The Transcendental Attributes of the Holy Name

Govindaram · January 2, 2004

1. The Lord Has Innumerable Names (to Indicate Different Functions and Dealings)

Krishna expands Himself into many different names:

[Lord Caitanya to Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya]:

"My Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Your holy name there is all good fortune for the living entity, and therefore You have many names, such as Krishna and Govinda, by which You expand Yourself"...

Sri Caitanya-caritamata Antya-lilA 20.16

God has unlimited names, each of which is God:

Srila Prabhupada: 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.

Srila Prabhupada: 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

The different names of the Supreme Lord indicate different functions:

There are different names for the Supreme Lord, and these names have different purposes and meanings. For instance, He is known as Paramatma the Supersoul, Brahman the Supreme Absolute, Sristikarta the creator, Narayana the transcendental Lord, Rukminiramana the husband of Rukmini, Gopinatha the enjoyer of the gopis, and Krishna. In this way the Lord has different names, and these names indicate different functions.

Teachings of Lord Caitanya

According to people's various desires, Krishna distributes various holy names:

[Lord Caitanya to Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya]: "Because people vary in their desires, You have distributed various holy names by Your mercy."

Sri Caitanya-caritamata Antya-lila 20.17

God has innumerable names, according to His dealings with innumerable devotees:

Since God is unlimited, His names also must be unlimited. Therefore we cannot settle on one name. For instance, Krishna is sometimes called Yasoda-nandana, the son of mother Yasoda; or Devaki-nandana, the son of Devaki; or Vasudeva-nandana, the son of Vasudeva; or Nanda-nandana, the son of Nanda. Sometimes He is called Partha-sarathi, indicating that He acted as the charioteer of Arjuna, who is sometimes called Partha, the son of Patha.

God has many dealings with His many devotees, and according to those dealings, He is called certain names. Since He has innumerable devotees, and innumerable relations with them, He also has innumerable names.

The Science of Self-Realization

One cannot fully realize the Lord merely by understanding the name of the creator:

Because the Lord is on the absolute platform, there is no difference between the holy name of the Lord and the Supreme Lord Himself. There are different names for the Supreme Lord, and these names have different purposes and meanings.... The aspect of the Supreme Lord as the creator is different from the aspect of the Lord as Narayana. Some of the names of the Lord as the creator are conceived by materialistic men. One cannot fully realize the essence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by understanding the name of the creator because this material creation is a function of the external energy of the Supreme Lord.

Teachings of Lord Caitanya

Taken from Srila Prabhupada Folio, in the Folders section, Sri Namarita.

Govindaram · January 2, 2004

2. "Krishna" Is the Principal Name of God

"Krishna" is the principal name of the Supreme Lord:

In his prayer, the author of Srimad-Bhagavatam first proposes that Lord Sri Krishna is the primeval Lord and that if any transcendental nomenclature for the Absolute Personality of Godhead is to be accepted, it should be the name Krishna, the all-attractive... In Padma Purana it is also stated that of the innumerable names of the Lord, the name of Krishna is the principal one.

Teachings of Lord Caitanya

The name "Krishna," indicating the Supreme Lord, is the name of the highest order:

In the Vedic literature the supreme person is properly claimed to be Krishna. The name "Krishna," indicating the Supreme Lord, is the only truly intelligible name of the highest order. He is the controller of both material and antimaterial energies, and the very word "Krishna" signifies that He is the supreme controller.

Easy Journey to Other Planets

According to Vedic knowledge "Krishna" is the supreme name of God:

When we speak of Krishna we refer to God. There are many names for God throughout the world and throughout the universe, but Krishna is the supreme name according to Vedic knowledge. Therefore Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended the chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare as the supreme means for realization in this age.

Raja-vidya: The King of Knowledge

Because His opulences attract everyone, "Krishna" is the principal name of God:

God has many names according to His activities, but because He possesses so many opulences and because with these opulences He attracts everyone, He is called Krishna . The Vedic literature asserts that God has many names, but "Krishna" is the principal name.

The Science of Self-Realization

Of all the holy names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the name "Krishna" is the most powerful:

Srila Sukadeva Goswami has concluded the Nineteenth Chapter of the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam by pointing out five particular excellences of Lord Krishna... The fourth excellence of Lord Krishna's appearance concerns the glories of His name. It is stated in the Vedic literature that by chanting the different names of Lord Vishnu a thousand times, one may be bestowed with the same benefits as by thrice chanting the holy name of Lord Rama. And by chanting the holy name of Lord Krishna only once, one receives the same benefit. In other words, of all the holy names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, including Vishnu and Rama, the holy name of Krishna is the most powerful. The Vedic literature therefore specifically stresses the chanting of the holy name of Krishna: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Lord Caitanya introduced this chanting of the holy name of Krishna in this age, thus making liberation more easily obtainable than in other ages. In other words, Lord Krishna is more excellent than His other incarnations, although all of them are equally the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

Govindaram · January 2, 2004

3. The Meaning of the Name "Krishna"

The meaning of the name "Krishna":

The name Krishna means "all-attractive." God attracts everyone; that is the definition of "God." We have seen many pictures of Krishna, and we see that He attracts the cows, calves, birds, beasts, trees, plants, and even the water in Vrndavana. He is attractive to the cowherd boys, to the gopis, to Nanda Maharaja, to the Pandavas, and to all human society. Therefore if any particular name can be given to God, that name is "Krishna".

