108QA-010-Loud Chanting of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra

Founder AcrayaOm Vishnupada Sri SrimadBhaktivedanta Narayana

Goswami Maharaja

1 0 8 Q & A

From: Center for BHAKTI StudiesAnd Sri Ranganatha Gaudiya Matha

Question 10: What is the importance of loud chanting of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra

Answer compiled by Bhaktivedanta Vishnu Daivata Maharaj. For more info email Maharaj at [email protected]

Loud Chanting of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra

Can Hare Krishna mantra be chanted loudly?

Some unscupulous people claim that Hare Ka mantra can be chanted softly or in the mind,

but cannot be chanted loudly. In reply to this, we are quoting may authorized quotes from the

literary works of Srila Prabhupda and lectures by Srila Gurudeva.

If Maha-mantra is chanted loudly, everyone will benefit, including the lower species of life.

The Ka consciousness movement introduced by Lord Caitanya is extremely important

because one who takes to it becomes eternal, being freed from birth, death and old age. People

do not recognize that the real distresses in life are the four principles of birth, death, old age and

disease. They are so foolish that they resign themselves to these four miseries, not knowing the

transcendental remedy of the Hare Ka mah-mantra. Simply by chanting the Hare Ka

mah-mantra, one can become free from all misery, but because they are enchanted by the

illusory energy, people do not take this movement seriously. Therefore those who are actually

servants of r Caitanya Mahprabhu must seriously distribute this movement all over the world

to render the greatest benefit to human society. Of course, animals and other lower species are

not capable of understanding this movement, but if even a small number of living beings take it

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seriously, by their chanting loudly, all living entities, including even trees, animals and other

lower species, will be benefited. When r Caitanya Mahprabhu inquired from Haridsa

hkura how he was to benefit living entities other than humans, rla Haridsa hkura replied

that the Hare Ka mah-mantra is so potent that if it is chanted loudly, everyone will benefit,

including the lower species of life.

The recommended method for fixing the mind on Ka is chanting loudly and hearing Hare

Ka.

Very intense training is required to keep the mind fixed on Ka while sitting in one place.

That is very hard work indeed. If one is not so practiced and tries to imitate this process, he will

surely be confused. Instead, we always have to engage ourselves in Ka consciousness,

dovetailing everything we do to Ka. Our usual activities should be so molded that they are

rendered for Kas sake. In this way the mind will remain fixed on Ka. As stated before, we

should not try to sit down and stare at the tip of our nose. At the present moment, attempts to

engage in that type of yoga are artificial. Rather, the recommended method is chanting loudly

and hearing Hare Ka. Then, even if the mind is diverted, it will be forced to concentrate on

the sound vibration Ka. It isnt necessary to withdraw the mind from everything; it will

automatically be withdrawn, because it will be concentrated on the sound vibration. If we hear

an automobile pass, our attention is automatically diverted. Similarly, if we constantly chant

Hare Ka, our mind will automatically be fixed on Ka, although we are accustomed to

think of so many other things.

Loud chanting is the prescribed remedy for lust and the enemies of the mind

If, during the immature stage of spiritual practice, one suffers physical disease or other

disturbances, the Vedas enjoin that he should certainly take proper measures to eradicate the

problem. The prescribed remedies for lust and the other enemies of the mind are meditation on

the Supreme Lord and sakrtana, the loud chanting of His names. The remedy for the disease of

false ego is rendering service to the Supreme Lords saintly devotees.


Inauspicious disturbances can be removed by loud chanting

kcin mamnudhynena

nma-sakrtandibhi

yogevarnuvtty v

hanyd aubha-dn anai

SYNONYMS

kcitsome; mamaof Me; anudhynenaby constant thought; nmaof the holy names;

saktanaby the loud chanting; dibhiand so on; yoga-varaof the great masters of

yoga; anuvttyby following in the footsteps; vor; hanytmay be destroyed; aubha-dn

(the obstructions) that create inauspicious situations; anaigradually.

TRANSLATION

These inauspicious disturbances can be gradually removed by constant remembrance of Me, by

congregational hearing and chanting of My holy names, or by following in the footsteps of the

great masters of yoga.

