The Maha Mantra and the Progressive Path 

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hare kṛṣṇa ṣola nāma aṣṭa-yuga haya 

aṣṭa-yuga arthe aṣṭa-śloka prabhu kaya 

ādi hare-kṛṣṇa arthe avidyā-damana 

śraddhāra sahita kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana

The Maha Mantra consists of sixteen names joined in eight pairs. The Supreme Lord explained these eight pairs of Names through the eight verses of His Śikṣāṣṭakam.

The first pair, “Hare Krishna,” means the destruction of ignorance and the chanting of Krishna’s holy names with faith.

āra hare-kṛṣṇa nāma kṛṣṇa sarva-śakti 

sādhu saṅge nāmāśraye  bhajanānurakti 

seita bhajana-krame sarvānartha-nāśa 

anarthāpagame nāme niṣṭhāra vikāśa

The second pair, “Hare Krishna,” means that Krishna’s name is invested with all potencies. Here one becomes attached to bhajan by taking shelter of the Holy Names in the association of saintly devotees.

By advancing along this progressive path of bhajan, one’s contaminations are removed and one begins 

to chant in fixed determination.

tṛtīye viśuddha-bhakta caritrera saha 

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa nāme niṣṭhā kare aharaha 

caturthe ahaitukī bhakti uddīpana

ruci saha hare hare nāma-saṅkīrtana

With the third pair, one adopts the character of a pure devotee and chants “Krishna Krishna” day and night with steadfastness.

With the fourth pair, causeless devotional service is awakened and one chants the names “Hare Hare” with relish.

pañcamete śuddha dāsya rucira sahita 

hare rāma saṅkīrtana smaraṇa vihita

ṣaṣṭhe bhāvāṅkure hare rāmeti kīrtana 

saṁsāre aruci kṛṣṇe ruci samarpaṇa

With the fifth pair, as one’s taste (ruchi) for chanting increases, one attains an attitude of pure servitude; and as one chants “Hare Rama,” one should take up the practice of smaran.

With the sixth pair, as one again chants “Hare Rama,” one experiences the beginnings of divine ecstasy. One loses all taste for material life and offers one’s tastes to Krishna.

saptame madhurāsakti rādhā-padāśraya 

vipralambhe rāma rāma nāmera udaya 

aṣṭame vrajete aṣṭa-kāla gopī-bhāva

rādhā-kṛṣṇa-prema-sevā prayojana lābha

With the seventh pair, one takes shelter of Radha’s lotus feet, with attachment for the sentiment of divine romance. Here one chants “Rama Rama” in the mood of separation.

With the eighth pair, one is fixed in the identity of a gopi in Vrindavan, attaining the ultimate goal of service to the Divine Couple, Radha and Krishna.

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