is full of anxiety (*kuṇṭha*)*, *whereas in the spiritual world (Vaikuṇṭha) everything is free from anxiety. Therefore those who are afflicted by a combination of anxieties cannot understand the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *which is free from all anxiety.... A name which represents an object of this material world may be subjected to arguments and experimental knowledge, but in the absolute world a name and its owner, fame and the famous, are identical, and similarly the qualities, pastimes and everything else pertaining to the Absolute are also absolute. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/7/74|7.74]]* **Being ignorant about and offensive to Kṛṣṇa, Māyāvādīs cannot underatand or chant the personal names of the Lord:** **The brāhmaṇa's mind was already purified by seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He therefore went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and described what took place before the Māyāvādī *sannyāsī* Prakāśānanda. Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu mildly smiled. The brāhmaṇa then spoke again to the Lord. The brāhmaṇa said, "As soon as I uttered Your name before him, he immediately confirmed the fact that he knew Your name. While finding fault with You, he uttered Your name three times, saying, 'Caitanya, Caitanya, Caitanya.' Although he spoke Your name three times, he did not utter the name of Kṛṣṇa. Because he uttered Your name in contempt, I was very much aggrieved. Why could Prakāśānanda not utter the names of Kṛṣṇa and Hari? He chanted the name Caitanya thrice. As far as I am concerned, simply by seeing You I am moved to chant the holy names of Kṛṣṇa and Hari." Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "Māyāvādī impersonalists are great offenders unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; therefore they simply utter the words Brahman, ātmā and caitanya. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is not manifest in their mouths because they are offenders unto Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is identical with His holy name ... Because the Māyāvādīs are great offenders and atheistic philosophers, the holy name of Kṛṣṇa does not come from their mouths."** Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī viiified and blasphemed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Words like *brahma, caitanya, ātmā, paramātmā, jagadīśa, iśvara, virāṭ, vibhu, bhūmān, viśvarūpa *and *vyāpaka *all indirectly indicate Kṛṣṇa. However, the chanter of these names is not actually attracted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa and His transcendental pastimes. One may get a little light from these names, but one cannot understand that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Lord. One considers the Lord's names material due to a poor fund of knowledge. Māyāvādī philosophers and the *pañcopāsakas *cannot in the least understand the existence of the spiritual world and the blissful variegatedness there. They cannot understand the Absolute Truth and its spiritual varieties—name, form, qualities and pastimes. Consequently they conclude that Kṛṣṇa's transcendental activities are *māyā. *Due to this, one has to directly cultivate knowledge about the holy name of the Lord. Māyāvādī philosophers do not know this fact, and therefore they commit great offenses.... Māyāvādīs believe that the Absolute Truth is ultimately impersonal. When an incarnation of God or God Himself comes, they think He is covered by *māyā. *In other words, Māyāvādī impersonalists think that the Lord's form is also a product of this material world. Due to a poor fund of knowledge, they cannot understand that Kṛṣṇa has no body separate from Himself. His body and Himself are both the same Absolute Truth. Not having perfect knowledge of Kṛṣṇa, such impersonalists certainly commit offenses at His lotus feet. Therefore they do not utter the original name of the Absolute Truth, Kṛṣṇa. In their impersonal way, they utter the name of impersonal Brahman, spirit soul. In other words, they indulge in indirect indications of the Absolute Truth. Even if they happen to utter the name of Govinda, Kṛṣṇa or Mādhava, they still cannot understand that these names are as good as Govinda, Kṛṣṇa or Mādhava the person. Because they are ultimately impersonalists, their uttering of the personal name has no potency. Actually they do not believe in Kṛṣṇa but consider all these names to be material vibrations. Not being able to appreciate the holy name of the Lord, they simply utter indirect names like Brahman, *ātmā *and *caitanya.* *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/17/123|17.123-30]], [[cc/madhya/17/132|132]], [[cc/madhya/17/143|143]]* **Because the Māyāvādīs cannot understand the transcendental nature of the holy name, they cannot utter it:** According to the material conception, there is duality between the name, form, quality, emotions and activities of a person and the person himself, but as far as the transcendental vibration is concerned, there is no such limitation, for it descends from the spiritual world. In the spiritual world there is no difference between the name of the person and the quality of the person. Of course in the material world there is a difference. Because the Māyāvādī philosophers cannot understand this, they cannot utter the transcendental vibration. *— Teachings of Lord Caitanya* **Lord Caitanya was disappointed because the Māyāvādīs of Kāśī could not accept the chanting of the holy name:** **[Lord Caitanya to a brāhmaṇa]: "Because the Māyāvādīs are great offenders and atheistic philosophers, the holy name of Kṛṣṇa does not come from their mouths. I have come here to sell My emotional ecstatic sentiments in this city of Kāśī, but I cannot find any customers. If they are not sold, I must take them back home. I have brought a heavy load to sell in this city. To take it back again is a very difficult job; therefore if I get but a fraction of the price, I shall sell it here in this city of Kāśī."** Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was selling the transcendental holy name of the Lord. However, Kāśī was a city of Māyāvādīs (impersonalists), and such people will never chant the holy names of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra. *Consequently Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was feeling disappointed. How could He teach the Māyāvādīs the importance of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra? *The attraction for chanting the holy name of the Lord belongs absolutely to pure devotees, and there was no possibility of finding pure devotees at Kāśī. Consequently Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's commodity was certainly very heavy. The Lord therefore suggested that even though there were no pure devotees in Kāśī, if someone was a little inclined to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *He would deliver this big load, although the proper price was not paid. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/17/143|17.143-45]]* **One can mentally respect, but should avoid the association of, prākṛta-sahajiyās who chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra:** We can see from practical experience that there are different types of Vaiṣṇavas. The *prākṛta*-*sahajiyās *generally chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *yet they are attached to women, money and intoxication. Although such persons may chant the holy name of the Lord, they are not yet properly purified. Such people should be respected within one's mind, but their association should be avoided. *— The Nectar of Instruction Text 5* **Sometimes yogīs and jñānīs chant the mahā-mantra, but without proper understanding:** Impersonal speculation, monism (merging into the existence of the Supreme), speculative knowledge, mystical *yoga *and meditation are all compared to grains of sand. They simply cause irritation to the heart. No one can satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead by such activities, nor do we give the Lord a chance to sit in our hearts peacefully. Rather, the Lord is simply disturbed by them. Sometimes *yogīs *and *jñānīs *in the beginning take to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra *as a way to begin their various practices. However, when they falsely think that they have attained release from the bondage of material existence, they give up chanting. They do not consider that the ultimate goal is the form of the Lord or the name of the Lord. Such unfortunate creatures are never favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for they do not know what devotional service is. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/12/135|12.135]]* ### 3. Nāma-dīkṣā, Brahminical Initiation, and the Holy Name **Sincere eagerness to chant the holy name is the main qualification to be initiated according to the pāñcarātrika process:** The following injunction is given in the *Hari*-*bhakti*-*vilāsa *(1.194): > tāntrikeṣu ca mantreṣu dīkṣāyāṁ yoṣitām api sādhvīnām adhikāro 'sti śūdrādīnāṁ ca sad-*dhiyām* **"Śūdras and* *women who are chaste and sincerely interested in understanding the Absolute Truth are qualified to be initiated with the *pāñcarātrika*-*mantras*."