PURPORT

According to rla rdhara Svm, by meditation on the Supreme Lord one can overcome lust

and other mental disturbances, and by following in the footsteps of great transcendentalists one

can overcome hypocrisy, false pride and other types of mental imbalance.

(SB 11.28.40)


By loud congregational chanting of the holy name, one can taste the sweet nectar and enjoy

life

TEXT 2

TEXT

kotkrtana-gna-nartana-kal-pthojani-bhrjit

sad-bhaktvali-hasa-cakra-madhupa-re-vihrspadam

karnandi-kala-dhvanir vahatu me jihv-maru-prgae

r-caitanya day-nidhe tava lasal-ll-sudh-svardhun

SYNONYMS

kaof the holy name of Lord Ka; utkrtanaloud chanting; gnasinging; nartana

dancing; kalof the other fine arts; ptha-janiwith lotuses; bhrjitbeautified; sat-bhakta

of pure devotees; valirows; hasaof swans; cakracakravka birds; madhu-paand

bumble bees; relike swarms; vihraof pleasure; spadamthe abode; kara-nandi

gladdening the ears; kalamelodious; dhvanisound; vahatulet it flow; memy; jihvof

the tongue; marudesertlike; prgaein the courtyard; r-caitanya day-nidheO Lord

Caitanya, ocean of mercy; tavaof You; lasatshining; ll-sudhof the nectar of the

pastimes; svardhunthe Ganges.

TRANSLATION

O my merciful Lord Caitanya, may the nectarean Ganges waters of Your transcendental

activities flow on the surface of my desertlike tongue. Beautifying these waters are the lotus

flowers of singing, dancing and loud chanting of Ka's holy name, which are the pleasure

abodes of unalloyed devotees. These devotees are compared to swans, ducks and bees. The

river's flowing produces a melodious sound that gladdens their ears.


PURPORT

Our tongues always engage in vibrating useless sounds that do not help us realize

transcendental peace. The tongue is compared to a desert because a desert needs a constant

supply of refreshing water to make it fertile and fruitful. Water is the substance most needed in

the desert. The transient pleasure derived from mundane topics of art, culture, politics,

sociology, dry philosophy, poetry and so on is compared to a mere drop of water because

although such topics have a qualitative feature of transcendental pleasure, they are saturated

with the modes of material nature. Therefore neither collectively nor individually can they

satisfy the vast requirements of the desertlike tongue. Despite crying in various conferences,

therefore, the desertlike tongue continues to be parched. For this reason, people from all parts

of the world must call for the devotees of Lord r Caitanya Mahprabhu, who are compared to

swans swimming around the beautiful lotus feet of r Caitanya Mahprabhu or bees humming

around His lotus feet in transcendental pleasure, searching for honey. The dryness of material

happiness cannot be moistened by so-called philosophers who cry for Brahman, liberation and

similar dry speculative objects. The urge of the soul proper is different. The soul can be solaced

only by the mercy of Lord r Caitanya Mahprabhu and His many bona fide devotees, who

never leave the lotus feet of the Lord to become imitation Mahprabhus but all cling to His lotus

feet like bees that never leave a honey-soaked lotus flower.

Lord Caitanya's movement of Ka consciousness is full of dancing and singing about the

pastimes of Lord Ka. It is compared herein to the pure waters of the Ganges, which are full of

lotus flowers. The enjoyers of these lotus flowers are the pure devotees, who are like bees and

swans. They chant like the flowing of the Ganges, the river of the celestial kingdom. The author

desires such sweetly flowing waves to cover his tongue. He humbly compares himself to

materialistic persons who always engage in dry talk from which they derive no satisfaction. If

they were to use their dry tongues to chant the holy name of the Lord-Hare Ka, Hare Ka,

Ka Ka, Hare Hare Hare Rma, Hare Rma, Rma Rma, Hare Hare-as exemplified by Lord

Caitanya, they would taste sweet nectar and enjoy life.


Meditation is difficult in this Kali-yuga, however lould chanting can be easily accomplished

Lord Brahm, sitting on his lotus seat in his own abode, always meditates on Him and worships

Him with the mantra consisting of eighteen syllables.

PURPORT

In his own planet, Lord Brahm, with the inhabitants of that planet, worships the form of Lord

Govinda, Ka, by the mantra of eighteen syllables, kl kya govindya gop-jana-

vallabhya svh. Those who are initiated by a bona fide spiritual master and who chant the

Gyatr mantra three times a day know this adakara (eighteen-syllable) mantra. The

inhabitants of Brahmaloka and the planets below Brahmaloka worship Lord Govinda by

meditating with this mantra. There is no difference between meditating and chanting, but in the

present age meditation is not possible on this planet. Therefore loud chanting of a mantra like

the mah-mantra, Hare Ka, with soft chanting of the adakara, the mantra of eighteen

syllables, is recommended.

One cant protest again the corrupt governments and rulers by chanting Hare Ka mantra

congregationally

The loud sound of the chanting of the Hare Ka mantra certainly made the Kazi very much

afraid, and he hid himself within his room. Hearing the people thus protesting, murmuring in

great anger, the Kazi would not come out of his home.

PURPORT

The Kazi's order not to perform sakrtana could stand only as long as there was no civil

disobedience. Under the leadership of the Supreme Lord, r Caitanya Mahprabhu, the

chanters, increasing in number, disobeyed the order of the Kazi. Thousands assembled together

and formed parties, chanting the Hare Ka mah-mantra and making a tumultuous sound of

protest. Thus the Kazi was very much afraid, as naturally one should be under such

circumstances.

In the present day also, people all over the world may join together in the Ka consciousness

movement and protest against the present degraded governments of the world's godless


societies, which are based on all kinds of sinful activities. rmad-Bhgavatam states that in the

Age of Kali, thieves, rogues and fourth-class people who have neither education nor culture

capture the seats of governments to exploit the citizens. This is a symptom of Kali-yuga that has

already appeared. People cannot feel secure about their lives and property, yet the so-called

governments continue, and government ministers get fat salaries, although they are unable to do

anything good for society. The only remedy for such conditions is to enhance the sankrtana

movement under the banner of Ka consciousness and protest against the sinful activities of

all the world's governments.

The Ka consciousness movement is not a sentimental religious movement; it is a movement

for the reformation of all the anomalies of human society. If people take to it seriously,

discharging this duty scientifically, as ordered by r Caitanya Mahprabhu, the world will see

peace and prosperity instead of being confused and hopeless under useless governments. There

are always rogues and thieves in human society, and as soon as a weak government is unable to

execute its duties, these rogues and thieves come out to do their business. Thus the entire

society becomes a hell unfit for gentlemen to live in. There is an immediate need for a good

government-a government by the people, with Ka consciousness. Unless the masses of

people become Ka conscious, they cannot be good men. The Ka consciousness movement

that r Caitanya Mahprabhu started by chanting the Hare Ka mah-mantra still has its

potency. Therefore people should understand it seriously and scientifically and spread it all over

the world.

The sakrtana movement started by r Caitanya Mahprabhu is described in the Caitanya-

bhgavata, Madhya-khaa, Twenty-third Chapter, beginning with verse 241, which states, "My

dear Lord, let my mind be fixed at Your lotus feet." Following Lord Caitanya's chanting, all the

devotees reproduced the same sound He chanted. In this way the Lord proceeded, leading the

entire party on the strand roads by the bank of the Ganges. When the Lord came to His own

gha, or bathing place, He danced more and more. Then He proceeded to Mdhi's gha. In

this way r Caitanya Mahprabhu, the Supreme Lord, who was known as Vivambhara, danced

all over the banks of the Ganges. Then He proceeded to Brako-gha, the Ngariy-gha,

and, traveling through Gagnagara, reached Simuliy, a quarter at one end of the town. All

these places surround r Mypur. After reaching Simuliy, the Lord proceeded towards the

Kazi's house, and in this way He reached the door of Chand Kazi.


