Don't Chant the Maha-Mantra!?

[Guruvani]

Is it true that some people should not chant the Maha-mantra?

That sounds like quite an outragious idea doesn't it?

We have heard so many times Srila Prabhupada quoted as saying "just chant Hare Krishna and be happy".

 

But, should some people actually NOT chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra?

According to Srila Prabhupada - Yes!

 

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Ādi 8.31 purport,

 

 

A neophyte student who is not sufficiently educated or enlightened should not indulge in the worship of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa or the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Even if he does so, he cannot get the desired result. One should therefore chant the names of Nitāi-Gaura and worship Them without false prestige. Since everyone within this material world is more or less influenced by sinful activities, in the beginning it is essential that one take to the worship of Guru-Gaurāńga and ask their favor, for thus despite all his disqualifications one will very soon become qualified to worship the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa vigraha.

 

It should be noted in this connection that the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Gaurasundara are both identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore one should not consider one name to be more potent than the other. Considering the position of the people of this age, however, the chanting of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's name is more essential than the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the most magnanimous incarnation and His mercy is very easily achieved. Therefore one must first take shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by chanting śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda. By serving Gaura-Nityānanda one is freed from the entanglements of material existence and thus becomes qualified to worship the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Deity.

So, considering this, shouldn't the public Sankirtan of the KC movement focus more on chanting the Pancha-tattva mantra than the Hare Krishna mantra for the benefit of the listening public?

[suchandra]

 

Is it true that some people should not chant the Maha-mantra?

That sounds like quite an outragious idea doesn't it?

We have heard so many times Srila Prabhupada quoted as saying "just chant Hare Krishna and be happy".

 

But, should some people actually NOT chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra?

According to Srila Prabhupada - Yes!

 

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Ādi 8.31 purport,

 

 

 

So, considering this, shouldn't the public Sankirtan of the KC movement focus more on chanting the Pancha-tattva mantra than the Hare Krishna mantra for the benefit of the listening public?

Sounds like the advertisement of this website:

 

 

Discover the amazing new way to become calm, confident and motivated without worry, stress or fear.

[bija]

All Glories to Guru and Gauranga!

 

Dear devotees, I am somewhat hesitant to post a comment on this thread, because the last thing I want to do is open a discussion or debate that may possibly lead to minimizing the supreme magnanimity and extremely merciful Holy Names of Nityananda and Gauranga.

 

But due to a tiny fraction of compassion within my heart I have to post. Many devotees who are caught in the net of Vaisnava aparadha need to know these truths. Our merciful Acarya's have explained this Gaura Naam Tattva for these very reasons.

 

Considering the great importance of this Gaura Naam Tattva as revealed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Sri Navadwipa Dham Mahatmya, I feel it is best to share our Acarya's views on such things, and why Srila Prabhupada would make comments like this in his purports to Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 8.31.

 

 

'Even if he does so, he cannot get the desired result. One should therefore chant the names of Nitāi-Gaura and worship Them without false prestige.' Srila Prabhupada purport CC adi 8.31

We can see here that Srila Prabhupada is stating very clearly that we must take a position with no false prestige. And in fact I am of the opinion if our minds in any way can tend to have ill feeling or harsh thoughts about the Vaisnava's who are spreading the glories of the Holy Names, then we must most definately worship Gaura-Nitai Deities and chant the Holy Names of Gaura-Nitai ceaselessly at all times. With such an offensive mind this will be our only hope. For with such Vaisnava-aparadha in our heart we will never realize the treasure of the Hare Krsna Mahamantra or taste even a drop of pure love of God.

 

 

 

 

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada

Purport to Chaitanya-Charitamrita Adi 8.31:

"The Hare Krishna Mahamantra considers the offenses whereas the Names of Gauranga-Nityananda don't consider offenses. An offensive chanter will never achieve the fruit of chanting (pure love for Krishna) by chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Therefore till the time he is commiting offenses, he should chant the names of Nityananda and Gauranga. Due the repeated chanting of the names of Nityananda and Gauranga, the offenses will be destroyed and he will achieve the fruit of chanting."

