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Bhakti Yoga-Devotional Service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna

Bhakti Yoga-Devotional Service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna
Gopis performing Devotional Service to the Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krishna

Importance of chanting-ULTIMATE

Vedic / Shaastric / Scriptural References for Chanting / performing Sankritana Yagna of

Hare Krishna Mahaa-Mantra

 

1. etaavataalam agha-nirharanaaya pumsaam, sankirtanam bhagavato guna-karma-naamnaam
     vikrusya putram aghavaan yad ajaamilo 'pi, naaraayaneti mriyaamana iyaaya muktim

(Shrimad Bhaagavatam (SB) 6.3.24)
Therefore it should be understood that one is easily relieved from all sinful reactions by chanting the holy name of the Lord and chanting of His qualities and activities. This is the only process recommended for relief from sinful reactions. Even if one chants the holy name of the Lord with improper pronunciation, he will achieve relief from material bondage if he chants without offenses. Ajaamila, for example, was extremely sinful, but while dying he merely chanted the holy name, and although calling his son, he achieved complete liberation because he remembered the name of Narayana.

2. saayam praatar grnan bhaktyaa, duhkha-graamaad vimuchyate

(SB 1.3.29)
If one always chants the holy name of the Lord with great devotion in the evening and in the morning, one can become free from all material miseries.

3. anudinam idam aadarena shrnvan

(SB 4.23.39)
One can achieve liberation if one hears the holy name of the Lord constantly, every day with great respect.

4. tasmaat sankirtanam vishnor, jagan-mangalam amhasaam;   mahataam api kauravya, viddhy aikaantika-nishkrtam

(SB 6.3.31)
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of the sankirtana movement is the most auspicious activity in the entire universe. Please try to understand this so that others will take it seriously.

5. naamaaparaadha- yuktaanaam, naamaany eva haranty agham;   avishraanti- prayuktaani, taany evaartha-karaani cha

(Padma Puraan)
Even if in the beginning one chants the Hare Krsna mantra with offenses, one will become free from such offenses by chanting again and again.

6. jihvaa na vakti bhagavad guna-naamadheyam, chetas cha na smarati  tach-charanaar avindam
     krsnaaya no namati yach-chira ekadaapi, taan aanayadhvam asato 'krta-vishnu- krtyaan


(SB 6.3.29 – Yama-raaja instructs his servants)
My dear servants, please bring to me only those sinful persons who do not use their tongues to chant the holy names and qualities of Krishna, whose hearts do not remember the lotus feet of Krishna even once, and whose heads do not bow down even once before Lord Krishna. Send me those who do not perform their duties toward Vishnu, which are the only duties in human life. Please bring me all such fools and rascals.

7. krte yad dhyaayato visnum, tretaayaam yajato makhaih,   dvaapare paricharyaayaam, kalau tat hari-kirtanaat

(SB 12.3.52)
Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Visnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.

8. dhyaayan krte yajan yajnais, tretaayaam dvaapare 'rchayan,   yad aapnoti tad aapnoti, kalau sankirtya kesavam

(Vishnu Puraana (6.2.17), Padma Puraana (U.kh 72.25), Brhan-Naaradiya Puraana (38.97))
Whatever is achieved by meditation in Satya-yuga, by the performance of yajna in Treta-yuga or by the worship of Krsna's lotus feet in Dvapara-yuga is also obtained in the Age of Kali simply by chanting the glories (holy name) of Lord Kesava.

9. dvaapariyair janair visnuh, pancharaatrais tu kevalaih,   kalau tu naama-maatrena, pujyate bhagavaan harih

(Naaraayana-Samhitaa)
In Dvaapara-yuga, devotees of Lord Visnu and Krsna rendered devotional service according to the principles of pancha-raatrika. In this age of Kali, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped simply by the chanting of His holy names.

10. kaler dosa-nidhe raajann, asti hy eko mahaan gunah,   kirtanaad eva krsnasya, mukta-sangah param vrajet

(SB 12.3.51)
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 Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.

11. krsna krsneti krsneti, svapan jaagrad vrajamstatha,   yo jalpati kalau nityam, krsna-rupi bhaveddhi sah

(Varaaha Puraan)
Whoever continuously chants Lord Krsna's holy name, even in his sleep, can easily realise that the name is a direct manifestation of Krsna Himself, in spite of the influences of Kali-yuga. This has been ordained by Lord Krsna.

12. kali-kaala ku-sarpasya, tiksna-damstrasya maa bhayam,   govinda-naama-daanena, dagdho yasyati bhasmataam

(Skanda Puraan)
I see that Kali-yuga is like a black, poisonous snake with a gaping mouth and fangs. But please be unperturbed dear devotees and listen with faith. Once the holy name of the Lord is being chanted, it is like igniting a forest fire which will burn to ashes the poisonous snakes within the forest.

13. yagnaanaam japa-yagno 'smi

(Bhagavad Gita (BG) 10.25)
Of sacrifices I Am the chanting of the holy names – JAPA.

14. kali-kaale naama-rupe krsna-avataara,   naama haite haya sarva-jagat-nistaara

(Shri Chaitanya Charitaamrta (CC) Aadi Lilaa 17.22)
In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Krsna. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered.

 

15. tathaa chaivottamam loke, tapah shri-hari-kirtanam,   kalau yuge visesena, vishnuu-prityai samaacharet

 (Skanda Puraana)
In this way the most perfect penance to be executed in this world is the chanting of the name of Lord Sri Hari. Especially in the age of Kali, one can satisfy the Supreme Lord Vishnu by performing sankeertana.

16. etaavaan eva loke 'smin, pumsaam dharmah parah smrtah,   bhakti-yogo bhagavati, tan-naama-grahanaadibhih

(SB 6.3.22)
Devotional service, beginning with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is the ultimate religious principle for the living entity in human society.

17. kalim sabhaajayanty aaryaa, guna jnaah saara-bhaaginah,   yatra sankirtanenaiva, sarva-svaartho 'bhilabhyate

(SB 11.5.36)
Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the essential value of this age of Kali. Such enlightened persons worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age all perfection of life can easily be achieved by the performance of sankirtana.

18. naama-sankirtanam yasya, sarva-paapa pranaashanam,   pranaamo duhkha-samanas, tam namaami harim param

 (SB 12.13.23)
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering.

19. mahaabhaagavataa nityam, kalau smakirtaya kesavam

 (Skanda Puraana)
The hallmark of a mahabhagavata the most elevated devotee in Kali-yuga is that he chants the holy name of the Lord constantly.

20. varjams-tisthaan svapannaasnan, svaasan vaakya-prapurane,   naama-samkirtanam visnor-helaya kali-vardhanam,
       krtvaa svarupatam yati, bhakti-yuktam param vrajet

 (Linga Puraana)
In our normal activities of eating, sleeping, sitting, dreaming, etc. to chant Krsna's names, while nullify the ill effects of Kali-yuga, is the perfection of speech. Even if a person chants Krsna's names indifferently, he will surely achieve his svarupa, or original spiritual self and attain that state beyond all material fear and lamentation. He will reach Vaikuntha, the supreme goal.

21. cheto-darpana-maarjanam bhava-mahaa-daavaagni-nirvaapanam, sreyah-kairava-chandrikaa-vitaranam vidyaa-vadhu-jivanam, aanandaambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnaamrtaasvaadanam, sarvaatmaa-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam

 (Shri Chaitanya Charitaamrta (CC) Antya Lilaa 20.12)
Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Krsna, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Krsna expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.

 

22. naama chintaamanih krsnas, chaitanya-rasa-vigrahah,   purnah shuddho nitya-mukto, 'bhinnatvaan naama-naaminoh

(Shri Chaitanya Charitaamrta (CC) Madhya Lilaa 17.133)
The holy name of Krsna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krsna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krsna'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 Krsna Himself. Since Krsna's name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krsna's name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krsna and Krsna Himself are identical.

23. kali-yuge yuga-dharma -- naamera prachaara,    tathi laagi' pita-varna chaitanyaavataara

 (Shri Chaitanya Charitaamrta (CC) Aadi Lilaa 3.40)
The religious practice for the Age of Kali is to broadcast the glories of the holy name. Only for this purpose has the Lord, in a yellow color, descended as Lord Caitanya.

24. tan naasti karmajam loka- vag-jam manasam eva vaa,    yan na kshapayete paapam kalau govinda-kirtanam

 (Skanda Puraana)
"It is impossible to commit such volumes of sinful activities in this age of Kali that cannot be eradicated by the chanting of the holy name of Govinda.

25. hari-naama para ye cha ghore kali-yuge narah, te eva krtakrtyas cha na kalir badhate hi tan
       hare kesava govinda vaasudeva jaganmaya, itirayanti ye nityam na hi tam badhate kalih

(Brhan-Naaradiya Puraana)
In this dark age of Kali-yuga, sincere devotees of the Supreme Lord should leave aside all other means for liberation and take full shelter of the holy name. This is their real responsibility and duty. There is unlimited bliss in chanting the different names of Krsna: Hari, Kesava, Govinda, Vaasudeva and Jaganmaya. For one who chants constantly with unflinching faith, he remains unaffected by the reverses of Kali-yuga, because his heart has become purified by chanting.

26. yathaa tathaa harer naama kirtayanti sma narakah,    tathaa tathaa harau bhaktim- uchvahanto udivam yayuh

(Nrsimha Puraana)
An abominable sinner a fit resident of hell, can easily become a devotee of the Lord by chanting Krsna's name. Thus he can enter into the highest spiritual abode of the Lord.

27. om a'sya jananto naama chid-vivaktan,    mahaste vishnoh sumatim bhajamahe om tat sat

(Rg Veda 1.56.3)
One who philosophically understands that the Lord's holy name and His potencies are the same can properly approach and worship the Supreme Lord with transcendental knowledge and choice prayers.

28. Harer naama Harer naama Harer naamaiva kevalam

      kalau naasty eva naasty eva naasty eva gatir anyathaa

(Brhan-Naaradiya Puraan)
For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative to the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord.

 

29. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

     Hare Raama Hare Raama, Raama Raama Hare Hare

     iti sodasakam naamnaam, kali-kalmasa-naasanam

     naatah parataropaayah, sarva-vedesu drsyate

(Kali-Santarana Upanisad – Lord Brahmaa instructs Lord Naarada Muni)
After searching through all the Vedic literature one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krsna Mahaa-Mantra.

 

Please remember that these are only a few excerpts from the ocean of Vedic literatures. Many more evidences can be found in the holy book 'Prema Vivarta' Ch. 20 The Glories of the Holy Name

 

 

Always Chant...

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare |
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma Hare Hare ||

...and be Happy

 

 


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Welcoming calamities as an opportunity to remember Krsna

To: the original sender of this msg in FB! Excuse me for loop back..

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via Jyoti Pahuja's Facebook Notes by Jyoti Pahuja on 9/18/10

Constantly remembering the lotus feet of the Lord means preparing for liberation from birth and death. Therefore, even though there are so-called calamities, they are welcome because they give us an opportunity to remember the Lord.

 

One who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, which are accepted as the most suitable boat for crossing the ocean of nescience, can achieve liberation as easily as one leaps over the holes made by the hoofs of a calf. Such persons are meant to reside in the abode of the Lord, and they have nothing to do with a place where there is danger in every step.

 

This material world is certified by the Lord as a dangerous place full of calamities. Less intelligent persons prepare plans to adjust to those calamities without knowing that the nature of this place is itself full of calamities. They have no information of the abode of the Lord, which is full of bliss and without trace of calamity. The duty of the sane person, therefore, is to be undisturbed by worldly calamities, which are sure to happen in all circumstances. Suffering all sorts of unavoidable misfortunes, one should make progress in spiritual realization because that is the mission of human life. 

 

A man may see a tiger swallowing him in a dream, and he may cry for this calamity. Actually there is no tiger and there is no suffering; it is simply a case of dreams. In the same way, all calamities of life are said to be dreams. If someone is lucky enough to get in contact with the Lord by devotional service, it is all gain. Contact with the Lord by any one of the nine devotional services is always a forward step on the path going back to Godhead.

 

- Srila Prabhupada ki Jay!


 
 

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Always A Three Way Relationship

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (Hina) on 9/18/10

Krsna is the Supreme Lord (Sanskrit). Therefore, whatever you do, we must do for him: Whatever we eat, we eat for him: Whatever we offer, we must offer for him, or to him, and so on. And the more we connect everything we do - every actions, the more it becomes potent.

You see there are always a few parts in us …….Let's say now I'm travelling with Aatish, and Aatish is travelling with me. My cameraman. We're travelling and now, I can do things for Aatish. Aatish can do things for me, and that's ok;
"Are you comfortable? Do you have what you need, that we can do while we travel? Do you need some of this? Do you need some of that?" That we can do to each other the whole day. That's what you do when you are travelling together. "You want some water? You want some of this? You want some of that? Do you want some nuts?"

Like that, one could do things for each other. But there is a third person there, in the relationship – Krsna! And then when we act, then we can do things for each other. That's ok we can do things in any relationship that we have, but it should always be an offering to Krsna! ...Krsna is always part of it. Always a three way relationship. Never a two way relationship.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, August 2010)

 
 

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Vaishnava

I Love This!!!!

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (aatish) on 9/18/10

A Vaishnava has to be someone with a heart, not just:
Someone who chants so many rounds – "That's wonderful"
or
Someone who knows so many slokas – "That's wonderful"
or
Someone who is always getting up really early when the whole world all sleep – "That's wonderful"
But that person if in spite of all those wonderful things doesn't show a heart and doesn't have a heart:
"Then he is not a complete Vaishnava"

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 11th, SA, Newcastle 2010)

 
 

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Nama Hatta

 
 

Sent to you by dinesh via Google Reader:

 
 

via KKS Blog by noreply@blogger.com (aatish) on 9/18/10

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2010, South Africa)

So the whole concept of Nama hatta is very nice, because if at least once a week if you go… you get your dose but what do you do for the rest of the week!
Something…something is better than nothing!
And that is true -something is better than nothing, but then again it's not good enough.
One of the attitudes of a Vaishnava when looking at another person is to appreciate the smallest service done by them and to offer appreciation for that
and the other aspect of the nature of a Vaishnava is when looking at our own performance, is to consider it not good enough.
It's not like being negative but just saying :
'There is room to improve!...


and one must think like that, that there is room to improve because otherwise we will not improve.
It begins with contemplation, everything begins with contemplation
Before the action comes the thought…in most cases! In some cases there is the opposite! But that's not so recommended , you know what I mean. There should be a thought before an action. So first contemplation, on what to do, how to do and whether one should do it? And then yes …just do it.
So in this way we must start thinking about improving our devotional service, if we want to be part of the Mahatmas, the great transcendental souls. And I think that everyone is meant to be like that, not a few:
'We have a few pure devotees, how nice, how nice, how nice!'
No, everyone must be a pure devotee. Everyone, no exception. So what can we do about it? At least try.
Well what can individuals do about it…put quality in our chanting, put quality in our sadhana , quality in reading and then we can take on service:
so Nama Hattas are interesting entities. Because Nama Hattas are self-contained entities, it's like a group that is designed to enliven the members of the group and all the activity goes into the group – the members are basically busy with each other to arrange the programme which they can have with the group, so some sort of self sustainable entity, like a closed-circuit.
You go to the Nama Hatta for inspiration and then you do service for the Nama Hatta, which creates the atmosphere of inspiration and you get your inspiration and like that……that's ok. It's a nice thing and a Nama hatta can go on like that for many years. I've seen many Nama Hattas that did well in this regards, but….
Lord Caitanya wanted more, the Lord wanted us to preach Krsna consciousness.
It is a sannyasi's duty to disturb people. When everyone is happy and satisfied to say; 'Sorry that's not good enough, that's not good enough!', 'In a way it is an inbred culture, when a group is only concerned how it functions itself – then it is becoming a very dry, dry thing. Then we will not taste the nectar of compassion, of giving Krsna consciousness to others. We have to do something to expand this movement. We have to maybe organise events, maybe some public festival… we had a great BBT conference a long, long time ago and it was so inspiring. Some of you went and some of you heard about it, it was great and everyone thought it was wonderful, there were speakers from all over, telling the glories about book distribution and "I love : "stories about the glories of book distribution""
But since that time I have not seen that much change in terms of book distribution. So I feel that we should do something in South Africa about book distribution, so I'll come back in the month of December for that purpose to join you in book distribution! Because it is supposed to be a marathon – but if I go everyone had to go –that's the deal! That's how it is. That's why I brought the camera-man- ladies and gentlemen, you're on the film! So let us all try to distribute some books for Srila Prabhupada's pleasure.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2010, South Africa)

 
 

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