Japa of Gauranga's Name

[Guest guest]

Camp: Iskcon Krsna Balarama Mandir

DaNDavats Dear all. Jaya Krishna BalarAma!

Please accept my respectful obeisances. All Glories to Sreela PrabhupAda..

 

> > Any comment on the following verse (in regards to chanting japa of

> > Mahaprabhu's name)?:

> >

> > 'sri-krishna-caitanya saci-suta guna-dhama'

> > ei dhyana, ei japa, laya ei nama

> >

> > "Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya meditated on and chanted japa of the holy name

> > of Sri Krishna Caitanya, son of mother Saci and reservoir of all good

> > qualities. Indeed, chanting the holy names became his meditation."

>

> Also if one sense of hearing is engaged while chanting Gauranga's Name why

> can't the sense of touch also be engaged by chanting on beads

> simultaneously which is just a way to count the rounds or the number of

> names? Is this a crime?

 

Yes It *is* a crime, to speculate on the process of sadhana bhakti on his

own, especially in the physical presence of His own guru maharaja. Just

because the disciple wants to quote Prabhupada as If to say, "but you said I

could do something novel to spread KC?"

 

bhaktarupa wrote:

 

> The mantra one chants on the japa mala should be given by the guru.

 

Madhavananda Prabhu has here just given a very brief statement of what could

be expanded unlimitedly. Mostly what Sadhu Maharaja has stated is OK, but

the insinuation is that he's got an inside track to an even more powerful

sadhana than what Srila Prabhupada gave to us, namely the chanting of the

Hare Krishna Mahamantra on our diksa beads. Neither the fact that great

ragatmika and raganuga bhaktas chanted the name of Gauranga constantly nor

the fact that we are all advised to chant the name of Gauranga constantly

imply that it should be chanted on beads without a specific order to do so

from our guru. Just like we don't offer foodstuff, dress, and flowers to the

deity in a haphazard manner, but with appropriate schedule, cleanliness and

specific mantras, etc., similarly, our japa mala should not be used

whimsically as a counting device, but should be used only for chanting

specific mantras according to our specific quota as per the specific order

of the guru. The Hari Bhakti Vilas is full of instructions on the proper

conduct of japa, but it is probably a rare ISKCON devotee that is following

all the instructions given. Because Srila Prabhupada did not stress these

details, perhaps we have come to take the counting of japa as a highly

flexible exercise. I know I have. Now, this concoction has sprouted up, and

it can be at least partly blamed on our lack of understanding of the

difference between japa and kirtan. Unfortunately, common English usage

translates both of these terms as "chanting", which has added to the

confusion. But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said kirtaniya sada harih, not japiya

sada harih (or whatever would be the correct Sanskrit grammar here). In all

the numerous quotes given by Sadhu Maharaja, not a single one uses the word

"japa". Japa is a very specific activity of worship/bhajan/sadhana and is

ALWAYS governed by specific rules. But there are no hard and fast rules for

kirtan, as we all well know.

 

And of course, as hinted in my previous text, there is also the

misunderstanding that the Hare Krishna mahamantra is NOT the names of Lord

Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, so this whole controversy is really a false

dilemma created by Kali to create doubt in the minds of the simple followers

of Srila Prabhupada.

 

Your servant, Bhaktarupa Das

 

so Where is it proven conclusively that Bhaktisiddhanta sarasvati advocated

the chanting of Gauranga mantra on beads? according to hari

sauri das (who was present) and recording in transcendental diary. as Bhakti

vikash swami has quoted Hari sauri dasa in his book (ibid)

 

"Srila Prabhupada replied in the affirmative when asked if it is more

beneficial to hear the Panca-tattva mantra than the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.

But he disapproved when told a devotee was chanting japa of the Panca-tattva

mantra on beads."

 

See Transcendental Diary 4 p. 362.

 

Bhakti vikash swami rightly noted:

 

Unless a statement is quoted from sastra or previous acaryas recommending

chanting of Gauranga or Nityananda mantras on beads, this may be understood

to be a fabrication.

