Hare Krishna, PAMHO to devotees and all.Chanting the holy names of God is the prescribed method of deliverance from the material world in this age of Kali.Being a neophyte devotee and having a (very slightly) Christian background along with an inquisitive nature, I was interested in what Prabhupada's views on Christianity and Jesus were; and also the relation of Christianity in regards to Krishna bhakti. I came across an interview with the following quote:Tamala Krsna (reading a letter to Prabhupada): "What is the difference between a pure Christian, or at least a sincere one, and a sincere devotee of Krsna?"Prabhupada: No difference.Here Srila Prabhupada directly states that a pure Christian is not different from a pure devotee of Krishna. From this we can deduce that both are purely devoted to God in the same quality. Why did Prabhupada say this if Lord Caitanya said that the only means of deliverance in this age is to chant Hare Krishna?This makes me ask, "are the holy names of Christian religions, and/or other religions, such as Yahweh, Allah, etc. - the plentiful holy names which all point to different aspects and qualities of the Supreme Person - are they potentially just as spiritually potent as the holy names of Krishna, Hare, and Rama? Can we chant Yahweh Yahweh instead of Krishna Krishna, and obtain the same benedictions and love for Godhead just the same?"The answer you give will not affect me very much other than to feed my curiosity (as I am already very attached to the name Krishna), but this could be important for many devotees.I know one devotee of the Lord who chanted Hare Krishna 16 rounds a day for many years; his name is Garuda Das. He is a close friend and is well known and respected in the capital city of Florida, where we both live. He told me that recently he chants the holy names Yahweh, Allah, Buddha, Krishna, and others, including "Great Spirit," in a 16-word mantra that is chanted just like the maha mantra on beads.Personally, I have chanted few names other than the syllable Om, Hare, Krishna, and Rama, and in my experience, Om and the beautiful name Krishna have the greatest effect on me when I hear/chant. But this is only my limited experience, and I want to hear from others.Please discuss,And thanks for your association.May Krishna (Yahweh, God, Allah, Great Spirit) bless you.
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Thank you for starting this discussion. You have asked a very valid question. The answer I am giving is what I have haerd in a lecture by HH Bhanu Swamy Maharaj. The names of the lord are all potent - they are divided into primary names and secondary names. Primary names are ones whihc describe the pastimes of the lord (relatively more potent) and secondary names describe the qualities of the lord (relatively less potent).
Chanting any name will have its benefits. In Srimad Bhagawatam, chanting the name of the lord is mentioned, whihc name is not mentioned specifically. Thats why Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given the mahamantra and said that is the only way for deliverance from the material world. It sure is the fastest way to eradicate all sins and rewaken lost love for Godhead, as is visible in various examples in our life itself.
In other words, better than chanting no name is to chant some other name. Best is to chant mahamantra. It is like how it is diagnosed by a specialist. For example, you have a stomach ache - you could take a pudin hara or normal tablet and maybe get some relief. But if you want specific relief from your problem, then you have to consult a specialist and take his medicine. Same way, specific to kaliyuga is the mahamantra. That does not mean that other names are useless.
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Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
Thank you for starting this discussion. You have asked a very valid question. The answer I am giving is what I have haerd in a lecture by HH Bhanu Swamy Maharaj. The names of the lord are all potent - they are divided into primary names and secondary names. Primary names are ones whihc describe the pastimes of the lord (relatively more potent) and secondary names describe the qualities of the lord (relatively less potent).
Chanting any name will have its benefits. In Srimad Bhagawatam, chanting the name of the lord is mentioned, whihc name is not mentioned specifically. Thats why Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given the mahamantra and said that is the only way for deliverance from the material world. It sure is the fastest way to eradicate all sins and rewaken lost love for Godhead, as is visible in various examples in our life itself.
In other words, better than chanting no name is to chant some other name. Best is to chant mahamantra. It is like how it is diagnosed by a specialist. For example, you have a stomach ache - you could take a pudin hara or normal tablet and maybe get some relief. But if you want specific relief from your problem, then you have to consult a specialist and take his medicine. Same way, specific to kaliyuga is the mahamantra. That does not mean that other names are useless.
I hope I have been able to explain.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD