In the Bhagavad-gita (10.25), Lord Krishna states:
| yajnanam japa-yajno 'smi |
"Of sacrifices I am the chanting of My Holy Names."
The Brihan-naradiya Purana (38.126) states:
| harer nama harer nama, harer namaiva kevalam; kalau nasty eva nasty eva, nasty eva gatir anyatha. |
"For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali which is full of quarrel and hypocrisy, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative to the Holy Name, the Holy Name, the Holy Name of the Lord."
| Purport by Srila Gaurangapada |
This verse is further explained in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 17.22-26 and translated by Srila Prabhupada as follows:
| kali-kale nama-rupe krsna-avatara nama baite haya sarva-jagat-nistara |
"In this Age of Kali, the Holy Name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Krishna. Simply by chanting the Holy Name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered.
| dardhya lagi' 'harer nama'-ukti tina vara jada loka bujhaite punah 'eve'-kara |
"This verse repeats the word "eva" [certainly] three times for emphasis, and it also three times repeats 'harer nama' [the Holy Names of the Lord], just to make common people understand.
| 'kevala'-sabde punarapi niscaya-karana jnana-yoga-tapa-karma-adi nivarana |
"The use of the word 'kevala' [only] prohibits all other processes, such as the cultivation of knowledge, practice of mystic yoga, or performance of austerities and fruitive activities.
| anyatha ye mane tara nahika nistara nahi, nahi,nahi e tina 'eva'-kara |
"This verse clearly states that anyone who accepts any other path (other than the chanting of Hare Krishna) cannot be delivered. This is the reason for the triple repetition 'nothing else, nothing else, nothing else', which emphasizes the real process of self-realization."
Purport ends.
Thakura Bhaktivinoda states in Krishna Samhita;
"The past compilers of the scriptures have established the appropriate Holy Names to deliver one in the different ages after analyzing the peoples' stages of advancement. The Holy Names to deliver one in Satya-yuga are as follows:
| narayana-para veda narayana-paraksarah narayana-para muktir narayana-para gatih |
The purport of this verse is that Lord Narayana is the goal of all science, language, and liberation, and He is the supreme destination. The Name of the Absolute Truth mixed with opulence is Narayana. The Supreme Lord is fully realized in the Form of Narayana, Who is surrounded by His associates in Vaikuntha. Pure santa-rasa* and a little dasya-rasa is found at this stage.
* Generally, the bhalti-yogis establish a relationship with Lord Krishna in one of these five different ways: (1) Santa-rasa, engaged in devotional service in neutrality;
(2) Dasya-rasa, engaged in devotional service as servant;
(3) Sakhya-rasa, engaged as a friend;
(4) Vatsaly-rasa, engaged as a parent;
(5) Madhurya-rasa, engaged as a conjugal lover of the Supreme Lord.
(2) Dasya-rasa, engaged in devotional service as servant;
(3) Sakhya-rasa, engaged as a friend;
(4) Vatsaly-rasa, engaged as a parent;
(5) Madhurya-rasa, engaged as a conjugal lover of the Supreme Lord.
| rama narayanananta mukunda madhusudana krsna kesaya kamsare hare vaikuntha vamana |
These are the Holy Names to deliver one in Treta-yoga. The Names that are mentioned in this text indicate Narayana's prowess. At this stage full dasya-rasa and a reflection of sakhya-rasa are indicated.
| hare murare madhu-kaitabhare gopala govinda mukunda saure yajnesa narayana krsna visno virasrayam mam jagadisa raksa |
These are the Holy Names to deliver one in Dvapara-yuga. The Names that are mentioned in this verse aim towards Krishna, Who is the shelter of unsheltered persons. In this stage there is a prominence of santa, dasya, sakhya,and vatsaly-rasas.
| hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare |
These are the topmost sweet Names of the Lord in Kali-yuga. Provocation of all five rasas to their full extent mixed with affection, is found in this Mantra. This Maha-mantra reveals that a soul has an indescribable attraction for th Super-Soul by the thread of love. These Names are the Mantra for those who are on the path of madhurya-rasa (the highest mellow in relation with God). Constant deliberation on these Names of the Maha-mantra is the best form of worshiping the Lord in Kali-yuga. All spiritual activities of swan-like people such as worshiping the Deity, following vows, and studying the scriptures are included in these Holy Names. There is no consideration of time, place, and candidate for chanting of the Maha-mantra."
