[Guruvayur/Guruvayoor] Vaishnava Prayers

[Guest guest]

Dear Sister,

 

I learned that chanting Maha mantra is like this way,

" Hare Rama Hare Rama , Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. "

 

But you and another said somewhere that, This maha Mantra will start "

" Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Hare Keishna HAre Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare hare. "

 

Kindly tell me which one is Correct way to chant this Maha Mantra ?

First Start with Hare Rama or Hare Krishna ?

THANKS,

K.Sreekumar.

 

 

 

 

 

vinita manikantan <vinitamanikantan wrote:

 

 

 

Hare Krishna

 

Please find all Vaishnava Prayers and MP3 Files at Kanaiyyadesh.wordpress.com

 

http://kanaiyyadesh.wordpress.com/2007/03/13/vaishnava-prayers/

 

Your Servant

 

Vinita Mani

 

--

Please Chant:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

And Be Happy

 

 

 

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Here’s a new way to find what you're looking for - Answers

[Guest guest]

Chanting the Holy Name

 

" Kirtanam. The hearing of the holy name has been described above. Now let us

try to understand the chanting of the holy name, which is the second item in the

consecutive order. It is recommended that such chanting be performed very

loudly. In Srimad-Bhagavatam, Narada Muni says that without shame he began

traveling all over the world, chanting the holy name of the Lord. Similarly, Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu has advised: trnad api sunicena

taror api sahisnuna

amanina manadena

kirtaniyah sada harih A devotee can very peacefully chant the holy name of

the Lord by behaving more humbly than the grass, being tolerant like a tree and

offering respects to everyone, without expecting honor from anyone else. Such

qualifications make it easier to chant the holy name of the Lord. The process of

transcendental chanting can be easily performed by anyone. Even if one is

physically unfit, classified lower than others, devoid of material

qualifications or not at all elevated in terms of pious activities, the chanting

of the holy name is beneficial. An aristocratic birth, an advanced education,

beautiful bodily features, wealth and similar results of pious activities are

all unnecessary for advancement in spiritual life, for one can very easily

advance simply by chanting the holy name. It is understood from the

authoritative source of Vedic literature that especially in this age, Kali-yuga,

people are generally short-living, extremely bad in their habits, and

inclined to accept methods of devotional service that are not bona fide.

Moreover, they are always disturbed by material conditions, and they are mostly

unfortunate. Under the circumstances, the performance of other processes, such

as yajna, dana, tapah and kriya--sacrifices, charity and so on--are not at all

possible. Therefore it is recommended: harer nama harer nama

harer namaiva kevalam

kalau nasty eva nasty eva

nasty eva gatir anyatha " In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means

of deliverance is chanting of the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way.

There is no other way. There is no other way. " Simply by chanting the holy name

of the Lord, one advances perfectly in spiritual life. This is the best process

for success in life. In other ages, the chanting of the holy name is equally

powerful, but especially in this age, Kali-yuga, it is most powerful. Kirtanad

eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet: simply by chanting the holy name of

Krsna, one is liberated and returns home, back to Godhead. Therefore, even if

one is able to perform other processes of devotional service, one must adopt the

chanting of the holy name as the principal method of advancing in spiritual

life. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah: those who are very sharp

in their intelligence should adopt this process of chanting the holy names of

the Lord. One should not, however,

manufacture different types of chanting. One should adhere seriously to the

chanting of the holy name as recommended in the scriptures: Hare Krsna, Hare

Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

While chanting the holy name of the Lord, one should be careful to avoid ten

offenses. From Sanat-kumara it is understood that even if a person is a severe

offender in many ways, he is freed from offensive life if he takes shelter of

the Lord's holy name. Indeed, even if a human being is no better than a

two-legged animal, he will be liberated if he takes shelter of the holy name of

the Lord. One should therefore be very careful not to commit offenses at the

lotus feet of the Lord's holy name. The offenses are described as follows: (a)

to blaspheme a devotee, especially a devotee engaged in broadcasting the glories

of the holy name, (b) to consider the name of Lord Siva or any other demigod to

be equally as powerful as the holy name of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead (no one is equal to the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, nor is anyone superior to Him), © to disobey the instructions of the

spiritual master, (d) to blaspheme the Vedic literatures and literatures

compiled in pursuance of the Vedic literatures, (e) to comment that the glories

of the holy name of the Lord are exaggerated, (f) to interpret the holy name in

a deviant way, (g) to commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting the

holy name, (h) to compare the chanting of the holy name to pious activities, (i)

to instruct the glories of the holy name to a person who has no understanding of

the chanting of the holy name, (j) not to awaken in transcendental attachment

for the chanting of the holy name, even after hearing all these scriptural

injunctions. There is no way to atone for any of these offenses. It is

therefore recommended that an offender at the feet of the holy name continue to

chant the holy name twenty-four hours a day.

Constant chanting of the holy name will make one free of offenses, and then he

will gradually be elevated to the transcendental platform on which he can chant

the pure holy name and thus become a lover of the Supreme Personality of

Godhead. It is recommended that even if one commits offenses, one should

continue chanting the holy name. In other words, the chanting of the holy name

makes one offenseless. In the book Nama-kaumudi it is recommended that if one is

an offender at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava, he should submit to that Vaisnava

and be excused; similarly, if one is an offender in chanting the holy name, he

should submit to the holy name and thus be freed from his offenses. In this

connection there is the following statement, spoken by Daksa to Lord Siva: " I

did not know the glories of your personality, and therefore I committed an

offense at your lotus feet in the open assembly. You are so kind, however, that

you did not accept my offense. Instead, when I was

falling down because of accusing you, you saved me by your merciful glance. You

are most great. Kindly excuse me and be satisfied with your own exalted

qualities. " One should be very humble and meek to offer one's desires and

chant prayers composed in glorification of the holy name, such as ayi

mukta-kulair upasya manam and nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad. One should chant

such prayers to become free from offenses at the lotus feet of the holy name. "

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7:5:23-24 " In bhakti there are nine different

activities: sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam. arcanam vandanam

dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam. Because all these devotional activities are

absolute, there is no fundamental difference between worshiping the Deity in the

temple, seeing Him and chanting His glories. Indeed, all of these are ways of

seeing Him, for everything done in devotional service is a means of direct

contact with the Lord. The vibration of the Lord's voice appeared in

the presence of all the devotees, and although the person vibrating the sound

was unseen to them, they were meeting or seeing the Lord because they were

offering prayers and because the vibration of the Lord was present. Contrary to

the laws of the material world, there is no difference between seeing the Lord,

offering prayers and hearing the transcendental vibration. Pure devotees,

therefore, are fully satisfied by glorifying the Lord. Such glorification is

called kirtana. Performing kirtana and hearing the vibration of the sound Hare

Krsna is actually seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly. One must

realize this position, and then one will be able to understand the absolute

nature of the Lord's activities. " Srimad-Bhagavatam 7:4:25-26 " The

importance of chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare

Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is very strongly stressed in the Second

Canto, First Chapter, verse 11, of Srimad-Bhagavatam in

the following way. Sukadeva Gosvami tells Maharaja Pariksit, " My dear King, if

one is spontaneously attached to the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, it

is to be understood that he has attained the highest perfectional stage. " It is

specifically mentioned that the karmis who are aspiring after the fruitive

results of their activities, the salvationists who are aspiring to become one

with the Supreme Person, and the yogis who are aspiring after mystic perfections

can achieve the results of all perfectional stages simply by chanting the

maha-mantra. Sukadeva uses the word nirnitam, which means " it has already been

decided. " He was a liberated soul and therefore could not accept anything which

was not conclusive. So Sukadeva Gosvami especially stresses that it has already

been concluded that one who has come to the stage of chanting the Hare Krsna

mantra with determination and steadiness must be considered to have already

passed the trials of fruitive activities, mental

speculation and mystic yoga. The same thing is confirmed in the Adi Purana

by Krsna. While addressing Arjuna He says, " Anyone who is engaged in chanting My

transcendental name must be considered to be always associating with Me. And I

may tell you frankly that for such a devotee I become easily purchased. " In

the Padma Purana also it is stated, " The chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra is

present only on the lips of a person who has for many births worshiped

Vasudeva. " It is further said in the Padma Purana, " There is no difference

between the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself. As such, the holy name

is as perfect as the Lord Himself in fullness, purity and eternity. The holy

name is not a material sound vibration, nor has it any material contamination. "

The holy name cannot, therefore, be chanted offenselessly by one who has failed

to purify his senses. In other words, materialistic senses cannot properly chant

the holy names of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.