The Science of Self-Realization

Etymology of the word "Krishna":

'"The word "kris" is the attractive feature of the Lord's existence, and "na" means spiritual pleasure. When the verb "kris" is added to the affix "na" it becomes Krishna, which indicates the Absolute Truth.'"

Mahabharata (Udyoga-parva, 71.4)

[cited: Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya-lila 9.30]

The etymology of the name "Krishna":

If we analyze the nirukti, or semantic derivation, of the word "Krishna," we find that na signifies that He stops the repetition of birth and death, and kris means sattartha, or "existence." (Krishna is the whole of existence.) Also, kris means "attraction," and na means ananda, or "bliss."

Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.8.15

The name "Krishna," meaning "all-attractive," can be applied only to God:

Srila Prabhupada: .. Krishna means "all-attractive."

Bob: Oh, I see.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. God has no name, but by His qualities we give Him names. If a man is very beautiful, we call him "beautiful." If a man is very intelligent, we call him "wise." So the name is given according to the quality. Because God is all-attractive, the name Krishna can be applied only to Him. Krishna means "all-attractive." It includes everything.

Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers

Priitaa · January 3, 2004

I have saved this thread as a 'favorite.' I don't want to lose this wonderful information! Thank you, and feel free to post more if you have more on hand.

Govindaram · January 3, 2004

 4. The Meaning of the Name "Rama" 

"Rama" means spiritual enjoyment:

Those who are actually yogis truly enjoy, but how do they enjoy? Ramante yogino 'nante-their enjoyment is unlimited, that unlimited enjoyment is real happiness, and such happiness is spiritual, not material. This is the real meaning of Rama, as in the chant Hare Rama. Rama means enjoyment through spiritual life. Spiritual life is all pleasure, and Krishna is all pleasure.

The Perfection of Yoga

"Hare Rama" refers both to Sri Balarama and Lord Ramacandra:

We may mention an incident that took place between two of our sannyasis while we were preaching the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in Hyderabad. One of them stated that "Hare Rama" refers to Sri Balarama, and the other protested that "Hare Rama" means Lord Rama. Ultimately the controversy came to me, and I gave the decision that if someone says that "Rama" in "Hare Rama" is Lord Ramacandra and someone else says that the "Rama" in "Hare Rama" is Sri Balarama, both are correct because there is no difference between Sri Balarama and Lord Rama... Those who are aware of the vishnu-tattva do not fight over all these details.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 5.132

[Lord Krishna to Yogamaya]: The son of Rohini will also be celebrated as Sankarsana because of being sent from the womb of Devaki to the womb of Rohini. He will be called Rama because of His ability to please all the inhabitants of Gokula, and He will be known as Balabhadra because of His extensive physical strength.

These are some of the reasons why Balarama is known as Sankarsana, Balarama or sometimes Rama. In the maha-mantra-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-people sometimes object when Rama is accepted as Balarama. But although devotees of Lord Rama may object, they should know that there is no difference between Balarama and Lord Rama. Here Srimad-Bhagavatam clearly states that Balarama is also known as Rama (rameti). Therefore, it is not artificial for us to speak of Lord Balarama as Lord Rama. Jayadeva Goswami also speaks of three Ramas: Parasurama, Raghupati Rama and Balarama. All of them are Ramas.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.13

The word "Rama" refers both to Lord Balarama and to Lord Nityananda:

In the maha-mantra Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, the word Rama refers to Balarama. Since Nityananda is an expansion of Balarama, Rama also refers to Lord Nityananda. Thus Hare Krishna, Hare Rama addresses not only Krishna and Balarama but Lord Caitanya and Nityananda as well.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila Intro.

Ps.Thankyou Pritta Mata, i find reading about Holy names gives me the enthusiasm to chant better and more!

Govindaram · January 3, 2004

5. The Meaning of the Name "Hare"

"Hare is the vocative form of "Hara," the supreme pleasure energy of the Lord:

The word Hara is the form of addressing the energy of the Lord, and the words Krishna and Rama are forms of addressing the Lord Himself. Both Krishna and Rama mean "the supreme pleasure,".and Hara is the supreme pleasure energy of the Lord, changed to Hare in the vocative. The supreme pleasure energy of the Lord helps us to reach the Lord.

The Science of Self-Realization

Hara is Krishna 's internal potency, Srimati Radharani or Laksmi:

When we are chanting the maha-mantra, we are actually addressing God and His energy, Hara. Hara is Krishna 's internal potency, Srimati Radharani. Thus the Vaisnavas worship Radha-Krishna, Laksmi-Narayana and Sita-Rama. In the beginning of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra we first address the internal energy of Krishna, Hare. Thus we say, "O Radharani! O Hare! O energy of the Lord!"

Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahuti

The Hare Krishna mantra is first addressed to the spiritual energy of the Lord, which enlightens one:

Spiritual enlightenment is possible by the mercy of the spiritual energy of the Lord. The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is first addressed to the spiritual energy of the Lord, Hare. This spiritual energy acts when a living entity fully surrenders and accepts his position as an eternal servitor. When a person places himself at the disposal or order of the Supreme Lord, that is called sevonmukha; at that time the spiritual energy gradually reveals the Lord to him.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.9.6

A Vaisnava worships the energy of the Lord along with the Lord through chanting the maha-mantra:

