In the Ananta-samhita, the glories of the Hare Krishna Masha-mantra are explained in these verses:
| hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare shodashaitani namani, dvatrimshad varnakani hi kalau yuge maha-mantrah, sammato jivatarane (I) |
“This mantra comprising of sixteen words or thirty-two syllables is known as the Masha- mantra in Kali-yuga and is the only capable means through which the living entities can be delivered in Kali-yuga."
| Purport by Srila Gaurangapada |
Each of the 16 words in the Maha-mantra is made up of 2 syllables. For example, ‘hare’ is made up of ‘ha’ and ‘re’, ‘krishna’ is made up of ‘krish’ and ‘na’ and ‘rama’ is made up of ‘ra’ and ‘ma’. Thus the Maha-mantra in Kali-yuga is the 32-syllable, 16-word mantra as established here in the Ananta Samhita. An intelligent person should thus accept and chant this Maha-mantra because it has been described in the Vedic scriptures as the only authorized and bona-fide Mantra for the specific deliverance of the people in Kali-yuga. If one is already chanting another mantra, then one should check out whether that mantra is mentioned anywhere in the scriptures for Kali-yuga or is simply a man-made mantra. If there is no reference in the scriptures, one should simply give it up and take up the chanting of the most authorized Hare Krishna Maha-mantra for achieving perfection in this life. The very reason why this Mantra is called the Maha-mantra, is because in Kali-yuga, Lord Krishna in the form of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, has very mercifully invested the cumulative potencies of all other authorized mantras as well as His own potencies into this Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Thus if someone neglects the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, he or she is to be considered the most foolish person who is willingly drinking poison and thus wasting the most valuable human form of life.
The Vedic scriptures repeatedly state that the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna, personally and fully appears in Kali-yuga in a golden complexion in the transcendental abode of Mayapura in the heart of Sri Navadvipa around 130 km, Caitanya Calcutta, West Bengal India, along with His eternal associates. He is known by the Names Gauranga, Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Gaura, Gaurahari, Visvambhara, Nimai, etc. His elder brother, Lord Balarama appeared as Lord Nityananda (Nitai). Lord Gauranga advented as the divine Son of Srimati Sachi devi and Sri Jagannatha Mishra on the banks of the Ganges on the 18th of February 1486 (516 years ago) and displayed His super excellent pastimes for 48 years on this planet. For 24 years He personally taught everyone by His own example how to remain as an ideal householder in bhakti-yoga and for 24 years He set the standard of an ideal sannyasi while residing at Jagannatha Puri in Orissa, India. He thus established the yuga-dharma of Kali-yuga by constantly chanting, relishing and distributing the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Thus in Sri Prema-vivarta, Srila Jagadananda Pandita summarizes the whole process of achieving perfection in Kali-yuga:
The Vedic scriptures repeatedly state that the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna, personally and fully appears in Kali-yuga in a golden complexion in the transcendental abode of Mayapura in the heart of Sri Navadvipa around 130 km, Caitanya Calcutta, West Bengal India, along with His eternal associates. He is known by the Names Gauranga, Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Gaura, Gaurahari, Visvambhara, Nimai, etc. His elder brother, Lord Balarama appeared as Lord Nityananda (Nitai). Lord Gauranga advented as the divine Son of Srimati Sachi devi and Sri Jagannatha Mishra on the banks of the Ganges on the 18th of February 1486 (516 years ago) and displayed His super excellent pastimes for 48 years on this planet. For 24 years He personally taught everyone by His own example how to remain as an ideal householder in bhakti-yoga and for 24 years He set the standard of an ideal sannyasi while residing at Jagannatha Puri in Orissa, India. He thus established the yuga-dharma of Kali-yuga by constantly chanting, relishing and distributing the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Thus in Sri Prema-vivarta, Srila Jagadananda Pandita summarizes the whole process of achieving perfection in Kali-yuga:
| gaurajana sanga kara gauranga baliya ‘hare krishna’ nama bala naciya naciya |
“Please associate continuously with pure devotees of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu and always loudly chant the the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra along with the Holy Names of Lord Gauranga, while dancing in ecstasy of love of God.”
The Pancha-tattva Maha-mantra should be chanted before each round of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. By the mercy of the most merciful Pancha-tattva, the chanter will quickly achieve the platform of offenseless chanting. The Pancha-tattva Maha-mantra is as follows:
| sri-krishna-chaitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara shrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda |
How the Names, Pastimes, Abode and Associates of Lords Nityananda Gauranga help one to quickly achieve the qualification to chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra purely is described in details in the Nityananda Gauranga Nama Cintamani. ( Here ) (Purport ends)
| varjayitva tu namaitad, durjanaih parikalpitam chandobaddham susiddhanta, viruddham nabhyaset padam (II) |
“One should never neglect or give up the chanting of this Maha-mantra and take to other so- called purification processes which are invented by fools and miscreants. One should not engage even in chanting other metrical compositions of the Names of God that are against the pure conclusions of the scriptures.
