\u00a0<\/p>\n
There is absolutely no difference between God and His names. The Holy Name is God Himself – all the shrutis, smritis and the knowers of truth state this. If we are able to accept this truth then we shall realize very easily in our lives that the Holy Name is not an ordinary word that simply denotes “God”.<\/p>\n
Sri Padma Pur\u00e2n says –<\/p>\n
\u00a0“The Holy Name is non-different from Sri Krishna and therefore it is a wish-fulfilling gem, conscious, full of ras<\/em>, absolute, pure, eternal and independent like Him.”<\/p>\n \u00a0The Holy Name is a wish-fulfilling gem – this means that it is capable of granting all our desires just like Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em>. Srimat Jiva Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has explained this verse as –<\/p>\n “The Holy Name is a wish-fulfilling gem since it can grant all our wishes. Not only this, but like Sri Krishna it is also conscious. It is factually Sri Krishna Himself!” – (Bhagavad Sandarbha, 48)<\/p>\n Sri Chaitanya-Charit\u00e2mrita says –<\/p>\n \u00a0“Sri Krishna’s body and His self are non-different from each other and so are His Holy Names from Him. It is only the living being whose name, body and self differ from one another.” – (C.C.Madhya.17.132)<\/p>\n \u00a0“Just as Sri Bhagav\u00e2n’s<\/em> body is not different from his self, His names too are non-different from Him.” – (Kurma Pur\u00e2n)<\/p>\n \u00a0Our true self is transcendental while our body is material and destructible. Our names too are mundane and refer to this material body. Hence they are different from each other. This is our characteristic, not that of God. Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> and His Holy Name are only different expressions of one thing.\u00a0 Therefore we should understand that the Holy Name has same power as Sri Bhagav\u00e2n. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Srimat Jiva Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has written –<\/p>\n \u00a0“The Holy Name is an expression of the Almighty just as Sri R\u00e2mchandra, Nrisimha, Matsya, Kurma and other manifestations.”<\/p>\n – (Sri Bhagavad-Sandarbha, 48)<\/p>\n \u00a0“Sri Krishna descends in the form of the Holy Name in Kaliyug<\/em> and delivers all universe.” – (C.C.\u00c2di.17.22)<\/p>\n \u00a0Srimad-Bh\u00e2gavatam says -“Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> has innumerable incarnations.”\u00a0(S.B.1.3.26)<\/p>\n \u00a0However His Holy Name is more compassionate and has more power to redeem the fallen souls than any incarnation. Srip\u00e2d Shukamuni has said in Srimad-Bh\u00e2gavatam –<\/p>\n “Even if a dying, miserable, fallen and sinful person takes the Holy Name, that too simply under compulsion, he is delivered from the cycle of birth and death. He attains a high state. It is sad that the people of Kaliyug<\/em> do not worship such great Sri Hari with Harin\u00e2m Sankirtan<\/em>!” – (S.B.12.3.44)<\/p>\n \u00a0It is because the Holy Name is non-different from Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> Himself that if we take the Holy Name in any manner – whether during kirtan <\/em>or hearing – even by slight reflection of the Holy Name – if we have committed the foulest of sins – the Holy Name can redeem us and we can attain Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em>. This fact is very clear from the deliverance of Aj\u00e2mil in Srimad-Bh\u00e2gavatam. The emissaries of Sri Vishnu told the messengers of Yamr\u00e2j (the Lord of death) –<\/p>\n \u00a0“A thief, alcoholic, one who is disloyal to a friend, one who has murdered a brahmin, one who has seduced the wife of his Guru, one who has killed a woman, his king, parent or a cow, and all other sinners have only one solution – the Holy Name of Sri N\u00e2r\u00e2yan. Only the Holy Name can redeem him, since as soon as he takes the Holy Name he draws Sri Bhagav\u00e2n’s<\/em> attention to him. Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> thinks, “This person belongs to me, it is my duty to protect him at all costs.”