LESSON ABOUT OFFENSES AGAINST THE HOLY NAME

by DHARMAVIRA DAS PRABHU

As I said in my previous lesson, we will discuss the ten offenses that one can
commit against the holy name as listed in the Padma Purana. The offenses
(aparadhas) are the main reason why one doesn't get the taste for the holy
name and why one does not advance in bhakti.

It is extremely important for any serious devotee to understand the most

devastating effects of offenses against the holy name.

Although offenses are of many kinds, they are mainly divided into three
categories: Vaisnava aparadha, seva aparadha, and nama aparadha. In this
lesson we will discuss nama-aparadha and Vaisnava-aparadha.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi lila 8.24 states:

'kṛṣṇa-nāma' kare aparādhera vicāra

kṛṣṇa balile aparādhīra nā haya vikāra

"There are offenses to be considered while chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.
Therefore simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa one does not become ecstatic."

Offenses block the appearance of prema:

bahu janma kare yadi śravaṇa, kīrtana

tabu ta' nā pāya kṛṣṇa-pade prema-dhana

"If one is infested with the ten offenses while chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-
mantra, despite his endeavor to chant the holy name for many births, he will
not get love of Godhead which is the ultimate goal of this chanting." [CC Adi
8.16]

In Navadvipa dhama Mahatmya, ch. 1, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says:

bahu janma kṛṣṇa bhaji’ prema nāhi haya

aparādha-puñja tā’ra āchaye niścaya

"If someone does not attain prema even after worshipping Śrī Kṛṣṇa for many
lifetimes, it is clear that such a person has committed several offenses."

Definition of Aparadha (offenses)

apagata-radho yasmat iti aparadhah

Any act or emotion which hinders or blocks the flow of love and affection: any
activity which causes Krsna to withdraw His affection and protection or any
activity performed with an envious mood.

The ten offenses to the holy name mentioned in scriptures (Padma-Purana) and
the explanation to each of the offense:

1. To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating
the holy name of the Lord

Sri Nama Prabhu who is the Lord of the holy name will not excuse anyone who
criticises the person who preaches the glories of Sri Nama in this world. One
should associate and fully surrender one's life to such souls because they are
the potency of Sri Hari. By taking instructions from them one will quickly get
the taste of the holy name. Therefore, one who accepts the holy name must
first reject with his whole heart the tendency to disrespect or disregard any
Vaishnava. If a doubt arises about the activity of a Vaishnava, one should try to
inquire about the cause of that behaviour and avoid criticizing him. Our primary
duty is to have faith (sraddha) in the sadhus.

Speaking about offense against sadhus and Vaisnavas, the scriptures go into
some details about it and warn us about a very grave and specific offense
called Vaisnava-aparadha. So before we continue with explaining other nama-
aparadhas, we need to dedicate some attention to get familiar with and
understand the Vaisnava-aparadha.

Skanda Purana lists six kinds of Vaisnava-aparadhas (offenses):

hanti nindati vai dvesthi

vaisnavan na abhinandati
krudhyate yati no harsam
darsane patanani sat

1) Killing or physically harming a devotee

2) Criticizing or blaspheming a devotee for:
- having a body born in a low family (listed in Upadesamrta)
- having a body with a bad complexion (listed in Upadesamrta)
- having a deformed body (listed in Upadesamrta)
- having a diseased or infirm body (listed in Upadesamrta)
- having traces of sins or imperfectness from previous sinful life(s) (listed in
Harinama Cintamani)
- having an accidental or momentary falldown (listed in Harinama Cintamani)
3) Being envious towards a devotee
4) Not offering obeisances to a devotee
5) Become angry towards a devotee
6) Not becoming happy upon seeing a devotee

It is also said in Hari-bhakti-vilasa (quoted from Skanda Purana in the

conversation between Markandeya Rsi and King Bhagiratha) that any person
who commits the above 6 offenses will lose his wealth, health, fame, familiy,
faith and devotion and everything and will be sent to hellish planets. So
devastating is Vaisnava-apradha.

What to do in case you comitted Vaisnava-aparadha?

"The conclusion is that if Kṛṣṇa consciousness is covered by material sins, one

can eliminate the sins simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, but if one
pollutes his Kṛṣṇa consciousness by offending a brāhmaṇa or a Vaiṣṇava, one
cannot revive it until one properly atones for the sin by pleasing the offended
Vaiṣṇava or brāhmaṇa. This was the course that Durvāsā Muni had to follow,
for he surrendered unto Mahārāja Ambarīṣa. A vaiṣṇava-aparādha cannot be
atoned for by any means other than by begging the pardon of the offended
Vaiṣṇava." [Srimad-bhagavatam 4.26.24, purport]

2. To consider the names of demigods like Lord Shiva or Lord Brahma to be

equal to, or independent of the holy name of Vishnu

The devas have no separate power of their own and it is an offence to chant
the holy names thinking that they do. Sometimes the atheistic class of men
take it that any demigod is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Vishnu.

But one who is a devotee knows that no demigod, however great he may be, is
independent from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, if someone
thinks that he can chant "Kali, Kali! " or "Durga, Durga!" and it is the same as
"Hare Krishna", that is the greatest offense. The proper understanding is that
the demigods are devotees of Bhagavan.
Those who consider Mahadeva (Shiva) an independent and separate demigod,
worshiping him alongside Vishnu, do not have a proper understanding of the
true glory of Shiva as the greatest among Vaishnavas. Such persons therefore
become offensive to both Vishnu and Shiva.

3. To disobey the orders of the Guru or to consider him an ordinary man (ie. to
consider his body material)

All scriptures acknowledge that the self-realized spiritual master is non-

different from the Lord because he is a perfect representative of the Lord. To
disobey Sri Gurudeva is nama-aparadha, an offense to the holy name. He who
gives the highest teachings on the truth about the name (nama-tattva) should
be accepted as a spiritual master, or acharya, and as someone most dear to
Bhagavan. One can attain firm faith in the holy name by cultivating staunch
devotion for Sri Gurudeva.

4. To blaspheme the Vedic literature or literature in persuance of the Vedic

version

Out of causeless mercy for the conditioned souls entrapped in the web of
illusion of material energy (maya) and suffering all kinds of miseries from the
time immemorial, the merciful Lord Krishna gave us the holy Vedic literature
and its supplements by which we can find out about the Absolute Truth and
remember our relationship with Him. Not only that, all the Vedas only chant the
holy name and glories of Lord Krishna. Therefore, to blaspheme these
scriptures is an offense to the holy name, the glories of which are described
throughout the Vedas. In the Mahabharata (Svargarohana-parva 6.93) is said:

"In the Vedic literature, including the Ramayana, Puranas and Mahabharata,
from the very beginning to the end, as well as within the middle, only Hari, the
Supreme Personality Personality of Godhead, is explained."
How can a person develop love for the holy name if he blasphemes bona-fide
scriptures? Some people consider the scriptures' descriptions of the importance
of the holy name to be simply words of praise. It is an offense to the holy name
to chant the name with such an attitude, and those who do so will never
achieve any tangible result.

5. To consider the glories of chanting the holy name to be imagination or

exaggeration

Unfortunately, this is how the impersonalists use the holy name - they accept
the conclusion that Supreme God is formless and nameless and they think that
holy names of Visnu, Krishna, Rama etc. were invented by some rishis in order
to bring oneself to impersonal liberation, ie. for the goal of becoming one with
God. But even among devotees, one may chant the holy names of Krishna
thinking it is not as potent or powerful or glorious as is said in the Vedic
scriptures by the self-realized spiritual masters in the line of the Guru-
parampara.

Therefore to think that the glories are imaginary is an offense. In the beginning,
or as long as one does not have their own personal realization of the glories of
the holy name, one should at least have theoretical positive faith in the words
of Vaishnava, guru and sastra that the holy name is real, spiritual, eternal and
all-powerful. The holy name will not be merciful to one who who thinks of it is
imaginary.

6. To give a concocted interpretation of the holy name of the Lord

The scriptures explain that the holy name has all the powers of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead Himself. The holy name is perfectly spiritual and has
the power to deliver one from the cycle of birth and death. For example, one
may speculate that the word Krishna simply means "black". So how can this
word give any spiritual bliss? But Krishna is the Absolute Truth and His name,
His form, qualities and pastimes are all non-different from Him. Therefore to try
to give material meanings to the completely spiritual holy name of the Lord is
offensive.

It is said in the Brahma-samhita:

"Any person who, after hearing the descriptions of the various benefits
obtained by chanting the holy name thinks these benefits are exaggerated, is
thrown into a host of sufferings and torture in many horrible ways."

7. To commit sinful activities on the strength of the holy name of the Lord

Knowing of the all-purifying power of the holy name one may think he can
continue to act sinfully and after that chant Hare Krishna to neutralize his sins.
This dangerous mentality is very offensive and should be avoided at all costs.

8. To consider the chanting of Hare Krishna as one of the auspicious ritualistic

activities offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities (karma -kanda)
A person who thinks that ordinary material pious activities are equal to
chanting the holy name of Lord Hari commits an offense to the holy name.

9. To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name

Anyone can take part in chanting the holy name of the Lord, but in the
beginning one should not be instructed about the transcendental potency of
the Lord. Those who are too sinful and averse cannot appreciate the
transcendental glories of the Lord, and therefore it is better not to instruct
them in this matter.

When one becomes a maha-bhagavata, one will have transcendental potency

to give people faith in the holy name. To such persons one may teach the truth
about the holy name of Lord Hari.

