Loud chanting of sixty-four rounds (100,000 Names) of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra daily is the most powerful and recommended way to chant constantly.
The perfection of life is to attain the level of Laksesvara from Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself!
In Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda 9.121-122, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed everyone on whose worship and service He will accept:
The perfection of life is to attain the level of Laksesvara from Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself!
In Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda 9.121-122, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed everyone on whose worship and service He will accept:
| prabhu bale, "jana 'laksesvara' bali kare? prati-dina laksa-nama ye grahana kare". (121) |
"Do you know who is a laksheshvara? He is someone who chants one laksha or 100,000 Holy Names (64 rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra) everyday.
Purport by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada:
| sri gaurasundera balibena---"jini pratidina laksa-nama grahana karibena, tanharai grhe bhagavan sevita hana. |
Sri Gaurasundera spoke as follows: "The Supreme Personality of Godhead accepts service only in the home of those who chant one hundred thousand Names daily.
| "bhagavan tanharai nikate bhoga-dravyadi grahana karena. |
"The Lord accepts bhoga (foodstuffs) and other ingredients only from such personalities.
| "jini laksa-nama grahana karena na, tahara nikate haite bhagavan naivedya svikara-dvara seva- saubhagya pradana karena na. |
"Those who don't chant 100,000 Names (64 rounds) daily, are never awarded the great fortune of rendering service to the Lord by offering Him naivedya (bhoga). This is because the Lord never accepts (svikara) their offerings.
Purport by Srila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:
This shows us that it is not a cheap thing to actually render service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just as you require the appropriate qualifications to get admission into a University, the daily chanting of 64 rounds is the qualification required to render direct acceptable and favourable service to the most merciful Lord Gaurasundera. (End)
This shows us that it is not a cheap thing to actually render service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just as you require the appropriate qualifications to get admission into a University, the daily chanting of 64 rounds is the qualification required to render direct acceptable and favourable service to the most merciful Lord Gaurasundera. (End)
| "bhagavad-bhakta matrei pratyaha laksa-nama grahana karibena natuva vividha visaye asakta haiya bhagavad-seva karite asamartha haibena." |
The Lord continued: "Those who consider themselves devotees of the Lord must compulsorily chant 100,000 Names of Krishna everyday, otherwise they will gradually but surely become attacked to a variety of sense-objects and thus become incapable to render any kind of service to the Lord."
Purport by Srila Bhaktiratnu Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:
In Kali-yuga, the senses are so strong that they are constantly attracted to the sense objects. 'Mantra' means the transcendental sound vibration which frees (trayate) the mind from its attraction towards sense-objects and fixes it on Krishna. Just like a medicine which is the cure for a disease has to be taken in a particular dosage daily to be really effective, similarly, the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra has to be done in a minimum of one nirbandha (100,000 Names) daily to have its full effect. This is the instruction of the Supreme Lord Himself as well as His pure devotees. They ahve demonstrated this by their own example.
If one does not fulfill this quota of chanting daily, then there is always the possibility of the mind being overcome by the urges of the senses and make the aspirant fall down from the spiritual path at any point of time, especially in this highly degraded age. Once the devotee fall down, he becomes disquailfied in the matter of rendering service to the Lord. This is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita 14.26:
In Kali-yuga, the senses are so strong that they are constantly attracted to the sense objects. 'Mantra' means the transcendental sound vibration which frees (trayate) the mind from its attraction towards sense-objects and fixes it on Krishna. Just like a medicine which is the cure for a disease has to be taken in a particular dosage daily to be really effective, similarly, the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra has to be done in a minimum of one nirbandha (100,000 Names) daily to have its full effect. This is the instruction of the Supreme Lord Himself as well as His pure devotees. They ahve demonstrated this by their own example.
If one does not fulfill this quota of chanting daily, then there is always the possibility of the mind being overcome by the urges of the senses and make the aspirant fall down from the spiritual path at any point of time, especially in this highly degraded age. Once the devotee fall down, he becomes disquailfied in the matter of rendering service to the Lord. This is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita 14.26:
| mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena, bhakti-yogena sevate; sa gunan samatityaitan, brahma-bhuyaya kalpate |
"One who engages in full devotional service, without falling down in any circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of realizing brahma, My spiritual nature."
An under dose of a medicine may not cure the disease completely and thus there is every possibility of relapse. This is the opinion of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada and should be accepted at face value with great seriousness. Of course, if one is mechanically chanting 64 rounds daily simply to fulfill the quota without any attachment, then there is a likelihood that he may also face obsticles in his spiritual life. But there is greater that he will be able to overcome the obstacles by the dent of his sincere adherence to the fixed quota of chanting 64 rounds daily.
Chanting and hearing 100,000 Holy Names of Krishna daily is the minimum standard (fixed by Lord Caitanya) for hearing the spiritual sound vibration daily to counteract the evil effects of the all-pervasive material sound vibration. Any compromise on this minimum standard will surely make it more difficult for the spiritual aspirant to stay unaffected from the material sound vibration in the present age of Kali-yuga. That is why Srila Prabhupada said that he has minimized the minimum from 64 to 16 rounds daily. Srila Prabhupada had the choice of sticking to the 64 rounds standard which few would have been able to take up and follow immediately or to introduce many into this process of chanting by giving them a minimized quota of the minimum chanting in the form of 16 rounds (around 27,000 Names) daily. Out of these 16 round chanters, sincere one's will be inspired to reach the ideal standard of 64 rounds daily. He chose to latter but he never minimized the importance of the former in any way, following in the footsteps of his Guru-maharaj, Srila Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada. (End)
Chanting and hearing 100,000 Holy Names of Krishna daily is the minimum standard (fixed by Lord Caitanya) for hearing the spiritual sound vibration daily to counteract the evil effects of the all-pervasive material sound vibration. Any compromise on this minimum standard will surely make it more difficult for the spiritual aspirant to stay unaffected from the material sound vibration in the present age of Kali-yuga. That is why Srila Prabhupada said that he has minimized the minimum from 64 to 16 rounds daily. Srila Prabhupada had the choice of sticking to the 64 rounds standard which few would have been able to take up and follow immediately or to introduce many into this process of chanting by giving them a minimized quota of the minimum chanting in the form of 16 rounds (around 27,000 Names) daily. Out of these 16 round chanters, sincere one's will be inspired to reach the ideal standard of 64 rounds daily. He chose to latter but he never minimized the importance of the former in any way, following in the footsteps of his Guru-maharaj, Srila Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada. (End)
Srila Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada continues:
| tajjanyai sri caitanyadevera asrita sakalai nyuna kalpe laksa-nama grahana kariya thakena, natuva gaurasunderera udesya pradatta naivedya tini grahana karibena na. |
"Therefore all the devotees who have taken shelter of Lord Caitanyadeva perform the chanting of a minimum of 100,000 Names of Krishna daily as their first and primary duty. Because they know that if they don't do so then Lord Gaurasundera will never accept the very bhoga (naivedya) which they cook for Him daily.
Purport by Srila Bhaktiratnu Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:
Srila Prabhupada has said that the most important instruction of the spiritual master to the disciple in spiritual life is to complete the prescribed amount of chanting daily. (End)
Srila Prabhupada has said that the most important instruction of the spiritual master to the disciple in spiritual life is to complete the prescribed amount of chanting daily. (End)
| "se janera nama ami bali 'laksesvara' tatha bhiksa amara, na yai anya ghara." (122) |
"The Lord continued: "I call such a person a laksesvara. I only accept meals in such a person's house. I never go anywhere else."
Purport by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada:
| sri caitnya bhaktagana abhaktera sahita sambhasana karena na. jini bhaktivyatita karma, jnana o anyabhilasara kathaya pradatta tahara sahita bandhutva karibe na. |
"The devotees of Sri Caitanya never talk with such non-devotees. They never do friendship with those who are engaged in the cultivation of karma, jnana or other desires which are devoid of bhakti.
Purport by Srila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:
By presenting this statement in this context, Srila Sarasvati Thakura is indirectly hinting that those who do not chant laksa-nama daily have a good chance of getting entangled in karma (fruitive activities), jnana (speculative knowledge), and material desires and thus gradually become non-devotees. The next statement is even more clear. (End)
By presenting this statement in this context, Srila Sarasvati Thakura is indirectly hinting that those who do not chant laksa-nama daily have a good chance of getting entangled in karma (fruitive activities), jnana (speculative knowledge), and material desires and thus gradually become non-devotees. The next statement is even more clear. (End)
| pratyah laksa-nama grahana na karile patita vyaktiganera visaya-bhoga pravrtti vrddhi paya, takhana ara tahara sri gaurasunderarera seva karite pare na. |
"Those who don't accept this vow of chanting 100,000 Names daily, fall down even more although they were fallen in the first place (due to the contamination of Kali-yuga). Thus their propensity for enjoying the senses and sense-objects continually and steadily increases and ultimately they are not able to render any kind of service even to the most merciful Lord Gaurasundera.
Purport by Srila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:
Srila Sarasvati Thakura has conclusively established again that those who don't chant laksa-nama (100,000 Names) daily are sure to gradually fall down even from the service of the merciful Lord Gaurasundera. Then what to speak of being able to render service to Their Lordships Radha and Krishna, which demands an even higher standard of purity? (End)
Srila Sarasvati Thakura has conclusively established again that those who don't chant laksa-nama (100,000 Names) daily are sure to gradually fall down even from the service of the merciful Lord Gaurasundera. Then what to speak of being able to render service to Their Lordships Radha and Krishna, which demands an even higher standard of purity? (End)
| laksesvara vyatita gaura-bhaktira adarsa gaudiyajana kehai svikara karena na. |
"This is the precise reason why the real Gaudiya-bhaktas do not accept any other ideal (adarsa) in Gaura-bhakti or Krishna-bhakti except the process of chanting 100,000 Names of the Maha-mantra daily.
Purport by Srila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:
This is such a wonderful statement. The adarsa or ideal of anyone who claims to be a follower of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu should be laksa-nama or the yajna or chanting of 100,000 Names (64 rounds) daily. And they should teach others also to aim for that ideal. This book is precisely meant to fulfill that aim. That is why this book will remain as a unique and everlasting contribution to the ever-expanding ocean of the Gaudiya Vaishnava literature. If this book will inspire even one person to achieve the platform of chanting 100,000 Names of the Maha-mantra daily, then the effort in writing this book will be considered successful. (End)
This is such a wonderful statement. The adarsa or ideal of anyone who claims to be a follower of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu should be laksa-nama or the yajna or chanting of 100,000 Names (64 rounds) daily. And they should teach others also to aim for that ideal. This book is precisely meant to fulfill that aim. That is why this book will remain as a unique and everlasting contribution to the ever-expanding ocean of the Gaudiya Vaishnava literature. If this book will inspire even one person to achieve the platform of chanting 100,000 Names of the Maha-mantra daily, then the effort in writing this book will be considered successful. (End)
| adhapatita va adhapete gana eka-matra bhajana-sabda-vacya sri-nama- bhajane vimukhata-vasata laksa-nama grahana karibara parivarte anya bhajanera chalana korena, taddvara tahadera kona mangala haya na. |
"Those spiritual aspirants who are already fallen or will fall down from spiritual life in the future are averse to this sole means of deliverance called nama-bhajana, which is the worship of the sound incarnation of God in the form of chanting 100,000 Names of the Maha-mantra daily. Coming under the sway of their averseness to chant laksa-nama daily, they duplicitously invent (chalana) other means of devotional service (bhajana) to justify their not chanting 100,000 Names daily but it is to be clearly understood that by this action they will not achieve anything auspicious (mangala) in their spiritual life."
Purport by Srila Bhaktiratna Gaurangapada:
The conclusive statement of the acarya in this purport is very striking, importnat and self-explanitory. We should be careful not to avoid the chanting of sixty-four rounds daily due to out averseness to the process of chanting. Sometimes maya creates an illusion by offering us so many other things to do rather than chanting 100,000 Names daily. It may even be in the form of some other kind of devotional service. Maya makes the devotee think that any form of devotional service in the sadhana state is the equal to the chanting and thus cheats them of the determination to complete the chanting of 100,000 Names daily.
Maya is fully aware that if the spiritual aspirant sticks to the platform of chanting sixty-four rounds daily then such a person will become a pure lover of Krishna very soon by dent of his constant chanting. After becoming a pure lover of Krishna, that pure devotee will start preaching very powerfully and deliver many others by giving them the pure Names of Krishna. This is a big attack on Maya which makes her loose many of her victims. Thus Maya desperately creates heavy obsticles on the path of the sadhaka who is chanting or desires to chant and preach about the importance of chanting sixty-four rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra daily. To be steadily successful in the laksa-nama-yajna one has to be very careful to detect these tricks of Maya and completely ignore them. As Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji used to say: "One should not sleep till one finishes chanting 100,000 or 200,000 Names daily." And one should constatnly seek association and hear about the importance of chanting from the laksesvaras (64-round chanters) so that one calways stays focused on the real goal. Then and only then is complete success assured. (End)
The conclusive statement of the acarya in this purport is very striking, importnat and self-explanitory. We should be careful not to avoid the chanting of sixty-four rounds daily due to out averseness to the process of chanting. Sometimes maya creates an illusion by offering us so many other things to do rather than chanting 100,000 Names daily. It may even be in the form of some other kind of devotional service. Maya makes the devotee think that any form of devotional service in the sadhana state is the equal to the chanting and thus cheats them of the determination to complete the chanting of 100,000 Names daily.
Maya is fully aware that if the spiritual aspirant sticks to the platform of chanting sixty-four rounds daily then such a person will become a pure lover of Krishna very soon by dent of his constant chanting. After becoming a pure lover of Krishna, that pure devotee will start preaching very powerfully and deliver many others by giving them the pure Names of Krishna. This is a big attack on Maya which makes her loose many of her victims. Thus Maya desperately creates heavy obsticles on the path of the sadhaka who is chanting or desires to chant and preach about the importance of chanting sixty-four rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra daily. To be steadily successful in the laksa-nama-yajna one has to be very careful to detect these tricks of Maya and completely ignore them. As Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji used to say: "One should not sleep till one finishes chanting 100,000 or 200,000 Names daily." And one should constatnly seek association and hear about the importance of chanting from the laksesvaras (64-round chanters) so that one calways stays focused on the real goal. Then and only then is complete success assured. (End)
Sri Caitanya-bhagavata Madhya-kandha 15.5:
| usah kale ganga-snana kariya nirjane; dui laksa krsna-nama laya pratidine. |
Purport by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati Thakura Prabhupada:
| kathita ache, sri haridasa thakura pratyaha tina-laksa nama grahana karitena. Jagai-madhai u pratyaha di laksa nama grahana karitena. yanhara pratyaha laksa nama grahana karena na, tanhadera nivedita kona vastui sri caitanyadeva grahana karena na. sri caitany-carananucara- gana pratyaha atyalpa pakse laksa-nama grahana avasyei kariya thakena, ucchista-praptira vicare vyaghat ghate. |
"It is well-known that Namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura used to chant 300,000 Names daily. Jagai-Madhai also used to chant 200,000 Names daily after being delivered by the Lord. Lord Caitanyadeva does not accept any kind of offering (or vastu) from those who do not chant 100,000 Names of Krishna daily. The followers surrendered to the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya compulsorily chant a bare minimum of 100,000 Names daily. If they do not do so Lord Sri Krishna will not accept any of their offerings and thus they will be obstructed or remain unsuccessful in their attempt to obtain the transcendental remanants (prasadam) of the Lord."
Purport by Srila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:
This is a very dangerous position for a devotee. If a devotee is not able to obtain the remanants of the Lord, then his life is useless because he cannot conquer the illusory energy of the Lord (maya). According to Sri Uddhava in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.46:
This is a very dangerous position for a devotee. If a devotee is not able to obtain the remanants of the Lord, then his life is useless because he cannot conquer the illusory energy of the Lord (maya). According to Sri Uddhava in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.46:
| tvayopabhukta-srag-gandha-vaso-'lankara-carcitah; ucchista-bhojino dasas tava mayam jayema hi. |
"Simply by decorating ourselves with the garlands, fragrant oils, cloths and ornaments that You have already enjoyed, and by eating the remnants of Your meals, we, Your servants will indeed conquer Your illusory energy."
According to Srila Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, Lord Krishna as well as Lord Caitanya will not accept any kind of offerings and devotional service including worship (puja), foodstuffs (bhoga), service (seva), etc from a person who does not chant sixty-four rounds (100,000 Names) of Krishna daily.
On the other hand, Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita 9.26:
On the other hand, Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita 9.26:
| patram puspam phalam toyam, yo me bhaktya prayacchati; tad aham bhakty-upahrtam, asnami prayatatmanah. |
"If a devotee in a purified states offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will certainly accept it."
So from the above verses and statements one can conclude that real purity and love and devotion to the Lord in Kali-yuga means to first and foremost complete the loud and soft chanting of sixty-four rounds (100,000 Names) of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra daily. Then one will become qualified to directly offer foodstuffs or any kind of service to the Lord, with the guarantee that the Lord will accept it. This is what it takes to render pure devotional service to the Lord as per the strict instructions of the Lord Himself.
Of course, sometimes if a pure and dear devotee of the Lord petitions the Lord to kindly accept the service of less qualified devotees then the Lord agrees to it due to His love for His pure devotees. But still that does not minimize the original qualifications required to render service to the Lord.
Similarly, Srila Prabhupada most mercifully engaged everyone in the service of Lord Caitanya and Lord Krishna with a minimum qualification of chanting sixteen rounds of the Maha-mantra everyday. Srila Prabhupada always told us to chant atleast sixteen rounds. The danger arises when that minimum qualification is considered the maximum and any effort to raise one's platform to the actual standard is considered a deviation or is minimized or criticized by persons who do not take note of Srila Prabhupada's instructions on constant chanting and sixty-four rounds. This is indeed a very unfortunate situation and brings about great inauspiciousness in the society of devotees.
Also, the less-qualified devotees (who are not able to chant 100,000 Names daily) but have been engaged in the service of the Lord by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada should be always aware of their actual position in this regard. They should feel happy and blissful at seeing someone sincere devotees who manages to follow the ideal standard of sixty-four rounds daily and should themselves aspire to achieve that standard one day. In the "Nectar of Instruction", verse five purport, Srila Prabhupada himself accepts the 'patita (fallen) state of the people who are not able to chant 100,000 Names daily. He goes on to say:
Of course, sometimes if a pure and dear devotee of the Lord petitions the Lord to kindly accept the service of less qualified devotees then the Lord agrees to it due to His love for His pure devotees. But still that does not minimize the original qualifications required to render service to the Lord.
Similarly, Srila Prabhupada most mercifully engaged everyone in the service of Lord Caitanya and Lord Krishna with a minimum qualification of chanting sixteen rounds of the Maha-mantra everyday. Srila Prabhupada always told us to chant atleast sixteen rounds. The danger arises when that minimum qualification is considered the maximum and any effort to raise one's platform to the actual standard is considered a deviation or is minimized or criticized by persons who do not take note of Srila Prabhupada's instructions on constant chanting and sixty-four rounds. This is indeed a very unfortunate situation and brings about great inauspiciousness in the society of devotees.
Also, the less-qualified devotees (who are not able to chant 100,000 Names daily) but have been engaged in the service of the Lord by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada should be always aware of their actual position in this regard. They should feel happy and blissful at seeing someone sincere devotees who manages to follow the ideal standard of sixty-four rounds daily and should themselves aspire to achieve that standard one day. In the "Nectar of Instruction", verse five purport, Srila Prabhupada himself accepts the 'patita (fallen) state of the people who are not able to chant 100,000 Names daily. He goes on to say:
"However, Srila Bhaktisiddhant Saravati Thakura used to say that unless one chants at least sixty-four rounds of japa (one hundred thousand Names), he is considered fallen (patita). According to his calculation, practically every one of us is fallen, but because we are trying to serve the Supreme Lord with all seriousness and without duplicity, we can expect the mercy of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who is famous as patita-pavana, the deliverer of the fallen."
For aspiring for the merc of Lord Catianya Mahaprabhu and the Holy Name, each and every devotee should feel that he or she is fallen (patita). Additionally, the devotees who are not able to chant sixty-four rounds daily should have a high degree of respect for the sixty-four round chanters so that a healthy atmosphere is created in the society of devotees and everyone aspires to reach that standard one day. All kinds of encouragement should be given to thsoe devotees who are trying to reach the ideal standard while discharging one's preaching and occupational services. Srila Prabhupada himself encouraged a new devotee Indira to increase the chanting from fourty-eight to sixty-four rounds when other devotees were telling her to reduce it to sixteen and do other services more. Of course, chanting of sixty-four rounds should not be an excuse for not doing anything else or becoming lazy in the name of spiritual life. In fact, a sincere sixty-four round chanter can put in more quality and even quantity of other kinds of practical devotional service.
Especially the gurus, sannyasis, leaders, preachers, etc should very seriously aspire for the standard of chanting sixty-four rounds daily, so that they can give the taste which they cultivate by constant chanting to their spiritual dependents.
Especially the gurus, sannyasis, leaders, preachers, etc should very seriously aspire for the standard of chanting sixty-four rounds daily, so that they can give the taste which they cultivate by constant chanting to their spiritual dependents.
Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta Chapter 49:
"Then a devotee said, 'In America they are trying to chant more, twelve hours a day, trying to get a twenty-four hour kirtana schedule.' "Yes, everywhere." Srila Prabhupada dais, 'This chanting should go on. Instead of meetings, resolutions, dissolutions, revolutions, and then no solutions, there should be chanting."
If the leaders are immersed in the nectar of chanting the Maha-mantra, it will minimize most of the problems which arise in the society of spiritual sadhakas. It will also prevent the problems from arising in the first place. Even one or a handful of preachers who have reached the platform of offenseless chanting by the process of constant chanting (minimum sixty-four rounds), are sufficient to flood the whole world with the pure message of Krishna consciousness as taught by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada. (End)
"Then a devotee said, 'In America they are trying to chant more, twelve hours a day, trying to get a twenty-four hour kirtana schedule.' "Yes, everywhere." Srila Prabhupada dais, 'This chanting should go on. Instead of meetings, resolutions, dissolutions, revolutions, and then no solutions, there should be chanting."
If the leaders are immersed in the nectar of chanting the Maha-mantra, it will minimize most of the problems which arise in the society of spiritual sadhakas. It will also prevent the problems from arising in the first place. Even one or a handful of preachers who have reached the platform of offenseless chanting by the process of constant chanting (minimum sixty-four rounds), are sufficient to flood the whole world with the pure message of Krishna consciousness as taught by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada. (End)
In Sri Caitanya-bhagavata Madhya-khanda 23.77, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed all the people of Navadvipa:
| prabhu bole,---"kahilan ei maha-mantra; iha japa giya sabe koriya nirbandha." |
"Please hear this Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Everyone please chant this Maha-mantra daily in 'nirbandha*. Then you will surely achieve all perfection."
Purport by Srila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:
*Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains the meaning of 'nirbandha' in his classic book "hari-nama-cintamani" as follows:
*Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains the meaning of 'nirbandha' in his classic book "hari-nama-cintamani" as follows:
| caribara mala phirile eka grantha haya, eka grantha niyama kariya kramasah vrddhi karite karite 16 granthe |
[To chant one round (one mala or 108 beads) means to chant 108 times the full Hare Krishna Maha-mantra]
One grantha equals four rounds
One nirbandha equals sixteen rounds
= 64 rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra
= 100,000 total Names of Hare, Krishna and Rama
One grantha equals four rounds
One nirbandha equals sixteen rounds
= 64 rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra
= 100,000 total Names of Hare, Krishna and Rama
| samasta purva mahajanagana prabhura ei adesa palana kariya sarva-siddhi tabha kariyachilena. |
"All the previous mahajanas (great devotees) without exception have achieved success only through this process of chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-matnra in atleast one nirbandha (64 rounds) daily.
So according to Srila Thakura Bhaktivinoda, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is instructing everyone to chant atleast one nirbandha (64 rounds) of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra everyday to ensure the achievement of perfection in this harinama-sankirtana yajna in Kali-yuga. Complete perfection has been achieved by all the great devotees in the past specifically by strictly following this order of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu of completing the chanting of a minimum of 100,000 Names of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra daily without fail.
| Srila Prabhupada on Sixty-Four Rounds |
Morning Walk, May 14 1975, Perth Australia:
Devotee (1): Srila Prabhupada, how can the position be reconciled if in Krishna Consciousness one of the two, the husband or the wife, wants to enjoy sense gratification, but the other does not? Should there be separation then?
Prabhupada: No...They should be trained up. Sense enjoyment means not advancing in Krishna Consciousness. As soon as one is advancing in Krishna Consciousness, his sense enjoyment spirit will be reduced. That is the test. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra ca [SB 11.2.42]. The test is, how you are advancing in Krishna Consciousness is the proportionate diminishing of sense enjoyment. That is the test. Just like cure of the disease means diminishing the fever, temperature. This is the test.
Devotee (1): What if that (material) fever is not being diminished?
Prabhupada: Then he should try to chant Hare Krishna Mantra, instead of sixteen rounds, sixty-four rounds. That is the way. Sixteen rounds is the minimum. Otherwise Haridasa Thakura was 300,000. So you have to increase. That is the only remedy. If one has got determination, he will make progress without any trouble. That determination is very difficult, that determination, "I must be Krishna Conscious fully." That determination. Drdha-vratah.
Letter to Indira (Iris Mendoza), Ekayani (Ester Mendoza), San Francisco, 17 December 1967:
"I am very glad to learn you are chanting forty-eight rounds. Actually it is all right that one should chant sixty-four rounds, even sixteen rounds, so if one is able to chant more than sixteen rounds up to sixty-four, it is very good. You fix up your rounds. Try to increase it but never decrease it."
Letter to Hamsaduta, Hawaii, 23 March 1969:
"I shall advise you again to chant always, increasing the counting, namely sixteen rounds is generally prescribed, but for the time bing you can stop all other activities and increase the chanting to sixty-four rounds."
Srimad Bhgavatam 4.24.70 purport:
That is the instruction given by Lord Caitanya mahaprabhu in His Siksastaka 3, Kirtaniyah sada harih: (Cc Adi 17.31) "The Holy Name of the Lord should be chanted twenty-four hours daily." Therefore in this Krishna Consciousness movement we request the devotees to chant at least sixteen rounds on their beads daily. Actually one has to chant twenty-four hours daily, just like Thakura Haridasa, who was chanting the Hare Krishna Mantra three hundred thousand times daily. Indeed, he had no other business.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 3.137 purport:
Surrender is the ultimate instruction of the Bhagavad-gita, but for one who cannot surrender to the lotus feet of Krishna, it is better to chant Hare Krishna Mantra constantly, under the instruction of Haridasa Thakura.
In our Krishna Consciousness movement we are teaching our followers to chant the Hare Krishna Mantra continuously on beads. Even those who are not accustomed to this practice are advised to chant at least sixteen rounds on their beads so that they may be trained. [...] Sada means "always". Haridasa Thakura says, nirantara nama lao: "Chant the Hare Krishna Mantra without stopping." [...] One's real duty is to surrender to the lotus feet of Krishna, but if one is unable to do so, he should adopt this process, as introduced by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His most confidential servant, Namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura. This is the way to achieve success in Krishna Consciousness.
The Nectar of Devotion, Vrndavana 20 Oct 1972:
"Just like we have asked our students to finish sixteen rounds chanting minimum. Sixteen rounds is nothing. In Vrndavana there are many devotees, they chant 120 rounds. Like that> So sixteen rounds is the minimum. Because I know in the Western countries it is difficult job to finish sixty-four rounds or 120 rounds, like that. Minimum sixteen rounds. That must be finished."
Letter to Purusottama, Mumbai, 23 Oct 1973:
Because we have got many duties [text missing]...we minimized the amount to sixteen rounds, otherwise [text missing]...minimum is sixty-four rounds, but Western people cannot [text missing]...this. So sixteen rounds must be executed.
Nectar of Instruction, Verse 5, purport:
The Krishna Consciousness movement prescribed sixteen rounds daily because people in the Western countries cannot concentrate for long periods while chanting on beads. Therefore, the minimum number of rounds is prescribed. However, Srila Bhaktisidddhanta Sarasvati Thakura used to say that unless one chants at least sixty-four rounds of japa (one hundred thousand Names), he is considered fallen (patita). According to his calculations, practically every one of us is fallen, but because we are trying to serve the Supreme Lord with all seriousness and without duplicity, we can expect the mercy of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who is famous as patita-pavana, the deliverer of the fallen.
The Hare Krishna Explosion, PG 63, by Harigriva dasa, Palace Press 1985:
"Now that you have beads," Swamiji says the next morning, "you should chant sixty-four rounds every day."
"Sixty-four rounds?" To pronounce every word of the Mantra distinctly, we require five minutes to chant a round. Sixty-four rounds would take over five hours. "Impossible" we say. "We will never have the time."
"All right", Swamiji says. "Thirty-two rounds."
"Impossible", we say, "We'll never be able to do it. It is way to much."
"All right", Swamiji says. "Sixteen rounds. No Less!"
Tamal Krishna Goswami's Diary, June 10:
Many years ago, he (Srila Prabhupada) was chanting sixty-four rounds, then gradually less, until a number of years ago it was sixteen.
Devotee (1): Srila Prabhupada, how can the position be reconciled if in Krishna Consciousness one of the two, the husband or the wife, wants to enjoy sense gratification, but the other does not? Should there be separation then?
Prabhupada: No...They should be trained up. Sense enjoyment means not advancing in Krishna Consciousness. As soon as one is advancing in Krishna Consciousness, his sense enjoyment spirit will be reduced. That is the test. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra ca [SB 11.2.42]. The test is, how you are advancing in Krishna Consciousness is the proportionate diminishing of sense enjoyment. That is the test. Just like cure of the disease means diminishing the fever, temperature. This is the test.
Devotee (1): What if that (material) fever is not being diminished?
Prabhupada: Then he should try to chant Hare Krishna Mantra, instead of sixteen rounds, sixty-four rounds. That is the way. Sixteen rounds is the minimum. Otherwise Haridasa Thakura was 300,000. So you have to increase. That is the only remedy. If one has got determination, he will make progress without any trouble. That determination is very difficult, that determination, "I must be Krishna Conscious fully." That determination. Drdha-vratah.
Letter to Indira (Iris Mendoza), Ekayani (Ester Mendoza), San Francisco, 17 December 1967:
"I am very glad to learn you are chanting forty-eight rounds. Actually it is all right that one should chant sixty-four rounds, even sixteen rounds, so if one is able to chant more than sixteen rounds up to sixty-four, it is very good. You fix up your rounds. Try to increase it but never decrease it."
Letter to Hamsaduta, Hawaii, 23 March 1969:
"I shall advise you again to chant always, increasing the counting, namely sixteen rounds is generally prescribed, but for the time bing you can stop all other activities and increase the chanting to sixty-four rounds."
Srimad Bhgavatam 4.24.70 purport:
That is the instruction given by Lord Caitanya mahaprabhu in His Siksastaka 3, Kirtaniyah sada harih: (Cc Adi 17.31) "The Holy Name of the Lord should be chanted twenty-four hours daily." Therefore in this Krishna Consciousness movement we request the devotees to chant at least sixteen rounds on their beads daily. Actually one has to chant twenty-four hours daily, just like Thakura Haridasa, who was chanting the Hare Krishna Mantra three hundred thousand times daily. Indeed, he had no other business.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 3.137 purport:
Surrender is the ultimate instruction of the Bhagavad-gita, but for one who cannot surrender to the lotus feet of Krishna, it is better to chant Hare Krishna Mantra constantly, under the instruction of Haridasa Thakura.
In our Krishna Consciousness movement we are teaching our followers to chant the Hare Krishna Mantra continuously on beads. Even those who are not accustomed to this practice are advised to chant at least sixteen rounds on their beads so that they may be trained. [...] Sada means "always". Haridasa Thakura says, nirantara nama lao: "Chant the Hare Krishna Mantra without stopping." [...] One's real duty is to surrender to the lotus feet of Krishna, but if one is unable to do so, he should adopt this process, as introduced by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His most confidential servant, Namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura. This is the way to achieve success in Krishna Consciousness.
The Nectar of Devotion, Vrndavana 20 Oct 1972:
"Just like we have asked our students to finish sixteen rounds chanting minimum. Sixteen rounds is nothing. In Vrndavana there are many devotees, they chant 120 rounds. Like that> So sixteen rounds is the minimum. Because I know in the Western countries it is difficult job to finish sixty-four rounds or 120 rounds, like that. Minimum sixteen rounds. That must be finished."
Letter to Purusottama, Mumbai, 23 Oct 1973:
Because we have got many duties [text missing]...we minimized the amount to sixteen rounds, otherwise [text missing]...minimum is sixty-four rounds, but Western people cannot [text missing]...this. So sixteen rounds must be executed.
Nectar of Instruction, Verse 5, purport:
The Krishna Consciousness movement prescribed sixteen rounds daily because people in the Western countries cannot concentrate for long periods while chanting on beads. Therefore, the minimum number of rounds is prescribed. However, Srila Bhaktisidddhanta Sarasvati Thakura used to say that unless one chants at least sixty-four rounds of japa (one hundred thousand Names), he is considered fallen (patita). According to his calculations, practically every one of us is fallen, but because we are trying to serve the Supreme Lord with all seriousness and without duplicity, we can expect the mercy of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who is famous as patita-pavana, the deliverer of the fallen.
The Hare Krishna Explosion, PG 63, by Harigriva dasa, Palace Press 1985:
"Now that you have beads," Swamiji says the next morning, "you should chant sixty-four rounds every day."
"Sixty-four rounds?" To pronounce every word of the Mantra distinctly, we require five minutes to chant a round. Sixty-four rounds would take over five hours. "Impossible" we say. "We will never have the time."
"All right", Swamiji says. "Thirty-two rounds."
"Impossible", we say, "We'll never be able to do it. It is way to much."
"All right", Swamiji says. "Sixteen rounds. No Less!"
Tamal Krishna Goswami's Diary, June 10:
Many years ago, he (Srila Prabhupada) was chanting sixty-four rounds, then gradually less, until a number of years ago it was sixteen.
| Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada in his final Upadesavali |
22. Bhagavan will not accept anything which is offered by a person who doesn't chant Harinama one-hundred thousand times daily and such a person is considered a 'patita'.
23. By sincerely endeavoring to chant Harinama without offenses and remaining fixed in chanting constantly, one's offenses will fade and pure Harinama will arise on the tongue.
23. By sincerely endeavoring to chant Harinama without offenses and remaining fixed in chanting constantly, one's offenses will fade and pure Harinama will arise on the tongue.
| Srila Bhakti Pramod Puri Gosvami Maharaja about his guru Om Visnupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada in his Vyasa-puja offering |
"Unfailing as a daily vow, he used to chant one hundred thousand Names of the Lord (64 rounds) and his instructions to all his disciples was to do likewise. Keeping this vow intact, he would allot his times incredibly to cover all his preaching schedules and literary work, being a source of inspiriation to all who came in contact with him."
| The Gaudiya Article by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura 1934 |
"Those who have chanted laksa harinama for fifteen or twenty years should know such things (rasa-sastra, pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna). The beginners need not hear these topics or they will misunderstand."
| Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura |
Sadhu-vrtti, Sajjana tosani 11.12:
| tinei sad-grhastha---jini pratyah laksa-nama grahana karena, tanhara grhei suddha-vaisnava-gana prasada grahana karibena. |
"Only those devotees are sad-grhasthas (true householders) who chant 100,000 Names of Krishna (64 rounds) daily. The pure devotes should accept prasada (foodstuffs) only in the homes of these sad-grhasthas and nowhere else.
Purport by Srila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:
Since Lord Caitanya accepts the offerings of only those householders who chant 100,000 Names daily, the Lord's actual prasadam can only be obtained in the homes of laksesvara householders. The pure devotees who maintain themselves by strictly eating only the pure prasada of the Lord are therefore duty-bound to accept prasada only in the homes of such householder devotees. The Lord is accepting the bhoga offered by the devotees who are chanting sixteen rounds (27,748 Names) daily due to the recommendation of His most merciful pure devotee Srila Prabhupada. But this should not be used as a license for not increasing one's chanting to the standard set by the Lord Himself.
In the Hari-nama-cintamani it is said:
Since Lord Caitanya accepts the offerings of only those householders who chant 100,000 Names daily, the Lord's actual prasadam can only be obtained in the homes of laksesvara householders. The pure devotees who maintain themselves by strictly eating only the pure prasada of the Lord are therefore duty-bound to accept prasada only in the homes of such householder devotees. The Lord is accepting the bhoga offered by the devotees who are chanting sixteen rounds (27,748 Names) daily due to the recommendation of His most merciful pure devotee Srila Prabhupada. But this should not be used as a license for not increasing one's chanting to the standard set by the Lord Himself.
In the Hari-nama-cintamani it is said:
| mane habe-aja laksa nama ye kariba; krame krame tina laksa nama ye smariba. mahagraha habe citte namera sankhyaya; acire jabe jadya sadhura krpaya. |
"When one's mind desires to chant and remember one hundred thousand Holy Names (64 rounds) daily and further desires to slowly increase it to three hundred thousand and when one's mind becomes very attached and eager to complete the fixed number of rounds daily and pushes one to complete the sankhya everyday, then it is understood that very soon the laziness or apathy in chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra will vanish by the mercy of the devotees and one's chanting will bring one the desired fruit of pure love of Krishna."
Purport by Srila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:
As per the above statement, it is very clear that without gradually increasing the chanting up to the point of chanting continuously (at least 64 rounds), the obstacles on our spiritual path will never be permanently removed.
In the book "Jaiva-dharma", all the Babajis residing in Navadvipa chant 200,000 Names daily. Then they receive bhiksa, read the scriptures and preach to whoever comes to meet them. Advaita dasa Babaji experiences purification of heart and freedom from anarthas (lust, anger, greed, ect.) after chanting 200,000 Names of Krishna for three to four years in the most merciful dhama of Navadvipa and in the associaiton of pure devotees. Haridas Babaji tells Nityananda dasa that he has just crossed the kanistha (neophyte) platform and entered the madhyama (intermediate) platform after he had chanted sixty-four rounds for many years in the dhama.
As per the above statement, it is very clear that without gradually increasing the chanting up to the point of chanting continuously (at least 64 rounds), the obstacles on our spiritual path will never be permanently removed.
In the book "Jaiva-dharma", all the Babajis residing in Navadvipa chant 200,000 Names daily. Then they receive bhiksa, read the scriptures and preach to whoever comes to meet them. Advaita dasa Babaji experiences purification of heart and freedom from anarthas (lust, anger, greed, ect.) after chanting 200,000 Names of Krishna for three to four years in the most merciful dhama of Navadvipa and in the associaiton of pure devotees. Haridas Babaji tells Nityananda dasa that he has just crossed the kanistha (neophyte) platform and entered the madhyama (intermediate) platform after he had chanted sixty-four rounds for many years in the dhama.
| Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji |
The main teaching of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babahji is as follows:
"If you want to achieve perfection in Krishna consciousness, you must take a vow to chant a minimum of two hundred thousand or otherwise one hundred thousand Holy Names everyday, and you must execute that number without fail. Before you retire at night you must finish this specific number of rounds, then you can achieve perfection in Krishna Consciousness."
"If you want to achieve perfection in Krishna consciousness, you must take a vow to chant a minimum of two hundred thousand or otherwise one hundred thousand Holy Names everyday, and you must execute that number without fail. Before you retire at night you must finish this specific number of rounds, then you can achieve perfection in Krishna Consciousness."
| Srila Lokanatha Gosvami to His Disciple Srila Narottama |
From the Prema-vilasa Chapter 11:
(Note: Both Srila Prabhupada and Srila Saravati Thakura Prabhupada have accepted Prema-vilasa to be a bona-fide scripture in their commentaries to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 13.60 purport.")
(Note: Both Srila Prabhupada and Srila Saravati Thakura Prabhupada have accepted Prema-vilasa to be a bona-fide scripture in their commentaries to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 13.60 purport.")
| je vaisnava haibe laibe harinama; sankhya kari nama laile, krpa karena gauradhama. |
"Those who are Vaishnavas must chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra in a particular number everyday. Then Lord Gaura, the Supreme Abode of Love will be merciful to them."
| What Is That Number? |
| purva abhipraye sabe laha harinama; keha laksa visesatah mukhe gana. |
"Everyone should specifically chant or sing the Name loudly 100,000 times a day (64 rounds) with the mood I have described earlier."
| Empowerment |
| narottama laksa nama laya sankhya kari; nama laile gaurangera sarva sakti dhari. |
"O my disciple, Narottama! Please chant 100,000 Names everyday while maintaining their count. If you chant in this way then you will become empowered by all the potencies of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu."
Purport by Srila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada:
| kali-kalera dharma---krsna-nama-sankirtana; krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana. Cc Antya-lila 7.11 |
"The fundamental religious system in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Unless empowered by Krishna, one cannot propagate the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra."
So from the above two verses, it becomes very clear that if one has to widely propagate the glories of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, one has to get Krishna-sakti or Gauranga-sakti which is acquired when one completes the chanting of 100,000 Names (64 rounds) daily, according to Srila Lokanatha Gosvami.
| Achieving the Lotus Feet of Sri Krishna |
| krsna pada prapti laksa laile harinama; granthi purna haile eka karibe pranama. |
"I again repeat that if you want to achieve the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, then you have to chant 100,000 Names daily. After chanting four rounds (one granthi) or one round, you should offer obeisances to the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra."
From Prema-vilasa Chapter 17: Srila Narottama to Srila Kaviraja on the direct process to achieve the Love of Sri Krsihna:
| prabhura achaye sankhya tina laksa nama; eka laksa bhaktagane kaila krpa dana. |
"Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's standard was to chant 300,000 Names everyday. But He very mercifully awarded His devotees the process of chanting a minimum of 100,000 Names of Krishna daily."
| sri rupa kaila laksa granthera varnana; tathapiha karila laksa nama grahana. |
"Srila Rupa Gosvami has explained and quoted from over 100,000 different scriptures. Even though he was such a great scholar and devotee, he himself chanted 100,000 Names of Krishna daily."
| dasa gosvamira ache laksa pramana; ei mata sarva bhakta kare harinama. |
"Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami also rigidly followed the instructions of the Lord by chanting 100,000 Names daily. In this way all the devotees chanted the Holy Names of Krishna without exception."
| gauranga srimukhe rupe kahila vaisnave; laksa nama sankhya kari avasya karibe. |
"Lord Gauranga gave the following instructions to all the Vaishnavas Himself through Srila Rupa Gosvami: 'Please compulsorily chant 100,000 Names of Krishna daily.'"
| Srila Narottama and his Followers |
| yakhana avasara takhana layena harinama; ei mata laksa sankhya achaye pramana. |
"Whenever they used to get an opportunity throughout the day, all of the devotees used to chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. In this way they used to complete the chanting of 100,000 Names of Krishna daily."
From Prema-vilasa Chapter 18: Srila Narottama instructs his disciples:
| adhanya manaye narottama apanake; suna sisya bandhugana kahiye tomake. |
"Srila Thakura Narottama considering himself worthless in his natural humility, called all his disciples, followers and friends, and spoke to them the following important instructions."
| Most Important Final Instructions |
| prathamei krsna-pada laksa jara; se laiba laksa-nama sankhya apanara. |
"Those whose top priority in this life is to achieve the lotus feet of Krishna should voluntarily chant 100,000 Names of Krishna daily."
| Queen Rupamala |
Narottama-vilasa Tenth Vilasa:
Rupamala, the Queen of a distant country, became so happy on receiving initiation from Srila Narottama dasa Thakura that she took a vow to complete 100,000 (64 rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra) daily. Seeing her determination, everyone began to sing the glories of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura Mahasaya.
| Srila Rasikananda Deva |
Sri Rasika-mangala, Eastern part, Sixth Wave:
"When Sri Rasikananda was a child, he did not waste time playing games like other children. Rather, he would meditate on the Maha-mantra. His daily practice was to chant a hundred thousand Names of Krishna (64 rounds). He would refuse to accept his Mother's foodstuffs until he completed his chanting."
"When Sri Rasikananda was a child, he did not waste time playing games like other children. Rather, he would meditate on the Maha-mantra. His daily practice was to chant a hundred thousand Names of Krishna (64 rounds). He would refuse to accept his Mother's foodstuffs until he completed his chanting."
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