<\/p>\n Aj\u00e2mil was a most fallen sinner. On his death-bed, when he saw the messenger the Lord of death, he had called out his son \u2018N\u00e2r\u00e2yan’ out of fear – he had definitely not called Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> Sri N\u00e2r\u00e2yan. We can not call this as \u2018pure name’ – it is simply \u2018n\u00e2m\u00e2bh\u00e2s<\/em>‘ (shadow of the Holy Name). However he was saved and ultimately attained to Sri Bhagav\u00e2n’s<\/em> abode. Not only is this true repentance, it is the best mode of repenting; for it destroys the ignorance – the very root of sin. Moreover he gains Sri Bhagav\u00e2n’s<\/em> attention. The Lord feels – “He is my devotee – I should take care for him always”. Thus we see that there is nothing more powerful that the Holy Name that can save a sinner. The Holy Name is also more compassionate than Sri Bhagav\u00e2n <\/em>Himself. Srila Rupa Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has written in Sri Krishna-N\u00e2m-Ashtakam –<\/p>\n \u2018Dear Holy Name, You have manifested Yourself in two forms – \u2018word’ (the Holy Names\u00a0 such as \u2018Sri Krishna’, \u2018Govinda’ etc.) and \u2018all-conscious, all-blissful Sri Krishna Deity’. Of the two I know Your Holy Names to be more compassionate, since You redeem those who have committed an offence at the lotus feet of Sri Krishna. You save him from all offenses and immerse him in the ocean of joy, that is, he becomes engrossed in relishing the happiness of prem.”<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0Sri Chaitanya-Charit\u00e2mrita says –<\/p>\n \u00a0“The Holy Name, the Deity and Sri Krishna Himself are one. There is no difference in them – all are conscious and blissful.” – (C.C.Madhya.17.131)<\/p>\n \u00a0This signifies that Sri Bhagav\u00e2n’s<\/em> name and Deity are always non-different from Himself. Here \u2018Deity’ refers to His image that we worship as well as to His body.<\/p>\n After reading the above poy\u00e2r<\/em>1<\/sup><\/strong><\/em><\/a> <\/em>if anybody thinks that Sri Bhagav\u00e2n’s<\/em> name, Deity and Himself are actually different, but because they are all transcendental they are said to \u2018one’ – then he is wrong. Sri Bhagav\u00e2n’s<\/em> abode and associates are also the expressions of His majestic internal potency; then why does Sri Chaitanya-Charit\u00e2mrita say that \u2018these three are one’? Therefore we should understand that they are indeed one.<\/p>\n \u00a0Sri Hari-bhakti-Vil\u00e2s clearly proves that His Deity is non-different from Himself –<\/p>\n “swayam vyakt\u00e2h sth\u00e2pan\u00e2shcha murtayo dwividh\u00e2 mat\u00e2h Swayam vyakt\u00e2 Swayam krishnah sth\u00e2pan\u00e2stu pratishthay\u00e2.”<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0Meaning – “Sri Bhagav\u00e2n’s <\/em>Deities are of two types –<\/p>\n \u00a0We should know that the self-manifested Deities are Sri Krishna himself and the installed deities are \u2018That same Sri Krishna’ from the time since they have been installed.<\/p>\n \u00a0Sri Govindadev, Sri Gopin\u00e2th and Sri MadanMohan are self-manifested and they are Swayam<\/em> Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em>. However such eternal Deities are very rare and we need other Deities for archanam<\/em> – so it is necessary to install Deities. When we install Deities according to the scriptural injunctions They are actually Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> from the time since their installment. Sri Krishna has told Sri Uddhav with His holy lips –<\/p>\n \u00a0“The moving and non-moving – both types of images are temples.”<\/p>\n \u00a0Srimat Jiva Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has explained this verse from Sri Hari-Bhakti-Vil\u00e2s as follows –<\/p>\n \u00a0“Here \u2018pratishth\u00e2’ means \u2018pratim\u00e2’ (image)<\/em> and \u2018jiva<\/em>‘ means \u2018Param\u00e2tm\u00e2 <\/em>– the life of a living entity’. This means – \u2018it is my temple’ or a place that is non-different from me. The Deity is in no way different from the parts of my body. \u2018Jiva-Mandir’<\/em> can also mean \u2018Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> – the original source of all living beings’. Those who worship Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> actually see Him in the Deity. If we harbor even the slightest notion that He is different from Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em> it will be detrimental for our bhakti<\/em>; therefore we should always perform Deity-<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 There is absolutely no difference between God and His names. The Holy Name is God Himself – all the shrutis, smritis and the knowers of truth state this. If we are able to accept this truth then we shall … Continue reading \n