{"id":89,"date":"2008-08-06T13:03:00","date_gmt":"2008-08-06T13:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/?p=89"},"modified":"2008-08-06T13:09:54","modified_gmt":"2008-08-06T13:09:54","slug":"chapter-4-should-we-chant-the-mahamantra-loudly-or-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/sweet_books\/a-z-of-mahamantra\/chapter-4-should-we-chant-the-mahamantra-loudly-or-not\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 4: Should we chant the Mahamantra loudly or not ?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We have already learnt that Sri Bhagav\u00e2n’s <\/em>name is eternal, conscious and blissful just like Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em>. From this point of view all His names are equal. Yet if we analyze the glory of the Holy Name we can understand the glory of Sri Krishna-n\u00e2m<\/em>.\u00a0 Since the Holy Name is non-different from Sri Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em>, the glory of the names is in proportion to the greatness of the divine manifestations. Therefore since Sri Krishna is Swayam<\/em> Bhagav\u00e2n<\/em>, His name too is special – naturally. Chanting Sri Vishnu’s name is more glorious than taking the names of devat\u00e2s,<\/em> while a single name of Lord R\u00e2mchandra is equal to a thousand names of Sri Vishnu. Sriman-Mah\u00e2dev told the same to the Mother Goddess –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“r\u00e2mo r\u00e2meti r\u00e2meti rame r\u00e2me manorame,<\/em><\/p>\n

sahasra-n\u00e2mbhistulyam r\u00e2man\u00e2ma var\u00e2nane.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Sri R\u00e2mchandra is superior to Matsya, Kurma and other incarnations – this we learn from the scriptures. Therefore Padma Pur\u00e2n says that the name \u2018R\u00e2m’ is more glorious than the names of other incarnations. Shata-n\u00e2m Stotra also corroborates this fact –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“A single name of Sri Vishnu can yield more result than reciting all the Vedas. Yet one thousand names of Sri Vishnu is equal to a single name of Lord R\u00e2m.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0Brahm\u00e2nda Pur\u00e2n says –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“We get the same result by uttering Sri Krishna’s name once as chanting three times the one thousand names of Lord Vishnu.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0This shows that if we chant Sri Krishna’s name once it is equal to saying the name of Lord R\u00e2m thrice. Sri Chaitanya-Charit\u00e2mrita says –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“The name of Sri R\u00e2mchandra grants liberation – hence it is \u2018t\u00e2rak’<\/em> (the liberator), however the name of Sri Krishna gives prem<\/em>, therefore it is \u2018p\u00e2rak’ <\/em>(the One Who gives love).” – (C.C.antya.3.244)<\/p>\n

\u00a0Thus from the scriptures and preceptors tell us that the name of Sri Krishna is the most glorious of all divine names. Sri Krishna himself has declared –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“n\u00e2mn\u00e2m mukhyatamam n\u00e2ma krishn\u00e2khyam me parantapa”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Meaning – “Dear Arjun, \u2018Krishna’ is the greatest of all my names.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0Also from the point of view relish, Sri Krishna’s name is incomparable. We see in Prabh\u00e2s-Khanda –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“O Shounak, Sri Krishna’s name is sweeter than sweet, is the goodness amongst all that is good, the most delicious fruit of the Vedas that are like a wish-fulfilling creeper and it\u00a0 is transcendental – if anyone says this name even once – be it out of respect or disrespect – it redeems that man.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0Srila Rupa Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has written a very sweet verse in his drama Vidagdha-M\u00e2dhav –<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/a>“They dance on my tongue and arouse the desire to possess innumerable tongues! They slightly brush against my ears and make me crave for millions of ears! They enter my heart, overpower it, make it their play tool and stupefy all my senses! Ohh! I do not know what immense nectar these two syllables – \u2018Kri’ and \u2018shna’ possess!!”<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Pada-kart\u00e2<\/em>1<\/sup><\/a> Srila Jadunandan Th\u00e2kur has rendered an extraordinarily superb translation of this verse –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“As soon as I utter Krishna-n\u00e2m<\/em>, my tongue dances incessantly and immensely increases my longing; the Holy Name is so sweet that I cannot control my heart and I desire innumerable tongues! Oh! How can I express the sweetness of the Holy Name?<\/p>\n