 

Srila Prabhupada definitely disapproved of it when asked personally. does

Parampada Prabhu or Bhakti Kumud shanta Maharaja specifically remember their

guru Bhaktisiddhanta ever personally advocated/ or sanctioned japa of

gauranga's names? if not We have no authority to advocate it as the Hare

Krsna mantra is purna. (CC adi 7.72)

 

as cc describes:

 

m™rkha tumi, tom€ra n€hika ved€nt€dhik€ra

‘kŠa-mantra’ japa sad€,——ei mantra-s€ra

Adi. 7.72.

 

“‘You are a fool,’ he said. ‘You are not qualified to study Ved€nta

philosophy, and therefore You must always chant the holy name of KŠa. This

is the essence of all mantras, or Vedic hymns.

 

just read further on in 73:

 

kŠa-mantra haite habe saˆs€ra-mocana

kŠa-n€ma haite p€be kŠera caraŠa

 

“Simply by chanting the holy name of KŠa one can obtain freedom from

material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare KŠa mantra one

will be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord.

 

this is Krsna dasa's own verse. Our guru's in disciplic succession have

given this method for chanting Hare Krsna mantra on japa.

 

ei €jñ€ p€ñ€ n€ma la-i anukaŠa

n€ma laite laite mora bhr€nta haila mana

SYNONYMS

ei—this; €jñ€—order; p€ñ€—receiving; n€ma—the holy name; la-i—chant;

anukaŠa—always; n€ma—the holy name; laite—accepting; laite—accepting;

mora—My; bhr€nta—bewilderment; haila—taking place; mana—in the mind.

TRANSLATION

“Since I received this order from My spiritual master, I always chant the

holy name, but I thought that by chanting and chanting the holy name I had

been bewildered.

šdi 7.77.

 

p€gala ha-il€‰ €mi, dhairya n€hi mane

eta cinti’ nivedilu‰ gurura caraŠe

SYNONYMS

p€gala—madman; ha-il€‰—I have become; €mi—I; dhairya—patience; n€hi—not;

mane—in the mind; eta—thus; cinti’—considering; nivedilu‰—I submitted;

gurura—of the spiritual master; caraŠe—at his lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

“I saw that I had become mad by chanting the holy name, and I immediately

submitted this at the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

PURPORT

®r… Caitanya Mah€prabhu, as an ideal teacher, shows us how a disciple should

deal with his spiritual master. Whenever there is doubt regarding any point,

he should refer the matter to his spiritual master for clarification. ®r…

Caitanya Mah€prabhu said that while chanting and dancing He had developed

the kind of mad ecstasy that is possible only for a liberated soul. Yet even

in His liberated position, He referred everything to His spiritual master

whenever there were doubts. Thus in any condition, even when liberated, we

should never think ourselves independent of the spiritual master, but must

refer to him as soon as there is some doubt regarding our progressive

spiritual life.

šdi 7.80

> SHRILA PRABHUPADA SAYS ONE SHOULD ALWAYS CHANT NITAI-GAURA SO WHY NOT ON

> THE BEADS?

 

although sadhu swami wants to twist his understanding of this quote:

 

"The expert devotees also can discover novel ways and means to convert the

nondevotees in terms of particular time and circumstance. Devotional service

is dynamic activity, and the expert devotees can find out competent means to

inject it into the dull brains of the materialistic population. Such

transcendental activities of the devotees for the service of the Lord can

bring a new order of life to the foolish society of materialistic men."

(SB 1.5.16 purport)

 

this statement of Prabhupada appears more to the point.

 

"So, so many people, sometimes they come forward to give me some credit that

I have done very wonderful thing. So I reply that “I do not know how to do

something wonderful. I cannot manufacture gold, I cannot show any jugglery,

but if there is any credit, then the only credit is I don’t adulterate.

That’s all. The pure milk, I don’t show my expert service by adding water in

it. That I do not do."

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-g…t€ 3.27 -- Madras, January 1, 1976

 

