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11 June 2020
The holy name is the essence
Hare Krishna! We have 791 participants. Hare Krishna to you all. Haribol spirit soul!There are many inquiries being made regarding Vyasa Puja. You should not worry about the whereabouts of Vyasa Puja. It will be held online on 1 July. You don't have to reach there. You can witness the Vyasa Puja Celebrations from your home, office or wherever you are. The location of the Vyasa Puja is not going to be disclosed as we don't expect you to be there. The Vyasa Puja committee will give you information about this via the internet. Spread this information around, to those who are not listening to this. Moreover, the initiation ceremony will not be conducted this year. There will be only one initiation and that will be the sannyasa initiation of Sundar lal Prabhu from Mauritius. He will get his sannyasa danda. You can watch it online and get inspired
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
We are continuing the glories of the holy name.
nāma vinu kali-kāle nāhi āra dharma sarva-mantra-sāra nāma, ei śāstra-marma
Translation In this Age of Kali there is no religious principle other than the chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all Vedic hymns. This is the purport of all scriptures.(CC Ādi-lila 7.74)
kṛṣṇa-nāma-sudhā koriyā pān, jurāo bhakativinoda-prāṇ, nāma binā kichu nāhiko āro, caudda-bhuvana-mājhe
Translation Drink the pure nectar of the holy name of Krsna. There is nothing but the name to be had in the fourteen worlds. It has filled the soul of Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura. (Udilo Aruna Puraba Bhage, Arunodaya Kirtana Song 1, Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
Śrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has also said the same thing in his song. There is no other religion other than the holy name of the Lord in the age of Kali. The holy name is the essence of all the verses. There are 700 verses in Bhagavad-gītā, 18000 in Śrimad-Bhāgavatam, 24000 in Ramāyana, 1 lakh in Mahābhārata, 4 lakhs in all the Purānas together and many more but, Harināma is the essence of all the scriptures.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
What else can be said about the glorification of Harināma? This is sufficient. The same thing has been said in other words or scriptures.
kali-kāle nāma-rūpe kṛṣṇa-avatāra nāma haite haya sarva-jagat-nistāra
Translation In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered. (CC Ādi-lila 17.22)
This is a very famous verse. We recite this while preaching. If you don't remember this verse, then you can write it down. Note down the important verses in a pocket notebook and then remember them as we all need to do,
yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa
Translation Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land. (CC Madhya-lila 7.128)
If we can give some reference from scriptures or quote verses, then our preaching will be effective. It will also prove that our preaching is not mental speculation. Our mental speculation won't benefit anyone. We must repeat the injunctions of the ācāryas and scriptures. We are all followers of Śrila Prabhupāda and hence Prabhupādanugas. We have to preach by providing reference of ācāryas and scriptures.
The holy name is one more kind of incarnation among the 6 incarnations, namely, Purusha avatāra, Lila avatāra, Guna avatāra, Manvantara avatāra, Yuga avatāra, Shaktyavesha avatāra. Hare Krishna mahā-mantra is an incarnation of the Lord. How can we understand the holy name as an incarnation?
nāma cintāmaṇiḥ kṛṣṇaś caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ pūrṇaḥ śuddho nitya-mukto 'bhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ
Translation The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Kṛṣṇa Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Kṛṣṇa's name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Kṛṣṇa Himself. Since Kṛṣṇa's name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with māyā. Kṛṣṇa's name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa Himself are identical. (CC Madhya-lila 17.133)
Naham vasami vaikunthe yoginam hridaye na cha mad-bhakta yatra gayanti tatra tishthami narada
Translation Neither do I reside in Vaikuntha nor in the hearts of the Yogis, but I dwell where my devotees sing my name, O Narada !
The holy name of the Lord is non different from the Lord Himself. As soon as we chant the holy name, the Lord appears. If the holy name is there then all the places get uplifted, not only Bengal, Maharashtra or India.
pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma
Translation In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard. (Caitanya-bhāgavata, Antya-khanda 4.126
The Lord is not biased. It's not that He is the Lord of the Hindus only.
mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati
Translation The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind. (BG 15.7)
All the living entities are parts and parcels of the Lord. Everyone will be uplifted with harināma. It's not that only you are being uplifted. All those who are coming in contact with ISKCON are getting uplifted. When we go to Mayapur, we see so many devotees getting liberated. Pankajangri Prabhu and Jananivas Prabhu, who are from Great Britain, have been in Mayapur for many years. They haven't just got liberated, but have become devotees.
harer nāmaiva nāmaiva nāmaiva mama jīvanam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā
Translation The holy name of the Lord is my life. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way to salvation in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy. (Brhan-nāradīya Purāna 1.61.15)
This has been said in many places like Kali Santaran Upanishad, Brhan-nāradīya Purāna. In Brhan-nāradīya Purāna, Nārada himself said this. Nārada is Mahā-bhāgavata and he doesn't speak anything other than the truth. He says that Harināma is his life.
rama nāma rama nāma rama nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā
Translation In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord Ram. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way. (Adi Ramāyana)
This has been said in Ramāyana. This is the truth and nobody can raise objection over this. arcanaiva kevalam (worshiping) or yajna kevalam (sacrifices) has not been mentioned anywhere as a means of deliverance. In Kaliyuga, Harināma is the dharma (religion). Whenever there is Kaliyuga, close your eyes and chant on your beads. You won't go wrong.
I got a reference in this book that the government of Vaisvasvata Manu is ruling now. This is the 28th Kaliyuga going on. This means that Śrila Vyāsadeva has appeared 28 times and every time he compiles or writes the same injunctions of the scriptures. Earlier there were śrutidhars which means that disciples would listen to their spiritual master and remember everything. But in Kaliyuga,
prāyeṇālpāyuṣaḥ sabhya kalāv asmin yuge janāḥ mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ
Translation O learned one, in this iron Age of Kali men almost always have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed. (ŚB 1.1.10)
Śrila Prabhupāda said, “If you want to remember, then write it down.” Śrila Vyāsadeva knew about the condition of the people of Kaliyuga that they can't remember. Hence he wrote the same injunctions in the scriptures which had already been mentioned in Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dvāpara Yuga in Vedā, Purāna, Mahābharat or Bhagavad-gītā. He segregated everything as Vedānta Sutra, Purāna, etc. Śrila Vyāsadeva did the same work for the 28th time. Śrila Vyāsadeva appears every time as Shaktyavesha avatāra. There is no change in the injunctions of the scriptures. Whenever Kaliyuga comes, Harināma is the only dharma (religion). You don't require knowledge of astrology for this.
kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet
Translation My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom. (ŚB 12.3.51)
When Sukadeva Goswami was talking about the glories of the holy names, this Kaliyuga was 30 years old, after the departure of Krsna. At that time, Kaliyuga had not spread so much, still Sukadeva Goswami addressed Kaliyuga as an ocean of faults because Kaliyuga had come many times before. You don't need an astrologer to tell you that it will be cold in January as you have seen it many times. Śrila Prabhupāda said that these ages are like seasons. It's not that different scriptures are mentioning different things. They are saying the same thing. This is the feature of Vedic literature. The compiler of all the literatures is the Lord Himself. Scriptures are apaurusheya or eternal. Whenever there will be annihilation at the end of this yuga, that is after the completion of 100 years of Brahma, the entire universe will penetrate into Mahavisnu's body. When there is a creation again then the religion of that specific yuga will be as per the same scriptures.
māyā-mugdha jīvera nāhi svataḥ kṛṣṇa-jñāna jīvere kṛpāya kailā kṛṣṇa veda-purāṇa
Translation The conditioned soul cannot revive his Kṛṣṇa consciousness by his own effort. But out of causeless mercy, Lord Kṛṣṇa compiled the Vedic literature and its supplements, the Purāṇas. (CC Madhya-lila 20.122)
The living entities are enchanted by the illusory energy and the Lord has compiled the scriptures to shower His mercy. In this way, scriptures are eternal. Brahma also enters into nitya lila (eternal pastimes) in Satya yuga and then the next Brahma comes with the new creation. He lives for His 100 years.
dene brahma rudāya ādi kavaye
Whenever there is a new Brahma, the new Brahma is again taught by the Lord about His duty and job description. The scriptures and the Lord is eternal, but not the universe.
harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā
Translation In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way. (CC Madhya-lila 6.242)
These injunctions are mentioned in various scriptures like Brhan-nāradīya Purāna and many more. Such injunctions are eternal and this is applicable every time Kaliyuga comes. Those who are not in the paramparā (disciplic succession) will teach you yogā (meditation) or yajna (sacrifice) which is not relevant for Kaliyuga.
In this Age of Kali there is no religious principle other than the chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all Vedic hymns. Kaliyuga is the age of the holy names. Harināma is auspicious for the whole world. Therefore, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said,
ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha--davagni-nirvapanam shreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamritaswadanam sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam
Translation Glory to the Sri-Krsna-Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious. (Verse 1, Sri Siksastakam)
Nāma Sankirtana yajna ki jai! Other people will come and keep on saying something, but only the holy name will be successful.
nāmaiva parama muktir nāmaiva parama gatih nāmaiva parama santir nāmaiva parama sthitih nāmaiva parama bhaktir nāmaiva parama matih nāmaiva parama pritir nāmaiva parama smrtih nāmaiva karanam jantor nāmaiva prabhur eva ca nāmaiva paramaradhyam nāmaiva paramo guruh
Translation Chanting my Holy Name is the highest form of liberation and the sole refuge. It is the greatest peace and the most coveted stability. Chanting my Holy Name is the highest form of devotion and the most powerful intent. It is the highest love and the best form of remembrance. The Holy Name is the origin of the Living entity and is his master. The Holy Name is his most worshipable Lord and his spiritual guide. (Adi Purāna)
Sanātana Goswami has mentioned this in Adi Purāna or it might be in Upa Purāna, one of the 18 Purānas. There is Veda and Upa Veda. This is mentioned in Śri Krsna and Arjuna’s conversation in Adi Purāna. The conversation between Krsna and Arjuna is not just in Bhagavad-gītā, but also in other scriptures.
Harināma is everything. nāmaiva paramaradhyam. The holy name is the most worshipable Lord. nāmaiva prabhur eva ca. The holy name is the master as we sometimes say, 'Harināma Prabhu'. You must have understood.
khanda khanda hai deha, yāya yadi prāna tabu āmi vadane, nā chādi hari-nāma
Translation Even if you cut my body into pieces and I give up my life, I will never stop chanting Lord Hari’s holy name! (Caitanya Bhāgavata, Adi-Khanda, 16.93)
Śrila Haridāsa Thākura had said this when the soldiers of Chand Kazi were beating him in 22 market places. He said,”If my body is cut into pieces and I die, still I will not stop chanting the holy names.” This was his determination and attachment to the holy name. Therefore, Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave the honour of Nāmācārya to Śrila Haridāsa Thākura. Lord Brahma, the first ācārya of our Brahma Madhva Gaudīya Sampradāya, has appeared as Brahma Haridāsa Thākura and established Harināma dharma. May he give inspiration to us to chant the holy names constantly.
Gaura premanande hari haribol!