| Purport by Srila Gaurangapada: |
There is always a danger of bhakti-siddhanta-viruddha abhasa or rasabhasa (misconceptions opposed to pure bhakti) in the concocted mantras which are not mentioned in the Vedic scriptures. The common man cannot identify this and he foolishly takes shelter of chanting these so-called mantras. Thus instead of progressing in bhakti, he falls down due to chanting a mantra which is offensive to the path of pure bhakti (devotional service) to the Lord. This book is specifically meant to save such unfortunate spiritual aspirants in this most degraded age where bogus and so-called secret mantras are being created everywhere. Thus in this section we have compiled a comprehensive collection of verses from the Vedic scriptures which prove the ultimate authenticity and indispensability of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra in Kali-yuga. (Purport ends)
| tarakam brahma-namaitad, brahmana gurunadina kalisantaranadyasu shruti-svadhigatam hareh (III) |
“Lord Brahma and other highly advanced Spiritual Masters have called this Maha-mantra as ‘taraka-brahma-nama’ which means this transcendental mantra is the deliverer of one and all. This mantra has been glorified in srutis like the Kali-santarana Upanishad (given below) and also by Lord Hari Himself.
| praptam shri brahma-shishyena, shri naradena dhimata namaitad-uttamam shrauta-paramparyena brahmanah (IV) |
“After receiving through aural reception, this topmost of all mantras from their Father Lord Brahma, Sri Narada and Brahma’s other sons and disciples chanted it, achieved perfection and taught it to their own disciples in the parampara system.
| Purport by Srila Gaurangapada: |
How the pure Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is transmitted through the disciplic succession is explained as follows:
In the Padma Purana it is stated:
In the Padma Purana it is stated:
| sampradaya-vihina ye, mantras te nishphala matah; atah kalau bhavishyanti, catvarah sampradayinah. shri-brahma-rudra-sanaka,vaishnavah kshiti-pavanah; catvaras te kalau bhavya, hy utkale purushottamat. ramnujam shrih svi-cakre, madhvacaryam caturmukhah; shri-vishnu-svaminam rudro, nimbadityam catuhsanah. |
“Unless one is initiated by a bona-fide Spiritual Master in a bona-fide and authentic disciplic succession, the mantra he might have received is without any effect. For this reason the Lord will reveal the four authorized Vaishnava disciplic successions, inaugurated by Lord Brahma, Lakshmi-devi, Lord Siva, and the four Kumaras. The message of these four sampradayas will be spread from the Holy Place of Jagannatha Puri in Orissa and thus purify the entire earth during the age of Kali. Anyone accepting initiation outside these four sampradayas is cheating himself and others. Any self-proclaimed guru outside these four sampradayas is also not bona-fide and is also cheating himself and others. Lord Brahma chose Madhvacarya to represent her disciplic succession. In the same way Lakshmi-devi chose Ramanujacarya, Lord Siva chose Vishnu Swami, and the four Kumaras chose Nimbarka.”
For example if one takes medicine from an unauthorized quack, then one is sure to be cheated. It may actually do harm rather than benefit the person.
Lord Brahma instructs Srila Narada in the Skanda Purana, Kartika-Mahatmya:
Lord Brahma instructs Srila Narada in the Skanda Purana, Kartika-Mahatmya:
| te narah pashavo loke kim tesham jivane phalam yair na labdha harer diksha narcito va janardanah |
“Unfortunate people do not accept diksha from a bona-fide Vaishnava Guru in any of these four sampradayas and thus they remain unqualified to worship Lord Krishna. Such people are simply like animals since there is no higher purpose for their human form of life.”
| tapasvinah karma nishtha, sreshthaste vai nara bhuvi prapta yaistu harer diksa sarva dukha vimocani |
“Those persons who accept diksha from a bona-fide Vaishnava Spiritual Master from any of these four sampradayas are completely delivered from all the miseries of material existence. In this world, they become superior even to the great ascetics and karma-nishtha yogis.”
The Vishnu-yamala states:
| adiksitasya vamoru kritam sarvam nirarthakam pashu-yonim avapnoti diksa-virahito janah |
“Unless one is initiated by a bona-fide Spiritual Master from any of the above four sampradayas, all his devotional activities are useless. A person who is not properly initiated in any of these four authorized Vaishnava sampradayas will surely descend again into the animal species in his next life.”
| divyam jnanam yato dadyat kuryat papasya sankshayam tasmat diksheti sa prokta deshikais tattva-kovidaih |
“Diksa is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity. A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process as diksha.”
The complete knowledge of the Name, Form, Qualities, Pastimes, Abode and Associates of Lord Krishna and Lord Gauranga is transmitted to disciple by the Guru in the seed form of the pure Hare Krishna Maha-mantra uttered by the Guru in the ear of the disciple at the time of Harinam diksha. For this kind of transmission, it becomes incumbent that the Guru himself has positive realization of the above mentioned transcendental characteristics of Lord Krishna. That is why the first and primary duty of a spiritual aspirant is to search out a self-realized and pure Spiritual Master in any one of the four chains of disciplic succession given in the Padma Purana.
Vishnu-yamala continues:
Vishnu-yamala continues:
| ato gurum pranamyaivam sarva-svam vinivedya ca grihniyad vaishnavam mantram diksha-purvam vidhanatah |
“That is why the prime duty of every human being to surrender to a bona-fide Vaishnava Spiritual Master in any of the four authorized sampradayas. Giving him everything--- body, mind and intelligence, one must take Vaishnava initiation from him.”
The Bhakti-sandarbha (298) gives the following quotation from the Tattva-sagara:
| yatha kancanatam yati kamsyam rasa-vidhanatah tatha diksha-vidhanena dvijatvam jayate nrinam |
“By chemical manipulation, bell metal is turned into gold when touched by mercury; similarly, when a person is properly initiated by a bona-fide Spiritual Master, he acquires the qualities of a brahmana.”
The Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is all powerful and thus the process of deliverance and purification by chanting the Maha-mantra does not even depend on initiation, but the process of initiation into the Maha-mantra from an authorized and self-realized Guru speeds up the process of attaining pure love of God, which is the ultimate goal of all spiritual practices. The deeper issues regarding the qualifications of the Spiritual Master (nama guru), disciple, the process of diksha etc., will be further discussed in the upcoming translation and commentary of the book Hari-nama-cintamani by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. (Purport ends)
| utshrjyaitan-maha-mantram, ye tvanyat kalpitam padam mahanameti gayanti, te sastra-guru langhanah (V) |
“Abandoning this Maha-mantra, those who recite verses or poems or songs (full of even the principal Names of Lord Krishna) which have been manufactured through someone's imagination, certainly transgress the instructions of the scriptures and the bona-fide Spiritual Masters.
| Purport by Srila Gaurangapada: |
Neglecting or avoiding the Maha-mantra in Kali-yuga, if someone simply recites mantras or hymns or songs or verses or poems composed of even the primary names of Krishna, such a person is transgressing the religious principles for this age.
Since he is not aware of the importance of the Maha-mantra, he cannot become a leader or guide of anyone. If he dares to do so he is simply a cheater in the name of spirituality because he is not repeating the words of the scriptures. A preacher or guru in Kali-yuga should be considered bona-fide only if he takes full shelter of the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra as per the instructions of the scriptures and Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu Himself. A bona-fide spiritual master has to himself chant and preach the Maha-mantra after receiving it from any one of the four authorized Vaishnava paramparas (disciplic successions) mentioned in the Padma Purana.
Since the people in Kali-yuga are especially dull-headed in the matter of self-realization, they get constantly cheated by charlatans posing as incarnations of God ready to give them some secret concocted mantra in return for a huge donation. There are innumerable such bogus incarnations presently stalking the earth for fame, wealth and followers and more such incarnations are being manufactured at every second. Each of them has a different mantra which they claim is the Maha-mantra. And those of them who don’t have any particular mantra, ‘authorize’ the chanting of all or any of the so-called mantras, claiming that they all lead to the same God. But this completely is in contrast with the statements of authorized scriptures like Ananta Samhita and Kali-santarana Upanishad, which emphatically and repeatedly state that the only mantra which effectively delivers all the living entities in Kali-yuga is the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Even if a mantra is a bona-fide mantra from the Vedas, it gets it strength in Kali-yuga from the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra according to Srila Jiva Gosvami in Bhakti-sandarbha:
Since he is not aware of the importance of the Maha-mantra, he cannot become a leader or guide of anyone. If he dares to do so he is simply a cheater in the name of spirituality because he is not repeating the words of the scriptures. A preacher or guru in Kali-yuga should be considered bona-fide only if he takes full shelter of the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra as per the instructions of the scriptures and Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu Himself. A bona-fide spiritual master has to himself chant and preach the Maha-mantra after receiving it from any one of the four authorized Vaishnava paramparas (disciplic successions) mentioned in the Padma Purana.
Since the people in Kali-yuga are especially dull-headed in the matter of self-realization, they get constantly cheated by charlatans posing as incarnations of God ready to give them some secret concocted mantra in return for a huge donation. There are innumerable such bogus incarnations presently stalking the earth for fame, wealth and followers and more such incarnations are being manufactured at every second. Each of them has a different mantra which they claim is the Maha-mantra. And those of them who don’t have any particular mantra, ‘authorize’ the chanting of all or any of the so-called mantras, claiming that they all lead to the same God. But this completely is in contrast with the statements of authorized scriptures like Ananta Samhita and Kali-santarana Upanishad, which emphatically and repeatedly state that the only mantra which effectively delivers all the living entities in Kali-yuga is the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Even if a mantra is a bona-fide mantra from the Vedas, it gets it strength in Kali-yuga from the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra according to Srila Jiva Gosvami in Bhakti-sandarbha:
“The ultimate substance of all the Vedic mantras is the chanting of the names of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Every mantra begins with the prefix nama om and eventually addresses by name the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By the supreme will of the Lord there is a specific potency in each and every mantra chanted by great sages like Narada Muni and other rishis. All the potencies of all these mantras are present in the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra which immediately renovates the transcendental relationship of the living being with the Supreme Lord.”
We can thus conclude that a simple parameter to identify a true guru from a bogus guru is that a bona-fide guru should himself chant the authorized Hare Krishna Maha-mantra mentioned in the scriptures, preach the glories of chanting the Maha-mantra along with the Nami Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu, and thus induce anyone and everyone he meets to constantly chant the Masha-mantra. (Purport ends)
| tattva-virodha-sanpriktam, tadrisham daurjanam matam sarvatha pariharyam syadatma-hitarthina sada (VI) |
“Those who are interested in their real self-interest should never accept in any form whatsoever, these concocted mantras or verses which are against the philosophical conclusions of the scriptures and which may contain subtle deviations from the Vedic knowledge.
| Purport by Srila Gaurangapada: |
We humbly request all the readers of this book not to accept the regular chanting of any other mantra in Kali-yuga except this Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, as recommended in all the Vedic literatures. Of course one can and should chant the other principal and scripturally authorized names of Lord Krishna especially those of the most merciful incarnation Lord Nitai-Gauranga along with the Maha-mantra to achieve quick success in the chanting process and for nullifying our offensive mentality. If one does not pay attention to this warning, one will surely be cheated by some bogus guru giving a bogus mantra, and thus one will loose the valuable opportunity to realize God in this human form of life. It is a complete waste of time, money and resources to chant other concocted mantras thinking that they are also Maha-mantras. Before accepting the chanting of any other ‘mantra’, we should question the giver as to where is that mantra recommended for Kali-yuga in the bona-fide scriptures. These bogus gurus are very dangerous because they sometimes manufacture their own scriptures or sastras in order to justify their created mantra or their bogus method of worship. The Maha-mantra is not that kind of mantra because it is directly mentioned and advocated in the bona-fide scriptures like the Upanishads, Samhitas, Puranas etc. According to the scriptures, those unscrupulous people who are giving out these bogus mantras, are destined to rot in hell along with the foolish people who accept these mantras from them in good faith. To allow oneself to get cheated is as sinful as to cheat others.
Thus everyone should take full and unalloyed shelter of the chanting of the Maha-mantra:
Thus everyone should take full and unalloyed shelter of the chanting of the Maha-mantra:
| hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare; hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare. |
| Sri Chaitanya Upanishad - Atharva Veda |
In the Sri Caitanya Upanishad--Atharva Veda 11-14, the Maha-mantra is glorified:
| (11) sa eva mula-mantram japati harir iti krishna iti rama iti |
"The Supreme Lord (Who will appear in Kali-yuga as Lord Gauranga) will chant a mantra consisting of His own Names Hari, Krishna, and Rama (i.e. the Maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama rama, Hare Hare).
| (12) harati hrdaya-granthim vasana-rupam iti harih krsih smarane tac ca nas tad-ubhaya-melanam iti krsnah ramayati sarvam iti rama ananda-rupah atra sloko bhavati |
"These three seed Names of the Maha-mantra of the Supreme Lord (Hari, Krishna, and Rama) may be explained in the following way:
1. 'Hari' means He Who removes (harati) the knot of material desire in the hearts of the living entities.
2. 'Krishna' is composed of the two syllables 'krish' and 'na'. 'krish' means He Who attracts the minds of all living entities, and 'na' means the supreme transcendental pleasure.
3. 'Rama' means He Who is the personification of all transcendental bliss."
1. 'Hari' means He Who removes (harati) the knot of material desire in the hearts of the living entities.
2. 'Krishna' is composed of the two syllables 'krish' and 'na'. 'krish' means He Who attracts the minds of all living entities, and 'na' means the supreme transcendental pleasure.
3. 'Rama' means He Who is the personification of all transcendental bliss."
| (13) mantro guhyah paramo bhakti-vedyah |
"The Maha-mantra is the topmost and most confidential of all Mantras. It can only be understood when one engages in the pure devotional service of the Supreme Lord."
| (14) namany astav-asta ca sobhanani, tani nityam ye japanti dhiras te vai mayam atitaranti, 'ananyah paramam-mantram parama-rahasyam nityam avartayati |
"Those who seriously desire to make progress in spiritual life should continually chant these sixteen beautiful Names (Maha-mantra) of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and in this way they will cross beyond the bondage of the illusory energy in this material world. There is no other Mantra which is as powerful as this supremely great and most confidential of all Mantras, which has directly descended from the spiritual world."
| Kali-santarana Upanisad (1-11) |
In the Kali-santarana Upanisad (1-11) (One of the 108 principle Upanisads), the Maha-mantra is established as the only means of deliverance in Kali-yuga:
| hari om dvaparante narada brahmanam jagama katham bhagavan gam paryatana kalim santareyam iti [1] |
Hari Om! After travelling all over the world, Srila Narada Muni approached Lord Brahma (his own father and Guru) during the time when Dvapara-yuga was about to end. He asked him, "O Lord! How will all the living entities be able to deliver themselves from the begraded age of Kali which is about to begin."
| sa hovaca brahma sadhu prsto'smi sarva sruti rahasyam gopyam tac chrnu yena kali samsaram tarisyasi [2] |
Lord Brahma replied, "You have asked the most important and relevant question for the benefit of humanity. I will tell you now the most concealed secret of the Vedic literatures, with the help of which everyone can easily cross this most dangerous age of Kali.
| bhagavata adi purusasya narayanasya namoccharana matrena nirdhta kalir bhavati [3] |
"Simply by chanting the transcendental Names of the original enjoyer and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Narayana, all the sins will be cleansed in Kali-yuga."