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32,36), Srila Karabhajana Muni speaks to Videharaja Nimi:
| krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah |
"In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra to worship the incarnation of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who constantly sings the Name of Krishna in the form of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Although His complexion is not blackish but is like molten gold. He is Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons, and confidential companions."
| kalim sabhajavanty arya guna-jnah sara-bhaginah yatra sankirtanenarva sarva-svartho 'bhilabhyate |
"Those who are advanced and highly qualified and are interested in the essence of life know the good qualities of Kali-yuga. Such people worship the Age of Kali because in this age one can advance in spiritual knowledge and attain life's goal simply by chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra."
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.3.51,52) it is said:
| kaler dosa-nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-bandhah param vrajet |
"My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.
| krte yad dhyayato visnum tretayam yajato makhaih dvapare paricaryayam kalau tad dhari-kirtanat |
"Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Vishnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet can also be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra."
Padma Purana (Uttara-khanda 72.25) states:
| dhyayan krte yajan yajnais tretayam dvapare 'rcayan yad apnoti tad apnoti kalau sankirtya kesavam |
"Whatever is achieved by meditation in Satya-yuga, by the performance of yajna in Treta-yuga or by the worship of Krishna's lotus feet in Dvapara-yuga is obtained very easily in the Age of Kali simply by chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra."
In the Narayana Samhita, it is stated:
| dvapariyair janair visnuh pancaratrais tu kevalaih kalau tu nama-matrena pujyate bhagavan harih |
"In Dvapara-yuga one could satisfy Krishna or Vishnu only by worshiping Him gorgeously according to the pancaratrika system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra."
In the Vishnu Rahasya, it is stated:
| yad abhyarcya harim bhaktya krte kratu-satair api phalam prapnoty avikalam kalau govinda-kirtanat |
"Whatever fruit can be obtained in Satya-yuga by devotedly worshiping Sri Hari through the performance of hundreds of sacrifices for hundreds of years, that same result can be obtained very quickly in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra."
In the last of the 18,000 verses of Srimad Bhagavatam (12.5.53) it is concluded:
| nama-sankirtanam yasya sarva-papa-pranasanam pranamo duhkha-samanas tam namami harim param |
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of Whose Holy Names in the form of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto Whom relieves all material suffering."
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (8.23.16) it is said:
| mantratas tantratas chidram desa-kalarha-vastutah sarvam karoti nischidram anusankirtanam tava |
"There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the Mantras and observing the regulative principles, and moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is chanted, everything becomes faultless."
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.33.22) it is said:
| etavan eva loke 'smin pumsam dharmah parah smrtah bhakti-yogo bhagavati tan-nama-grahanadibhih |
"Devotional service, beginning with the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the ultimate religious principle for the living entity in human society."
In Caitanya-Bhagavata Adi-khanda 14.1.39:
| ataeva kali-yuga nama-yajna sara ara kona dharma kaile nahi haya para |
"Therefore the essence of all religious principles in the Age of Kali is the sacrifice of chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. One cannot be delivered by following any other religious principles."
Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya-lila 11.98:
| avatari' caitanya kaila dharma-pracarana kali-kale dharma-krsna-nama-sankirtana |
"In this Age of Kali, Lord Sri Krishna Himself descended as Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to preach the eternal religion of Krishna Consciousness through the process of chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra which is the only religious principle for this Age."
Thakura Haridasa in Hari-nama-cintamani:
| kalite gauna-pathera durddasa--- |
"The potency of the indirect processes of self-realization has badly deteriorated in Kali-yuga.
| satya-yuga dhyana-joge kata rsi-gane suddha kori dile prabhu nija-bhakti dhane |
"In the Satya-yuga, sages who took up the process of meditation and yoga were personally purified by Krishna and given the treasure of devotional service.
| treta-yuge yajna-karme aneka sodhile dvapare arcana-marge bhakti vilaile |
"In the Treta-yuga, many got purified by doing sacrifices and in Dvapara-yuga, the Lord gave bhakti to those who engaged in Deity worship in the Temple.
| kali-agamane natha jivera durddasa dekhi-jnana, karma, yoga chadila bharasa |
"With the advent of Kali-yuga, Lord Krishna saw the unfortunate and degraded condition of the living entities and relinquished all hope in the processes of karma, jnana and yoga.
| alpa ayu bahu pida bala-buddhi-hrasa ei saba upadrava jiva kaila grasa |
"People in Kali-yuga are short-lived, always harassed by disease, and are born with a weak body, mind and intelligence.