Mahprabhu liked loud chanting of the holy name

The sky was filled with the great and loud chanting of sakrtana, and the earth shook from the

jumping and dancing of Lord Caitanya Mahprabhu.

r Caitanya Mahprabhu always liked the loud chanting of Svarpa Dmodara. Therefore when

Svarpa Dmodara sang, r Caitanya Mahprabhu danced and jumped high in jubilation.

The chanting of the holy name is beneficial not only to the chanter but to everyone who gets

an opportunity to hear.

When the Lord loudly chanted "Hari bol!" the trees and creepers became jubilant to hear Him.

PURPORT

The loud chanting of the Hare Ka mantra is so powerful that it can even penetrate the ears of

trees and creepers-what to speak of animals and human beings. r Caitanya Mahprabhu once

asked Haridsa hkura how trees and plants could be delivered, and Haridsa hkura replied

that the loud chanting of the Hare Ka mah-mantra would benefit not only trees and plants

but insects and all other living beings. One should therefore not be disturbed by the loud

chanting of Hare Ka, for it is beneficial not only to the chanter but to everyone who gets an

opportunity to hear.

Loud chanting of the holy name is the only recommended process for this age

In this age of Kali, the sakrtana-yaja (the chanting of the names of God) is recommended by

the Vedic scriptures, and this transcendental system was introduced by Lord Caitanya for the

deliverance of all men in this age. Sakrtana-yaja and Ka consciousness go well together.

Lord Ka in His devotional form (as Lord Caitanya) is mentioned in the rmad-Bhgavatam

as follows, with special reference to the sakrtana-yaja:

ka-vara tvik sgopgstra-pradam


yajai sakrtana-pryair yajanti hi su-medhasa

"In this age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord,

who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sakrtana-yaja." (Bhg. 11.5.29)

Other yajas prescribed in the Vedic literatures are not easy to perform in this age of Kali, but

the sakrtana-yaja is easy and sublime for all purposes.

Loud chanting of Hare Ka mantra can save us from scarcity of food supply

Food grains or vegetables are factually eatables. The human being eats different kinds of food

grains, vegetables, fruits, etc., and the animals eat the refuse of the food grains and vegetables,

grass, plants, etc. Human beings who are accustomed to eating meat and flesh must also depend

on the production of vegetation in order to eat the animals. Therefore, ultimately, we have to

depend on the production of the field and not on the production of big factories. The field

production is due to sufficient rain from the sky, and such rains are controlled by demigods like

Indra, sun, moon, etc., and they are all servants of the Lord. The Lord can be satisfied by

sacrifices; therefore, one who cannot perform them will find himself in scarcity-that is the law of

nature. Yaja, specifically the sakrtana-yaja prescribed for this age, must therefore be

performed to save us at least from scarcity of food supply.

The best sacrifice recommended in this age is called sakrtana-yaja

Sacrifice is another item to be performed by the householders because sacrifices require a large

amount of money. Other orders of life, namely the brahmacarya, the vnaprastha and sannysa,

have no money; they live by begging. So performance of different types of sacrifice is meant for

the householder. They should perform agni-hotra sacrifices as enjoined in the Vedic literature,

but such sacrifices at the present moment are very expensive, and it is not possible for any

householder to perform them. The best sacrifice recommended in this age is called sakrtana-

yaja, the chanting of Hare Ka, Hare Ka, Ka Ka, Hare Hare/Hare Rma, Hare Rma,

Rma Rma, Hare Hare. This is the best and most inexpensive sacrifice; everyone can adopt it

and derive benefit. So these three items, namely charity, sense control and performance of

sacrifice, are meant for the householder.


By the propagation of the sakrtana movement (congregational chanting and glorifying of

the name of the Lord) even the wild animals can live in peace and friendship

After some time the Lord again started on His tour towards northern India, and He decided to

visit Vndvana and its neighboring places. He passed through the jungles of Jharikhaa

(Madhya Bhrata), and all the wild animals also joined His sakrtana movement. The wild

tigers, elephants, bears and deer all together accompanied the Lord, and the Lord accompanied

them in sakrtana. By this He proved that by the propagation of the sakrtana movement

(congregational chanting and glorifying of the name of the Lord) even the wild animals can live

in peace and friendship, and what to speak of men who are supposed to be civilized. No man in

the world will refuse to join the sakrtana movement. Nor is the Lord's sakrtana movement

restricted to any caste, creed, color or species. Here is direct evidence of His great mission: He

allowed even the wild animals to partake in His great movement.