Because Krishna and His energy appeared simultaneously, people have generally formed two groups-the saktas and the Vaisnavas-and sometimes there is rivalry between them. Essentially, those who are interested in material enjoyment are Saktas, and those interested in spiritual salvation and attaining the spiritual kingdom are Vaisnavas. Because people are generally interested in material enjoyment, they are interested in worshiping Mayadevi, the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vaisnavas, however, are Suddha-saktas, or pure bhaktas, because the Hare Krishna maha-mantra indicates worship of the Supreme Lord's energy, Hara. A Vaisnava prays to the energy of the Lord for the opportunity to serve the Lord along with His spiritual energy. Thus Vaisnavas all worship such Deities as Radha-Krishna, Sita-Rama, Laksmi-Narayana and Rukmini-Dvarakadhisha, whereas durga-saktas worship the material energy under different names.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.11-12

Govindaram · January 3, 2004

6. The Relative Potency of the Names "Krishna,Rama," and "Visnu"

The holy name "Rama" is equal to one thousand holy names of Visnu:

[siva to Durga]: "Lord Siva addressed his wife Durga as Varanana and explained, 'I chant the holy name of Rama, Rama, Rama and thus enjoy this beautiful sound. This holy name of Ramacandra is equal to one thousand names of Lord Visnu.'"

Brhad-Vishnu-sahasra-nama-stotra, 72.335

(from Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda)

[cited: Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya-lila 9.32]

The holy name "Krishna" is three times as powerful as the holy name "Rama":

"'The pious results derived from chanting the thousand holy names of Vishnu three times can be attained by only one repetition of the holy name of Krishna.'"

This verse from the Brahmanda Purana is found in the Laghu-bhagavatamrta (1.354), by Rupa Gosvami. For every three times one chants the holy name of Rama, one can attain the same results simply by chanting the name of Krishna once.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya-lila 9.33

The relative transcendental value of the names "Vishnu,Rama," and "Krishna":

It is said in the scriptures that one thousand names of Vishnu are equal to one name of Rama, and three names of Lord Rama are equal to one name of Krishna.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.19.6

Govindaram · January 3, 2004

7. The Lord and His Holy Name Are Nondifferent

The holy name is identical with Krishna:

"'The holy name of Krishna... is identical with Krishna...'"

Padyavali(24), by Rupa Goswami

[cited: Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya-lila 15.110]

The Hare Krishna mantra is nondifferent from Krishna:

[Lord Sankarkana to King Citraketu] All living entities, moving and nonmoving, are My expansions and are separate from Me. I am the Supersoul of all living beings, which exist because I manifest them. I am the form of the transcendental vibrations like omkara and Hare Krishna Hare Rama, and I am the Supreme Absolute Truth. These two forms of Mine-namely, the transcendental sound and the eternally blissful spiritual form of the Deity-are My eternal forms; they are not material.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.16.51

Krishna's name is identical with His form:

"O Lord," the demigods say, "the impersonalists, who are nondevotees, cannot understand that Your name is identical with Your form." Since the Lord is absolute, there is no difference between His name and His actual form. In the material world there is a difference between form and name. The mango fruit is different from the name of the mango. One cannot taste the mango fruit simply by chanting, "Mango, mango, mango." But the devotee who knows that there is no difference between the name and the form of the Lord chants Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and realizes that he is always in Krishna's company.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.36

One must have faith that the holy name is identical with Krishna:

One should accept the holy name of Krishna to be identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Transcendence Himself. The holy name of Krishna is also identical with Krishna and is also cintamani. The name Krishna is the personification of sound perfectly transcendental and eternally liberated from material contamination. One should understand that the name Krishna and Krishna are identical. Having such faith, one must continue to chant the holy name.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya-lila 15.106

In this age, Krishna has descended as

Sound vibration-as His holy name:

Sometimes Krishna descends personally, and sometimes He descends as sound vibration, and sometimes He descends as a devotee. There are many different categories of avataras. In this present age Krishna has descended in His holy name, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu also confirmed that in this age of Kali, Krishna has descended in the form of sound vibration. Sound is one of the forms which the Lord takes. Therefore it is stated that there is no difference between Krishna and His name.

Today people have forgotten their relationship with God, but this incarnation of Krishna in the form of His holy names, this chanting of Hare Krishna, will deliver all the people of the world from their forgetfulness.

Elevation to Krishna Consciousness

Lord Caitanya taught that the holy name of the Lord is nondifferent from the Lord:

Lord Caitanya instructed the mass of people in the Sankhya philosophy of acintya-bhedebheda-tattva, which maintains that the Supreme Lord is simultaneously one with and different from His creation. Lord Caitanya taught this philosophy through the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. He taught that the holy name of the Lord is the sound incarnation of the Lord and that since the Lord is the absolute whole, there is no difference between His holy name and His transcendental form. Thus by chanting the holy name of the Lord one can directly associate with the Supreme Lord by sound vibration.

Teachings of Lord Caitanya

Unlike the conditioned soul, there is no distinction between Krishna's name and His person:

[Lord Caitanya to a brahmana]: "The Lord's holy name, His form and His personality are all one and the same. There is no difference between them. Since all of them are absolute, they are transcendentally blissful. There is no difference between Krishna's body and Himself or between His name and Himself. As far as the conditioned soul is concerned, everything is different. One's name is different from the body, from one's original form and so on... The holy name of Krishna, His transcendental qualities and pastimes as well as Lord Krishna Himself are all equal. They are all spiritual and full of bliss."

The name of Krishna and Krishna the person are both spiritual. Everything about Krishna is transcendental, blissful and objective. For a conditioned soul, the body is different from the soul, and the name given by the father is also different from the soul. The conditioned living entity's identification with material objects keeps him from attaining his actual position. Although he is an eternal servant of Krishna, he acts differently. The svarupa, or actual identification of the living entity, is described by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as jovera 'svarupa' haya-krisnera 'nitya-dasa.' [Cc. Madhya 20.108].

The conditioned soul has forgotten the real activities of his original position. However, this is not the case with Krishna. Krishna's name and His person are identical. There is no such thing as maya Krishna because Krishna is not a product of the material creation. There is no difference between Krishna's body and His soul. Krishna is simultaneously both soul and body. The distinction between body and soul applies to conditioned souls. The body of the conditioned soul is different from the soul, and the conditioned soul's name is different from his body. One may be named Mr. John, but if we call for Mr. John, Mr. John may never actually appear. However, if we utter the holy name of Krishna, Krishna is immediately present on our tongue.

In the Padma Purana, Krishna says, mad-bhakta yatra gayanti tatra tisthami narada: "O Narada, I am present wherever My devotees are chanting." When the devotees chant the holy name of Krishna-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-Lord Krishna is immediately present.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya-lila 17.131-32,135

Krishna invests all His potencies in His holy name:

[Lord Caitanya to Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya]:

"... You have invested all Your potencies in [Your] names..."

Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Antya-lila 20.16

Being identical with Krishna, the holy name is fully transcendental and no less powerful than He:

"'The holy name of Krishna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krishna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krishna's name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krishna Himself. Since Krishna's name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya, Krishna's name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krishna and Krishna Himself are identical.'"

Padma Purana [cited: Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya-lila 17.133]

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

It is 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 no material sound vibration, nor has it any material contamination."

The Nectar of Devotion

The name of Krishna is as powerful as Lord Krishna Himself:

[The sages at Naimisaranya to Suta Goswami]:

Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the holy name of Krishna, which is feared by fear personified.

The almighty Vasudeva has empowered His name with the powers of His personal Self... It is stated herein that the name of Krishna is feared even by fear personified.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.14

There is no difference between meditating on the eternal forms of Radha-Krishna and chanting the maha-mantra:

After rising from bed, Lord Krishna would wash His mouth, hands and feet and would immediately sit down and meditate on Himself. This does not mean, however, that we should also sit down and meditate on ourselves. We have to meditate upon Krishna, Radha-Krishna. That is real meditation. Krishna is Krishna Himself; therefore He was teaching us that brahma-muhurta should be utilized for meditation on Radha-Krishna. By doing so, Krishna would feel very much satisfied, and similarly we will also feel transcendentally pleased and satisfied if we utilize the brahma-muhurta period to meditate on Radha and Krishna and if we think of how Sri Rukminidevi and Krishna acted as ideal householders to teach the whole human society to rise early in the morning and immediately engage in Krishna consciousness. There is no difference between meditating on the etemal forms of Radha-Krishna and chanting the maha-mantra, Hare Krishna.

Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

When one is free from maya he can understand that the holy name and the Lord are identical:

The holy name and the Lord are identical. One who is completely free from the clutches of maya can understand this fact.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 7.73

When one is situated on the absolute platform, he can understand the holy name and the Lord Himself to be identical:

The more one is freed from material identification, the more one can realize that the spirit soul is qualitatively as good as the Supreme Soul. At such a time, when one is situated on the absolute platform, he can understand that the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself are identical. At that stage of realization, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna mantra, cannot be identified with any material sound. If one accepts the Hare Krishna maha-mantra as a material vibration, he falls down. One should worship and chant the holy name of the Lord by accepting it as the Lord Himself.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya-lila 15.108

Knowing that Sri Krishna is present in His name, pure devotees chant with full respect and veneration:

Devotees of the Personality of Godhead know that Sri Krishna, the son of the King of Vraja, is the Absolute Truth. They do not discriminate between Sri Krishna's name, form, quality and pastimes. One who wants to separate the Lord's absolute name, form and qualities must be understood to be lacking in absolute knowledge. A pure devotee knows that when he chants the transcendental name Krishna, Sri Krishna is present as transcendental sound. He therefore chants with full respect and veneration.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 2.11

Bhava results from understanding that Krishna's person and name are identical:

The transcendental ecstatic attachment for Krishna which results from perfectly understanding that Krishna's person and name are identical is called bhava. One who has attained bhava is certainly not contaminated by material nature. He actually enjoys transcendental pleasure from bhava, and when bhava is intensified, it is called love of Godhead. Lord Caitanya told Prakasananda Sarasvati that the holy name of Krishna, called the maha-mantra (great chanting), enables anyone who chants it to attain the stage of love of Godhead, or intensified bhava.

Teachings of Lord Caitanya

Mayavadis offend the holy name by differentiating it from the Lord Himself:

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. Although Mayavadis profess monism, they differentiate between the holy name of the Supreme Lord and the Lord Himself. For this offense of namaparadha they gradually glide down from their exalted position of brahma-jnana, as confirmed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.32):

aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah

patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah

Although by severe austerities they rise to the exalted position of brahma-jnana, they nevertheless fall down due to imperfect knowledge of the Absolute Truth. Although they profess to understand the Vedic mantra, sarvam khalv idam brahma ("everything is Brahman"), they are unable to understand that the holy name is also Brahman. If they regularly chant the maha-mantra, however, they can be relieved from this misconception. Unless one properly takes shelter of the holy name, he cannot be relieved from the offensive stage in chanting the holy name.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 7.74

Govindaram · January 4, 2004

8. The Holy Name Is All-auspicious

The sankirtana movement of chanting the holy name is the most auspicious activity in the universe:

[sukadeva Gosvami to King Pariksit]: Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King; the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of the sankirtana movement is the most auspicious activity in the entire universe. Please try to understand this so that others will take it seriously.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.31

The chanting of the holy name spreads all good fortune:

[Aditi to Lord Visnu]: The goddess Aditi said: O master and enjoyer of all sacrificial ceremonies, O infallible and most famous person, whose name, when chanted, spreads all good fortune! O original Supreme Personality of Godhead, supreme controller, shelter of all holy places, You are the shelter of all poor, suffering living entities, and You have appeared to diminish their suffering. Please be kind to us and spread our good fortune.