** This is also confirmed in *Bhagavad*-*gītā *([[bg/9/32|9.32]]): > māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās te 'pi yānti parāṁ gatim **"O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth—women, *vaiśyas *[merchants], as well as *śūdras *[workers]—can approach the supreme destination."** If one actually wants to serve Kṛṣṇa, it doesn't matter whether one is a *śūdra, vaiśya, *or even a woman. If one is sincerely eager to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *or *dīkṣā*-*mantra, *he is qualified to be initiated according to the *pāñcarātrika *process. According to Vedic principles, only a *brāhmaṇa *who is fully engaged in his occupational duties can be initiated. *Śūdras *and women are not admitted to a *vaidika *initiation. Unless one is fit according to the estimation of the spiritual master, one cannot accept a *mantra *from the *pāñcarātrika*-*vidhi *or the *vaidika-vidhi. *When one is fit to accept the *mantra, *he is initiated by the *pāñcarātrika*-*vidhi *or the *vaidika*-*vidhi. *In any case, the result is the same. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/24/331|24.331]]* **When the disciple has become competent and purified by chanting, the spiritual master offers him the sacred thread:** Usually, initiation depends on the bona fide spiritual master, who directs the disciple. If he sees that a disciple has become competent and purified by the process of chanting, he offers the sacred thread to the disciple.... By the process of initiation by the spiritual master, a person is accepted as a *brāhmaṇa *in his purified state of chanting the holy name of the Lord. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/10/2/36|3.33.6]]* **Even without recitation of kāma-gāyatrī, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa is sufficient to elevate one to the highest spiritual platform:** Lord Kṛṣṇa is worshiped by the Gāyatrī *mantra, *and the specific *mantra *by which He is worshiped is called *kāma*-*gāyatrī. *Vedic literatures explain that that sound vibration which can elevate one from mental concoction is called *gāyatrī. *The *kāma*-*gāyatrī mantra* is composed of 24 1/2* *syllables thus: > *klīṁ kāma*-*devāya vidmahe puṣpa-bāṇāya dhīmahi tan no 'naṅgaḥ pracodayāt* *This kāma-gāyatrī* is received from the spiritual master when the disciple is advanced in chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. In other words, this *kāma-gāyatrī* *mantra *and *saṁskāra, *or reformation of a perfect *brāhmaṇa, *are offered by the spiritual master when he sees that his disciple is advanced in spiritual knowledge. Even then, the *kāma-gāyatrī* is not uttered under certain circumstances. In any case the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa is sufficient to elevate one to the highest spiritual platform. *— Teachings of Lord Caitanya* **Haridāsa Ṭhākura formally initiated Māyā by asking her to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra:** **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."** Now even Māyā wanted to be favored by Haridāsa Ṭhākura. Therefore Haridāsa Ṭhākura formally initiated her by asking her to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra.* *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta* Antya-līlā *[[cc/antya/3/259|3.259]]* **When one situated on the platform of love of God chants the holy name loudly, everyone becomes initiated in the chanting of the holy name:** When a devotee is perfectly qualified in chanting the transcendental vibration of the holy name, he is quite fit to become a spiritual master and to deliver all the people of the world. The chanting of the holy name is so powerful that it gradually establishes its supremacy above everything in the world. The devotee who chants it becomes transcendentally situated in ecstasy and sometimes laughs, cries and dances in his ecstasy. Sometimes the unintelligent put hindrances in the path of chanting this *mahā-mantra, *but one who is situated on the platform of love of Godhead chants the holy name loudly for all concerned. As a result, everyone becomes initiated in the chanting of the holy names—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. *— Teachings of Lord Caitanya* ### 4. Relative Importance of Chanting and Initiation **The chanting of the holy name does not depend upon initiation:** **[Lord Caitanya to Satyarāja]: "One does not have to undergo initiation or execute the activities required before initiation. One simply has to vibrate the holy name with his lips. Thus even a man in the lowest class [caṇḍāla] can be delivered."** In the *Rāmārcana*-*candrikā *it is stated: > *vinaiva dīkṣāṁ viprendra puraścaryāṁ vinaiva hi vinaiva nyāsa-vidhinā* japa-*mātreṇa siddhidā* In other words, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra *is so powerful that it does not depend on official initiation... The offenseless chanting of the holy name does not depend on the initiation process. Although initiation may depend on *puraścaryā *or *puraścaraṇa, *the actual chanting of the holy name does not depend on *puraścaryā*-*vidhi, *or the regulative principles. If one chants the holy name once without committing an offense, he attains all success.... Simply by chanting the holy name, one is immediately delivered. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/15/108|15.108]]* **The holy name is self-sufficient:** **"'...Simply by touching the holy name with one's tongue, immediate effects are produced. Chanting the holy name does not depend on initiation, pious activities or the puraścaryā regulative principles generally observed before initiation. The holy name does not wait for all these activities. It is self-sufficient.'"** *— *Padyāvali* (29), by Rūpa Gosvāmī [cited: Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/15/110|15.110]]]* **Whether or not one is properly initiated, if he chants the holy name offenselessly, he is a pure Vaiṣṇava and must be respected:** **[Lord Caitanya to Satyarāja]: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then finally advised, "One who is chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is understood to be a Vaiṣṇava; therefore you should offer all respects to him."** Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura comments that serving Vaiṣṇavas is most important for householders. Whether a Vaiṣṇava is properly initiated or not is not a subject for consideration. One may be initiated and yet contaminated by the Māyāvāda philosophy, but a person who chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly will not be so contaminated. A properly initiated Vaiṣṇava may be imperfect, but one who chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly is all-perfect. Although he may apparently be a neophyte, he still has to be considered a pure unalloyed Vaiṣṇava. It is the duty of the householder to offer respects to such an unalloyed Vaiṣṇava. This is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's instruction. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/15/111|15.111]]* **Although chanting the holy name is sufficient for perfection, one should receive brahminical initiation for purification:** If one is interested in the process of *arcana*, one must positively take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master and learn the process from him. There are many books for *arcana*, especially *Nārada* *Pañcarātra. *In this age, the *Pañcarātra *system is particularly recommended for *arcana*, Deity worship. There are two systems of *arcana*—the *bhāgavata *system and *pāñcarātrikī* system. In the *Śrīmad*-*Bhāgavatam *there is no recommendation of *pāñcarātrikī *worship because in this Kali-yuga, even without Deity worship, everything can be perfectly performed simply through hearing, chanting, remembering and worship of the lotus feet of the Lord.... The special purpose of Deity worship is to keep oneself always pure and clean.... Deity worship should be continued along with hearing and chanting.... By chanting the holy name of the Lord, one can reach the platform of love of Godhead. One might ask, then what is the necessity of being initiated? The answer is that even though the chanting of the holy name is sufficient to enable one to progress in spiritual life to the standard of love of Godhead, one is nonetheless susceptible to contamination because of possessing a material body. Consequently, special stress is given to the *arcana*-*vidhi. *One should therefore regularly take advantage of both the *bhāgavata *process and *pāñcarātrikī *process. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *7.5.23-24* **Although chanting of the holy name is complete in itself, initiation and Deity worship are still necessary for purification:** To chant the holy name of the Lord, one need not depend upon other paraphernalia, for one can immediately get all the desired results of connecting or linking with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It may therefore be questioned why there is a necessity for initiation or further spiritual activities in devotional service for one who engages in the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The answer is that although it is correct that one who fully engages in chanting the holy name need not depend upon the process of initiation, generally a devotee is addicted to many abominable material habits due to material contamination from his previous life. In order to get quick relief from all these contaminations, it is required that one engage in the worship of the Lord in the temple. The worship of the Deity in the temple is essential to reduce one's restlessness due to the contaminations of conditional life. Thus Nārada, in his *Pāñcarātrikī vidhi, *and other great sages have sometimes stressed that since every conditioned soul has a bodily concept of life aimed at sense enjoyment, to restrict this sense enjoyment the rules and regulations for worshiping the Deity in the temple are essential. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has described that the holy name of the Lord can be chanted by liberated souls, but almost all the souls we have to initiate are conditioned. It is advised that one chant the holy name of the Lord without offenses and according to the regulative principles, yet due to their past bad habits they violate these rules and regulations. Thus the regulative principles for worship of the Deity are also simultaneously essential. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/7/76|7.76]]* ### 5. Relative Importance of Chanting and Deity Worship **In Kali-yuga, chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is more powerful than Deity worship:** As it is said in *Śrīmad*-*Bhagawtam *([[sb/12/3/52|12.3.52]]): > kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇuṁ tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ dvāpare paricaryāyāṁ kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt **"Whatever result one obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viṣṇu, in Tretā-yuga by performing sacrifices and in Dvāpara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet one can also obtain in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā*-*mantra*."** In Satya-yuga, every person was spiritually advanced, and there was no envy between great personalities. Gradually, however, because of material contamination with the advance of the ages, disrespectful dealings appeared even among *brāhmaṇas *and Vaiṣṇavas.... When great saintly persons saw this contamination, they introduced worship of the Deity in the temple. This began in Tretā-yuga and was especially prominent in Dvāpara-yuga (*dvāpare paricaryāyām*)*. *But in Kali-yuga, worship of the Deity is being neglected. Therefore chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *is more powerful than Deity worship. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu set a practical example in that He did not establish any temples or Deities, but He profusely introduced the *saṅkīrtana *movement. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/7/14/39|7.14.39]]* **Although chanting of the holy name is complete in itself, initiation and Deity worship are still necessary for purification:** To chant the holy name of the Lord, one need not depend upon other paraphernalia, for one can immediately get all the desired results of connecting or linking with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It may therefore be questioned why there is a necessity for initiation or further spiritual activities in devotional service for one who engages in the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The answer is that although it is correct that one who fully engages in chanting the holy name need not depend upon the process of initiation, generally a devotee is addicted to many abominable material habits due to material contamination from his previous life. In order to get quick relief from all these contaminations, it is required that one engage in the worship of the Lord in the temple. The worship of the Deity in the temple is essential to reduce one's restlessness due to the contaminations of conditional life. Thus Nārada, in his *pāñcarātrikī vidhi, *and other great sages have sometimes stressed that since every conditioned soul has a bodily concept of life aimed at sense enjoyment, to restrict this sense enjoyment the rules and regulations for worshiping the Deity in the temple are essential. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has described that the holy name of the Lord can be chanted by liberated souls, but almost all the souls we have to initiate are conditioned. It is advised that one chant the holy name of the Lord without offenses and according to the regulative principles, yet due to their past bad habits they violate these rules and regulations. Thus the regulative principles for worship of the Deity are also simultaneously essential. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā* [[cc/adi/7/76|7.76]]* **Saṅkīrtana, chanting of the holy name, must go hand in hand with Deity worship:** 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. Nevertheless, to keep oneself clean in habits and mind, Deity worship and other regulative principles are required. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī says that although *saṅkīrtana* is sufficient for the perfection of life, the *arcana, *or worship of the Deity in the temple, must continue in order that the devotees may stay clean and pure. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura therefore recommended that one follow both processes simultaneously. We strictly follow his principle of performing Deity worship and *saṅkīrtana *along parallel lines. This we should continue. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/6/3/25|6.3.25]]* ### 6. The Interrelationship Between Chanting and Studying Scripture **By becoming purified by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, the general mass of people can come to understand *Bhagavad-gītā* and *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:*** Saintly people like Jaḍa Bharata do not speak ordinary words. Whatever they say is approved by great *yogīs *and those advanced in spiritual life. That is the difference between ordinary people and saintly people. The listener must also be advanced to understand the words of such exalted, spiritually advanced people as Jaḍa Bharata. *Bhagavad*-*gītā *was spoken to Arjuna, not to others. Lord Kṛṣṇa especially selected Arjuna for instruction in spiritual knowledge because Arjuna happened to be a great devotee and confidential friend Similarly, great personalities also speak to the advanced, not to *śūdras, vaiśyas, *women or unintelligent men. Sometimes it is very risky to give great philosophical instructions to ordinary people, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for the benefit of the fallen souls of Kali-yuga, has given us a very nice instrument, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra. *The general mass of people, although *śūdras *and less, can be purified by chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra. *Then they can understand the exalted philosophical statements of *Bhagavad*-*gītā *and *Śrīmad*-*Bhāgavatam. *Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement has therefore adopted the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā*-*mantra *for the general masses. When people gradually become purified, they are instructed in the lessons of *Bhagavad*-*gītā *and *Śrīmad*-*Bhāgavatam. *Materialistic people like *strī, śūdra *and *dvija*-*bandhu *cannot understand words of spiritual advancement, yet one can take to the shelter of a Vaiṣṇava, for he knows the art of enlightening even *śūdras *in the highly elevated subject matter spoken in *Bhagavad*-*gītā *and *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.* *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/5/10/18|5.10.18]]* **After one's mind becomes cleansed by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, one advances and studies the Vedic literature:** Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced the congregational chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra *to give everyone a chance to hear Kṛṣṇa's holy name, for simply by hearing Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare, one becomes purified (*ceto*-*darpaṇa*-*mārjanam* [Cc Antya [[cc/antya/20/12|20.12]]])*. *Therefore our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is chiefly engaged in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa* mantra *all over the world. After one's mind becomes cleansed by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, one gradually comes to the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and then reads books like *Bhagavad*-*gītā, Śrīmad*-*Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta *and *The Nectar of Devotion. *In this way, one becomes more and more purified of material contamination. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/5/18/11|5.18.11]]* **To become attached to the chanting of the holy name, one must read *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* regularly and with scrutiny:** Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu presented Himself as a grand fool, yet He maintained that all the words that He had heard from His spiritual master strictly followed the principles stated by Vyāsadeva in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.* > anarthopaśamaṁ sākṣād bhakti-yogam adhokṣaje lokasyājānato vidvāṁś cakre sātvata-saṁhitām **The material miseries of the living entity, which are superfluous to him, can be directly mitigated by the linking process of devotional service. But the mass of people do not know this, and therefore the learned Vyāsadeva compiled this Vedic literature, which is in relation to the Supreme Truth. [SB [[sb/1/7/6|1.7.6]]]** Vyāsadeva, acting on the instruction of Śrī Nārada, has very kindly introduced *Śrīmad*-*Bhāgavatam *to relieve the conditioned souls from the clutches of *māyā. *Lord Caitanya's spiritual master instructed Him, therefore, that one must read *Śrīmad*-*Bhāgavatam *regularly and with scrutiny to gradually become attached to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra.* *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā *[[cc/adi/7/73|7.73]]* **To learn about the glories of the holy name, one must hear the revealed scriptures from devotees:** One has to learn about the beauty and transcendental position of the holy name of the Lord by hearing the revealed scriptures from the mouths of devotees. Nowhere else can we hear of the sweetness of the Lord's holy name. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā *[[cc/antya/1/101|1.101]]* ### 7. Even If One Cannot Read or Understand the Scriptures, He Can Attain Perfection Through Chanting **Even if one is illiterate (and thus cannot read Bhagavad-gītā and *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam)* he can still perfect his life simply by chanting the mahā-mantra:** A realized student of Kṛṣṇa consciousness can very easily say what his next life is, what God is, what the living entity is and what his relationship with God is. His knowledge is perfect because it is coming from perfect books of knowledge such as *Bhagavad*-*gītā *and *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.* This, then, is the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It is very easy, and anyone can adopt it and make his life perfect. If someone says, "I'm not educated at all, and I cannot read books," he is still not disqualified. He can still perfect his life by simply chanting the *mahā-mantra: *Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. Kṛṣṇa has given us a tongue and two ears, and we may be surprised to know that Kṛṣṇa is realized through the ears and tongue, not through the eyes. *— Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: The Matchless Gift* **Even an illiterate or unintelligent person can be liberated by chanting the holy name:** In the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra, *the dancing in ecstasy and the eating of the remnants of food offered to the Lord are very, very important. One may be illiterate or incapable of understanding the philosophy, but if he partakes of these three items, he will certainly be liberated without delay. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/15/237|15.237]]* ### 8. One Chants the Holy Name Due to Devotional Service Performed in Previous Lives **Only one who has worshiped Kṛṣṇa for many births can chant the holy name:** In the *Padma Purāṇa *it is stated: "The chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra* is present only on the lips of a person who has for many births worshiped Vāsudeva." *— The Nectar of Devotion* **Devotional service performed in a previous life may lead one to the chanting of the holy name:** The leader of the elephants was much distressed when he was attacked by the crocodile. Although the elephant is always stronger than the crocodile, the latter is stronger than the elephant when it is in the water. And because the elephant was a great devotee of the Lord in his previous birth, he was able to chant the holy name of the Lord by dint of his past good deeds. Every living entity is always distressed in this material world because this place is such that at every step one has to meet with some kind of distress. But one who is supported by his past good deeds engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord, as confirmed in the *Bhagavad*-*gītā *([[bg/7/16|7.16]]). Those who are supported by impious acts cannot be engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, even though they are distressed. This is also confirmed in the *Bhagavad*-*gītā *([[bg/7/15|7.15]]). The Personality of Godhead Hari appeared at once on the back of His eternal bearer, Garuḍa, and delivered the elephant. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/2/7/15|2.7.15]]* ### 9. Anyone Who Chants the Holy Name Is Worthy of Respect **One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name:** One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa... The *kaniṣṭha*-*adhikārī* is a neophyte who has received the *hari-nāma *initiation from the spiritual master and is trying to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. One should respect such a person within his mind as a *kaniṣṭha*-*vaiṣṇava.* *— The Nectar of Instruction Text 5* **Any person trying to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness by chanting the holy name should be respected by Vaiṣṇavas:** **[Rūpa Gosvāmī]: One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa...** One of our friends, a famous English musician, has become attracted to chanting the holy names of Kṛṣṇa, and even in his records he has several times mentioned the holy name of Kṛṣṇa At his home he offers respect to pictures of Kṛṣṇa and also to the preachers of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In all regards, he has a very high estimation for Kṛṣṇa's name and Kṛṣṇa's activities; therefore we offer respects to him without reservation, for we are actually seeing that this gentleman is advancing gradually in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Such a person should always be shown respect. The conclusion is that anyone who is trying to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness by regularly chanting the holy name should always be respected by Vaiṣṇavas. *— The Nectar of Instruction Text 5* ### 10. One Who Realizes that the Lord and His Name Are Identical Is a Pure Devotee and Should Be Respected **A devotee who believes that the holy name is identical with the Lord is a pure devotee:** A devotee who believes that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Lord is a pure devotee, even though he may be in the neophyte stage. By his association, others may also become Vaiṣṇavas. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/15/106|15.106]]* **One who has realized that the Lord and His name are identical should be very much respected:** The chanting of the holy names of Kṛṣṇa is so sublime that if one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā*-*mantra *offenselessly, carefully avoiding the ten offenses, he can certainly be gradually elevated to the point of understanding that there is no difference between the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself. One who has reached such an understanding should be very much respected by neophyte devotees. *— The Nectar of Instruction Text 5* ### 11. Great Souls Chant the Holy Name **A real mahātmā is always engaged in chanting the glories of Kṛṣṇa, praising His holy name:** **[Lord Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna]: Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.