\u00a0Who has made these two syllables “Kri’ and \u2018shna’ and with which nectar? They are so sweet that they enhance so much bliss in the ears which start sprouting and I crave for millions of ears so that I may relish the Holy Name to my heart’s content!<\/p>\n

When I see the two syllables \u2018Kri’ and \u2018shna’ my scorched eyes are soothed and they long to see Krishna in person. Oh! Only if I could have countless eyes then I could behold Krishna’s beauty for His Name is non-different from His body.<\/p>\n

\u00a0When the Holy Name enters the heart, I want to spread wings, all my senses dance in delight – the Holy Name maddens me with prem<\/em>!<\/p>\n

\u00a0When the Holy Name enters an ear, it forsakes all other activities and the Holy Name arouses all the bh\u00e2vs<\/em>. Sri Krishna-n\u00e2m<\/em> is the repository of all sweetness and is the casket of entire ras<\/em> – thus says Jadunandan d\u00e2s.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0Sriman-Mah\u00e2prabhu has said –<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>“\u00e2nand\u00e2mbudhi-vardhanam pratipadam purn\u00e2mrit\u00e2sw\u00e2danam,<\/em><\/p>\n

sarv\u00e2tma-snapanam<\/strong> param vijayate srikrishna-sankirtanam.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Meaning – “It enhances the ocean of bliss, each moment gives the relish of complete nectar, supremely delights the whole self<\/strong>2<\/sup><\/strong><\/strong><\/a> – That Sri Krishna-n\u00e2m-sankirtan<\/em> is reigning supreme.” – (Shiksh\u00e2shtakam)<\/p>\n

\u00a0Srila San\u00e2tan Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has written –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“When the nectarine ras<\/em> of Sri Krishna-n\u00e2m <\/em>arises in a single organ – that is – the tongue – it over floods all other senses in its own sweet ras.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Sriman-Mah\u00e2prabhu has advised all humankind in Kaliyug<\/em> to chant the\u00a0 Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> composed of 32 syllables, for it is the only way to get deliverance. Sri Chaitanya-Bh\u00e2gabat says –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“\u00e2pone sob\u00e2re prabhu kore upadeshe,<\/em><\/p>\n

krishna-n\u00e2m mah\u00e2mantra shunoho harishe.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare,<\/em><\/p>\n