Both devotees and fruitive workers can derive equal benefit from the performances of

sakrtana-yaja.

The materialistic men want to work hard and enjoy fruitive results for sense enjoyment. Thus

they are committing many types of sins at every step of life. Those, however, who are

consciously engaged in the devotional service of the Lord are transcendental to all varieties of

sin and virtue. Their activities are free from the contamination of the three modes of material

nature. For the devotees there is no need for performance of prescribed sacrifices because the

very life of the devotee is a symbol of sacrifice. But persons who are engaged in fruitive activities

for sense enjoyment must perform the prescribed sacrifices because that is the only means to get

free from the reaction of all sins committed by fruitive workers. Sacrifice is the means for

counteracting such accumulated sins. The demigods are pleased when such sacrifices are

performed, just as prison officers are satisfied when the prisoners are turned into obedient

subjects. Lord Caitanya, however, has recommended only one yaja, or sacrifice, called the

sakrtana-yaja, the chanting of Hare Ka, in which everyone can take part. Thus both

devotees and fruitive workers can derive equal benefit from the performances of sakrtana-

yaja.


Mind is purified by the loud chanting of the holy name

This process of purifying the mind is also recommended by Lord Caitanya; He says that one

should chant Hare Ka. He says further, para vijayate: All glories to r Ka sakrtana!

All glories are given to the chanting of the holy names of Ka because as soon as one begins

this process of chanting, the mind becomes purified. Ceto-darpaa-mrjanam: [Cc. Antya

20.12] by chanting the holy name of Ka one is cleansed of the dirt that accumulates in the

mind. One can purify the mind either by the breathing process or by the chanting process, just

as one can purify gold by putting it in a fire and fanning it with a bellows.

Especially in this age of Kali, sakrtana alone is sufficient.

Especially in this age of Kali, sakrtana alone is sufficient. If the members of our temples in the

different parts of the world simply continue sakrtana before the Deity, especially before r

Caitanya Mahprabhu, they will remain perfect. There is no need of any other performances.

Nevertheless, to keep oneself clean in habits and mind, Deity worship and other regulative

principles are required. rla Jva Gosvm says that although sakrtana is sufficient for the

perfection of life, the arcan, or worship of the Deity in the temple, must continue in order that

the devotees may stay clean and pure. rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura therefore

recommended that one follow both processes simultaneously. We strictly follow his principle of

performing Deity worship and sakrtana along parallel lines. This we should continue.

One can satisfy the Lord in Kali-yuga by chanting Hare Ka mantra

Self-complacent and always impudent, deluded by wealth and false prestige, they sometimes

perform sacrifices in name only without following any rules or regulations. Sometimes animal

sacrifices are performed very gorgeously with grand arrangements for worshiping the goddess

Kl, but such festivals, although performed in the name of yaja, are not actually yaja, for

yaja means to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore it is recommended that in

this age specifically, yajai sakrtana-pryair yajanti hi sumedhasa: [SB 11.5.32] those who

have good intelligence satisfy the yaja-purua, Viu, by chanting the Hare Ka mantra.


The brahminical culture is lost and can be revived only by the chanting of the mah-mantra

Although in Satya-yuga this plan was very difficult to execute, in Kali-yuga, which is full of

dras and demons, the brahminical culture is lost and can be revived only by the chanting of

the mah-mantra. Therefore the Ka consciousness movement, or the Hare Ka movement,

has been inaugurated to revive brahminical culture very easily so that people may become happy

and peaceful in this life and prepare for elevation in the next. In this regard, rla Madhvcrya

quotes this verse from the Brahma Pura:

vipra-yajdi-mla tu

harir ity sura matam

harir eva hi sarvasya

mla samya mato npa

O King, the demons think that Hari, Lord Viu, exists because of the brhmaas and yaja,

but factually Hari is the cause of everything including the brhmaas and yaja. Therefore,

through the popularizing of hari-krtana, or the sakrtana movement, the brahminical culture

and katriya government will automatically come back, and people will be extremely happy.

