Sri Harinama Maha - Mantra

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About the Author

Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja took his divine birth in this world in 1921, Bihar, India. In February 1946, he met his gurudeva, Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, and formally heard him the maha-mantra, which he chanted with absolute purity.

His gurudeva instructed him to translate the writings of prominent saintly Vaisnavas into Hindi. These invaluable masterpieces are currently being translated into English and other major languages of the world.

He travelled the globe between 1996 and 2010, teaching the maha-mantra to a multitude of sincere seekers. On 29 December 2010, in Sri Jagannatha Puri=-dhama, he concluded his pastimes in this world.

His purpose in compiling this booklet was to educate the public about the greatest of mantras, using proof from the Vedic scriptures to show that the holy name is authentic, a sound vibration beyond the mundane realm, specific in its sequences, and possessing unlimited glory.

Preface The hare krsna maha-mantra is eternal, and in this world, the Hare Krsna movement is thousands upon thousands of years old. In the Western world, though, it is relatively new. It was introduced to America in 1965 by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada. “The Hare Krsnas”, as they have come to be known are often seen singing the maha-mantra – hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare, hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare – throughout the world’s town and villages. Some people find they brighten and lift the heavy atmosphere of materialism that envelopes modern civilization. Others view them with reserve, not understanding their public chanting and dancing and not feeling comfortable to question it. We hope this booklet clarifies the authenticity of their practice.

India’s ancient Vedic texts unequivocally present the chanting of hare krsna as the formula for freeing oneself from all suffering and becoming established in one’s eternal spiritual position.

Absorption in chanting the maha-mantra is not indicative of sentimental religiosity or mindless fanaticism. Man means “mind” and tra means “to free”. Therefore, a mantra is not merely sound; it has a specific potency and acts to liberate one from the devitalizing nature of material consciousness. The maha-mantra, meaning the most exalted of all mantras, does this to the superlative degree. If it is chanted seriously, one becomes free from all mundane self-conception and firmly situated in one’s unique, blissful spiritual nature.

It is also written in the Vedas that the Supreme Lord, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, advents to propagate the maha-mantra through His own deep immersion in it. To this day, the empowered pure Vaisnavas representing Him are fulfilling His mission. Indeed, this has been accomplished so effectively that millions of people the world over are aware of the maha-mantra, especially the first two words – hare krsna.

The sacred hare krsna maha-mantra bestows a tangible experience transcendence. When chanted perfectly, it enables direct communion with the Supreme Lord, that is, realization of one’s eternal, affectionate mood of service to Him.

This book is a priceless meditation for someone already deeply involved in the process of chanting the maha-mantra. Their spiritual practice will be invigorated and their faith in chanting strengthened by carefully studying its contents. The authoritative elaborations on the maha-mantra given herein are astounding and serve to refresh one’s appreciation of chanting. The gravity of the article by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura calls us to make the chanting of the hare krsna maha-mantra our life and soul. For the serious practitioner, this book is a most dear friend.

We are confident that any sincere enquirer who respectfully reads this book will recognize that chanting this maha-mantra, either congregationally or in solitude, is an authentic joyful process. And if, upon completing this text, that reader takes to uttering that sacred sound, we will feel most satisfied, as our saintly preceptors assure us that those who chant the hare krsna maha-mantra are bound for an experience of inner delight.

Contents

Introduction	i
Preface	vii
Sri Harinama Maha-mantra	1
The Sequence of the Maha-mantra	5
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Maha-mantra	23
Commentaries on the Maha-mantra	39
Elaboration on the sweetness of the name	39
Elaboration on the opulence within the name	41
The commentary that explains how the Divine Couple can be remembered within the name	42
Commentary by Srila Jiva Gosvami	43
Commentary by Sri Gopala Guru Gosvami	50
Commentary by Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami	61
Commentary by Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura	62
Commentary on Sri Pada-Kalpataru	65
The Glories of Sri Harinama	69
The intrinsic form of the holy name	69
In Kali-yuga the holy name bestows all perfection	70
The glories of the holy name as described by the previous spiritual masters	72
The glories of chanting the holy name exceed the glories of realizing the impersonal brahma	73
The superiority of chanting the holy name	74
The superiority of chanting the holy name over meditation and temple worship	74
Chanting the holy name is not governed by rules regarding time, place or circumstance	75
Chanting the holy name is the process (sadhana) and the goal (sadhya) for everyone	77
"Harinama"
by Saccidananda Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura	79
Glossary	101

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