The chanting of the holy name of the Lord-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-is pleasing to the ear, and it expands good fortune to the audience who hears it chanted.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.17.8

The holy name as sravana-mangala and punya-sravana-kirtana:

The Lord's holy name is called sravana-mangala. This means that one receives everything auspicious simply by hearing the holy name. In another place in Srimad-Bhagavatam, His holy name is described as punya-sravana-kirtana. It is a pious act simply to chant and hear all about the Lord.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.7.15

The Hare Krishna mantra is the greatest benediction:

It is said that once a poor brahmana worshiped Lord Siva for a benediction, and Lord Siva advised the devotee to go to Sanatana Gosvami. The devotee went to Sanatana Gosvami and informed him that Lord Siva had advised him to seek out the best benediction from him (Sanatana). Sanatana had a touchstone with him, which he kept with the garbage. On the request of the poor brahmana, Sanatana gave him the touchstone, and the brahmana was very happy to have it. He now could get as much gold as he desired simply by touching the touchstone to iron. But after he left Sanatana, he thought, "If a touchstone is the best benediction, why has Sanatana Gosvami kept it with the garbage?" He therefore returned and asked Sanatana Gosvami, "Sir, if this is the best benediction, why did you keep it with the garbage?" Sanatana Gosvami then informed him, "Actually, this is not the best benediction. But are you prepared to take the best benediction from me?" The brahmana said, "Yes, sir. Lord Siva has sent me to you for the best benediction." Then Sanatana Gosvami asked him to throw the touchstone in the water nearby and then come back. The poor brahmana did so, and when he returned, Sanatana Gosvami initiated him with the Hare Krishna mantra. Thus by the benediction of Lord Siva the brahmana got the association of the best devotee of Lord Krishna and was thus initiated in the maha-mantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.7.6

By the chanting of Krishna's name, everything becomes white and pure:

When the great sage Narada was chanting the glories of the Lord, the bluish line on the neck of Lord Siva disappeared. Upon seeing this, Gauri, the wife of Lord Siva, suspected Lord Siva of being someone else disguised as her husband, and out of fear she immediately left his company. Upon hearing the chanting of Krishna's name, Lord Balarama saw that His dress had become white, although He was generally accustomed to a bluish dress. And the cowherd girls saw all of the water of the Yamuna River turn into milk, so they began to churn it into butter. In other words, by the spreading of Krishna consciousness, or the glories of Krishna, everything became white and pure.

The Nectar of Devotion

The chief worshipable object is the holy name of Radha and Krishna:

[Lord Caitanya to Ramananda Raya]: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, "Among all worshipable objects, which is the chief?" Ramananda Raya replies, "The chief worshipable object is the holy name of Radha and Krishna, the Hare Krishna mantra."

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 8.256

Govindaram · January 4, 2004

9. The Holy Name of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Is All-auspicious

A brahmana tells Prakasananda Sarasvati that the name "Krishna Caitanya" is all-auspicious to the world:

"His name, Krishna Caitanya, is all-auspicious to the world. Everything about Him-His name, form, and qualities-is unparalleled."

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 17.113

Simply by remembering or chanting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's holy name one can be delivered from material existence:

[The representative of the Orissan government, the maha-patra, thinking to himself!: "It must be Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself who has changed the Muhammadan's mind. Due to His presence and even due to His remembrance, the world is liberated."

[The maha-patra to Lord Caitanya]: "Simply by hearing Your holy name, a candala, lowest of men, can be purified."

One can be delivered from material existence simply by remembering Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's holy name or by visiting Him. This Krishna consciousness movement is being spread throughout the world, but not even one yavana or mleccha addicted to drinking could have changed and accepted Krishna consciousness without Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's grace. People are often astonished to see many thousands of Westerners converted to Vaisnavism. Generally Westerners are addicted to meat-eating, drinking, gambling and illicit sex; therefore their taking up Krishna consciousness is astonishing. In India, especially, there is much astonishment at this.

The answer, however, is given here: darsana-smarane yanra jagat tarila. This change is made possible simply by the remembrance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The Western devotees are very sincerely chanting the holy names of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates: sri-krishna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. By the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates, people are being purified and their consciousness directed from maya to Krishna.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 16.175-184

Simply by chanting the holy name of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, people throughout the world are becoming devotees:

Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not manifest His natural ecstatic love, everyone became a pure devotee simply by seeing and hearing Him.

Srila Rupa Gosvami has described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as maha-vadanya-avatara, the most munificent incarnation. Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is not physically present now, simply by chanting His holy name (Sri-Krishna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda Sri-advaita gadadhara Srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda) people throughout the world are becoming devotees.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 17.51

One who chants the mantra "Gauranga" and one who chants the names of Radha and Krishna are on the same level:

[Nakula Brahmacari to Sivananda Sena]: "You are chanting the Gaura-gopala mantra composed of four syllables. Now please give up the doubts that have resided within you."