10. To not have complete faith in the holy names and to maintain material
attachments, even after hearing so many instructions on this matter

If after hearing again and again the same instruction that nothing is ours but
Krishna's, one still maintains the bodily concept of ‘I and Mine’, that is an
offense. One should surrender and offer to the Lord one's words, mind, bodily
actions and everything he has.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting the holy

names. Inattentive chanting is the root cause of all offenses.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur states the following about inattentive chanting:

"If one gives up all the offenses in chanting, but remains inattentive, he can
never develop attachment for chanting." (Sajjana Tosani 11/1)

"O reservoir of all transcendental qualities! If one chants the holy names of the
Lord but his attention is elsewhere, how can he benefit? If even such a person
chants one hundred thousand holy names of the Lord, still a drop of the mellow
of ecstatic love will not be attained. O Lord! This is the definition of inattention
while chanting the holy names. This offense is deeply rooted in the hearts of
materialists." (Harinama-cintamani)

Your servant,
Dharmavira das

For any questions about lesson send an email to:

dharmaviran@gmail.com

All the previous lessons can be found and downloaded here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/chanting64rounds/files
HOW TO CHANT 64 ROUNDS - LESSON 1 - REVISED ~
with additional information regarding what Srila Prabhupada said
about japa in Nectar of Devotion and what Srila Sanatana Goswami
said about different kinds of japa and their benefits ~
by DHARMAVIR DAS PRABHU

