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Why Not Just Chant "Krishna"?

Question: Why Not Just Chant "Krishna"?


As Krishna tells us to chant His name in the ninth chapter of the Bhagavad-gita and that we should constantly chant His names 24 hours daily, why don't we just chant, "Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna" repetitively instead of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, which if I am right, was not told by Krishna but was told by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. 

I am questioning this because I wish to follow the instructions of God (Krishna) rather than instructions from anywhere else - no disrespect intended.

If you can help me out I would be most appreciative,

Thank you from Daniel

 


Answer: Krishna Told Us to Chant Hare Krishna


Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna Himself. Therefore by following Lord Caitanya you are following God Himself, Lord Sri Krishna. That same Supreme Lord Sri Krishna who spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna 5,000 years ago has reappeared as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu a mere 500 years ago to teach us what is the most effective means of awakening our dormant Krishna consciousness by chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra. Therefore, just as Krishna's instruction to chant His name is authoritative, Lord Caitanya's instruction to chant Krishna's name by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is equally authoritative.

The effectiveness and pre-eminence of the Hare Krishna mantra in the present age of Kali is further confirmed in the Kali Santarana 
Upanisad as follows:

hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma
rāma rāma hare hare
iti ṣoḍaśakaṁ nāmnāṁ
kali-kalmaṣa-nāśanaṁ
nātaḥ parataropāyaḥ
sarva-vedeṣu dṛśyate

"After searching through all the Vedic literature, one cannot find a method of self-realization more effective for this age of Kali than the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra."

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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