Nama-cintamani-krsnah
caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto
bhinnatvan nama-naminoh
“The holy name of Krishna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krishna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krishna’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 Krishna Himself. Since Krishna’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, and there is no question of its being involved with maya, Krishna’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krishna and Krishna Himself are identical.” (From Padma Purana)
This verse establishes the position of Krsna’s Name as being fully non-different than Krsna Himself. It is all powerful and therefore fully sweet and tasty. Then why do we not always taste that nectar each and every time. The reasons are perhaps many ,but let’s look at a few prominent ones.
When one enters into a loving relationship with another along with it comes the responsibility to make it work and to increase it. Therefore a person comes to know there is more to the relationship than just being together all the time. Similarly the chanting the Holy Names is part of a larger process by which one can approach the Holy Name in the proper conscious. That process is the science of devotional service as given by Srila Prabhupada and the previous acaryas. Without properly following the devotional process it is like trying to cook you food with smoke it will take 300 years.
“O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Väsudeva.” (SB 1.2.16)
By serving the servants of the Lord, one gradually gets the quality of such servants, and thus one becomes qualified to hear and chant the glories of the Lord. Along with this one must cultivate the personal qualities that are conducive to chanting such as humility ,tolerance, not expecting respect for oneself and cultivating a respectful attitude towards all others, as mentioned in the Sikshastaka prayers.
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly. (SS#3)
A constant cultivation of the above mentioned qualities opens up the heart and mind and allows the mercy of the Holy Names to take root and grow in relationship to an attitude of submissive service and surrender. Along with this, one must also carefully avoid those activities that impede the development of the nectar of Holy Name which are known as offenses or just wrong activity. What we do and say throughout the day will directly enhance or take away our ability to approach the Holy Name properly.
When Krsna is pleased he will reveal Himself thru His Holy Name in proportion to our loving devotion. As Srila Prabhupada has stated one cannot force quality in chanting we can only try to hear nicely and allow the Name to constantly vibrate on our tongue and in our heart (mind).
Knowledge of the Name’s Exclusive Position
etävän eva loke ‘smin
pumsäm dharmah parah smrtah
bhakti-yogo bhagavati
tan-näma-grahanädibhih
(SB.6.3.22)
TRANSLATION
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.
To regularly hear about the glories of the Holy Name and it’s superior position above all other forms of activity, as stated by Yamaraja in this verse from Srimad Bhagavatam,greatly enhances our enthusiasm to chant more and more. By knowing the value of this great treasure given freely to all we can become more serious about chanting no matter what circumstance we are in. By knowing the value of something we can treasure it more and along with giving it to others knowing we are offering the best of all gifts for all times.
Chant Krsna name always ,any time, any place in any condition of life. Chanting connects us with Krsna and awakens our love for Him and our determination to achieve the real goal of life “Love of Krsna”.
In verse #6 of the Sad-Goswamy Astaka. Srila Srinivasacarya glorifies the six Goswamis saying how they fixed their vow in chanting in a numerical way. This is also fundamental to improved chanting in that we become committed to chant a fixed number of rounds of Japa. This allows us to destroy the whims or the flickering mind and be situated in steady chanting. Srila Viswanatha Cakravarti Thakur explains by chanting regularly we can rise to the platform of chanting always which is the goal of chanting Hare Krsna.
TRANSLATION
Therefore, O sons of the King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is situated in everyone’s heart. He is also within your hearts. Therefore chant the glories of the Lord and always meditate upon Him continuously. (S.B.4.24.70)
Srila Prabhupada’s PURPORT
The word asakåt is significant, for it means not just for a few minutes but continuously. That is the instruction given by Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu in His Çikñäñöaka 3. Kértanéyaù sadä hariù: [Cc. Ädi 17.31] “The holy name of the Lord should be chanted twenty-four hours daily.” Therefore in this Kåñëa 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 Öhäkura Haridäsa, who was chanting the Hare Kåñëa mantra three hundred thousand times daily. Indeed, he had no other business. Some of the Gosvämés, like Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé, were also chanting very rigidly and also offering obeisances very rigidly. As stated in Çréniväsäcärya’s prayer to the six Gosvämés (Ñaò-gosvämy-añöaka): saìkhyä-pürvaka-näma-gäna-natibhiù kälävasäné-kåtau. The word saìkhyä-pürvaka means “maintaining a numerical strength.”
Sometimes we find ourselves unable to improve despite all our efforts to do so. One very wonderful program in ISKCON are japa retreats. Both in Europe and the US there are retreats where one can get the opportunity to exclusively focus on chanting without any other activity. Under the guidance of qualified instructors one can learn much about the glories and practice of the Holy Name and relish its sweetness in great Krsna Conscious association. It may cost a little but what can be said about the value of anything that can bring us closer to better chanting and a greater appreciation for the precious mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Chant Chant Chant and be truly happy in Krsna Consciousness
Hare Krsna