hare r\u00e2ma hare r\u00e2ma r\u00e2ma r\u00e2ma hare hare.’<\/em><\/p>\n

prabhu kohe kohil\u00e2m ei mah\u00e2mantra,<\/em><\/p>\n

ih\u00e2 jopo giy\u00e2 shobe kori\u00e2 nirbandha.<\/em><\/p>\n

ih\u00e2 hoite sarba-siddhi hoibe shob\u00e2r<\/em>,<\/p>\n

sarbakkhan bolo ithe bidhi n\u00e2hi \u00e2r.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Meaning – “The Lord Himself advised everyone – Listen joyously Sri Krishna-n\u00e2m – the Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em>. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare R\u00e2ma Hare R\u00e2ma R\u00e2ma R\u00e2ma Hare Hare. The Lord said – I have told you this Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em>; now go home and chant it with determination. By chanting this mantra<\/em> you will accomplish everything, keep on chanting it all the time – there is no other rule.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0In this poy\u00e2r,<\/em> \u2018ih\u00e2<\/em> jopo giy\u00e2 shobe kori\u00e2 nirbandha<\/em>3<\/sup><\/a>‘ indicates that the Lord instructed us to chant the Mahamantra<\/em> by keeping a count (certain number of rounds). On the other hand \u2018sarbakkhan bolo ithe bidhi n\u00e2hi \u00e2r<\/em>4<\/sup><\/a>‘ means He told us to chant it loudly without keeping count.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Sriman-Mah\u00e2prabhu instruction shows that we can chant the Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> of 32 syllables silently (as jap<\/em>) and also pronounce it loudly as in \u2018kirtan<\/em>‘. Some say – “You cannot chant a mantra<\/em> loudly. It is outside the scriptural law. Since the \u2018hare-krishneti’<\/em>–n\u00e2m<\/em> is Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em>, we should only do jap<\/em> by keeping count; we cannot sing it loudly.” In this context we would like to state that – only when it contains a \u2018beej<\/em>‘ (seed-word) and words such as \u2018sw\u00e2h\u00e2<\/em>‘ and when it contains the Chaturthi-Vibhakti (the 4th<\/sup> case or the dative case) we can call it\u00a0 a \u2018mantra’<\/em>. The Hare Krishna Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> is an address (calling out to someone) and does not contain any of these. Hence any intelligent person should not doubt that we can chant it as \u2018jap’<\/em> and also say it loudly. Especially when we get proof for such activity in the scriptures, Mah\u00e2jan-statements and more so from the instruction and conduct of Sriman-Mah\u00e2prabhu Who is none other than Swayam Bhagav\u00e2n <\/em>(God Himself).<\/p>\n

\u00a0We are mentioning here in brief. Sri Padma Pur\u00e2n states –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“harer-n\u00e2ma-mah\u00e2mantrair<\/strong>-nashyet papa-pish\u00e2chakam,<\/em><\/p>\n

harer-agre-swanair-uchchair-nrityam<\/strong> stan-n\u00e2m-krin-narah,<\/em><\/p>\n

pun\u00e2ti bhuvanam vipra ! gang\u00e2di salilam yath\u00e2,<\/em><\/p>\n

hare pradakshinam kurvann-uchchais-tan-n\u00e2ma-krin-narah,<\/em><\/p>\n

karat\u00e2l\u00e2di sandh\u00e2nam suswaram kala-shabditam<\/em><\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0Meaning – “If anyone dances in front of Sri Hari, chanting the Harin\u00e2m<\/em> Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> loudly, his sins that are like ghosts are destroyed. Just as the holy waters such as the Gang\u00e2 purify the world, similarly those who loudly sing the Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> in a sweet voice with the accompaniment of cymbals – and circumambulate Sri Hari – they purify the world.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0Those who say that although we may chant the Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> loudly, it is compulsory to keep a count and that there is no evidence of chanting the Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> without keeping a count – they should read this verse from Sri Padma Pur\u00e2n. Then they will easily understand that when we do kirtan<\/em> while dancing along with playing the kart\u00e2ls<\/em> (cymbals), we cannot possibly keep count; so the countless chanting of the Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> is also corroborated.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Srila Kabi Karnapur has described Sriman-Mah\u00e2prabhu’s renunciation-ceremony in his great drama Sri Chaitanya-Charit Mah\u00e2k\u00e2vya in the following manner.<\/p>\n

\u00a0atah sri gour\u00e2ngah samavadadateeva-pramudito<\/em>,<\/p>\n

hare krishnetiuchchyairvada muhuriti shrimayatanuh,<\/em><\/p>\n

tato’soutat prochya prativalitarom\u00e2ncha-lalito<\/em><\/p>\n

rudanstattat karm\u00e2rabhata bahu-duhkhair-vidalitah.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Meaning – “When Lord Gour\u00e2nga was taking sany\u00e2s,<\/em> the barber was extremely sad; he held on to the shaving blade and simply could not bring himself to shave off the Lord’s long and thick curls. Then Lord Gour\u00e2nga told him to repeat the Hare Krishna Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> loudly. The barber obeyed Him. He loudly cried out the Hare Krishna Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> and weeping all the while, he shaved the Lord’s head. While doing so, he displayed gooseflesh – a<\/strong> sign of ecstasy.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Certainly this is chanting Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> without keeping count, since how could the barber keep count while shaving? The question does not arise at all. Not only have Sriman-Mah\u00e2prabhu instructed us to chant the Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> without keeping count, He has done it Himself. Srila Lochan d\u00e2s Th\u00e2kur has stated in his text Sri Chaitanya-Mangal –<\/p>\n

“hare krishna n\u00e2m seho bole nirantar”. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Here \u2018bole’<\/em> means \u2018tells’ and \u2018nirantar<\/em>‘ means \u2018constantly’. It clearly indicates that the Lord chanted the Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> loudly and constantly, which naturally shows \u2018without keeping count’. Sri Vrind\u00e2van d\u00e2s Th\u00e2kur, who is the incarnation of Vyasdev too says –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“prasanna sri-mukhe \u00a0\u00a0\u2018hare krishna krishna’ boli,<\/em><\/p>\n

bijoy hoil\u00e2 gourchandra kutuhali.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018hare krishna hare krishna’ boli prem-sukhe,<\/em><\/p>\n

pratyaksha hoil\u00e2 \u00e2shi adwaita sammukhe<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meaning – “Lord Gourachandra strode in eagerly with a beaming face, chanting \u2018Hare Krishna Krishna’. He said \u2018Hare Krishna Hare Krishna’ in blissful love and appeared before Lord Advaita.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0Sriman-Mah\u00e2prabhu instructed countless chanting of Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> and did it Himself too; however He also instructed us to chant the Mah\u00e2mantra <\/em>by keeping count as well.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Srila Rupa Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has stated –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“hare krishnetyuchchaih sphuritarasano n\u00e2ma-ganan\u00e2krita-granthi-shrenih subhaga-kati-sutrojjwalakarah”.<\/em><\/p>\n

Srila Raghun\u00e2th d\u00e2s Gosw\u00e2mi has written –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“nijatve goudiy\u00e2n jagati parigrihya prabhurim\u00e2n hare krishnety-evam <\/em>keeping count. Thus we have proved beyond doubt that we can chant the Mah\u00e2mantra ganan\u00e2vidhin\u00e2 kirtayata bhoh”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Both these statements prove that Sriman-Mah\u00e2prabhu chanted the Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> mentally as well as loudly, and by keeping count and not keeping count.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Srila S\u00e2rvabhouma Bhattach\u00e2rya Mah\u00e2shay has written in Sri Chaitanya-Shatak –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“vishanna-chitt\u00e2n kalip\u00e2pa-bheetan<\/em><\/p>\n

samvikshya gouro harin\u00e2ma-mantram<\/em><\/p>\n

swayam dadou bhakta-jan\u00e2n sam\u00e2dishat<\/em><\/p>\n

kurushva sankirtanam nritya-v\u00e2dyaih.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Meaning – “When Sri Chaitanya Mah\u00e2prabhu saw the people getting afraid of the sinful Kaliyug <\/em>and depressed, He gave them the Harin\u00e2m-mantra<\/em> and had issued an absolute<\/strong> absolute absolute absolute \u00a0command to chant in congregation this Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> with dancing and music.”<\/p>\n

\u2018sam\u00e2dishat’<\/em> indicates that Sriman-Mah\u00e2prabhu had ascended with the firm determination to immerse humankind in the ras<\/em> of eternal love and that was possible only through loud congregational chanting of the Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em>. \u2018Jap’ <\/em>redeems a single soul, whereas loud kirtan<\/em> delivers the animate and inanimate objects, since they too hear it. Srimat Jiva Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has written –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“n\u00e2ma-kirtananchedam-uchchaireva prashastam.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Meaning – “The loud chanting of the Holy Name is more in vogue.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0Along with the above statement Srimat Jiva Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has also cited the reason for this –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“Those who chant the Holy Name loudly deliver not only themselves, but others also. They cause welfare to every living being. In<\/strong> Sri Nrisimha Pur\u00e2n,<\/strong> Prahl\u00e2d Mah\u00e2shay has glorified Lord Nrisimha in the following manner – \u2018O my Lord, the great devotees who loudly chant You the Holy Name with extreme joy – they are the selfless friends of all living beings’.” – (B.S.269)<\/p>\n