One who tries to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the medium of the

sakrtana movement knows everything perfectly.

ka-vara tvika

sgopgstra-pradam

yajai sakrtana-pryair

yajanti hi sumedhasa


In Kali-yuga, intelligent men worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of r

Caitanya Mahprabhu, who is always accompanied by His associates such as Nitynanda,

Advaita, Gaddhara and rvsa. The entire Ka consciousness movement is based on the

principles of the sakrtana movement inaugurated by r Caitanya Mahprabhu. Therefore one

who tries to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the medium of the

sakrtana movement knows everything perfectly. He is sumedhas, a person with substantial

intelligence.

All the ritualistic ceremonies recommended in the stras must be preceded and followed by

sakrtana

The Vedas recommend many ritualistic ceremonies to be performed with ones wife, on the

birthdays of ones children, or during funeral ceremonies, and there are also personal

reformatory methods like initiation. These must be observed according to time and

circumstances and the directions of the stra. Bhagavad-gt strongly recommends, jtv

stra-vidhnoktam: everything must be performed as indicated in the stras. For Kali-yuga, the

stras enjoin that sakrtana-yaja be performed always: krtanya sad hari [Cc. adi 17.31].

All the ritualistic ceremonies recommended in the stras must be preceded and followed by

sakrtana. This is the recommendation of rla Jva Gosvm.

The Hare Ka movement is not a new movement as people sometimes mistakenly think.

Once there was a sakrtana festival to glorify the Supreme Lord in an assembly of the

demigods, and the Gandharvas and Apsars were invited by the prajpatis to take part in it.

PURPORT

Sakrtana means chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The Hare Ka movement is not a

new movement as people sometimes mistakenly think. The Hare Ka movement is present in

every millennium of Lord Brahms life, and the holy name is chanted in all the higher planetary

systems, including Brahmaloka and Candraloka, not to speak of Gandharvaloka and Apsaroloka.

The sakrtana movement that was started in this world five hundred years ago by r Caitanya


Mahprabhu is therefore not a new movement. Sometimes, because of our bad luck, this

movement is stopped, but r Caitanya Mahprabhu and His servants again start the movement

for the benefit of the entire word or, indeed, the entire universe.

The Golden Age of Kali for Hari-nma Sankirtana

When Ka appeared, He gave His orders, and when Ka Himself appeared as a devotee, as

r Caitanya Mahprabhu, He showed us the path by which to cross the ocean of Kali-yuga. That

is the path of the Hare Ka movement. When r Caitanya Mahprabhu appeared, He ushered

in the era for the sakrtana movement. It is also said that for ten thousand years this era will

continue. This means that simply by accepting the sakrtana movement and chanting the Hare

Ka mah-mantra, the fallen souls of this Kali-yuga will be delivered. After the Battle of

Kuruketra, at which Bhagavad-gt was spoken, Kali-yuga continues for 432,000 years, of

which only 5,000 years have passed. Thus there is still a balance of 427,000 years to come. Of

these 427,000 years, the 10,000 years of the sakrtana movement inaugurated by r Caitanya

Mahprabhu 500 years ago provide the opportunity for the fallen souls of Kali-yuga to take to

the Ka consciousness movement, chant the Hare Ka mah-mantra and thus be delivered

from the clutches of material existence and return home, back to Godhead.

The Lord is present where Hare Ka mantra is chanted loudly

The Supreme Personality of Godhead exists everywhere (antara-stha-paramu-cayntara-

stham). Therefore when one chants His transcendental namesHare Ka, Hare Ka, Ka

Ka, Hare Hare/ Hare Rma, Hare Rma, Rma Rma, Hare Harethe Supreme Personality of

Godhead is automatically pleased by such sakrtana. It is not that the Supreme Personality of

Godhead is absent; He is present there. And when a devotee utters the transcendental name, it is

not a material sound. Therefore, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is naturally pleased. A

devotee knows that the Lord is present everywhere and that one can please Him simply by

chanting His holy name.


