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"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare — these 16 names composed of 32 syllables are the only means to counteract the evil effects of Kali-yuga. In all the Vedas it is seen that to cross the ocean of nescience there is no alternative to the chanting of the holy name." (Kali-santarana Upanishad)

"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." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.14)

"If one always chants the holy name of the Lord with great devotion in the evening and in the morning, one can become free from all material miseries." (purport by Sridhara Swami, Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.24)

"As a fire burns dry grass to ashes, so the holy name of the Lord, whether chanted knowingly or unknowingly, burns to ashes without fail all the reactions of one's sinful activities." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.18)

"Simply by chanting one holy name of Hari, a sinful man can counteract the reactions to more sins than he is able to commit." (Brihad-vishnu Purana, cited in purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.7)

"If one chants the holy name of the Lord, even in a helpless condition or without desiring to do so, all the reactions of his sinful life depart, just as when a lion roars, all the small animals flee in fear." (Garuda Purana)

"O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.11)

Hare Krishna Maha-mantraHARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE

HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE

Vedic civilization once worldwide

These words (left) from the Upanishads and Puranas, ancient Sanskrit texts were written more than 5,000 years ago, when the Vedic civilization extended throughout the world, including China. By the time Buddha's teachings crossed over into China, roughly 1,300 years ago, there still remained some traces from a much earlier civilization that had the markings and elements of a Vedic kingdom, but it had long since deteriorated.

On special assignment to cheat the atheists

Buddha was born 2,600 years ago, but his appearance was predicted long before that. The Bhagavat Purana stated his name and the name of his father and gave a description of his mission. According to the Bhagavat Purana, the Buddha was a partial incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By the time of Buddha's appearance, the brahminical culture that was the foundation of the Vedic civilization, was breaking down. The brahmanas had become so degraded that they were making business of performing rites and rituals described in the Vedas, and even condoned meat eating on the pretext that the Vedas allowed animal sacrifice. In this way they were using the Vedas to earn their livelihood, and neglected or forgot the conclusion of the Vedas, that Dharma is the occupation of loving service to God. When the Buddha observed birth, disease, old age and death and understood that attachment

and karma are the cause of suffering, he preached ahimsa, nonviolence to all living entities. Buddha was the son of a Vedic king who ruled according to the Vedic system, but he ended up rejecting the authority of the Vedas when some persons argued that the Vedas permit animal killing and flesh eating — "If you say that the Vedas endorse killing and eating animals, then I reject the Vedas." His special mission, as an incarnation of Vishnu, the Supreme Lord, was to round up the atheists, all those who lived outside the Vedic tradition, and by making them faithful to him, bring them to the threshold of Dharma.

Even as China embraced Buddhism, it was practically ended in India by the strong preaching of the great Shankaracharya, who came 1,200 years ago. Shankaracharya restored India's faith in the authority of the Vedas. However, strongholds of Buddhism remained in Tibet and Nepal, and from here the teachings made their way into China, and thus China accepted the Mahayana teachings.

Buddha's teachings were not written down by his disciples. They were preserved by oral tradition, and 300 years after his passing, they had become somewhat obscured. At that time there was disagreement between the followers, who then compiled them into two books, the Hinayana and Mahayana.

Maha-mantra — the most pure and potent mantra

The Mahayana Buddhists chant the Amitabha mantra, variously pronounced as namo amituofo or namo onituofo. The word ami, or oni, is derived from the Sanskrit syllable om, and the word tabha, or tuofo, refers to Buddha. Another Tibetan chant is om ma-ni peh-meh hoong, known to the Chinese as om

Siddhartha Gautama Buddha was born a Vedic prince, but later rejected the Vedas.

mani padme hum, which is said to be the mantra of universal protection. So here again we see the Sanskrit om. According to the Bhagavad-gita, the syllable om is the sound representation of the Personality of Godhead. Although the Mahayana prescribes various mantras, there is no record of Buddha teaching anything about the holy name.

The Vedic literature says that in this age known as Kali-yuga — which began approximately 5,000 years ago — the only spiritual practice necessary and easy to perform is chanting the holy names of God. But the practice was not widespread, until 500 years ago Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in India, just for the purpose of popularizing the chanting of the holy names of God, especially the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra.

Unlike what happened to the teachings of Buddha, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings were recorded by his disciples, and carefully handed down in disciplic succession, just like a ripe mango

is handed down from the tree to the person waiting below, so that it is not broken. Most recently, this science of Krishna consciousness has been introduced to the whole world by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He published more than 60 books , inc lud ing the f amous Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-

Bhagavatam and the Chaitanya-charitamrita, and he founded the Hare Krishna movement, based on the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Like a postman who delivers the mail without tampering with it, or like a messenger on the battlefield who faithfully relays his commander's message, Srila

Prabhupada has presented the teachings of Krishna and Chaitanya, illuminated with his brilliant purports.

The ultimate conclusion of all these teachings is that the Supreme Absolute Truth, God, is identical to His holy names, and by chanting His names, we become aware of His presence. That is the science of Krishna consciousness. There are innumerable names of God, and any one of them is as good as the other, but this Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is especially recommended for this day and age.

Everyone can chant this Hare Krishna Maha-mantra at any time, any place. Even a child can chant it, and sing and dance to the holy names. There are no restrictions. This chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is joyfully performed, and cleanses the mind and heart. Lord Chaitanya said,

"In this age of Kali there is no other religious principle than the chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all Vedic hymns. This is the purport of all scriptures." (Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila 7.74)

"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." (purport, Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila 17.132)

"As the rising sun immediately dissipates all the world's darkness, which is deep like an ocean, so the holy name of the Lord, if chanted once without offenses, can dissipate all the reactions of a living being's sinful life. All glories to that holy name of the Lord, which is auspicious for the entire world." (Padyavali 16, cited in Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila 3.181)

Please chant the Hare Krishna mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

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The Holy Names

HARE KRISHNA MAHA MANTRA

HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA

KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE

HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA

RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE

500 years ago, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu 500 years ago, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu popularized chanting of the holy names among all people, without discriminating against any class or group.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami