Posted by Neeraj Nama on December 16, 2009 at 10:07am
Nama-aparadhaNama-aparadha is an utterance of the holy name that is made consciously with enmity in the heart. It is the lowest form of chanting wherein one commits any of the ten offenses against the holy name. As long as one chants with offenses, it is absolutely impossible to attain love of God. "Offenses against the holy name (nama-aparadha) are the most frightening of all kinds of sins and offenses. All other kinds of sins and offenses go away naturally and automatically as one utters harinatna, but nama-aparadha does not go away so easily." (Jaiva Dharma ch. 24)The lives of Vijaya Kumara and Vrajanatha depicted in Jaiva Dharma show that continuous chanting of Hare Kisna japa frees one from material desires, and quickly elevates one to the perfectional stage of krsna-prema, pure love of God. If these signs of spiritual advancement are not manifesting, one can conclude that he is a nama-aparadhi. Such an offender must understand that the holy name is his only shelter for one who offends the holy name. Filled with repentance and remorse, one must beg the holy name to forgive him and accept him in His service once again. "In the book Nama-kaumudi, it is recommended that if one is an offender at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava, he should submit to that Vaisnava and be excused. Similarly, if one is an offender in chanting the holy name, he should submit to the holy name and thus be freed from his offenses." (SB 7.5.23-24 p.)Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura eloquently explains the need to "welcome Krsna properly" in the next quotation: "Krsna is sat-cit-ananda and that sat-cit-ananda will manifest in us as soon as we welcome the transcendental word. If we are sincere, He would come into our vision, and we would easily discover Him. We live in Kali-yuga, an atmosphere surcharged with erroneous impressions."So we cannot expect in the beginning to chant the Name properly without difficulty. We never welcome Krsna properly by uttering His Name. In course of our chanting hundreds of irrelevant things intervene due to our uncontrolled desires. We are full of many mundane impressions, so we must guard ourselves against committing the ten offenses while chanting the holy name of hari."(Prabhupada Sarasvati Thakura)
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