In Kali-yuga, with Sankirtana-yaja, any other sacrifice is a waste of money and efforts

Instead of wasting time performing Vedic sacrifices, those who are intelligent, those who

possess good brain substance, should take to the chanting of the Lords holy name and thus

perform sacrifice perfectly.

In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of

the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way. (Bhan-nradya

Pura 38.126) In this age of Kali, it is extremely difficult to perform Vedic ritualistic

ceremonies or sacrifices perfectly. Hardly anyone can chant the Vedic mantras with perfect

pronunciation or accumulate the paraphernalia for Vedic performances. Therefore the sacrifice

recommended in this age is sakrtana, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord. Yajai

sakrtana-pryair yajanti hi sumedhasa (Bhg. 11.5.29). Instead of wasting time performing

Vedic sacrifices, those who are intelligent, those who possess good brain substance, should take

to the chanting of the Lords holy name and thus perform sacrifice perfectly. I have seen that

many religious leaders are addicted to performing yajas and spending hundreds and thousands

of rupees for imperfect sacrificial performances. This is a lesson for those who unnecessarily

execute such imperfect sacrifices. We should take the advice of r Caitanya Mahprabhu

(yajai sakrtana-pryair yajanti hi sumedhasa). Although ukrcrya was a strict brhmaa

addicted to ritualistic activities, he also admitted, nichidram anusakrtana tava: My Lord,

constant chanting of the holy name of Your Lordship makes everything perfect. In Kali-yuga

the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies cannot be performed as perfectly as before. Therefore rla Jva

Gosvm has recommended that although one should take care to follow all the principles in

every kind of spiritual activity, especially in worship of the Deity, there is still a chance of

discrepancies, and one should compensate for this by chanting the holy name of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. In our Ka consciousness movement we therefore give special stress

to the chanting of the Hare Ka mantra in all activities.


All droughts shall vanish by the loud chanting of the holy name of r Ka

Therefore, the best performance of yaja given to us is the sakrtana-yaja. Yajai sakrtana-

pryair yajanti hi sumedhasa (Bhg. 11.5.32). Those who are intelligent take advantage of the

greatest yaja in this age by chanting the Hare Ka mah-mantra in congregation. When the

Hare Ka mantra is chanted by many men together, the chanting is called sakrtana, and as a

result of such a yaja there will be clouds in the sky (yajd bhavati parjanya [Bg. 3.14]). In

these days of drought, people can gain relief from scarcity of rain and food by the simple

method of the Hare Ka yaja. Indeed, this can relieve all of human society. At present there

are droughts throughout Europe and America, and people are suffering, but if people take this

Ka consciousness movement seriously, if they stop their sinful activities and chant the Hare

Ka mah-mantra, all their problems will be solved without difficulty. In other processes of

yaja there are difficulties because there are no learned scholars who can chant the mantras

perfectly well, nor is it possible to secure the ingredients to perform the yaja. Because human

society is poverty-stricken and men are devoid of Vedic knowledge and the power to chant the

Vedic mantras, the Hare Ka mah-mantra is the only shelter. people should be intelligent

enough to chant it. Yajai sakrtana-pryair yajanti hi sumedhasa [SB 11.5.32]. Those whose

brains are dull cannot understand this chanting, nor can they take to it.

Only those who are very intelligent take to sakrtana-yaja to fulfill all their desires,

material and spiritual

It is said, trety yajato makhai: in Tret-yuga, if one performed yajas, he would get the

results of those yajas. By performing viu-yaja specifically, one could even achieve the lotus

feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Of course, yaja is intended to please the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. While Purrav was meditating upon Urva, the Tret-yuga began, and

therefore the Vedic yajas were revealed in his heart. But Purrav was a materialistic man,

especially interested in enjoying the senses. Yajas for enjoyment of the senses are called karma-

kya-yajas. Therefore, he decided to perform karma-kya-yajas to fulfill his lusty

desires. In other words, karma-kya-yajas are meant for sensuous persons, whereas yaja

should actually be performed to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To please the

Supreme Personality of Godhead in Kali-yuga, the sakrtana-yaja is recommended. Yajai

sakrtana-pryair yajanti hi sumedhasa [SB 11.5.32]. Only those who are very intelligent take


to sakrtana-yaja to fulfill all their desires, material and spiritual, whereas those who are lusty

for sense enjoyment perform karma-kya-yajas.