But by adopting this chanting process, one is given a chance to actually purify

himself, so that he may very soon chant offenselessly. Caitanya Mahaprabhu

has recommended that everyone chant the Hare Krsna mantra just to cleanse the

dust from the heart. If the dust of the heart is cleansed away, then one can

actually understand the importance of the holy name. For persons who are not

inclined to clean the dust from their hearts and who want to keep things as they

are, it is not possible to derive the transcendental result of chanting the Hare

Krsna mantra. One should, therefore, be encouraged to develop his service

attitude toward the Lord, because this will help him to chant without any

offense. And so, under the guidance of a spiritual master, the disciple is

trained to render service and at the same time chant the Hare Krsna mantra. As

soon as one develops his spontaneous service attitude, he can immediately

understand the transcendental nature of the holy names of

the maha-mantra. " Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 12 " Hearing the glories

of the Lord, chanting, remembering, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering

worship in the temple, offering prayers, becoming a servant of the Lord,

becoming the Lord's friend, and sarvatma-nivedana, offering oneself fully at the

lotus feet of the Lord--these are the nine devotional processes. In The Nectar

of Devotion, When Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya asked the Lord which item was most

important, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately answered that the most important

item is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord-- Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna,

Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. He then

quoted the following verse from the Brhan-naradiya Purana (Thirty-eighth

Chapter, verse 126) to confirm His statement. 'In this age of quarrel and

hypocrisy, the only means of deliverence is the chanting of the holy names of

the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other

way. There is no other way.' PURPORTBecause the people of this age are so

fallen, they can simply chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. In this way they can

rid themselves of the bodily conception of life and become eligible to engage in

the Lord's devotional service. One cannot engage in the devotional service of

the Lord without being purified of all contamination. This is confirmed in the

Bhagavad-gita (7.28): yesam tv anta-gatam papam

jananam punya-karmanam

te dvandva-moha-nirmukta

bhajante mam drdha-vratah " Persons who have acted piously in previous lives

and in this life and whose sinful actions are completely eradicated are freed

from the dualities of delusion, and they engage themselves in My service with

determination. " Sometimes people are surprised to see young men and women take

so seriously to the Krsna consciousness movement. By giving up sinful

activity--illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling--and strictly

following the injunctions given by the spiritual master, they have become

purified of all contamination. They can therefore fully engage in the devotional

service of the Lord. In this Age of Kali, hari-kirtana is very, very

important. The importance of chanting the holy name of the Lord is stated in the

following verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.3.51-52): kaler dosa-nidhe

rajann

asti hy eko mahan gunah

kirtanad eva krsnasya

mukta-sangah param vrajet krte yad dhyayato visnum

tretayam yajato makhaih

dvapare paricaryayam

kalau tad dhari-kirtanat " The most important factor in this Age of Kali,

which is an ocean of faults, is that one can be free from all contamination and

become eligible to enter the kingdom of God simply by chanting the Hare Krsna

mantra. The self-realization that was achieved in the Satya millennium by

meditation, in the Treta millennium by the performance of different sacrifices,

and in the Dvapara millennium by worship of Lord Krsna can be achieved in the

Age of Kali simply by chanting the holy names, Hare Krsna. "

Caitanya-caritamrta, Madyam lila 6:241 " 'When a person is actually

advanced and takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is very

dear to him, he is agitated and loudly chants the holy name. He also laughs,

cries, becomes agitated and chants just like a madman, not caring for

outsiders.' " Srimad-Bhagavatam 11:2:40 " So chanting, bhakti-yoga means

to chant Visnu. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh. And Visnu has got so many forms. So

either you chant Hare Rama or you chant Hare Krsna, it is the same. There is no

difference. Sometimes they first of all place " Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama,

Hare Hare. " And sometimes they place " Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna... "

There is no difference. Sometimes they say, " No, it should be Hare Rama first. "

Sometimes they..., " No, Hare Krsna. " But that is not very important, childish.

Any, either you say Hare Rama or Hare Krsna, the same. So this is to be done.