"The name of Krishna and Gauranga-Both are non-different than the named Lord. Those who think that Krishna is any way inferior or limited than Gauranga are in gross ignorance. But in practical considerations with respect to benefit awarded to the conditioned souls, the chanting of Shri Nityananda and Gauranga's Name is more useful and helpful for everyone. The mercy of Krishna's names is generally only upon liberated or perfected souls who are surrendered to Him. But the magnanimity of the names of Lord Nityananda and Gauranga is especially for the souls who are offenders and full of anarthas and desires for material sense-gratification. The chanting of Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga's Names and Their worship quickly delivers the soul from all the offenses and thus the soul achieves shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga-Krishna without any delay."

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada in Shri Chaitanya-Bhagavata, Madhya-Khanda 3.134:

"Simply by chanting or hearing the name of Lord Nityananda, the sinful inclinations in the hearts of all the living entities in the universe are permanently destroyed and their inherent purity is automatically awakened. On chanting or hearing the name of Lord Nityananda, even the merchants, degraded, fallen and foolish people are purified and immediately become realized in the Absolute Truth and devotees of the Lord."

 

[bija]

The Secret of All Secrets as revealed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura can be read in full here.

 

Please read it in full to understand why this Gaura Naam Tattva is so 'essential' according to Srila Prabhupada, and 'more useful' according to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada.

 

And please dear devotess do not make this thread into a low grade debate, for Gaura Naam Tattva is the golden treasure of Kali Yuga. Please consider this opportunity to read and receive our Acarya's mercy on the said subject as a rare chance to move closer to an offence free heart.

 

Spreading the glories of this golden treasure is suerly the desire of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and all Guru's in our Gaudiya lineage. Hence the above quotes by our two dear Srila Prabhupada's and the seventh Goswami Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

 

 

 

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Sri Navadwipa Dhaam Mahatmya

Chapter One

 

 

kali-jivera aparaadha asankhya durvaara

gaura-naama vinaa taara naahika uddhaara..55

"The offenses and sins of the souls of Kali Yuga are unlimited and absolutely impossible to overcome. Thus, there is no other means of deliverance in Kali Yuga other than the exceptionally merciful Holy Name of Lord Gauranga."

[bija]

 

But, should some people actually NOT chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra?

According to Srila Prabhupada - Yes! by Guruvani

 

The above is a very incorrect statement. Our Acaraya's have never ever said to not chant the Hare Krsna Mahamantra. Never once have they said this!

 

Here is Srila Prabhupada's direct words again that Guruvani quoted:

 

 

A neophyte student who is not sufficiently educated or enlightened should not indulge in the worship of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa or the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Even if he does so, he cannot get the desired result. One should therefore chant the names of Nitāi-Gaura and worship Them without false prestige.

 

Srila Prabhupada has simply stated not to indulge. With good intelligence we may understand what this word indulge is referning to. It is definately not a prohibition to not chant the Mahamantra in the neophyte stage. The Acaraya's have never once recommended such a process.

 

 

Shrila Prabhupada in Cc Antya-lila 2.31 purport:

"Worshipers of Shri Gaurasundara accept the four syllables gau-ra-an-ga as the Gaura mantra, but pure worshipers of Radha and Krishna accept the four syllables ra-dha krs-na as the Gaura-gopala mantra. However, Vaishnavas consider Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu nondifferent from Radha-Krishna (shri-krishna-chaitanya radha-krishna nahe anya). Therefore one who chants the mantra "gauranga" and one who chants the names of Radha and Krishna are on the same level."

[Guruvani]

 

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Ādi 8.31 purport,

 

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Don't chant Hare Krishna before you chant Nitai-Gaura!! Or, you will be spinning your wheels!