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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