** The *mahātmā *cannot be manufactured by rubber-stamping an ordinary man. His symptoms are described here: a *mahātmā* is always engaged in chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. He has no other business. He is always engaged in the glorification of the Lord. In other words, he is not an impersonalist. When the question of glorification is there, one has to glorify the Supreme Lord, praising His holy name, His eternal form, His transcendental qualities and His uncommon pastimes. One has to glorify all these things; therefore a *mahātmā* is attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. *— Bhagavad-gītā As It Is [[bg/9/14|9.14]]* **Understanding Kṛṣṇa to be the primal source of everything, great souls glorify Him by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa:** Understanding Kṛṣṇa to be the primal source of everything, how do the great souls act? Kṛṣṇa Himself characterizes them in this way: > satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ namasyantaś ca māṁ bhaktyā nitya-yuktā upāsate **"Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion." (*Bg*. [[bg/9/14|9.14]])** That glorification is this process of *bhakti*-*yoga, *the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa. *— Rāja-vidyā: The King of Knowledge* **A mahātmā chants the glories of the Lord via the mahā-mantra:** This process of *kīrtana *(*kīrtayantaḥ*)*, *always chanting the glories of the Lord, is the beginning of *mahātmā. *That process is simplified by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who imparted to mankind this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. *— Rāja-vidyā: The King of Knowledge* **Out of compassion for the people in general, saintly persons take to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra:** Even though saintly persons have no business in political affairs, they are always compassionate upon the people in general. Thus even though they are always aloof from society, out of mercy and compassion they consider how the citizens can peacefully execute their rituals and follow the rules and regulations of *varṇāśrama*-*dharma.... *In this Age of Kali, everything is disturbed. Therefore saintly persons should take to the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *as recommended in the *śāstras:* > 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]]] *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/4/14/37|4.14.37]]* ### 12. Our Misfortune: No Attachment for Chanting **It is our misfortune that although Kṛṣṇa makes Himself so available through His name, we have no attachment for chanting:** The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is giving all facilities so that people may come here, chant, dance, live very peacefully, take *kṛṣṇa-prasāda, *and be happy, but people will not accept it. That is called misfortune. Caitanya Mahāprabhu, portraying the people of this age, therefore said, "I am so unfortunate that I have no attachment for chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa." Lord Caitanya prayed: > nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ (*Śikṣāṣṭaka* 2) Kṛṣṇa, the transcendental holy name of God, has all potencies, Lord Caitanya said. Kṛṣṇa has unlimited potencies, and similarly in the holy name of Kṛṣṇa there are unlimited potencies. Kṛṣṇa has thousands and thousands of names, of which the name *Kṛṣṇa* is the chief, and there are no hard and fast rules for chanting.... We can chant at any time and immediately get Kṛṣṇa. Just see the mercy of Kṛṣṇa! Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, *etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ:* "My dear Lord, You have given me such generous facilities by which to contact You, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attachment for these things. I have attachment for so many other things, but I have no attachment for chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. This is my misfortune." Kṛṣṇa is so magnanimous that He is present before us by the transcendental vibration of His name, which has all the potencies of Kṛṣṇa Himself, and if we remain in contact with that name we shall get all the benefits of Kṛṣṇa's benedictions. But still we are not inclined to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. This is our misfortune. *— Teachings of Queen Kuntī* **If one commits offenses against the holy name, he will not achieve attachment for chanting:** **[Lord Caitanya to Svarūpa Dāmodara and Rāmānanda Rāya]: "...My dear Lord, although You bestow such mercy upon the fallen conditioned souls by liberally teaching Your holy names, I am so unfortunate that I commit offenses while chanting the holy name, and therefore I do not achieve attachment for chanting."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Antya-līlā* [[cc/antya/20/16|20.16]]* ### 13. To Preach Effectively, One Must Chant the Holy Name **In order to have potency to preach, the preachers of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement should become purified by chanting the holy name:** Our preachers who are preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world should follow in the footsteps of Nārada Muni and become purified by following the four principles and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. This will make them fit to become Vaiṣṇavas. Then, when they speak to sinful people about the teachings of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, people will be affected and take the instructions. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/24/252|24.252]]* **By chanting sixteen rounds of the mahā-mantra (etc.) one gets spiritual strength with which to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world:** **[Chand Kazi to the devotees of Lord Caitanya]: "For so long you did not follow the regulative principles of the Hindu religion, but now you are following them with great enthusiasm. May I know by whose strength you are doing so?"** It appears that from the aggression of Vaktiyāra Khiliji in Bengal until the time of Chand Kazi, Hindus, or the followers of the Vedic principles, were greatly suppressed. Like the Hindus in present-day Pakistan, practically no one could execute the Hindu religious principles freely. Chand Kazi referred to this condition of Hindu society. Formerly the Hindus had not been straightforward in executing their Hindu principles, but now they were freely chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā*-*mantra. *Therefore it must have been by the strength of someone else that they were so daring. Actually, that was the fact. Although the members of the so-called Hindu society had followed the social customs and formulas, they had practically forgotten to execute their religious principles strictly. But with the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu they actually began following the regulative principles according to His order. That order is still existing, and anywhere and everywhere, in all parts of the world, one can execute it. That order is to become a spiritual master under the direction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by following the regulative principles, chanting daily at least sixteen rounds of the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā*-*mantra, *and preaching the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. If we adhere to the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, we shall get spiritual strength without a doubt, and we shall be free to preach this cult of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement and not be hampered by anyone. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Ādi-līlā *[[cc/adi/17/126|17.126]]* ### 14. Chanting of the Holy Name Continues in the Liberated State **Even a self-realized devotee must continue to execute all scriptural injunctions, especially hearing and chanting:** **[Lord Caitanya to Sanātana Gosvāmī]: "There are two processes by which one may execute this rāgānugā-bhakti—external and internal. When self-realized, the advanced devotee externally remains like a neophyte and executes all the śāstric injunctions, especially hearing and chanting. However, within his mind, in his original purified self-realized position, he serves Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana in his particular way. He serves Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours, all day and night."** *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/22/156-157|22.156-57]]* **An uttama-adhikārī chants the prescribed number of rounds on japa beads:** When a neophyte devotee is actually initiated and engaged in devotional service by the orders of the spiritual master, he should be accepted immediately as a bona fide Vaiṣṇava, and obeisances should be offered unto him. Out of many such Vaiṣṇavas, one may be found to be very seriously engaged in the service of the Lord and strictly following all the regulative principles, chanting the prescribed number of rounds on *japa *beads and always thinking of how to expand the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Such a Vaiṣṇava should be accepted as an *uttama*-*adhikārī, *a highly advanced devotee, and his association should always be sought. *— The Nectar of Instruction Text 5* **Chanting a fixed number of rounds on beads is necessary for everyone, even a paramahaṁsa:** **Mādhavendra Puri left the temple and sat down in the village marketplace, which was vacant. Sitting there, he began to chant. In the meantime, the temple priest laid the Deity down to rest.** Although Madhavendra Purī was not interested in eating and sleeping, his interest in chanting the *mahā-mantra *was as acute as if he were an aspiring transcendentalist rather than a *paramahaṁsa. *This means that even in the *paramahaṁsa *stage, one cannot give up chanting. Haridāsa Ṭhākura and the Gosvāmīs were all engaged in chanting a fixed number of rounds; therefore chanting on beads is very important for everyone, even though one may become a *paramahaṁsa. *This chanting can be executed anywhere, either inside or outside the temple. Mādhavendra Purī even sat down in a vacant marketplace to perform his chanting. As stated by Śrīnivāsa Ācārya in his prayers to the Gosvāmīs: *nāma*-*gāna*-*natibhiḥ.