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains the Gaura-gopala mantra in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. Worshipers of Sri 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, Vaisnavas consider Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu nondifferent from Radha-Krishna (Sri-Krishna-caitanya 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.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 2.31

Govindaram · January 4, 2004

10. The Maha-mantra Is a Spiritual Sound Vibration

The names of the Supreme Lord are not material:

[Daksa to Lord Visnu]: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is inconceivably opulent, who is devoid of all material names, forms and pastimes, and who is all-pervading, is especially merciful to the devotees who worship His lotus feet. Thus He exhibits transcendental forms and names with His different pastimes. May that Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss, be merciful to me.

In regard to the significant word anama-rupah, Sri Sridhara Svami says, prakrta-nama-rupa-rahito 'pi. The word anama, which means "having no name," indicates that the Supreme Personality of Godhead has no material name. Simply by chanting the name of Narayana to call his son, Ajamila attained salvation. This means that Narayana is not an ordinary mundane name; it is nonmaterial. The word anama, therefore, indicates that the names of the Supreme Lord do not belong to this material world. The vibration of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is not a material sound, and similarly the form of the Lord and His appearance and activities are all nonmaterial. To show His causeless mercy to the devotees, as well as to the nondevotees, Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appears in this material world with names, forms and pastimes, all of which are transcendental.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.4.33

The Hare Krishna maha-mantra should not be considered a material vibration:

In the Padma Purana it is said:

arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhir

visnor va vaisnavanam kali-mala-mathane pade-tirthe 'mbu-buddhih

sri-visnor namni mantre sakala-kalusa-he sabda-samanya-buddhir

visnau sarvesvarese tad-itara-sama-dhir yasya va naraki sah

No one should consider the Deity in the temple to be made of stone or wood, nor should one consider the spiritual master an ordinary human being. No one should consider a Vaisnava to belong to a particular caste or creed, and no one should consider caranamrta or Ganges water to be like ordinary water. Nor should anyone consider the Hare Krishna maha-mantra to be a material vibration. All these expansions of Krishna in the material world are simply demonstrations of the Lord's mercy and willingness to give facility to His devotees who are engaged in His devotional service within the material world.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 20.217

The holy name is a spiritual sound from the spiritual world:

[The maha-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 bhagavata-prema. Those who have developed love of Godhead can hear it.

Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahuti

The holy name is eternally pure and transcendental:

Since Krishna and His holy name are identical, the holy name is eternally pure and beyond material contamination. It is the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a transcendental vibration. The holy name is completely different from material sound, as confirmed by Narottama dasa Thakura. Golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana: the transcendental vibration of hari-nama-sankirtana is imported from the spiritual world.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 7.74

The name of the Lord is transcendental:

[Amsuman to Lord Kapila]: O completely peaceful Lord, although material nature, fruitive activities and their consequent material names and forms are Your creation, You are unaffected by them. Therefore, Your transcendental name is different from material names, and Your form is different from material forms. You assume a form resembling a material body just to give us instructions like those of Bhagavad-gita, but actually You are the supreme original person. I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.8.24

The chanting of the maha-mantra is enacted from the spiritual platform:

By practical experience, one can perceive that by chanting this maha-mantra, or the Great Chanting for Deliverance, one can at once feel a transcendental ecstasy coming through from the spiritual stratum. In the material concept of life we are busy in the matter of sense gratification as if we were in the lower, animal stage. A little elevated from this status of sense gratification, one is engaged in mental speculation for the purpose of getting out of the material clutches. A little elevated from this speculative status, when one is intelligent enough, one tries to find out the supreme cause of all causes-within and without. And when one is factually on the plane of spiritual understanding, surpassing the stages of sense, mind, and intelligence, he is then on the transcendental plane. This chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is enacted from the spiritual platform, and thus this sound vibration surpasses all lower strata of consciousness-namely sensual, mental, and intellectual. There is no need, therefore, to understand the language of the mantra, nor is there any need for mental speculation nor any intellectual adjustment for chanting this maha-mantra. It is automatic, from the spiritual platform, and as such, anyone can take part in the chanting without any previous qualification.

The Science of Self-Realization

Only the devotee can understand the transcendental nature of Krishna's name:

[The demigods to Lord Krishna in the womb of Devaki]: O 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 Purana:

atah sri-krishna-namadi

na bhaved grahyam indriyaih

sevonmukhe hi jihvadau

svayam eva sphuraty adah

[bRS. atah sri-krishna-namadi

na bhaved grahyam indriyaih

sevonmukhe hi jihvadau

svayam eva sphuraty adah

"No one can understand the transcendental nature of the name, form, quality and pastimes of Sri Krishna through his 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."

(Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234)1.2.234]

"One cannot understand the transcendental nature of the name, form, quality and pastimes of Sri Krishna 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 Krishna 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 jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah: Krishna's transcendental name, form, attributes and activities can be revealed only when one engages in His service in full consciousness. This confirms Krishna's own words in Bhagavad-gita (18.55):

bhaktya mam abhijanati

yavan yas casmi tattvatah

tato mam tattvato jiatva

visate 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 Giridhari or Girivara-dhari. Because Krishna, 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 Syamasundara and Giridhari. Similarly the Lord is known as Devaki-nandana and Yasoda-nandana because He accepted the role of son for mother Devaki and mother Yasoda, and He is known as Gopala because He enjoyed the sport of maintaining the cows and calves. Therefore, although He has no mundane name, He is addressed by devotees as Devaki-nandana, Yasoda-nandana, Gopala and Syamasundara. These are all transcendental names that only devotees can appreciate and nondevotees cannot.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.36

Govindaram · January 5, 2004

11. The Holy Name Is Ever Fresh

Because the Hare Krishna mantra is spiritual, chanting never becomes hackneyed or tiresome:

In the material world we are simply chewing the chewed, throwing it away, picking it up and then chewing it again. Spiritual variety is not like this. Spiritual variety is anandambudhi-vardhanam: it is constantly increasing. It is even greater than the ocean, because the ocean does not increase. The shores of the ocean are set; they have certain limits. However, the ocean of bliss is constantly increasing. The more we enter into that spiritual bliss, the more we become joyful.