So if this confidential knowledge, one who preaches without any compromise,

he is the confidential servant of KŠa. There is no compromise. This is

real religion. The KŠa says, na ca tasm€d manuyeu kacid me

priya-kttamaƒ. So this is the person who has received the authority to draw

mercy water from the ocean of mercy of KŠa. S€k€d-dharitvena

samasta-€straiƒ. And what KŠa said five thousand years ago, the same

thing Caitanya Mah€prabhu said, same thing. There was no change, as there

was no change between the statement of Vivan€tha Cakravart… µh€kura and

Narottama d€sa µh€kura. S€dhu €stra. As €stra, there is no change. Not

that “Modernize. The €stra should be changed.” No. That is nonsense. That

is not €stra. ®€stra cannot be changed. “Circumstantially, it will be

changed, seasonal changes.” No. That is not €stra. ®€stra means it is

perpetual. What KŠa said five thousand years ago or KŠa said some forty

millions of years ago to the sun god... Imaˆ vivasvate yogaˆ proktav€n aham

avyayam [bg. 4.1]. He says, “I am talking to you that pur€tanaˆ yogam.” Not

that “Because it has passed millions of years and now it is a different

time, so I will have to change.” No. He said, “I am talking to you that very

old system.” Is it not? Just see. The €stra cannot be changed. God’s word

cannot be changed. Then what will be the difference between God and ourself?

He is always perfect. He is always perfect. What He said forty millions of

years ago, what He said five thousand years ago, that is also correct up to

date. That is €stra. Not that “So many years have passed and it has become

old. Now let us reform it and put it into new way.” No. You can put the same

thing in a new way, but you cannot change the principle. S€dhu €stra

guru-v€kya, tinete kariy€ aikya. ®€stra is never changed. And the s€dhu...

S€dhu means who follows the €stras. He is s€dhu. He also does not change.

S€dhu, €stra. And guru? Guru means who follows the €stra and s€dhu. So

there are three, the same. A guru will not change, that “It was spoken five

thousand years ago. That is not applicable now. Now I am giving you

something new, jugglery.” He is useless. S€dhu €stra guru-v€kya tinete

kariy€ aikya. Yaƒ €stra-vidhim utsjya vartate k€ma k€rataƒ, na siddhim

av€pnoti. These things are there.

 

>> Ref. VedaBase => ®r…mad-Bh€gavatam 5.6.8 -- Vnd€vana, November 30, 1976

 

Prabhup€da: History, it is not a new movement. You have seen this book. You

read that book thoroughly. You will get full knowledge. This movement is

very, very old and standard. It is never changed. As soon as you change it,

then the potency of the movement is lost.

Faill: Sorry, what was that?

Prabhup€da: Potency. Just like electricity. There is standard regulation:

“This is negative; this is positive. You must act like this. You must fix

like...” You cannot do whimsically: “No, why not this way? Why not that

way?” Then it is lost. Then there will be no electricity. Similarly, there

is standard method how to understand this philosophy, how to get it, I mean

to say, what is called, authoritatively. Then it will act.

Faill: Then you could go to a book, read a book...

Prabhup€da: Oh, yes. That is the book of, what is called, guidance. If you

follow the guide and do this according, then it will be effective. And if

you don’t follow the guide, you do in your whims... That is another

dangerous disease of the modern man. Everyone wants to do according to his

own whim. Nobody wants to follow any standard way. Therefore they are

failure.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation with Bill Faill (reporter) -- October

8, 1975, Durban

 

Prabhupada states that his preaching was according to Srila

Bhaktisiddhanta's order. He never changed anything, like sadhu maharaja is

presently trying to advocate. If Gaura's names are so powerful (as they

are,) and if our present recent acharyas (Bhaktivinode, Gaura-Kishore

Bhaktisiddhanta, wanted their disciples to chant it on beads, don't you

think that they would miss such a golden opportunity to uplift their

disciples?

 

why they missed to tell us all about this in their books or words? Sadhu

maharaja, did you read about it in "amara Prabhur Katha?" should we all

think that Srila Prabhupada and His guru have missed the most essential

point in japa sadhana?

 

and since when do We claim to think that now we *know* how to do sadhana

better then our guru's?

 

When B. Hrdaya Bon maharaja came back from England, he had a different

tilaka. Bhaktisiddhanta asked him why he was changing. Then after the

disciple responded, "SBSST replied, " you have become over-intelligent, it

is better that you remain outside our mission".

 

so let's not become over intelligent to fabricate a process of sadhana not

given by guru. we follow our guru's writings, conversations,and his sadhu

god-brothers.