Hare Krishna!
Firstly I'd like to introduce myself. My family descended from Vishakapatanam
in South India and I was born in South Africa. I met my spiritual master in 1975
in Durban, South Africa and was formally initiated by him in 1977.
My present mission is to assist my spiritual master, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami
Srila Prabhupada founder of ISKCON, in preaching the message of the most
merciful incarnation of the Lord, Gauranga Mahaprabhu.
When Srila Prabhupada first came to the West, he requested his disciples to
chant 64 rounds or 100,000 holy names and this was also Gauranga
Mahaprabhu instruction to everyone. In fact Gauranga Mahaprabhu would only
eat in the homes of devotees who chanted 100,000 names of the Lord.
This was also taught by Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur, the founder of
the Gaudiya Matha and Guru of Srila Bhaktivedanta swami and son of the
seventh goswami Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.
But Srila Prabhupada discovered that his disciples from the West could not
chant 64 rounds so he reduced the chanting to 32 rounds, but when he found
out they could not chant even that he told them 16 rounds minimum.
Today some members think that this is the maximum but these 16 rounds was
only to start you into the process of chanting with the understanding that as
you get the taste for the holy names which is the sound vibration of the Lord
and non-different from Him, you would gradually increase from 16 rounds to
64. This 64 rounds would take approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes.
Srila Prabhupada said after practicing chanting for some time, one should be
able to chant one round in 5 minutes. So sixteen rounds in 1 hour and 20
minutes. Most members say they cannot chant one round in 5 minutes.
I will tell you why you cannot chant 1 round in 5 minutes: because you are not
performing japa but kirtan. Japa is chanting within the mind for one's own
purification and if you do japa you would easily be able to chant one round in 5
minutes.
At that time the chanter attains the perfection of the goal upon which he or she
has fixed his or her mind.
Some members say that Srila Prabhupada chanted loud but that was only to
teach the process. You would have noticed Srila Prabhupada would chant very
fast and this is how chanting should be done without a gap so unnecessary
thoughts do not enter the mind.
Some members say chanting loud will benefit others as who hear, which I
agree if it was pure chanting, that is, chanting without offenses. Nam aparadha
chanting (chanting with offenses) will not be of much benefit even to you what
to speak of others.
When there is imperfect chanting of the holy names the chanter does not
receive the full benefit which awards the chanter seven types of perfection.
1. Chanting cleanses the mirror of the heart
2. Extinguishes the blazing forest fire of material existence
3. Gives pure love of Godhead
4. Reveals transcendental knowledge
5. Grants ocean of unlimited happiness
6. One relishes the complete and unlimited taste of the holy names at every
moment
7. Completely bathes the body, mind and soul
One may argue that one has been chanting for many years but has not
received these benefits. The reason why you have not received the benefits is
only due to nam aparadha chanting.
My two shiksha disciples who are working class chant 64 rounds, Vraja Bihari
das and Tungavidya devi dasi. Therefore I cannot see why you cannot chant 64
rounds too, my friends.
---
Before I continue to explain verses of Siksastakam, I would like to address
some points that some readers have raised regarding japa and what Srila
Prabhupada said in the 'Nectar of Devotion' on japa:
"When a mantra or hymn is chanted softly and slowly, that is called JAPA. The
same mantra, when chanted loudly, is called KĪRTANA. For example, the mahā-
mantra (Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare
Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare) when uttered very softly only for one's own
hearing is called JAPA. The same mantra, when chanted loudly for being heard
by all others, is called KĪRTANA. The mahā-mantra can be used for japa and
kīrtana also. When JAPA is practiced it is for the personal benefit of the chanter,
but when KĪRTANA is performed it is for the benefit of all others who may hear."
[Srila Prabhupada, 'Nectar of Devotion', Ch.9, Japa]
Secondly I would like to inform you what Srila Sanatana Goswami said about
japa in his book 'Hari-bhakti-vilasa' in the 17th vilasa which explains the
chanting of japa.
17/155
narasimhe-
trividho japa-yajnah syat tasya bhedan nibodhata |
vacikas ca upamsus ca manasas ca tridha matah |
trayanam japa-yajnanam sreyan syad uttarottarah ||155||
"One should understand that japa is of 3 types - vacika japa, upamsu japa and
manasa japa - each one being progressively better than the previous one."
This basically means that vacika japa is the least superior and manasa japa is
the most superior.
17/156
yad ucca-nica-svaritaih spashta-sabdavad-aksharaih |
mantram uccarayed vyaktam japa-yajnah sa vacikah ||156||
"Vacika japa refers to chanting that is sometimes loud and sometimes soft with
each syllable prounced very distinctly."
This kind of japa is the lowest chanting of japa of the three mentioned.
17/157
sanair uccarayen mantram ishad aushthau pracalayet |
kincic chabdam svayam vidyad upamsuh sa japah smritah ||157||
"Upamsu japa refers to chanting that is sometimes loud and sometimes soft
and yet the syllables of the mantra may not be distinctly discerned."
17/158
dhiya yad akshara-srenya varnad varnam padat padam |
sabdartha-cintanabhyasah sa ukto manaso japah ||158||
"Manasa japa refers to chanting japa while one mentally chants the mantra
while meditating on its meaning."
17/159
tatra ca yajnavalkyah-
upamshu-japa-yuktasya tasmac-chata-guno bhavet |
sahasro manasah prokto yasmad dhyana-samo hi sah ||159||
"Upamsu japa awards awards one hundred times more merit than vacika japa
and manasa japa awards one a thousand times more merit because it is as
good as meditation."
17/ 163
kim canyatra-
manasah siddhi-kamais tu pushti-kamair upamshukah |
vaciko maranoccate prashasto japa iritah ||163||
"Those who desire to attain perfection should practice manasa japa [...]"
17/ 176
atha laksa japanmantri
devavat modate divi
kotijaptena mantrena
muktibhagi bhavennarah
"By chanting a mantra one hundred thousand times one will enjoy residence in
heaven and by chanting a mantra 10 million times one will become eligible to
achieve liberation."
---
Further, in the book 'Jaiva Dharma' written by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura it is
said that:
First you should cultivate the realisation of your pure spiritual identity by
practicing Sri Krishna nama purely, then your spiritual function known as jaiva
dharma will be clearly revealed.
We should constantly practice chanting hari-nama with great enthusiasm. By
chanting hari-nama regularly, you will develop strong attachment for Sri
Krishna nama within a short time, and you will directly experience Goloka
Vrindavan.
Chanting hari-nama as recommended by Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu is the
foremost of all the limbs of bhakti and yields the quickest results.
This is also confirmed by Sri Krishna das Kaviraja in the Chaitanya Caritamrita
(Antya 4.70-71) that the nine processes of devotional service is all included in
the chanting of the holy names of Sri Krishna.
Reference: Jaiva Dharma, chapter 2
----
In my next lesson I will explain how to chant without offenses and become
ecstatic.
---
Note: On Gaura-pūrṇimā of 2004, on the full moon day in the month of
Phālguna, Sriman Aniruddha Prabhu took the vow of chanting three hundred
thousand (300,000) holy names daily, and now he chants five hundred
thousand (500,000) names daily.
For biography of Sriman Aniruddha dasa Adhikari, please email us at:
chanting64rounds@gmail.com
---
In these pictures:
1. THESE LIFE SIZE RADHA-GOVINDA DEITIES ARE A GIFT FROM GAURANGA
MAHAPRABHU TO DHARMAVIR DAS PRABHU
2. ŚRĪ ŚRĪMAD BHAKTI DAYITA MĀDHAVA GOSVĀMĪ MAHĀRĀJA,THE DISCIPLE OF
SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI THAKUR AND THE SPIRITUAL MASTER OF
SRIMAN ANIRUDDHA DASA ADHIKARI.
How to Chant 64 Rounds - Lesson 1
by Dharmavir das prabhu
Hare Krishna!

Firstly I'd like to introduce myself. My family descended from

Vishakapatanam in South India and I was born in South Africa. I met my
spiritual master in 1975 in Durban, South Africa and was formally initiated
by him in 1977.