| varnasrama-dharma ara sankhya-yoga-jnana kali-jive uddharite nahe balavana |
"The observance of varnasrama-dharma and the cultivation of sankhya philosophy, yoga, and empiricism is not capable or strong enough to deliver the fallen souls of Kali-yuga.
| jnana karma gata ye bhaktira gauna patha kantake sankirna hana haila vipatha |
"The secondary processes to bhakti like jnana and karma have become un-traversable due to being covered with thorns.
| Purport by Thakura Bhaktivinoda |
"The two secondary processes of speculative philosophical discussion in the association of saintly persons and the ritualistic offering of the fruits of one's activities by visiting the Temples of the Lord, have become contaminated in Kali-yuga. Genuine saintly persons, now rarely seen, have been displaced by crass, commercial pseudo-spiritualists. Because of the increased craving for sense-gratification, the process of trying to purify the heart by fruitive activities has also become useless. Hence there is nothing auspicious to be achieved by following these secondary paths. Even the process of Deity worship which was the principle spiritual process in Dvapara-yuga has now become contaminated due to unlimited impurities."
| prthak upaya dhari upeya sadhane vighna bahutara haila jivera jivane |
"When the spiritual method (like karma, jnana, yoga, etc.) involves a means which is different from the goal, there arise many different obstacles for the living entity in the discharging that spiritual process.
| prabhu tumi jivera mangala cinta kori kali-yuge nama-sange svayam avatari |
"Thus the Lord, considering the welfare of the living entities, descended in Kali-yuga as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu along with the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra to propagate the yuga-dharma (The religion of the Age).
| yuga-dharma pracarile nama-sankirtana mukhya pathe jiva paya krsna-prema-dhana |
"Simply by taking up the primary spiritual process and yuga-dharma of chanting Hare Krishna, the jiva attains love of Krishna.
| namera smarana ara nama-sankirtana ei matra dharma jiva koribe palana |
"The only religious principle which everyone should follow in Kali-yuga is to continually remember and chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra.
| jei ta sadhana sei sadhya jabe haila upaya upeya madhye bheda na rahila |
"The chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is not only the means but it is also the goal of spiritual life because it is non-different from Lord Krishna Himself. Thus the means and the goal have become One. This makes chanting superior to all other processes of attaining God as the means and goal are different in the other processes.
| sadhyera sadhane ara nahi antaraya anayase tare jiva tomara krpaya |
"Thus the difference between the process of worship and goal of that worship no longer exists while chanting Hare Krishna. This makes it very easy for all souls to take shelter of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and achieve perfection.
| kali-yuge suduhsadhya anya subhakarma ataeva nama asi haila yuga-dharma |
"In Kali-yuga the other processes to accumulate piety have become extremely difficult to execute. Therefore even though the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the topmost spiritual process at all times, it has specifically appeared as the only religious principle for this Age.
| dharma-yoga-yaga-jnana-kanda parihari ye bhajila krsna-nama sei sarvopari |
"One who discards all other activities, like religiosity, yoga, sacrifices, fruitive activities, empirical knowledge and so on; and simply worships the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra becomes the topmost transcendentalist and worshipable by the whole world."
| anaya-buddhete nama grahana koribe--- |
"One should chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra with unalloyed and one-pointed determination."
| ara kona dharma karma kabhu na koribe svatantra isvara-jnane anya na pujibe |
"One should never engage in the performance of any other kind of religious practice or pious activity except chanting the Maha-mantra and never worship any other Demigod considering the Demigods as independent or equal to Lord Krishna."
| ataeva 'nama' matra vaisnavera dharma name prasphutita haya rupa, guna, karma |
"Therefore chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the foremost and the sole religious activity (dharma) of a devotee. Because it is from the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra that gradually manifests the Lord's spiritual Form, Qualities and Pastimes."
| krsnera samagra lila name vidyamana nama se parama-tattva tomara vidhana |
"The entire panorama of Lord Krishna's pastimes is present in the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Lord Caitanya has personally declared the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra to be the highest Absolute Truth."
| ekati arcana-pravrtti, ekati smarana-kirtana-pravrtti ubhayei samicina haileo smarana-kirtana-pravrtti aikantika bhakta-digera madhye prabala |
"There are two processes in God-realization. One is Deity worship and the other is the process of chanting and remembering the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Though both are powerful, the path of chanting and remembering the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is preferred as the most powerful by serious and advanced spiritual aspirants."
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