Inquiries Into the Absolute: Digest 197, Chanting in Bhagavad-Gita

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Digest 197, December 5th 2006. Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

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Gita Jayanti

 

Chanting in Bhagavad-Gita

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Q) It is said that for Kali Yuga chanting is the recommended process for

reaching Lord Krishna. But is this statement given in Bhagavad-Gita? My friend

argues that only the statements given in Bhagavad-Gita and Vedas are acceptable

without any argument, as Bhagavad-Gita came straight from Lord Krishna. But

anyway I have strong belief in Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON, and I chant

regularly the holy name of Lord Krishna.

 

Answer: Chanting Krishna's Holy Names is recommended both in the Vedic texts as

well as Bhagavad-gita and Puranas. The Hare Krishna Mahamantra is also

specifically prescribed in the Upanishads, as well as the Pancaratras which are

said to be particularly important for the present age.

 

Some References from Bhagavad-Gita:

In the Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna describes the great souls as constantly chanting

His glories: 'satatam kirtayanto mam' - "Always chanting My glories,

endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, the great souls

perpetually worship Me with devotion." (BG 9.14) Glorification implies not some

abstract theorizing but 'chanting and praising the Supreme Lord's holy name,

His eternal form, His transcendental qualities and His uncommon pastimes.'

 

And again, throughout the Bhagavad-gita, performance of sacrifices is

recommended and stressed as essential for all embodied living entities.

Different types of sacrifices are also identified (e.g. Ch 4.25-33

http://www.vedabase.net/bg/4/en ). The sacrifice specifically recommended for

this age, and the most suitable and easy to perform, is the chanting of the

Holy Names of Lord Hari. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita as well when

Krishna states yajnanam japa yajno 'smi, "Of all sacrifices I am the chanting

of the holy names [japa]" (BG 10.25)

 

Krishna also further directs us in the Bhagavad-gita -- after concluding His

discussion on the various types of sacrifice and stating that sacrifice

culminates in transcendental knowledge, the Lord then directs us to approach a

self-realized spiritual master to learn the Truth, render service unto such a

spiritual master and inquire submissively. (Bg 4.34) The essential principles

of spiritual perfection are outlined in the Bhagavad-gita in a nutshell - these

principles are eternal and meant for all time and space, but to learn their

specific application and details of execution in our lives, the guidance of

self-realized souls, sadhu and guru, corroborated by explanations from other

relevant scriptures, is indispensable. The bona fide spiritual master, who is

well-versed with the conclusions of all scriptures, can prescribe us the

appropriate means according to time, place, circumstances and individual needs.

 

Without such guidance, how are we to know the proper procedures to perform

sacrifice in the present context of our daily life as recommended throughout

the Gita? An authentic medical handbook may list all varieties of drugs and

their uses, but in order to know what medicine will work for us and how exactly

to administer it we have to take the help of an experienced physician,

otherwise it could prove useless or even dangerous. Similarly, the

prescriptions given in Bhagavad-Gita are to be followed as directed by Krishna,

i.e. under the guidance of His authorized representatives.

 

Interestingly enough, this same argument which your friend presented was

brought before Srila Prabhupada by Dr. Staal, Professor of Philosophy at the

University of California, Berkeley -- that Bhagavad-Gita and the Vedas do not

directly recommend chanting. Srila Prabhupada extensively and thoroughly

addresses this misconception with numerous quotes and references from

Bhagavad-Gita as well as the Vedas and puranas. I invite you to go through this

unusual and interesting exchange of letters between Prof. Staal and Srila

Prabhupada, now published in the book "Science of Self Realization" under the

title "Discovering the Roots." After the back-and-forth debate, Srila

Prabhupada concludes that discussion with this same final note: the appropriate

medicine has to be prescribed by an experienced physician.

 

Through lexicographic interpretations, one may choose to conclude that

Bhagavad-Gita could be indicating something else and thus altogether miss the

spirit of its conclusion, but we resort to the authority of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu who was the greatest teacher of Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam

and who propagated the yuga-dharma of chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra as

the ultimate conclusion of all scriptures. We can also rely on the practical

effects of this chanting process in comparison to any other alternative process

in the matter of systematically awakening one's dormant love of God.

 

Some References from Upanishads and puranas:

The four Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata and the 18 puranas all belong to the

same body of Vedic literature - they are all emanations from the breathing of

the Supreme Lord. Srila Vyasadeva subdivided and compiled them for our benefit.

Thus, to accept the Vedas (shruti) and reject the puranas (smriti) as less

authentic is against the conclusions of the Vedas themselves. (See Digest 141

where we discussed this in greater detail) Of course, the superexcellent and

indisputable authority of Bhagavad-Gita cannot be minimized - but this does not

invalidate other scriptures, rather it implies that all other scriptural

conclusions are to be understood and apparent contradictions resolved in light

of the statements of Bhagavad-gita.

 

Although the standard principles in scriptures are eternal, they recommend

specific processes suitable to particular time, place and circumstances. It is

stated Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 12.3.52): "Whatever result was obtained in

Satya-yuga by meditating on Vishnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices, and

in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet (worship of Deity in the

temple) can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the holy names of Lord

Hari." Almost identical statements are found also in the Vishnu purana, Padma

purana and Brihan Naradiya purana.

 

The Brihan-naradiya Purana 3.8.126 states:

harer nama harer nama

harer namaiva kevalam

kalau nasty eva nasty eva

nasty eva gatir anyatha

"In this age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means

for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name,

chanting the holy name of Lord Hari."

 

The Hare Krishna Mahamantra is specifically mentioned in the Narada

Pancaratra and Kali-Santarana Upanishad:

hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

ity sodasakam namnam kali kalmasa nasanam

natah parataropayah sarva vedeshu drishyate

"These sixteen words of the Hare Krishna mantra are especially meant for

counteracting the sins of the age of Kali. To save oneself from the

contamination of this age there is no alternative but to chant the Hare Krishna

mantra. After searching through the entire Vedic literatures one cannot find a

method of religion for this age so sublime as the chanting of Hare Krishna."

(Lord Brahma instructs Narada, Kali Santarana Upanishad 5-6)

 

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