* A *paramahaṁsa *devotee is always engaged in chanting and rendering loving service to the Lord. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/4/125|4.125]]* **The process of chanting continues even after the bhakti-yoga creeper reaches the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana:** The primary practice of *bhakti*-*yoga *will cause the seed already sowed in the heart to sprout, and by a regular watering process, as mentioned above, the *bhakti*-*yoga *creeper will begin to grow. By systematic nurturing, the creeper will grow to such an extent that it will penetrate the coverings of the universe, as we have heard in the previous verses, reach the effulgent sky, the *brahma-jyoti, *and go farther and farther and reach the spiritual sky, where there are innumerable spiritual planets called Vaikuṇṭha-lokas. Above all of them is Kṛṣṇaloka, or Goloka Vṛndāvana, wherein the growing creeper enters and takes repose at the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the original Personality of Godhead. When one reaches the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa at Goloka Vṛndāvana, the watering process of hearing and reading, as also chanting of the holy name in the pure devotional stage, fructifies, and the fruits grown there in the form of love of God are tangibly tasted by the devotee, even though he is here in this material world. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/2/2/30|2.2.30]]* **In Vaikuṇṭha, the liberated souls are always chanting:** In Vaikuṇṭha, the spiritual world, there is no anxiety. *Vaikuṇṭha* means "freedom from anxiety," and in Vaikuṇṭha the liberated souls are always dancing, chanting, and taking *prasāda. *There are no factories, hard work, or technical institutions. There is no need for these artificial things. In *Vedānta*-*sūtra *it is stated, *ānandamayo 'bhyāsāt:* (Vedānta-sūtra 1.1.12)* *God is *ānandamaya, *full of bliss and pleasure. Since we are part and parcel of God, we also possess these same qualities. So the goal of our *yoga *process is to join with the supreme *ānandamaya, *Śrī Kṛṣṇa, to join His dance party. Then we will be actually happy. *— The Path of Perfection* ### 15. Chanting of the Holy Name in Kṛṣṇa-līlā **Unable to find Kṛṣṇa, and completely absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the gopīs gathered on the bank of the Yamunā and chanted the names of Kṛṣṇa:** All the *gopīs, *including Rādhārāṇī, began to proceed further into the forest until they could no longer see the moonlight. When they saw that it was getting gradually darker, they stopped. Their mind and intelligence became absorbed in the thoughts of Kṛṣṇa; they all imitated the activities of Kṛṣṇa and His speeches. Due to their heart and soul being completely given to Kṛṣṇa, they began to chant His glories, completely forgetting their family interests. In this way, all the *gopīs *assembled together on the bank of the Yamunā, and expecting that Kṛṣṇa must return to them, they simply engaged in the chanting of the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. *— Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead* **Rādhārāṇī's hearing is eternally fixed on Kṛṣṇa's name and fame:** Rādhārāṇī's sense of hearing is eternally fixed on Kṛṣṇa's name and fame. *— Teachings of Lord Caitanya* **Rādhārāṇī's alertness caused by hearing Kṛṣṇa's name:** When Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī first saw Kṛṣṇa, She suddenly became conscious of all transcendental happiness, and the functions of Her different limbs were stunned. When Lalitā, Her constant companion, whispered into Her ear the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, Rādhārāṇī immediately opened Her eyes wide. This is an instance of alertness caused by hearing the sound of Kṛṣṇa's name. *— The Nectar of Devotion* **Rādhārāṇī's embarrassment in chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa near Her superiors:** One day Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī was churning curd for Kṛṣṇa. At that time the jeweled bangles on Her hands were circling around, and She was also chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. All of a sudden She thought, "I am chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, and My superiors—My mother-in-law and My sister-in-law—may hear Me!" By this thought Rādhārāṇī became overanxious. This is an instance of feeling guilty because of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. *— The Nectar of Devotion* **The ecstatic, devotional chanting of Rādhārāṇī:** In the *Kṛṣṇa*-*karnāmṛta *there is another statement about the chanting of Rādhārāṇī. It is said by one of the associates of Rādhārāṇī: "O Lord Govinda, the girl who is the daughter of King Vrṣabhānu is now shedding tears, and She is anxiously chanting Your holy name—Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!" *— The Nectar of Devotion* ### 16. Other Instructions **The Lord as nāma-dheya, one whose holy name is worth chanting:** **[Gajendra to Lord Viṣṇu]: "...All are purified simply by hearing Your holy name, which is worthy to be chanted."** The holy name of the Lord and topics in relation with Him are always worth hearing, and therefore He is called here in this verse *nāma*-*dheya, *or one whose holy name is worth chanting. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/2/7/15|2.7.15]]* **One who has taken to chanting has already received the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu:** **Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then glanced with mercy at the Muhammadan governor. Giving him assurance, He asked him to chant the holy names Kṛṣṇa and Hari.** It is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mercy that He advises everyone—even *caṇḍālas, mlecchas *and *yavanas*—to chant the holy name of the Lord. In other words, one who has taken to chanting the holy names Kṛṣṇa and Hari has already received Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mercy. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā [[cc/madhya/16/187|16.187]]* **A person situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and engaged with determination in chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa is to be considered to be on the transcendental position even if by accident he falls down:** **[Lord Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna]: Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.** In the *Śrīmad*-*Bhāgavatam *it is stated that if a person falls down, but is wholeheartedly engaged in the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord, the Lord, being situated within his heart, beautifies him and excuses him from that abomination. The material contamination is so strong that even a *yogi* fully engaged in the service of the Lord sometimes becomes ensnared; but Kṛṣṇa consciousness is so strong that such an occasional falldown is at once rectified. Therefore the process of devotional service is always a success. No one should deride a devotee for some accidental falldown from the ideal path, for, as explained in the next verse, such occasional falldowns will be stopped in due course, as soon as a devotee is completely situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore a person who is situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and is engaged with determination in the process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare should be considered to be in the transcendental position, even if by chance or accident he is found to have fallen. The words *sādhur eva, *"he is saintly," are very emphatic. They are a warning to the nondevotees that because of an accidental falldown a devotee should not be derided; he should still be considered saintly even if he has fallen down accidentally. And the word *mantavyaḥ* is still more emphatic. If one does not follow this rule, and derides a devotee for his accidental falldown, then he is disobeying the order of the Supreme Lord. The only qualification of a devotee is to be unflinchingly and exclusively engaged in devotional service. The mark of a spot which may be seen on the moon does not become an impediment to the moonlight. Similarly, the accidental falldown of a devotee from the path of a saintly character does not make him abominable. *— Bhagavad-gītā As It Is [[bg/9/30|9.30]]* **A first-class Vaiṣṇava is he whose very presence makes others chant the holy name (and who chants the holy name perfectly):** **[Lord Caitanya to the inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma]: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "A first-class Vaiṣṇava is he whose very presence makes others chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa."** Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that if an observer immediately remembers the holy name of Kṛṣṇa upon seeing a Vaiṣṇava, that Vaiṣṇava should be considered a *mahā*-*bhagavata, *a first-class devotee. Such a Vaiṣṇava is always aware of his Kṛṣṇa conscious duty, and he is enlightened in self-realization. He is always in love with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, and this love is without adulteration. Because of this love, he is always awake to transcendental realization. Because he knows that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the basis of knowledge and action, he sees everything connected with Kṛṣṇa. Such a person is able to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa perfectly. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/16/74|16.74]]* **Chanting the holy name of Viṣṇu has gone on in Vedic culture since the beginning of history:** Mother Yaśodā was firmly convinced of the Vedic injunctions about the importance of cows and the holy name of Viṣṇu; therefore she took all shelter in the cows and the name of Viṣṇu just to protect her child Kṛṣṇa. She recited all the holy names of Viṣṇu so that He might save the child. Vedic culture has taken advantage of keeping cows and chanting the holy name of Viṣṇu since the beginning of history. *— Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead* **The Vedic scriptures do not authorize any kīrtana other than hari-kīrtana, the glorification of Kṛṣṇa:** In Bengal there is competition between the Vaiṣṇavas and the *śaktas. *The *śaktas *have introduced a certain type of *kīrtana *called *kālī-kīrtana. *But in the Vedic scriptures there is no recommendation of *kālī*-*kīrtana. Kīrtana *means *hari*-*kīrtana. *One cannot say, "Oh, you are Vaiṣṇava. You can perform *hari*-*kīrtana. *I shall perform *śiva-kīrtana *or *devi*-*kīrtana *or *gaṇeśa*-*kīrtana*." No. The Vedic scriptures do not authorize any *kīrtana *other than *hari*-*kīrtana. Kīrtana *means *hari-kīrtana, *the glorification of Kṛṣṇa. *— The Science of Self-Realization* **The "Hari Haraye Namaḥ" prayer is another way of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra:** **There were four people accompanying Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and they were Candraśekhara, Paramānanda Kirtaniya, Tapana Miśra and Sanātana Gosvāmī. They were all chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra in the foliowing way. They chanted, "Haraye namaḥ, kṛṣṇa yādavāya namaḥ/ gopāla govinda rāma śrī-madhusūdana."** This is another way of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra. *The meaning is: "I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. He is the descendant of the Yadu family. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Gopāla, Govinda, Rāma and Śrī Madhusūdana." *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/25/63|25.63-64]]* **In the spiritual atmosphere of Vṛndāvana, one will automatically chant the holy name:** In India there are hundreds of sacred places of pilgrimage, of which Prayāga, Hardwar, Vṛndāvana and Rāmeśvaram are considered principal. After leaving his home, which was full of politics and diplomacy, Vidura wanted to purify himself by traveling to all the sacred places, which are so situated that anyone who goes there automatically becomes purified. This is especially true in Vṛndāvana; any person may go there, and even if he is sinful he will at once contact an atmosphere of spiritual life and will automatically chant the names of Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā. That we have actually seen and experienced. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* [[sb/3/20/4|3.20.4]]* **The Vṛndāvana scheme—execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa:** We should especially establish this New Vṛndāvana because Lord Caitanya recommended, *ārādhyo bhagavān vrajeśa*-*tanayas tad*-*dhāma vṛndāvanam: *"Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, in the Vṛndāvana-dhāma of Vrajabhūmi, is the supreme worshipable Deity, and His place Vṛndāvana is also worshipable." The Western boys and girls are taking to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and they should have a place like Vṛndāvana. Swami Kīrtanānanda, who went to Vṛndāvana with me two years ago, knows what Vṛndāvana is like, so I have instructed him to construct at least seven temples. In Vṛndāvana, there are five thousand temples of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, but the most important temples are seven, established by the Gosvāmīs. Our program is to live in New Vṛndāvana, depend on agriculture and cows as an economic solution, and peacefully execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa—that is the Vṛndāvana scheme. *— The Science of Self-Realization* **Chanting of the holy name as muni-vrata, the vow of silence:** **[Lord Śiva to the sons of King Prācīnabarhi]: My dear princes, in the form of a prayer I have delineated the yoga system of chanting the holy name. All of you should take this important stotra within your minds and promise to keep it in order to become great sages. By acting silently like a great sage and by giving attention and reverence, you should practice this method.** The topmost *yogī* is he who constantly thinks of Kṛṣṇa within himself and chants the glories of the Lord.... The word *muni*-*vrataḥ* is significant in this regard because those who are interested in advancing in spiritual life must be silent. Silence means talking only of *kṛṣṇa-kathā. *This is the silence of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa: > *sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa*-*padāravindayor vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane* "King Ambarīṣa always fixed his mind on the lotus feet of the Lord and talked of Him only." [SB 9.4.18] We should also take this opportunity in life to become as good as a great saint simply by not talking unnecessarily with unwanted persons. We should either talk of Kṛṣṇa or chant Hare Kṛṣṇa undeviatingly. This is called *muni*-*vrata.* *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/24/71|4.24.71]]* **Some caste brāhmaṇas mistakenly think that if non-brāhmaṇas chant the holy name, its potency is reduced:** **[Some nonbelieving Hindus to Chand Kazi]: "'Now the lower classes are chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra again and again. For this sinful activity, the entire city of Navadvīpa will be deserted. According to Hindu scripture, God's name is supposed to be the most powerful hymn. If everyone hears the chanting of the name, the potency of the hymn will be lost.'"** *Pāśaṇḍīs* [unbelievers] do not know the actual value of the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Foolishly proud of their material birth as *brāhmaṇas* and their consequently higher position in the social order, they think of the other classes—namely, the *kṣatriyas, *the *vaiśyas *and *śūdras—*as lower classes. According to them, no one but the *brāhmaṇas* can chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, for if others chanted the holy name its potency would be reduced. They are unaware of the potency of Lord Kṛṣṇa's name. The *Bṛhan*-*nāradīya Purāṇa* recommends: > 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]]] **"For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali, there is no alternative, no alternative, no alternative to the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord."** The *pāśaṇḍīs *do not accept that the potency of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is so great that one can be delivered simply by chanting the holy name, although this is confirmed in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *([[sb/12/3/51|12.3.51]]). *Kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta*-*saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet: *any man from any part of the world who practices chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa can be liberated and after death go back home, back to Godhead. The rascal *pāśaṇḍīs *think that if anyone but a *brāhmaṇa* chants the holy name, the potency of the holy name is vanquished. According to their judgment, instead of delivering the fallen souls, the potency of the holy name is reduced. Believing in the existence of many gods and considering the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa no better than other hymns, these *pāśaṇḍīs *do not believe in the words of the *śāstra* (*harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam* [*Cc Ādi *[[cc/adi/7/76 1974|7.76]]]). But Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirms in His *Śikṣāṣṭaka*, *kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ:* [*Cc Ādi *[[cc/adi/17/31|17.31]]] one must chant the holy name of the Lord always, twenty-four hours a day. The *pāśaṇḍīs, *however, are so fallen and falsely proud of having taken birth in *brāhmaṇa* families that they think that instead of delivering all the fallen souls, the holy name becomes impotent when constantly chanted by lower-class men. Significant in verse 211 are the words *nīca bāḍa bāḍa* because anyone can join in the *saṅkīrtana* movement, as mentioned in *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* ([[sb/2/4/18|2.4.18]]): *kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ*. This is a list of the names of *caṇḍālas*. The *pāśaṇḍīs* say that when these lower-class men are allowed to chant, their influence is enhanced. They do not like the idea that others should also develop spiritual qualities because this would curb their false pride in having taken birth in families of the elevated *brāhmaṇa* caste, with a monopoly on spiritual activities. But despite all protests from so-called Hindus and members of the *brāhmaṇa* caste, we are propagating the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement all over the world, according to the injunctions of the *śāstras* and the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus we are sure that we are delivering many fallen souls, making them bona fide candidates for going back home, back to Godhead. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā [[cc/adi/17/211|17.211-12]]* **Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra will not free one from offending a brāhmaṇa or Vaiṣṇava (one must beg the pardon of the offended person):** When one pollutes his Kṛṣṇa consciousness by offending a *brāhmaṇa* or a Vaiṣṇava, it is very difficult to revive. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has described the *vaiṣṇava-aparādha*, or offense to a Vaiṣṇava, as "the mad elephant offense." One should be very careful not to offend a Vaiṣṇava or a *brāhmaṇa*. Even the great *yogī* Durvāsā was harassed by the Sudarśana *cakra* when he offended the Vaiṣṇava Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, who was neither a *brāhmaṇa* nor a *sannyāsī* but an ordinary householder. Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was a Vaiṣṇava, and consequently Durvāsā Muni was chastised. The conclusion is that if Kṛṣṇa consciousness is covered by material sins, one can eliminate the sins simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mantra, *but if one pollutes his Kṛṣṇa consciousness by offending a *brāhmaṇa *or a Vaiṣṇava, one cannot revive it until one properly atones for the sin by pleasing the offended Vaiṣṇava or *brāhmaṇa. *This was the course that Durvāsā Muni had to follow, for he surrendered unto Mahārāja Ambarīṣa. A *vaiṣṇava*-*aparādha *cannot be atoned for by any means other than by begging the pardon of the offended Vaiṣṇava. *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/4/26/24|4.26.24]]* **A renunciate should not renounce chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa:** Even one who has renounced the world and has taken *sannyāsa *should not renounce chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra. *Renunciation does not mean that one has to renounce *saṅkīrtana*-*yajña.* *— *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam *[[sb/5/6/2|5.6.2]]* **Rather than discuss the Lord's confidential, transcendental pastimes among mundane moralists who misinterpret them, one should give them the mahā-mantra so that they may become gradually purified and elevated to transcendental understanding:** **[Priest calling Mādhavendra Purī]: Holding the pot of sweet rice, the priest called, "Will he whose name is Mādhavendra Purī please come and take this pot! Gopīnātha has stolen this pot for you!" The priest continued, "Would the sannyāsī whose name is Mādhavendra Purī please come and take this pot of sweet rice and enjoy the prasāda with great happiness! You are the most fortunate person within these three worlds!"** The difference between the Absolute Truth and relative truth is explained here. Lord Gopīnātha has openly declared herein that He is a thief. He had stolen the pot of sweet rice, and this was not kept a secret because His act of stealing is a source of great transcendental bliss. In the material world, theft is criminal, but in the spiritual world the Lord's stealing is a source of transcendental bliss. Mundane rascals, who cannot understand the absolute nature of the Personality of Godhead, sometimes call Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa immoral, but they do not know that His seemingly immoral activities, which are not kept secret, afford pleasure to the devotees. Not understanding the transcendental behavior of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, these rascals slur His character and immediately fall into the category of miscreants (rascals, lowest among men, demons and those whose knowledge is taken away by the illusory energy).... Although Kṛṣṇa is the purest of the pure, mundane people, thinking of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes that appear immoral, themselves become polluted. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore never publicly discussed Kṛṣṇa's dealings with the *gopīs. *He used to discuss these dealings only with three confidential friends. He never discussed *rāsa*-*līlā *publicly, as the professional reciters do, although they do not understand Kṛṣṇa or the nature of the audience. However, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu encouraged the public chanting of the holy name on a huge scale for as many hours as possible.... Here is an example of a personal benediction by Kṛṣṇa's immoral activity. By Gopīnātha's stealing for His devotee, the devotee becomes the most fortunate person within the three worlds. Thus even the Lord's criminal activities make His devotee the most fortunate person. How can a mundane rascal understand the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and judge whether He is moral or immoral? Since Kṛṣṇa is the Absolute Truth, there are no mundane distinctions such as moral and immoral. Whatever He does is good. This is the real meaning of "God is good." He is good in all circumstances because He is transcendental, outside the jurisdiction of this material world. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa can be understood only by those who are already living in the spiritual world.... One who is engaged in unalloyed devotional service to the Lord is already situated in the spiritual world (*brahma*-*bhūyāya kalpate* [Bg [[bg/14/26|14.26]]])*. *In all circumstances, his activities and dealings with Kṛṣṇa are transcendental and thus not understandable by mundane moralists. It is therefore better not to discuss such activities among mundane people. It is better to give them the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā*-*mantra *so that they will be gradually purified and then come to understand the transcendental activities of Kṛṣṇa. *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā* [[cc/madhya/4/133|4.133-34]]* **The saṅkīrtana party of the followers of Tukārāma exactly resembles those of the Gauḍīya-Vaiṣṇavas:** It is said that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu initiated Tukārāma when He visited Pandarapura. This Tukārāma Ācārya became very famous in the Mahārāṣṭra province, and he spread the *saṅkīrtana *movement all over the province. The *saṅkīrtana *party belonging to Tukārāma is still very popular in Bombay in the province of Mahārāṣṭra. Tukārāma was a disciple of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and his book is known as *Abhaṅga. *His *saṅkīrtana *party exactly resembles the Gauḍīya-Vaiṣṇava* saṅkīrtana *parties, for they chant the holy name of the Lord with *mṛdaṅga *and *karatālas.* *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/9/282|9.282]]* **Due to the influence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, even today many scholars and sannyāsīs of Vārāṇasī gather on the banks of the Ganges to perform saṅkīrtana:** **All the inhabitants of Kāśī [Vārāṇasī] began chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra in ecstatic love. Sometimes they laughed, sometimes they cried, sometimes they chanted, and sometimes they danced. After this, all the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs and learned scholars at Vārāṇasī began discussing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu delivered them. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then returned to His residence with His personal associates. Thus He turned the whole city of Vārāṇasī into another Navadvīpa [Nadīyā-nagara].** Both Navadvīpa and Vārāṇasī were celebrated for their highly educational activities. At the present time these cities are still inhabited by great, learned scholars, but Vārāṇasī is especially a center for Māyāvādī *sannyāsīs *who are learned scholars. However, unlike Navadvīpa, there are hardly any devotees in Vārāṇasī*. *Consequently a discussion of *Śrīmad*-*Bhāgavatam *was very rare in Vārāṇasī. In Navadvīpa, such a discussion was quite ordinary. After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited Vārāṇasī and turned Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī and his disciples into Vaiṣṇavas, Vārāṇasī became like Navadvīpa because so many devotees began discussing *Śrīmad*-*Bhāgavatam. *Even at the present moment one can hear many discussions on *Śrīmad-Bhagavatam *taking place on the banks of the Ganges. Many scholars and *sannyāsīs *gather there to hear *Śrīmad*-*Bhāgavatam *and perform *saṅkīrtana.* *— Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta *Madhya-līlā *[[cc/madhya/25/165|25.165-67]]* NAM: Appendix 1: Songs by Vaiṣṇava Saints on the Glories of the Holy Name