Sankirtana is must respected by all

This same principle applies for sankirtana. If kirtana is going on, and instead of participating

you chant on your mala, you are insulting sankirtana. When you chant alone, it is not called

sankirtana. If you chant with all the devotees, have regard for all; otherwise bhakti will go away.

What is real nama-sankirtana?

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to give this mood through nama-sankirtana. You should not

think that what we are doing is nama-sankirtana. Rather it is the beginning stage of nama-

sankirtana. When our chanting will mix with the mood of the manjaris, then it will be real

sankirtana. I have come to clarify this point. Srila Swami Maharaja explained this in his books,

but he did not elaborate on it in his general preaching. The world, and also the world of

devotees, was full of jungles of philosophical misconceptions and anarthas; so how could

explanations of manjari bhava be heard?

The yuga-dharma of Kali-kala, kali-yuga, is nama-sankirtana.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu only came to help us, especially to develop gopi-prema. Gopi-prema is

the highest love and affection - higher than any of the other four. Mahaprabhu did not come to

establish varnasrama-dharma or yuga-dharma. When I went to the Saranagati Farm, I heard that

it was meant for varnasrama-dharma. We should follow varnasrama-dharma, but it is only a

platform. Even without varnasrama-dharma, Pingala, Jagai and Madhai, and so many others

attained love of Krsna. Caitanya Mahaprabhu never comes to establish yuga-dharma, but it is

established automatically. He has not come to establish yuga-dharma, but He gave it

automatically through nama-sankirtana. The yuga-dharma of Kali-kala, kali-yuga, is nama-

sankirtana.


The establishment of yuga-dharma is the duty of incarnations like Maha-Visnu, Advaita Acarya.

Although they can do it easily, Caitanya Mahaprabhu was present at the time it was meant to be

established. He therefore quickly adopted this method, nama-sankirtana, yuga-dharma, and He

'mixed something from His own side' - namely love and affection.

Nama-sankirtana pravarta 'hun. "I will perform nama-sankirtana, but not in an ordinary way as

it was performed in other kali-yugas. It will be with prema, love and affection." What He did is

understood by the verse: anarpita-carim-carat karunayavatirna kalau.

With very deep meaning, this verse explains the sadhya, the objective for which Caitanya

Mahaprabhu came, an objective that had not been given prior to His appearance. Even Krsna

came, Ramacandra came, Jayadeva Gosvami came, and Madhvacarya, Ramanuja, Visnuswami,

and Nimbaditya came. Even Hanuman came with Ramacandra. Even Sita came and Bharata

came - but no one was able to give this prema.

The great personalities perform Hari-nama Sankirtana without attachment

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, The ocean is the husband of all the holy rivers, but when Srila

Haridasa Thakuras lotus feet touched the ocean, it became a maha maha maha tirtha. This is

the exalted nature of the mahats. They always engage their heart and mood in serving the lotus

feet of Lord Krsna. If millions of dollars come to them they are not affected by that, just as the

ocean is not affected when river waters enter into it. And if everything all their wealth, health,

possessions, family, fame and popularity disappears in a moment, they dont care or remember

what they lost. Maha-purusas are very rare very rare. They preach all over the world by kirtana

and nama-sankirtana, and they have unconditionally surrendered to nama-sankirtana who is a

person who is Sri Krsna Himself.

Not all teachers and preachers are mahat-purusa. How will you know who is actually such a

personality? Without the mercy of Lord Krsna you cannot know. By the Lord's mercy you can

have some realization of the glories of that great soul.

-- xx --

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Documents

108QA-010-Loud Chanting of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra