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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Nama Mahima

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura taught, "Chant the nama-mahima, glories of the holy name. Practice that daily. I also do that. Harinama is our life."

Regular reading of Srila Prabhupada's translations and purports are full of praises of the holy name, and the book Namamrta makes a compilation of these. Other sources for Nama's glories are Harinama Cintamani and Prema Vivarta. One may wish to collect their own favorite quotes for easy reference and fuel for continuous fired up chanting. Here are a few suggestions:

"Thus worship the Lord, whose name is like the sun, for just as a slight appearance of the sun dissipates the darkness of night, so a slight appearance of the holy name of Krishna can drive away all the darkness of ignorance that arises in the heart due to greatly sinful activities performed in previous lives.’"--Antya 3.62

“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 Krishna mahä-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.” SB 12.3.51

“In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna mahä-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Krishna. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered.” adi 17.23

“The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Krishna are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidyä [ignorance] cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root.”--NOI 7

“‘In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari."Adi 17.22

"Whoever chants the holy name of Krsna just once is worshipable and is the topmost human being.” CC Madhya 15.106

“My dear Närada, actually I do not reside in My abode, Vaikuntha, nor do I reside within the hearts of the yogis, but I reside in that place where My pure devotees chant My holy name and discuss My form, pastimes and qualities.” Srimad-Bhägavatam 4.30.35

“The result of chanting is that one awakens his love for Krishna and tastes transcendental bliss. Ultimately, one attains the association of Krishna and engages in His devotional service, as if immersing himself in a great ocean of love.” Antya 20.15

“The holy name of Krsna is the highest nectar. It is my very life and my only treasure.” --Antya 4.71

“I do not know how much nectar the two syllables ‘Krs-na’ have produced. When the holy name of Krishna is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. When that name enters the holes of the ears, we desire many millions of ears. And when the holy name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the activities of the mind, and therefore all the senses become inert.”--Antya 1.99

"One who chants the holy name of the Lord is immediately freed from the reactions of unlimited sins, even if he chants indirectly [to indicate something else], jokingly, for musical entertainment, or even neglectfully. This is accepted by all the learned scholars of the scriptures."

“The holy name of the Lord is as powerful as the Lord Himself. Therefore, simply by chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, many men can be fully protected from fierce death without difficulty. Thus a devotee is saved.” --SB 4.10.30

O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge. Sb 2.1.11

May the glorification of the transcendental name, form, qualities and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead protect us from the influence of bad planets, meteors, envious human beings, serpents, scorpions, and animals like tigers and wolves. May it protect us from ghosts and the material elements like earth, water, fire and air, and may it also protect us from lightning and our past sins. We are always afraid of these hindrances to our auspicious life. Therefore, may they all be completely destroyed by the chanting of the Hare Krishna mahä-mantra. --SB 6.8.27-28

"Any person who is conscious of his friend's beneficent activities and never forgets his service is called grateful. In the Mahabharata , Krsna says, 'When I was away from Draupadi, she cried with the words, "He govinda!" This call for Me has put Me in her debt, and that indebtedness is gradually increasing in My heart!'
"This statement by Krsna gives evidence of how one can please the Supreme Lord simply by addressing Him, 'He Krsna! He Govinda!'

The mahä-mantra (Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare) is also simply an address to the Lord and His energy. So to anyone who is constantly engaged in addressing the Lord and His energy, we can imagine how much the Supreme Lord is obliged. It is impossible for the Lord to ever forget such a devotee." --NOD 21

“The holy name is capable of dissolving sins and removing impediments. The name embalms sufferings and diminishes the detriments that are so characteristic of Kali-yuga . It redeems the unredeemable residents of hellish planets and nullifies the inevitable sinful reactions carried over from previous births. The holy name purifies offenses and is the quintessence of all transcendental activities, shining more brilliantly than the Vedas. The scriptures declare that chanting is the highest spiritual activity, higher than making pilgrimages to the holiest of places.

"Observing penances and vows like candrayana-vrata strictly according to scriptural injunctions cannot completely eradicate the sins a sinner commits. Yet, by chanting Lord Krishna's name even once, one becomes totally free from all sins." -Prema Vivarta

“The holy name of Vishnu, Krishna, possesses inconceivable power and potency. By chanting the holy name, all evil spirits, ghosts, demons and monsters etc. flee in fear, putting an end to the living entities' extreme trepidations. Chanting removes all inauspiciousness, tribulations, hunger, thirst, confusion, and so on.- Vishnu-dharmottara

“Discrepancies that arise while pronouncing Vedic hymns and following regulative principles of ritualistic activities in regard to time, place and paraphernalia are all rectified by chanting the holy name, and thus one experiences unlimited joy. Chanting is the most important of all spiritual activities, so if one takes shelter of the holy name he will automatically achieve perfection in all other devotional endeavours. --Vishnu-yamala

“There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and moreover there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship's holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless." -SB 8.23.16

Why undertake so many inconveniences that automatically accompany pilgrimages simply to gain some piety, when by constantly chanting Hare Krishna, wherever you are situated, you can accrue the results of all pious activities? -Brahmana Purana

“The spiritual value of Hari kirtana is far superior to even circumambulating many thousands of holy pilgrimages."-Skanda Purana

“What is the necessity for studying such voluminous works as the Vedic literature and its corollaries? And why do people visit innumerable holy pilgrimage sites? One who truly desires to liberate his soul from illusion, let him constantly chant Lord Govinda's (Krishna's) holy name."--Visvamitra -samhita

“Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your holy name! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Aryans. To be chanting the holy name of Your Lordship, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimage, studied the Vedas and fulfilled everything required.- SB 3.33.7

“Anyone who chants Lord Krishna's holy name is to be worshiped like a guru without considering that such a person is a woman, a sudra, a pukkasa, a yavana or of even lower birth." -Brhan naradiya Purana

“One who is shelterless, who has no higher spiritual goals, who is a debauchee, cruel, violent, very licentious and devoid of knowledge, austerity or religious principles can become more elevated than the pious men simply by the chanting holy name."- Narayana-vyuha-stava

“Let me take shelter of the lotus feet of Him whose incarnations, qualities, and activities are mysterious imitations of worldly affairs. One who invokes His transcendental names, even unconsciously, at the time he quits this life, is certainly washed immediately of the sins of many, many births and attains Him without fail."-SB 3.9.15

“The supreme goal which was attained in Satya-yuga by years of prolonged meditation; in Treta-yuga by performing extensive yajnas; in Dvapara-yuga by opulent and scrupulous Deity worship; in Kali-yuga the same results are easily had simply by the chanting of the holy name."- Vaisnava Cintamani

“Lord Krishna said to Arjuna, 'O Arjuna! Listen attentively. When the living entity chants My name, whether out of devotion or indifference, I never forget this act. It remains always close to My heart. There is no vow like chanting the holy name, no knowledge superior to It, no meditation which comes anywhere near it, and it gives the highest result. No penance is equal to it, and nothing is as potent or powerful as the holy name."--Brhan-naradiya Purana

TRANSCENDENTAL MADNESS (excerpt from CC Adi 7)
“I saw that I had become mad by chanting the holy name, and I immediately submitted this at the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

“‘My dear lord, what kind of mantra have you given Me? I have become mad simply by chanting this mahä-mantra!

“‘Chanting the holy name in ecstasy causes Me to dance, laugh and cry.’ When My spiritual master heard all this, he smiled and then began to speak.

“‘It is the nature of the Hare Krishna mahä-mantra that anyone who chants it immediately develops his loving ecstasy for Krishna.

‘Religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation are known as the four goals of life, but before love of Godhead, the fifth and highest goal, these appear as insignificant as straw in the street.

“‘For a devotee who has actually developed bhäva, the pleasure derived from dharma, artha, käma and moksa appears like a drop in the presence of the sea.

‘The conclusion of all revealed scriptures is that one should awaken his dormant love of Godhead. You are greatly fortunate to have already done so.

‘It is a characteristic of love of Godhead that by nature it induces transcendental symptoms in one’s body and makes one more and more greedy to achieve the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord.

“‘When one actually develops love of Godhead, he naturally sometimes cries, sometimes laughs, sometimes chants and sometimes runs here and there just like a madman.

“‘Perspiration, trembling, standing on end of one’s bodily hairs, tears, faltering voice, fading complexion, madness, melancholy, patience, pride, joy and humility—these are various natural symptoms of ecstatic love of Godhead, which causes a devotee to dance and float in an ocean of transcendental bliss while chanting the Hare Krishna mantra.

“‘It is very good, my dear child, that You have attained the supreme goal of life by developing love of Godhead. Thus You have pleased me very much, and I am very much obliged to You.

“‘My dear child, continue dancing, chanting and performing sankirtana in association with devotees. Furthermore, go out and preach the value of chanting Krishna-näma, for by this process You will be able to deliver all fallen souls.’ Adi 7.80-92