| narada punah papraccha tan nama kim iti [4] |
Narada Muni again asked, "Which are those specific Names of the Lord which are most effective in Kali-yuga?"
| Purport by Srila Gaurangapada: |
This is a very important question for all of us. Everyone should ask this question before taking up the chanting process. Narada Muni is now asking for our benefit about the specific Mantra which one should chant to become purified of all sins in Kali-yuga. If one accepts the chanting process after properly understanding the authenticity and power of the Maha-mantra, then one will never be deviated or cheated and thus one will be assured of all perfection. (Purport ends)
| sa hovaca hiranyagarbah hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare [5] iti shodashakam namnam kali-kalmasha-nashanam natah parataropayah sarva-vedeshu drishyate [6] |
| Purport By Srila Gaurangapada |
Lord Brahma replied, "The sixteen words, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, are especially meant for completely destroying all the contamination of Kali. To save oneself from the contamination of Kali-yuga, there is no alternative in all the Vedas except the chanting of this sixteen-word Mantra.
As quoted in the Ananta Samhita, Sri Caitanya Upanishad (Atharva Veda), Agni Purana, Sanat-kumara Samhita and Vayu Purana, the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra begins with Hare Krishna first. Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Who advented in Kali-yuga to establish and propogate the chanting of the Maha-mantra with Hare Krishna first. (Purport ends)
| iti sodasa kalasya jivasyavarana vinasanam tatah prakasate para brahma medhapaye ravi rasmi mandali veti [7] |
"This Maha-mantra consisting of sixteen Name of Krishna is the destroyer of the (16 layered) illusory covering of all the living entities. Only when the coverings are destroyed, Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear in the heart of the living entities, just like the sun appears with full intensity when the clouds are removed."
| punar narada prapaccha bhagavan kasya vidhi-riti [8] |
Srila Narada again inquired from Lord Brahma; "What are the prodedures and rules for chanting this Maha-mantra?"
| tam hovaca nasya vidhi-riti sarvada suci-asucira va pathan brahmanam salokya samipya sarupatam sayujyatam iti [9] |
Lord Brahma replied; "There are no rules and regulations to chant this Maha-mantra. It should be chanted always irrespective of whether one is in a pure or impure condition.
| yadasya sodasikasya sardha trikotir japati tada brahma hatyam tarati vira hatyam svarna steyat puto bhavati pitrdeva manusyanam apakarat puto bhavati [10] |
"When one chants the sixteen Names of the Maha-mantra 35 million times (sardha trikotir), he absolves himself of the sins of killing a brahmana or a ksatriya, stealing of gold or engaging in harmful activities towards one's forefathers or other living entitiies."
| Purport by Srila Gaurangapda |
If one chants sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, he will complete the chanting of 35 million Maha-mantras in around 55.5 years. If he doubles his chanting i.e. 32 rounds daily, then he will take around 28 years. And, if he can chant the ideal prescribed quota of chanting 64 rounds daily, he will take round 15 years to complete the great sacrifice of chanting the Maha-mantra 35,000,000 times. If one chants 64 rounds of the Maha-mantra for 15 years while strictly following the principles of bhakti-yoga in the association of pure devotees, then one is sure to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face in this very life and ultimately achieve the highest abode of the Lord called Goloka Vrindavana. And, if one is intensely eager to achieve the personal association of the Lord without much delay, he can achieve the target of 35 million Maha-mantras by chanting 120 rounds (200 Names) daily for around 7.5 years, preferably by residing in the transcendental abode of the Lord like Navadvipa, Vrindavana or Puri. Such devotees are called bhajananadis as described in Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's "Jaiva Dharma". Of course, one has to gradually increase his chanting to this standard. Many or the previous Vaishnava Acharyas who have excelled at great preachers and saviours of humanity have successfully completed this great sacrifice of chanting 35 million Maha-mantras or more before beginning their missionary activities.
If one wants to take any vow in spiritual life, then this is the best vow to take (na nama sadrsam vratah), i.e. to complete the chanting of 35 million Maha-mantras in this lifetime as described in the Kali-santarana Upanisad. Completing this vow will ensure without a doubt the complete perfection of this human form of life and complete and permanent freedom from the repeated cycle of birth and death. We encourage all the readers of this book irrespective of their age, status, caste, creed, color, race, sex, country, position, etc., to think of seriously taking up and completing this vow in this lifetime and thus making it their last live in this material world. The more we delay to begin the chanting of the Maha-mantra, the more difficult it becomes to accomplish this task in this lifetime. We are emphasizing the importance of this great vow to elevate the people to the level of constant chanting, which is the only way to achieve pure love of God. The nullification of all our sinful reactions (past, present and future), and liberation from the miseries of material exsistence are by-products of fulfilling this vow should be realized and become situated in our eternal, loving constitutinal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna and thus achieve the Kingdom of God.
Of course, those who cannot take up this vow have nothing to lose but everything to gain just by the regular chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Because generally, it may take many lifetimes to come to the level of achieving complete spiritual perfection by the offenseless chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. (Purport ends)
If one wants to take any vow in spiritual life, then this is the best vow to take (na nama sadrsam vratah), i.e. to complete the chanting of 35 million Maha-mantras in this lifetime as described in the Kali-santarana Upanisad. Completing this vow will ensure without a doubt the complete perfection of this human form of life and complete and permanent freedom from the repeated cycle of birth and death. We encourage all the readers of this book irrespective of their age, status, caste, creed, color, race, sex, country, position, etc., to think of seriously taking up and completing this vow in this lifetime and thus making it their last live in this material world. The more we delay to begin the chanting of the Maha-mantra, the more difficult it becomes to accomplish this task in this lifetime. We are emphasizing the importance of this great vow to elevate the people to the level of constant chanting, which is the only way to achieve pure love of God. The nullification of all our sinful reactions (past, present and future), and liberation from the miseries of material exsistence are by-products of fulfilling this vow should be realized and become situated in our eternal, loving constitutinal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna and thus achieve the Kingdom of God.
Of course, those who cannot take up this vow have nothing to lose but everything to gain just by the regular chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Because generally, it may take many lifetimes to come to the level of achieving complete spiritual perfection by the offenseless chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. (Purport ends)
| sarva dharma parityaga papat sadyah sucitamapnuyat sadyo mucyate sadyo macyate ity upanisat [11] |
"By chanting the Maha-mantra, one becomes quickly purified from all sins accumulated due to rejecting all of one's duties to our past lives. Thus the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the only means, the only means, the only means of thoroughly and immediately purifying oneself in Kali-yuga. Thus ends the Kali-santarana Upanisad."
| Agni Purana |
| hare krsna hare krsna, krsna krsna hare hare; ratanti helaya vapi, te krtartha na samsayah |
"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare...Whoever chants this Mantra even neglectfully, will attain the supreme goal of life. Of this there is no doubt."
| Padma Purana |
| dvatrimsad-aksaram mantram, nama-sodasakanvitam; prajapan vaisnavo nityam, radha-krsna-stalam labhet. |
"Those devotees who always chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra composed of sixteen Names divided into thirty-two syllables attain Sri Vrindavana, the eternal abode of Sri Radha-Krishna. This is the ultimate fruit (phala) of chanting the Maha-mantra.
| Padma Purana, Svarga Khanda (50.6) |
| harir eva samaradhyah, sarva deve suresvarah; hari nama mana-mantrair, nasyat papa pisacakam. |
"All the grievous sins of one who one-pointedly worships Lord Sri Hari, the Lord of all the demigods, through the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, are removed."
| Narada-pancaratra |
| trayo vedah sad-angani chandamsi vividhah surah sarvam astaksarantah-stham yac canyad api van-mayam sarva-vedanta-sararthah samsararnava-taranah |
"The essence of all Vedic knowledge---comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity [karma-kanda and upasana-kanda], the chandas, or Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods---is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the Holy Name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience." (Translation by Srila Prabhupada)
| Vayo Purana |
The Lord states:
| kalau nasta-drsam esa, mat-padyarka udesyati |
"For they who have become blinded by the influence of Kali-yuga, a verse with My Own Holy Names will arise like a glorious sun. This verse is:
| hare krsna hare krsna, krsna krsna hare hare; hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare. sakrd dvis trir yatha-sakti, yavaj jivam athapi va; vyaharan svapaco 'pi syan, mama bhakto na samsayah. |
"Everyone should chant this Maha-mantra again and again, either once, twice, thrice or as many times as possible during the day and night, for as long as one lives. By chanting this Mantra even the most sinful person or even a dog-eater will immediately become My devotee. Of this there is no doubt.
| Purport by Srila Gaurangapada |
According to the Vayu Purana, the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the all-effulgent and glorious sun which has risen to destroy the dense darkness of the age of Kali. If one has a chance to directly illuminate his heart from the rays of light from this sun (Maha-mantra), then why should one go and try to light some candles in the form of other mantras which are less powerful? Please note that the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra even once, twice, thrice or 108 times (1 mala) daily is an effective and powerful way to counteract the ill-effects of Kali-yuga. It is prescribed though that serious aspirants should begin chanting the Maha-mantra in a quota of atleast four rounds (on a roasary of 108 beads) everyday for getting the desired effect. The chanting should then be increased to sixteen rounds daily and then gradually to 32 rounds and then one should achieve 64 rounds (100,000 Names) standard, which wil ensure irreversible perfection to the chanter. Thought the Maha-mantra should be chanted always, but according to the scriptures, a daily discipline of some fixed amount of chanting (which should keep on increasing as explained above) is very critical and important. Without discipline, one cannot become a dsciple in spiritual life. (Purport ends.)
| Sanat-kumara-samhita |
Sanat-kumara-samhita explains the process of meditation on the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra:
| hare-krsnau dvir avrttau, krsna tadrk tatha hare; hare rama tatha rama, tatha tadrg ghare manuh. |
"In the Maha-mantra, the words Hare Krishna are repeated twice, and then Krishna and Hare are both separately twice repeated. In this same way, Hare Rama, Rama and Hare are twice repeated.
| hare krsna hare krnsa, krsna krsna hare hare hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare. dhyayed vrndavane ramye, gopa-gobhir alankrte; kadamba-padapa-cchaye yamuna-jala-sitale. radhaya sahitam krsnam, vamsi-vadana-tat-param; tribhanga-lalitam devam, bhaktanugraha-karakam. |
The meditation while chanting the Maha-mantra is as follows:
"Sri Krishna is sporting in the cooling waters of the Yamuna, or in the shade of a Kadamba tree in the beautiful Vrindavana forest. He is ornamented (surrounded) by the cows and gopas, and is accompanied by Sri Radha. He is skillful at playing the flute as He stands in a charming tribhanga (three-fold bending at the neck, waist and knees) pose, bestowing mercy and kindness upon all the devotees (bhaktas)"
"Sri Krishna is sporting in the cooling waters of the Yamuna, or in the shade of a Kadamba tree in the beautiful Vrindavana forest. He is ornamented (surrounded) by the cows and gopas, and is accompanied by Sri Radha. He is skillful at playing the flute as He stands in a charming tribhanga (three-fold bending at the neck, waist and knees) pose, bestowing mercy and kindness upon all the devotees (bhaktas)"
| Gautamiya-tantra |
| ahar-nisam japen mantram, mantri niyata-manasah; sa pawyati na sandeho, gopa-rupinam isvaram. |
"A person who chants the Hare Krishna Mantra day and night while fully concentrating his mind on the mantri (the Lord in the form of the sound incarnation), shall no doubt see the Supreme Lord face to face in His eternal and highest Form of a cowherd boy."
| Starva-mala-vibhusana-bhasya |
| hare krsneti mantra-pratika-grahanam. sodasa-namatmana dvatrimsad-aksarena mantrenoccair uccaritena sphurita krta-nrtya rasana jihva yasya sah. |
"The Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is non-different from Krishna Himself. When the sixteen words or the thirty-two syllables of the Hare Krishna Mantra are loudly vibrated, the Supreme Lord Krishna Himself dances on one's tongue."
In the Starva-mala-vibhusana, Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana says:
| Sri Caitanya-caritamrta |
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 7.83.74 states:
| krsna-nama-maha-mantrera ei ta' svabhava; yei jape, tara krsne upajaye bhava. |
"It is the nature of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra that anyone who chants it immediately arouses his dormant loving ecstasy for Krishna."
| krsna-mantra haite habe samsara-mocana; krsna-nama haite pabe krsnera carana. |
"Simply by chanting the Holy Name of Krishna one can obtain freedom from material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra one will be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord."
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 9.56.57 states:
| se kahe---"vaninatha nirbhaye laya krsna-nama; hare krsna, hare krsna" kahe avisrama. |
"The messenger replied to Lord Caitanya: "He )Vaninatha Pattanayaka) was fearlessly, and incessantly chanting the Maha-mantra---Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
| sankhya lagi' dui-hate angulite lekha; sahasradi purna haile, ange kate rekha" |
"He counted the chants on the fingers of both hands, and after he had finished chanting one thousand times, he would make a mark on his body."
| Sri Caitanya-bhagavata |
Lord Caitanya instructs Sri Tapana Misra in Sri Caitanya-bhagavata Adi-khanda 14.145-147:
| hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare; hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare. ei sloka nama bali' laya maha-mantra; sola-nama batrisa-aksara ei tantra. |
"This verse is call the Maha-mantra. It contains sixteen Holy Names of the Lord composed of thirty-two syllables.
| sadhite sadhite yabe premankura habe; sadhya-sadhana-tattva janiba se tabe. |
"If you continually and sincerely chant this Maha-mantra, the seed of love of God will sprout in your heart. Then you will understand the goal of life and the process for achieving it."
| Prema-vivarta |
Lord Caitanya states in Srila Jagadananda Pandita's Prema-vivarta, Chapter 21, Nama-Mahima:
| hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare; hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare. ei sloka name sarvadhika bajaya rahila he; sarva-phala siddhi labha ei sola name haibe he. |
"The chantinf of the sixteen words of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the most superior kind of worship of the Lord. Through these sixteen words, one will achieve all perfection and results.
| tirtha-yatra parisrame kiba phala habe; 'hare krsna' nitya gane saba phala pabe. |
"Why undertake so many inconveniences to visit pilgrimage places simply to gain some piety, when by constantly chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, wherever you are situated, you can accrue the results of all pious activities?
| sarva-artha-pradata harinama mahamantra; phukariya bale yata vedagama tantra. |
"The Hare Krishna Maha-mantra awards the chanter all kinds of benedictions. This is repeatedly emphasized in the Vedas, Agamas and Tantras."
| Hari-nama-cintamini |
Thakura Haridas in Hari-nama-cintamani:
| jiva nija cid-vyapara, krsna-nama ara; ara saba prapancika jagat samsara. |
"In this whole universe there are only two meaningful truths: the soul and the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra: everything else is illusion.