My present mission ts to assist my spiritual master, Srila Bhaktivedanta

Swami Srila Prabhupada founder of ISKCON, in preaching the message of
the most merciful incarnation of the Lord, Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

When Srila Prabhupada first came to the West, he requested his disciples
to chant 64 rounds or 100, 000 holy names and this was also Gauranga
Mahaprabhu instruction to everyone. In fact Gauranga Mahaprabhu would
only eat in the homes of devotees who chanted 100, 000 names of the
Lord.

This was also taught by Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur, the founder
of the Gaudiya Matha and Guru of Srila Bhaktivedanta swami and son of
the seventh goswami Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.

But Srila Prabhupada discovered that his disciples from the West could not
chant 64 rounds so he reduced the chanting to 32 rounds, but when he
found out they could not chant even that he told them 16 rounds
minimum.

Today some members think that this is the maximum but these 16 rounds
was only to start you into the process of chanting with the understanding
that as you get the taste for the holy names which is the sound vibration
of the Lord and non-different from Him, you would gradually increase from
16 rounds to 64. This 64 rounds would take approximately 5 hours and 30
minutes.

Srila Prabhupada said after practicing chanting for some time, one should
be able to chant one round in 5 minutes. So sixteen rounds in 1 hour and
20 minutes. Most members say they cannot chant one round in 5 minutes.

I will tell you why you cannot chant 1 round in 5 minutes: because you are
not performing japa but kirtan. Japa is chanting within the mind for one's
own purification and if you do japa you would easily be able to chant one
round in 5 minutes.

At that time the chanter attains the perfection of the goal upon which he
or she has fixed his or her mind.

Some members say that Srila Prabhupada chanted loud but that was only
to teach the process. You would have noticed Srila Prabhupada would
chant very fast and this is how chanting should be done without a gap so
unnecessary thoughts do not enter the mind.

Some members say chanting loud will benefit others as who hear, which I
agree if it was pure chanting, that is, chanting without offenses. Nam
aparadha chanting (chanting with offenses) will not be of much benefit
even to you what to speak of others.

When there is imperfect chanting of the holy names the chanter does not
receive the full benefit which awards the chanter seven types of
perfection.

1. Chanting cleanses the mirror of the heart

2. Extinguishes the blazing forest fire of material existence

3. Gives pure love of Godhead

4. Reveals transcendental knowledge

5. Grants ocean of unlimited happiness

6. One relishes the complete and unlimited taste of the holy names at
every moment

7. Completely bathes the body, mind and soul

One may argue that one has been chanting for many years but has not
received these benefits. The reason why you have not received the
benefits is only due to nam aparadha chanting.

My two shiksha disciples who are working class chant 64 rounds, Vraja
Bihari das and Tungavidya devi dasi. Therefore I cannot see why you
cannot chant 64 rounds too, my friends.

In my next lesson I will explain how to chant without offenses and become
ecstatic.

These life size Radha-Govinda Deities are a gift from Gauranga

Mahaprabhu to me
How To Chant 64 Rounds - Lesson 2
By Dharmavir Das Prabhu
In this lesson I will explain how to chant without offenses and become ecstatic. Below are
several quotes from Sri Caitanya Caritamrita which explains everything. Please read
carefully and understand the power of Yuga Avataris Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri
Nityananda and Their Holy Names.

hena prema śrī-caitanya dilā yathā tathā

jagāi mādhāi paryanta--anyera kā kathā

"Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has freely given this love of Kṛṣṇa everywhere and
anywhere, even to the most fallen, such as Jagāi and Mādhāi. What then to speak of those
who are already pious and elevated?"

svatantra īśvara prema-nigūḍha-bhāṇḍāra

bilāila yāre tāre, nā kaila vicāra

"Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, is fully

independent. Therefore, although it is the most confidentially stored benediction, He can
distribute love of Godhead to anyone and everyone without consideration."

adyāpiha dekha caitanya-nāma yei laya

kṛṣṇa-preme pulakāśru-vihvala se haya

"Whether he is offensive or inoffensive, anyone who even now chants śrī-Kṛṣṇa-Caitanya

Prabhu-Nityānanda is immediately overwhelmed with ecstasy, and tears fill his eyes." [Sri
Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 8.20-22]

'kṛṣṇa-nāma' kare aparādhera vicāra

kṛṣṇa balile aparādhīra nā haya vikāra

"There are offenses to be considered while chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Therefore
simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa one does not become ecstatic."

tad aśma-sāraṁ hṛdayaṁ batedaṁ

yad gṛhyamāṇair hari-nāmadheyaiḥ
na vikriyetātha yadā vikāro
netre jalaṁ gātra-ruheṣu harṣaḥ

"If one's heart does not change, tears do not flow from his eyes, his body does not shiver,
and his bodily hairs do not stand on end as he chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, it
should be understood that his heart is as hard as iron. This is due to his offenses at the
lotus feet of the Lord's holy name." [Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 8.24-25]

hena kṛṣṇa-nāma yadi laya bahu-bāra

tabu yadi prema nahe, nahe aśrudhāra
tabe jāni, aparādha tāhāte pracura
kṛṣṇa-nāma-bīja tāhe nā kare aṅkura

"If one chants the exalted holy name of the Lord again and again and yet his love for the
Supreme Lord does not develop and tears do not appear in his eyes, it is evident that
because of his offenses in chanting, the seed of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa does not sprout."
[CC Adi 8.29-30]
caitanya-nityānande nāhi esaba vicāra
nāma laite prema dena, vahe aśrudhāra

"But if one only chants, with some slight faith, the holy names of Lord Caitanya and
Nityānanda, very quickly he is cleansed of all offenses. Thus as soon as he chants the Hare
Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, he feels the ecstasy of love for God." [CC Adi 8.31]

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks in this connection that if one takes
shelter of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda, follows Their instructions to
become more tolerant than the tree and humbler than the grass, and in this way chants
the holy name of the Lord, very soon he achieves the platform of transcendental loving
service to the Lord, and tears appear in his eyes. [...] In the beginning one should very
regularly chant Śrī Gaurasundara's holy name and then chant the holy name of Lord
Nityānanda. Thus one's heart will be cleansed of impure desires for material enjoyment.
[CC Adi 8.31, purport]

Lesson 3 will be Shikshastakam, Gauranga Mahaprabhu's eight verses.

How To Chant 64 Rounds - Lesson 3
By Dharmavir Das Prabhu
Introduction to the verse 1 of Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam - The Eight Instructions of Sri Caitanya
Mahāprabhu

Today I am going to discuss only verse 1 of the Śikṣāṣṭakam which is only the summary of
this verse. At a later time we will discuss this Śikṣāṣṭakam in more detail.

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaḿ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaḿ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ prati-padaḿ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ
sarvātma-snapanaḿ paraḿ vijayate śrī-kṛsn
̣ ̣a-sańkīrtanam

In this verse Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu is giving a benediction in the form of a declaration

that let there be complete victory to the chanting of the pure holy name and explains the
effects of pure chanting. The holy names cleanses the mirror of the heart and gives
liberation, spiritual ecstasy, pure love of Godhead, transcendental knowledge, expands the
ocean of unlimited bliss enabling one to taste the nectar at every step and thoroughly
cleanses the self as well as the body, both internally and externally.

Just as the nectarean rays emitted from the moon cause the white lotus to bloom similarly
the pure chanting causes ecstatic emotion (bhava) within the hearts of the living entities.

When unalloyed devotion arises in the heart of the devotee by continual practice of
hearing and chanting, Bhakti devī destroys the gross and subtle body of the living entity
and simultaneously the original pure form of the living entity manifests. One may attain a
form in any of the five transcendental relationships with the Lord (neutrality, servitorship,
friendship, parenthood or conjugal relationship). This will happen in accordance with one's
eternal and devotional sentiment.

Śrī Śikṣāṣṭaka emanated from the divine mouth of Śrī Caitainya Mahāprabhu, the
incarnation that delivers the fallen conditioned souls in the age of Kali. This Śikṣāṣṭaka is
the very essence of all the Vedas.

Each time one reads and deliberates on this subject, newer and newer meanings come to
light. This Śikṣāṣṭakam is a veritable necklace for all Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees.

For commentary on these verses we have to credit Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thakur and Śrīla
Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Thakur. Verses 1 to 5 describes devotion in the stage of practice
(sādhana bhakti). Verses 6 and 7 describes devotion on the level of ecstatic emotion
(bhava bhakti). Verse 8 describes devotion on the platform of divine love (prema bhakti).

When the mirror of the heart is completely cleansed and purified by chanting of the holy
names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the vision of one's own constitutional form and service becomes
revealed. This blazing forest fire of repeated birth and death can only be extinguished by
chanting the pure names of the Lord.
The next lesson will be on verse 2 but please try to properly understand the purport of the
verse 1. Mere parrot-like recitation and memorization of these verses will not help. I am
keeping the lessons short so that readers can try to grasp the essence and understand the
deep meaning.

In this picture:
Lord Gauranga Deity
How To Chant 64 Rounds - Lesson 4
By Dharmavir Das Prabhu

Introduction to the verse 2 of Sri Siskastakam - The Eight Instructions of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu

Before I start explaining verse two of the Sikshastakam, I would like to share
with you a story to explain why it took me so long to continue the lessons.
Once there was a Christian minister who gave a phenomenal sermon. The
following week he gave exactly the same sermon and the week after he gave
the same sermon and the third, fourth and fifth week.

Some Church elders decided to pull the minister aside and check if he was
okay. They informed him that in the last five sermons he had given exactly the
same talk.

The minister smiled and said he was very pleased they had noticed. Then they
asked him why he was repeating the same lecture week after week. He said he
gave the same sermon and he would continue to do so until the congregation
starts applying the lesson practically in their lives.

Theory Without Practice

I wish to ask the members of this group the same question: Have you applied
my lessons to your lives? If you haven't, then I don't see the point of your
continuing the lessons. Mere reading and getting theoretical knowledge without
applying it will not be effective. It's like hearing but not listening.

Please understand that my intention is to help you achieve the ultimate goal of
life and become totally happy and fully satisfied. Therefore I ask you to re-read
the lessons and you may ask me directly any questions regarding the same.

One may ask why I want to help you since I don't even know you personally. I
want to help you because that is the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. His
mission is to help the conditioned souls to get free from this miserable material
life and to go back to our real home in Goloka Vrindavan.

Sri Krishna's Compassion

Sri Krishna displayed the same compassion in Bhagavad Gita. Krishna is so kind
that He is personally canvassing:

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
[Bg 18.66]

"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you
from all sinful reaction. Do not fear."

The basis of this shloka is that if you surrender to Krishna, then you don't have
to be bothered about your past sins because He guarantees protection. From
the above we see that Krishna asked us to surrender but He did not distribute
Himself so easily. But in His incarnation as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He makes
no such condition.

Also Krishna who taught Bhagavad-gita requires knowledge and understanding,

but Lord Caitainya introduced a process that is simply joyful - simply chant and
dance to drive away our suffering. The difference is that Krishna demands that
you surrender to Him. He says - "I am your Father and I can see that you are
unhappy, therefore I have come to give you all protection". We are all servants
of Krishna and it is our duty to serve Him for our own happiness.

The Proper Way Of Understanding

To properly understand the second verse of Sikshastakam, we must take

lessons from the commentaries of our Guru parampara.

mnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis

tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ
etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi
durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ

"O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings,
and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krsna and Govinda. In
these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental
energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O
my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy
names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them." [Sri
Siksastakam verse 2]

Primary And Secondary Names

The name of Krishna is the original seed and Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita
that He is the 'seed giving Father'. Included in the holy names is the form of the
lord, His qualities and His pastimes. Here it is explained that the Lord has many
names which are all non-different from Him. The names Krishna, Govinda,
Rama, Narayana, Vishnu and so on are His primary names.

Brahma, Paramatma are His secondary names. The primary names are
invested with all the potencies. The Lord has not made any restrictions on
chanting these names in regards to time and place. This is an example of the
Lord's mercy on the conditioned souls.

In the Vedas considerations of time, place and performer is emphasized. For

example, if one performed pooja for the killing of a goat, there are so many
rules regarding time , place and performer recommended for getting relief from
this sin. But in chanting the holy names of God such rules and regulations do
not apply.

The only reason why one does not build attachment for the holy name is due to
offenses while chanting the holy names. The Padma Purana lists ten kinds of
offenses which I shall discuss in the next lesson.
Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Prabhupada explains that the primary names
are divided into two: aishvarya and madhurya. Madhurya represents the
intimate feature of the Lord and aishvarya represents the awe and reverence
feature. Included in the madhurya category is Krishna, Radha-Ramana and
Gopijana-vallabha. The aishvarya feature is Rama, Laxmi Narayana,
Nrisihmadev. The secondary names are only partially endowed with select
potencies.

Prescribed Number Of Rounds

Srila Prabhupada said that we should chant a minimum of 16 rounds even

though Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur said that if one does not chant
64 rounds, Sri Krishna would not accept ones offering. Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu also took prasadam only in the houses of devotees who chanted
100,000 holy names daily.

Srila Prabhupada did make a concession to chant 16 rounds but we should

gradually increase to 25, then to 32, then to 48 and then to 64 rounds. We
must not remain on the beginning level for the rest of our lives.

Again I will tell you the secret of how Srila Prabhupada saved thousands of
Jagais and Madhais and made them give up the the four sinful activities namely
meat eating, intoxication, gambling and illicit sex. Srila Prabhupada
recommended all his students to chant the Panca-tattva mantra before every
round of the Hare Krishna mantra: Sri Krishna Caitanya Prabhu Nityananda Sri
Advaita Gadadhara Srivasadi Gaura bhakta vrinda.

By chanting the Panca-tattva mantra we properly invoke Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu's full mercy. [For more reference see: CC Adi 8.31; CC Adi 8.5; CC
Adi 8.7 and my Lesson 2]

Here are all the lessons for download:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/chanting64rounds/files/

Your servant,
Dharmavira das

For any questions email me at: dharmaviran@gmail.com

HOW TO CHANT 64 ROUNDS - LESSON 5
by Dharmavir das Prabhu
Introduction to verse 3 of Sri Siskastakam - The Eight Instructions of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Lord Caitanya considered humility essential for one who is aspiring to chant the
holy names of God. He wrote:
tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ
"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 should be ready to offer
all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of
the Lord constantly." [Siksastakam, verse 3]
This verse is the most important verse to understand the process of chanting
the holy names.
There are three important instructions here:
Humility
Tolerance
Offering respects to others
If one practices the above instructions then one will develop a taste for
chanting the holy names.
If we think ourselves lower than a straw in the street, we will not take shelter of
duplicity while displaying only a pretense of humility. True humility means to
develop a taste for chanting. In other words if you don't have taste for
chanting, that means that your humility is false. To show our humility to the
envious atheists and hypocrites is not what is meant by being lower than a
straw in the street. We should not show our humility to everyone.
Unless we are sincere, we cannot think ourselves lower than a blade of grass.
Only those who are free from material desires can become sincere devotees
and constantly chant the holy names.
The holy names should be chanted free of pride, false ego and the desire to be
respected by others.
Here is a video clip of Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami while chanting japa - just
silently murmuring or mentally chanting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFsVmXAQpKg
Offenses to the Holy Name are the core reason why we don't get any taste. In
my second lesson I quoted and explained Srila Prabhupada's direct instruction
to chant the holy names of Nityananda and Gauranga to quickly gets rid of
offenses.
If one practices the third and fourth verse of Siksastakam, one can acquire the
taste for the Holy Name very quickly because they focus on humility which is
the key for attaining it. It is said: "Only the humble and meek shall enter the
Kingdom of God."
The Acharyas Define What is Humility:
"Humbleness is the sign of progress in Krishna Consciousness. A Krishna
Consciousness person thinks always about himself as the lowest creature in the
world, and the more one thinks like that he becomes elevated more and more.
A Krishna Conscious person is never falsely puffed-up; he is satisfied with his
humble position as the servant of the servant of the servant of Krishna." [From
Srila Prabhupada's Letter to Krishna dasa, June 1, 1968]
To further understand and imbibe the mood of humility we recommend the
reader to please read Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur's bhajan "Amara jivana" which
enumerates one after another the deep feelings of a genuinely humble
devotee: http://kksongs.org/songs/a/amarjivan.html
Therefore, even though Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur was fully self-realised, he
genuinely felt himself most fallen. The songs he wrote wherein he expresses his
fallen condition were not 'just to teach us' the way to become to become
humble, but were coming from his transcendental realizations.
"Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead. This
chanting or devotional service does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor on
one's having taken birth in a good family. By humility and meekness one
attracts the attention of Kṛṣṇa. That is the verdict of all the Vedas. Therefore if
one becomes very humble and meek, he can easily attain the lotus feet of
Kṛṣṇa in this age of Kali." [Caitanya Caritamrita, Antya 4.71, purport by Srila
Prabhupada]
So it is clear that development of humility depends on our persistent chanting
of the holy name of Krishna and that the ability to chant also depends on
humility. They are inseparable and interdependent: we cannot chant if we are
not humble and we cannot become humble if we don't chant.
"Wherever there is a relationship of love of Godhead, its natural symptom is
that the devotee does not think himself a devotee. Instead, he always thinks
that he has not even a drop of love for Kṛṣṇa." [Antya 20.28]
Pure devotee knows that anything he attains in the course of his devotional
service is simply due to the mercy of the Supreme Lord.
Srila Prabhupada emphasizes that the only way to receive and properly
understand the transcendental knowledge is to humbly approach a qualified
spiritual master who has personally realized that knowledge and has the power
to transfer his blessings unto such a qualified disciple:
"Humility means that one should not be anxious to have the satisfaction of
being honored by others. One should approach the spiritual master with all
humility and offer him all services so that he will be pleased to bestow his
blessings upon the disciple. Because a bona fide spiritual master is a
representative of Kṛṣṇa, if he bestows any blessings upon his disciple, that will
make the disciple immediately advanced without the disciple’s following the
regulative principles. It is clearly stated that without humility, understanding is
not truly possible." [Bhagavad-gita 13.8-12, purport by Srila Prabhupada]
Srila Bhaktivinoda further clarifies the verse three of Siksastakam regarding the
issue 'offering respect to others'. He instructs that "One should be free from
pride and should offer appropriate respect to others. One should offer
Vaiṣṇavas the respect due to a Vaiṣṇava, and to those who are not Vaiṣṇavas
he should offer the respect that befits any human being. If one does not offer
respect to others, he does not acquire the necessary qualification to chant śrī-
nāma." [From Jaiva dharma, ch. 8]
Here are all the lessons for download:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/chanting64rounds/files/
Your servant,
Dharmavira das
For any questions email me at: dharmaviran@gmail.com