 

". Therefore our obeisances to ®r… Caitanya Mah€prabhu are complete when we

say r…-kŠa-caitanya prabhu-nity€nanda r…-advaita gad€dhara

r…v€s€di-gaura-bhakta-vnda. As preachers of the KŠa consciousness

movement, we first offer our obeisances to ®r… Caitanya Mah€prabhu by

chanting this Pañca-tattva mantra; then we say Hare KŠa, Hare KŠa, KŠa

KŠa, Hare Hare/ Hare R€ma, Hare R€ma, R€ma R€ma, Hare Hare. There are ten

offenses in the chanting of the Hare KŠa mah€-mantra, but these are not

considered in the chanting of the Pañca-tattva mantra, namely,

r…-kŠa-caitanya prabhu-nity€nanda r…-advaita gad€dhara

r…v€s€di-gaura-bhakta-vnda. ®r… Caitanya Mah€prabhu is known as

mah€-vad€ny€vat€ra, the most magnanimous incarnation, for He does not

consider the offenses of the fallen souls. Thus to derive the full benefit

of the chanting of the mah€-mantra (Hare KŠa, Hare KŠa, KŠa KŠa,

Hare Hare/ Hare R€ma, Hare R€ma, R€ma R€ma, Hare Hare), we must first take

shelter of ®r… Caitanya Mah€prabhu, learn the Pañca-tattva mah€-mantra, and

then chant the Hare KŠa mah€-mantra. That will be very effective.

Taking advantage of ®r… Caitanya Mah€prabhu, many unscrupulous devotees

manufacture a mah€-mantra of their own. Sometimes they sing bhaja nit€i

gaura r€dhe y€ma hare kŠa hare r€ma or r…-kŠa-caitanya

prabhu-nity€nanda hare kŠa hare r€ma r…-r€dhe govinda. Actually, however,

one should chant the names of the full Pañca-tattva (r…-kŠa-caitanya

prabhu-nity€nanda r…-advaita gad€dhara r…v€s€di-gaura-bhakta-vnda) and

then the sixteen words Hare KŠa, Hare KŠa, KŠa KŠa, Hare Hare/ Hare

R€ma, Hare R€ma, R€ma R€ma, Hare Hare. But these unscrupulous, less

intelligent men confuse the entire process. Of course, since they are also

devotees they can express their feelings in that way, but the method

prescribed by ®r… Caitanya Mah€prabhu’s pure devotees is to first chant the

full Pañca-tattva mantra and then chant the mah€-mantra—Hare KŠa, Hare

KŠa, KŠa KŠa, Hare Hare/ Hare R€ma, Hare R€ma, R€ma R€ma, Hare Hare.

šdi 7.5"

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => šdi 7.5

 

it is because the Hare Krsna mantra is complete. in itself.

 

We can't jump over our guru vargya to go immediately to sarvabhauma

bhattacharyas sadhana. If we do so, In the name of following sarvabhauma

bhattacharya. we create havoc and misunderstanding in the parampara.

 

Because in Srila Prabhupada's physical presence he never approved of any of

his disciples to do it. Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya may have done it, He's a

liberated soul whom we can't judge how or why he does his sadhana. but *our*

sadhana process comes in disciplic succession from

Bhaktivinode'bhaktisiddhanta/bhaktivedanta swami Prabhupada, we can't jump

over the immediate acharya to follow Rupa or sarvabhauma bhattacarya.

 

for example: Both Rupa and Krsna dasa Gosvamis wrote about ekadasa bhava,

but Bhaktisiddhanta never taught his disciples to follow siddha Pranali

wherein ekadasa bhava is given.

 

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati mentioned that at this time in Kali Yuga there is

no qualified guru to give siddha pranali, and no qualified disciple to

accept it, so here is a clear example of how what was common sadhana in our

line before but is not presently.

 

We are under Bhaktivinode Thakhura, and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's

servants, (srila Prabhupada's) vani. their example guide us in our sadhana.

 

We can't speculate on what mantra to chant in Japa without the personal

blessings of the spiritual masters, and his god-brothers. This is esp. true

if they are physically on the planet like your's are.

 

Sadhu Maharaja, did you follow Caitanya Mahaprabhu in adi 7 by asking your

guru Parampada Prabhu varya, and his god-brother Bhakti Kumud Shanta Swami

Your sannyasa guru. If *they* heard Or *saw* Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

teach his disciples to chant Gaura-Nityananda mantras on japa beads?

 

Only if they reply in the affirmative, and if you get their order to do so

similarly, do you act to apply it.

 

You told me that you never thought it necessary. but Caitanya asked his

spiritual master, to confirm his reasoning and siddhanta why can't you for

the sake of the integrity of the caitanya sarasvata parampara and your

followers?

 

guru-mukha-padma-v€kya, cittete kariy€ aikya,

€ra n€ kariha mane €€ **

Narottama d€sa µh€kura advises everyone to stick to the principle of

carrying out the orders of the spiritual master. One should not desire

anything else. If the regulative principles ordered by the spiritual master

are followed rigidly, the mind will gradually be trained to desire nothing

but the service of KŠa. Such training is the perfection of life.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 4.29.68

 

I HAVE NO APPROVAL FOR ANY THESE PLANS. DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: All ISKCON Temple Presidents -- Melbourne 7

April, 1972

 

The sublime form of religious performances to free oneself from all

reactions of sins is suggested herein by the greatest authority, ®r…

®ukadeva Gosv€m…. K…rtanam, or glorifying the Lord, can be performed in very

many ways, such as remembering, visiting temples to see the Deity, offering

prayers in front of the Lord, and hearing recitations of glorification of

the Lord as they are mentioned in the ®r…mad-Bh€gavatam or in the

Bhagavad-g…t€. K…rtanam can be performed both by singing the glories of the

Lord in accompaniment with melodious music and by recitation of scriptures

like ®r…mad-Bh€gavatam or Bhagavad-g…t€.

The devotees need not be disappointed in the physical absence of the Lord,

though they may think of not being associated with Him. The devotional

process of chanting, hearing, remembering, etc., (either all or some of

them, or even one of them) can give us the desired result of associating

with the Lord by discharging the transcendental loving service of the Lord

in the above manner. Even the very sound of the holy name of Lord KŠa or

R€ma can at once surcharge the atmosphere spiritually. We must know

definitely that the Lord is present wherever such pure transcendental

service is performed, and thus the performer of offenseless k…rtanam has

positive association with the Lord. Similarly, remembrance and prayers also

can give us the desired result if they are properly done under expert

guidance. One should not concoct forms of devotional service.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 2.4.15

 

all preachers must be devotionally accountable to guru, sadhu, sastra.

as 11.3.23 mentions;

 

sarvato manaso ’sa‰gam €dau sa‰gaˆ ca s€dhuu

day€ˆ maitr…ˆ prarayaˆ ca bh™tev addh€ yathocitam

SYNONYMS

sarvataƒ—everywhere; manasaƒ—of the mind; asa‰gam—detachment; €dau—in the

beginning; sa‰gam—association; ca—and; s€dhuu—with saintly persons;

day€m—mercy; maitr…m—friendship; prarayam—reverence; ca—and; bh™teu—for

all living beings; addh€—thus; yath€ ucitam—as is suitable.

TRANSLATION

A sincere disciple should learn to dissociate the mind from everything

material and positively cultivate association with his spiritual master and

other saintly devotees. He should be merciful to those in an inferior

position to him, cultivate friendship with those on an equal level and

meekly serve those in a higher spiritual position. Thus he should learn to

deal properly with all living beings.

 

note the quote from the purport:

 

"In the Garua Pur€Ša it is stated,

vieataƒ svottameu vin€ sa‰gaˆ na mucyate

sva-n…ceu tu deveu vin€ sa‰gaˆ na p™ryate

“One cannot be liberated without association with a pure devotee of the

Lord. And unless one shows mercy to those in an inferior position, one’s

life will be superficial.”

 

we must remain devotionally accountable to the devotees in Brahma Madhva

gaudiya sampradaya as especially the path taught directly by one's present

guru varya, not by our own whims. Enthusiastic preaching must follow them,

otherwise we create misunderstandings and possibly havoc in society of

devotees.

 

Please note that I have all love for Sadhu maharaja as a person, publisher,

enthusiastic preacher. It is not my intention to drag this down to a

personal level, nontheless, who claims to be in the caitanya sarasvata line

has any authority to concoct a new wayu of sadhana.

 

nor do we have authority to prescribe a concocted sadhana to others without

ramifications.

 

all preaching is done only *by the personal order of one's spiritual masters

and authorities*.

 

aspiring for eternal service of Prabhupada's Krishna-BalarAma in Vrajadhama.

 

Vaishnava daasaanundaasaha,

 

TridaNDi BhikSu, Bhakti Visrambha MAdhava