| Purport by Srila Gaurangapada |
Thus the spiritual soul has to take full shelter of the fully spiritual Hare Krishna Maha-mantra to extricate himself permanently from this mundane and illusory existence in the form of this material body and the material world. There is no recourse other than this. All the study of the Vedic literatures and asociation and hearing from saintly persons should ultimately culminate in the firm determination and resolution to take exclusive and continuous shelter of chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. (Purport end)
| Sri Brhad-Bhagavatamrta |
Sri Brhad-Bhagavatamrita (2.3.164) states:
| nama sankirtanam proktam, krsnasya prema-sampadi; balistham sadhanam srestham, paramakarsa-mantra-vat. |
"The loud chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is a great treasure of pure love for Lord Krishna. It is the most powerful and top-most spiritual practice. It is the supremely attractive Mantra of all mantras."
| Smrtis About The Golden Age In Kali Yuga (10,000 Years) Brought By Lord Caitanya (1486 AD to 11486 AD) |
The Brahma Vaivarta Purana states:
| bhagirathy uvace he natha ramana srestha, yasi golokam uttamam; asmakam-ka-gatis catra, bhavisyati kalau yuge [1] |
In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana, Mother Ganges petitions Lord Krishna: "O Protector, Supreme Enjoyer, after Your departure for the supreme abode, Goloka, what will be my condition in the degraded age of Kali?"
| sri bhagavan uvaca kaleh panca sahasrani, varsani tistha bhutale; papani papino yanti, tubhyam dasyanti snanatah [2] |
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: "On the earth 5000 years of Kali will be very sinful and sinners will come and deposit their sins in you by bathing.
| man-mantropasaka sparsad, bhasmi bhutani tat ksanat; bhavisyanti darsanac ca, snana deva hi jahnavi [3] |
"Thereafter simply by the sight or touch of One Who will worship Me by My Mantra*, all those sins will be burnt at once.
(* Here Lord Krsihna is indicating His own concealed incarnation in the form of Lord Caitanya in Kali-yuga, when He will appear as His own upasaka for the purpose of teaching devotional service to everyone by the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. The Lord will appear in Navadvipa on the bank of the Ganga and destroy all the sin accumulated in the Ganga by taking bath and sporting in Her waters with His eternal associates for twenty-four years.)
| harer namani yatraiva, puranani bhavanti hi; tatra gatva savadhanam, abhih sarddham ca srosyasi [4] |
"Everywhere there will be chanting of the Name of Hari and reading of the Bhagava Purana. At that time you can also go to such a place and attentively hear My glorification.
| purana sravanac caiva, harer namanukirtanat; bhasmi bhutani papani, brahma-hatyadikani ca. [5] |
"All sinful reactions including the killing of a brahmana can be completely nulified simply by hearing the Bhagavata Purana and the continuous and devoted chanting of the Names of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra following in the footsteps of the great devotees (who are the followers of the ultimate Mantra-upasaka, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu).
| bhasmi bhutani tanyeva, vaisnavalinganena ca; trnani suska kasthani, dahanti pavako yatha. [6] |
"Just as dry grass or wood is consumed by fire, simply by the embrace of these Vaishnavas (followers of Lord Gauranga) all sins of the living entities will be burnt.
| tathapi vaisnava loke, papani papinamapi; prthivyam yani tirthani, punyanyapi ca jahnavi [7] |
"O Ganges (Jahnavi), the whole planet will become a most auspicious pilgrimage site by the presence of these Vaishnavas, even though it had been very sinful in the past 5000 years.
| mad bhaktanam sariresu santi putesu santatam; mad bhakta pada rajasa, sadah puta vasundhara [8] |
"In the body of My devotees, there is extraordinary potency to purify everything. Thus even Mother Earth will become purified by the dust of the feet of My devotees.
| sadyah putani tirthani, sadyah putam jagat tatha; man mantropasaka vipra, ye mad ucchista bhojinah [9] |
"As My devotees will purify the whole world, they will purify even the pilgrimage sites. Those intelligent learned followers of the worshipper of My Maha-mantra (Lord Caitanya), will only partake of My remnants (prasadam) and thus purify everything.
| mam eva nityam dhyayante, te mat pranadhikah priyah; tad upasparsa matrena, puto vayusca pavakah. [10] |
"Those who meditate on Me constantly by the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and My Names (like Gauranga, Nityananda, etc.), are more dear to Me than My very life. Even the air and fire (which are already purifiers) will become pure simply even by their indirect touch.
| kaler dasa-sahasrani, mad bhaktah santi bhutale; eka varna bhavisyanti, mad bhaktesu gatesu ca. [11] |
"For 10,000 years of Kali (which will be the Golden Age brought by the Lord in the form of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu), such devotees of Mine will fill the whole planet. After the departure of My devotees, all of those who will remain will be like out-castes.
| mad bhakta sunya prthivi, kali grasta bhavisyati; eta smin namtare tatra, krsna dehad vinirgatah. [12] |
"After these 10.000* years, completely devoid of My devotees, the earth will be shackled again by Kali's strong influence (as described in the Twelth Canto of the Bhagavata Purana)." Saying this, Lord Krishna departed.
(*Kali-yuga's total duration is 432,000 years. So after 5,000 years of sinful degradation and the next 10,000 years of the Golden Age of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as described above, the balance 417,000 years of Kali-yuga will be the most sinful period for the earth planet due to the complete domination by the personaility of Kali. At the end of the 427,000 years from now, the Lord will appear on a white horse in his partial incarnation of Kalki to annihilate the demons and re-establish the Satya-yuga.)
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