The young people in the Hare Krishna movement chant the Hare Krishna mantra all the time. If this mantra were material, how long would they chant it? It is not possible to chant a material name for very long because the chanting would become hackneyed and very tiresome. No one could be satisfied simply by chanting Hare Krishna unless Hare Krishna itself were spiritual. We may chant, "Mr. John, Mr. John, Mr. John," but after an hour we will be fed up. However, the more we become spiritually advanced, the more bliss we will derive from chanting Hare Krishna.

Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahuti

God is eternal, and His instructions and followers are also eternal. In Bhagavad-gita (4.1) Krishna tells Arjuna that millions of years ago He spoke Bhagavad-gita to the sun-god. Bhagavad-gita was spoken to Arjuna five thousand years ago, and if we read it today we will still find that it is fresh. Bhagavad-gita and Krishna are never old. Although Krishna is the most ancient one, the oldest of all, He remains like a young boy in His teens. He never appears older than twenty. Krishna's words are absolute, as well as His form, qualities and activities. They are always fresh and new. If they were not, how could the devotees glorify them day after day with greater enthusiasm? The more one glorifies Krishna, the more enthusiastic one becomes in glorifying, glorifying, glorifying. This is the meaning of spiritual. In the material world, if we repeat something once, twice, thrice or four times, it finally becomes hackneyed and disgusting. However, this Hare Krishna maha-mantra can be chanted twenty-four hours daily, and one will still feel fresh and enthusiastic. It is not a material sound like the sounds we hear on the radio. It is a spiritual sound that comes from the spiritual world.

Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahuti

It is said that it is the nature of a devotee to constantly apply his mind, energy, words, ears, etc., in hearing and chanting about Krishna. This is called Krishna consciousness, and for one who is rapt in hearing and chanting Krishna, the subject matter never becomes hackneyed or old. That is the significance of transcendental subject matter in contrast to material subject matter. Material subject matter becomes stale, and one cannot hear a certain subject for a long time; he wants change. But as far as transcendental subject matter is concerned, it is called nitya-navayamana. This means that one can go on chanting and hearing about the Lord and never feel tired but will remain fresh and eager to hear more and more.

Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

The devotee does not feel hackneyed or stereotyped, nor does he feel that he is in a stagnant position. In the material world, if one engages in chanting a material name, he will feel tired after chanting a few times. However, one can chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra all day and night and never feel tired. As chanting is increased, it will come out new and fresh. Srila Rupa Gosvami said that if he could somehow get millions of ears and tongues, then he could relish spiritual bliss by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.30.20

Our students can chant the Hare Krishna mantra twenty-four hours a day, and they will never get tired. They will continue to dance and chant. And anyone can try it; because it is not material, one will never get tired of chanting Hare Krishna. In the material world, if one chants anything, any favorite name, for three, four, or ten times, he will get tired of it. That is a fact. But because Hare Krishna is not material, if one chants this mantra, he will never get tired. The more one chants, the more his heart will be cleansed of material dirt and the more the problems of his life within this material world will be solved.

The Science of Self-Realization

In the material world one may become very tired if he works all the time, but if one works in Krishna consciousness, he can chant Hare Krishna and engage in devotional service twenty-four hours a day and never get tired. But if we vibrate some mundane vibration, then we soon become exhausted. There is no question of becoming tired on the spiritual platform. The spiritual platform is absolute.

The Perfection of Yoga

Govindaram · January 5, 2004

12. The Maha-mantra Is a Prayer for Deliverance, Protection, and Engagement in the Lord's Service

The meaning and significance of the maha-mantra:

The word Hara is the form of addressing the energy of the Lord, and the words Krishna and Rama are forms of addressing the Lord Himself. Both Krishna and Rama mean "the supreme pleasure," and Hara is the supreme pleasure energy of the Lord, changed to Hare in the vocative. The supreme pleasure energy of the Lord helps us to reach the Lord.

The material energy, called maya, is also one of the multienergies of the Lord. And we, the living entities, are also the energy, marginal energy, of the Lord. The living entities are described as superior to material energy. When the superior energy is in contact with the inferior energy, an incompatible situation arises; but when the superior marginal energy is in contact with the superior energy, Hara, it is established in its happy, normal condition.

These three words, namely Hare, Krishna, and Rama, are the transcendental seeds of the maha-mantra. The chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord and His energy to give protection to the conditioned soul. This chanting is exactly like the genuine cry of a child for its mother's presence. Mother Hara helps the devotee achieve the Lord Father's grace, and the Lord reveals Himself to the devotee who chants this mantra sincerely.

The Science of Self-Realization

The maha-mantra is a form of prayer:

Simply by offering prayers to the Supreme Lord one can become perfect...one can execute devotional service anywhere and everywhere in the material existence simply by offering prayers unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is also a prayer, for a prayer addresses the Supreme Personality of Godhead by His name and invokes good fortune by petitioning the Lord to allow one to engage in His devotional service. The Hare Krishna maha-mantra also says, "My dear Lord Krishna, my dear Lord Rama, O energy of the Lord, Hare, kindly engage me in Your service."

Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.69

The Hare Krishna maha-mantra addresses the Lord and His spiritual potency and is a prayer requesting engagement in Their transcendental loving service:

When we chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra we are saying, "Hare! O energy of the Lord! O my Lord Krishna!" In this way we are simply addressing the Lord and His spiritual potency represented as Radha-Krishna, Sita-Rama, or Laksmi-Narayana. The devotee always prays to the Lord and His internal energy (consort) so that he may engage in Their transcendental loving service. When the conditioned soul attains his real spiritual energy and fully surrenders unto the Lord's lotus feet, he tries to engage in the Lord's service. This is the real constitutional position of the living entity.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 22.16

Caitanya Mahaprabhu teaches us that we should only beg God for His service life after life. This is the actual meaning of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. When we are chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, we are actually addressing God and His energy, Hara. Hara is Krishna's internal potency, Srimati Radharani or Laksmi. Jaya radhe! This is daivi prakrti, and the devotees take shelter of the daivi prakrti, Srimati Radharani. Thus the Vaisnavas worship Radha-Krishna, Laksmi-Narayana and Sita-Rama. In the beginning of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra we first address the internal energy of Krishna, Hare. Thus we say, "O Radharani! O Hare! O energy of the Lord!" When we address someone in this way, he usually says, "Yes, what do you want?" The answer is, "Please engage me in Your service." This should be our prayer. We should not say, "O energy of the Lord, O Krishna, please give me money. Please give me a beautiful wife. Please give me many followers. Please give me some prestigious position. Please give me the presidency." These are all material hankerings, which should be avoided.

Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahuti

Chanting Hare Krishna is asking the Lord, "Please engage me in Your service." This is the mantra taught by Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself. Hare refers to the energy of the Lord, and Krishna and Rama are names for the Lord Himself. When we chant Hare Krishna, we are asking Krishna to please engage us in His service. This is because our entire material disease is due to our having forgotten to serve God. In illusion, we are thinking, "I am God. What is the other God that I have to serve? I myself am God." Ultimately, that is the only disease, the last snare of illusion. First of all, a person tries to be a prime minister, president, Rockefeller, Ford, this and that, and when one fails or attains such a post and is still unhappy, he wants to become God. That is like becoming an even higher president. When I understand that the presidency does not afford me eternal bliss and knowledge, I demand the highest presidency. I demand to become God. In any case, the demand is there, and this demand is our disease. In illusion, we are demanding to be the highest, but the process of bhakti-yoga is just the opposite. We want to become servants, servants of the servants of the Lord. There is no question of demanding to become the Lord; we just want to serve. That's all.

The Path of Perfection

Ms. Nixon: Could you explain the meaning of the Hare Krishna mantra?

Srila Prabhupada: It is very simple. Hare means, "O energy of the Lord," and Krishna means, "O Lord Krishna." Just as there are males and females in the material world, similarly, God is the original male (purusa), and His energy (prakrti) is the original female. So, when we chant Hare Krishna, we are saying, "O Lord Krishna, O energy of Krishna, kindly engage me in Your service."

The Science of Self-Realization

The maha-mantra is a prayer for engagement in the service of the spiritual energy:

Rama and Krishna are names of God, and Hare is the energy of God. So when we chant the maha-mantra, we address God together with His energy. This energy is of two kinds, the spiritual and the material. At present we are in the clutches of the material energy. Therefore we pray to Krishna that He may kindly deliver us from the service of the material energy and accept us into the service of the spiritual energy. That is our whole philosophy. Hare Krishna means, "O energy of God, O God [Krishna], please engage me in Your service." It is our nature to render service. Somehow or other we have come to the service of material things, but when this service is transformed into the service of the spiritual energy, then our life is perfect.

The Science of Self-Realization

The Hare Krishna mantra is a prayer for acceptance and deliverance:

Hare refers to the energy of the Lord, and Krishna and Rama refer to the Lord Himself. Therefore, when we chant Hare Krishna, we are praying, "O Lord, O energy of the Lord, please accept me." We have no other prayer than "Please accept me." Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us that we should simply cry and pray that the Lord accept us. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself prayed,

ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram

patitam mam visame bhavambudhau

kripaya tava .*-pankaja

sthita-dhuli-sadrsam vicintaya

"O Krishna, son of Nanda, somehow or other I have fallen into this ocean of nescience and ignorance. Please pick me up and place me as one of the atoms at Your (.)*lotus feet."

If a man has fallen into the ocean, his only hope for survival is that someone comes to pick him up. He only has to be lifted one inch above the water in order to feel immediate relief. Similarly, as soon as we take to Krishna consciousness, we are lifted up, and we feel immediate relief.

The Path of Perfection

The maha-mantra is a prayer for the Lord's protection:

The chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord and His energy, to give protection to the conditioned soul. This chanting is exactly like the genuine cry of a child for its mother's presence. Mother Hara helps the devotee achieve the Lord Father's grace, and the Lord reveals Himself to the devotee who chants this mantra sincerely.

The Science of Self-Realization

The Hare Krishna mantra addresses not only Krishna and Balarama but Lord Caitanya and Nityananda as well:

In the Maha-mantra Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, the word Rama refers to Balarama. Since Nityananda is an expansion of Balarama, Rama also refers to Lord Nityananda. Thus Hare Krishna, Hare Rama addresses not only Krishna and Balarama but Lord Caitanya and Nityananda as well.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi Intro.

Govindaram · March 14, 2004

Enjoy.

The Transcendental Attributes of the Holy Name

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