\u00a0N\u00e2m\u00e2ch\u00e2rya Srila Harid\u00e2s Th\u00e2kur has vociferously praised loud chanting of the Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> with his holy lips –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“jopile se krishna-n\u00e2m \u00e2poni se tore,<\/em><\/p>\n

uchcha sankirtane para-upak\u00e2r kore.<\/em><\/p>\n

ataeb uchcha kori kirtan korile,<\/em><\/p>\n

shatagun phal hoy sarba-sh\u00e2stra bole.<\/em><\/p>\n

jihb\u00e2 p\u00e2i\u00e2o nara bine sarba pr\u00e2ni,<\/em><\/p>\n

na pare bolite krishna n\u00e2m heno dhwani.<\/em><\/p>\n

byartho janma ih\u00e2r\u00e2 nist\u00e2r j\u00e2h\u00e2 hoite,<\/em><\/p>\n

bolo dekhi kon dosh se karma korite.<\/em><\/p>\n

keho \u00e2pon\u00e2re m\u00e2tra koroye poshan,<\/em><\/p>\n

keho b\u00e2 poshan kore sahasreko jon.<\/em><\/p>\n

duite ke boro, bh\u00e2bi bujhoho \u00e2pone,<\/em><\/p>\n

ei abhipr\u00e2y gun uchcha sankirtane.”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Meaning – “When we chant Sri Krishna-n\u00e2m<\/em> silently we only deliver ourselves, however when we chant loudly, we are helping others too. Therefore all the scriptures hail loud sankirtan<\/em> and say that it is hundred times more fruitful than silent chanting (jap<\/em>). All living beings, with the exception of man, cannot utter Sri Krishna-n\u00e2m,<\/em> even though they may have tongues. In that case, their birth is useless, since the only way to deliver ourselves is to chant Sri Krishna-n\u00e2m<\/em>. Tell me then, what is the problem if we do this? Someone feeds only himself, while another person feeds one thousand – decide and tell me who is greater of the two? That is why loud sankirtan<\/em> is more praiseworthy than silent jap<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

– (Sri Chaitanya-Bh\u00e2gabat)<\/p>\n

\u00a0Sriman-Mah\u00e2prabhu drowned the universe in prem-ras<\/em> merely by the loud chanting of the Hare Krishna-Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em>. His confidential associate Srila Rupa Gosw\u00e2mip\u00e2d has written –<\/p>\n

\u00a0“sri-chaitanya-mukhodgirn\u00e2 hare-krishneti-varnak\u00e2h,<\/em><\/p>\n

majjayanto jagat premni vijayant\u00e2m tad-\u00e2hvay\u00e2h<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

\u00a0Meaning – “The countless chanting of the <\/strong>Hare Krishna Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em> that has 32 syllables and has sprung from Sri Chaitanya Mah\u00e2prabhu’s holy lips are submerging the entire universe in the ocean of prem<\/em> – all victory to such Mah\u00e2mantra<\/em>!” – (Lagu-Bh\u00e2gavat\u00e2mritam)<\/p>\n

\u00a0Srip\u00e2d Baladev Vidy\u00e2bushan has explained ‘tad-\u00e2hvay\u00e2h’<\/em> (in this<\/strong> verse) as \u2018krishna-nam\u00e2ni’<\/em> – meaning – all the sixteen names belong to Sri Krishna. This name alone can deliver any man and is so powerful that it can immerse anybody in prem-ras<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

1<\/sup><\/a> A Vaishnava rhymester<\/p>\n

2<\/sup><\/a> “This includes all senses, mind, intellect and even the soul” – the author<\/p>\n

3<\/sup><\/a> now go home and chant it with determination<\/p>\n

4<\/sup><\/a> keep on chanting it all the time – there is no other rule<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We have already learnt that Sri Bhagav\u00e2n’s name is eternal, conscious and blissful just like Sri Bhagav\u00e2n. From this point of view all His names are equal. Yet if we analyze the glory of the Holy Name we can understand … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[19,17],"class_list":["post-89","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-z-of-mahamantra","tag-holy-name","tag-mahamantra"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89\/revisions\/91"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kunjeshwari.com\/sweetblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}