Tivrena bhakti-yogena. So bhakti-yoga begins with hearing, sravanam,

sravanam kirtanam. And if you have heard from the right source and if you are

convinced, then automatically you will try to perform kirtana. Kirtana means

glorifying. If you have attained like... Or to preach. Anyone who has listened

from right person, authority, about Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, about

Krsna or about Rama, he would like to preach that. That is automatic,

glorifying. That preaching is equal. That is called

kirtana. Kirtana... Simply preaching, glorifying, or speaking about the Lord,

that is also kirtana. And performing kirtana as we do here in the temple, with

mrdanga and karatala, chanting, that is also kirtana. Sukadeva Gosvami explained

the Srimad-Bhagavatam to Pariksit Maharaja. So... And Pariksit Maharaja simply

listened to him carefully. This is sravanam kirtanam. The Pariksit Maharaja is

hearing, and Sukadeva Gosvami is performing kirtana, describing all the glories

of the Lord. That is kirtana. " Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam,

12-12-74, Bombay " And if one has actually heard about Krsna, one's next

engagement in bhakti-yoga will be to chant (gayanti). The preachers of the Krsna

consciousness movement go from town to town, village to village. Why? What is

their purpose? To preach, to chant, so that people may get the opportunity to

hear this philosophy and take it seriously (grnanti). The word abhiksnasah

indicates that these engagements should

go on continuously, twenty-four hours a day without stopping. Caitanya

Mahaprabhu therefore recommends, kirtaniyah sada harih: one should engage in

chanting twenty-four hours a day. That is the business of Krsna conscious

devotees. " Teachings of Queen Kunti, Chapter 19 " In the Satya-yuga,

the first millennium, all the Vedic mantras were included in one

mantra--pranava, the root of all Vedic mantras. In other words, the Atharva Veda

alone was the source of all Vedic knowledge. The Supreme Personality of Godhead

Narayana was the only worshipable Deity; there was no recommendation for worship

of the demigods. Fire was one only, and the only order of life in human society

was known as hamsa. " PURPORT In Satya-yuga there was only one Veda, not

four. Later, before the beginning of Kali-yuga, this one Veda, the Atharva Veda

(or, some say, the Yajur Veda), was divided into four--Sama, Yajur, Rg and

Atharva--for the facility of human society. In Satya-yuga the only

mantra was omkara (om tat sat). The same name omkara is manifest in the mantra

Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama,

Hare Hare. Unless one is a brahmana, one cannot utter omkara and get the desired

result. But in Kali-yuga almost everyone is a sudra, unfit for pronouncing the

pranava, omkara. Therefore the sastras have recommended the chanting of the Hare

Krsna maha-mantra. Omkara is a mantra, or maha-mantra, and Hare Krsna is also a

maha-mantra. The purpose of pronouncing omkara is to address the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva (om namo bhagavate vasudevaya). And the purpose

of chanting the Hare Krsna mantra is the same. Hare: " O energy of the Lord! "

Krsna: " O Lord Krsna! " Hare: " O energy of the Lord! " Rama: " O Supreme Lord, O

supreme enjoyer! " The only worshipable Lord is Hari, who is the goal of the

Vedas (vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah). By worshiping the demigods, one

worships the different parts of the Lord, just

as one might water the branches and twigs of a tree. But worshiping Narayana,

the all-inclusive Supreme personality of Godhead, is like pouring water on the

root of the tree, thus supplying water to the trunk, branches, twigs, leaves and

so on. In Satya-yuga people knew how to fulfill the necessities of life simply

by worshiping Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The same purpose can

be served in this age of Kali by the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, as

recommended in the Bhagavatam. Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet.

Simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, one becomes free from the bondage of

material existence and thus becomes eligible to return home, back to Godhead. "

Srimad-Bhagavatam 9:14:48 " And when there is hearing, there must also be

speaking or chanting. So we speak and chant about Krsna (sravanam kirtanam

visnoh). And as soon as one becomes expert in hearing and chanting, the next

stage is smaranam, thinking or

meditation. " Teachings of Queen Kunti, Chapter 19 " Sravanam kirtanam

visnoh smaranam. Smarana means remember. If you chant and hear, then remembrance

will automatically come. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam. Then

you will be engaged in worshiping His lotus feet. Arcanam. Then you'll be

engaged in arcanam, the temple worship; vandanam, offering prayers; dasyam,

you'll engage yourself as servant; sakhyam, you'll become friend of Krsna;

atma-nivedanam, and surrender everything to Krsna. This is the process. So

each and every verse you should chant very perfectly, nicely, meditate upon it.

That is the process of progress, advancement in spiritual life. We should get

all these verses by heart, and chant, and offer prayer to the Lord, vandanam.

Vandanam. These are meant for such purpose. " Srila Prabhupada Lecture on

Srimad-Bhagavatam, 04-14-73, Los Angeles

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

 

 

 

Sukadeva Gosvami - The Personification of Chanting Holy Name: Hare Krsna

Maha-Mantra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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