The Nectar of The Holy Name
Compilation of A.C. BV Swami Maharaja Srila Prabhupada's teachings
by Subhananda Prabhu
The Holy Name: The Universal and Supreme Religion for this Age
Part Two: The Theology of the Holy Name: Section A:
The Transcendental Attributes of the Holy Name
13.
The Maha−mantra Is the Essence and the Conclusion of All Vedic Knowledge, Rituals, Hymns, and Mantras (and Thus One Who Chants the Maha−mantra Is Understood to Have Passed Through All Vedic Knowledge and Practices in Previous Lives) The essence of all Vedic knowledge is included in the maha−mantra: The Narada−pancaratra praises the Hare Krsna maha−mantra, as follows:
trayo vedah sad−angani chandamsi vividhah surah sarvam astaksarantahstham yac canyad api van−mayam sarva−vedanta−sararthah samsararnava−taranah
"The essence of all Vedic knowledge−comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity [karma−kanda, jnana−kanda and upasana−kanda], the chandah or Vedic hymns, and the process for satisfying the demigods−is included in the eight syllables Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience." (Sri Caitanya−caritamrta Adi−lila 7.16)
Since the holy name can deliver a conditioned soul, it is the essence of all Vedic hymns: [isvara Puri to Lord Caitanya]:
"In this age of Kali there is no other religious principle than the chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all Vedic hymns. This is the purport of all scriptures." Simply by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra offenselessly one can be freed from all subtle and gross material conditions.… In the present age the vibration of the Hare Krsna maha−mantra is the only process which is in a transcendental position beyond material contamination. Since the holy name can deliver a conditioned soul, it is explained here to be sarva−mantra−sara, the essence of all Vedic hymns. (Sri Caitanya−caritamrta Adi−lila 7.74)
The chanting of the holy name of the Lord is the substance of all the Vedic mantras: Srila Jiva Gosvami strongly emphasizes the chanting of the holy name of the Lord as follows:
nanu bhagavan−namatmaka eva mantrah; tatra visesena namah−sabdady− alankrtah sri−bhagavata srimad−rsibhis cahita−sakti−visesah, sri−bhagavata samam atma−sambandha−visesa−pratipadakas ca tatra kevalani sri−bhagavan−namany api nirapeksany eva parama−purusartha−phala−paryanta−dana−samarthani tato mantresu namato 'py adhika−samarthye labdhe katham diksady−apeksa? ucyate− yadyapi svartpato nasti, tathapi prayah svabhavato dehadi−sambandhena kadarya− silanam viksipta−cittanam jananam tat−sankoci−karanaya srimad−rsi−prabhrtibhir atrarcana−marge kvacit kvacit kacit kacin maryada sthapitasti
Srila Jiva Gosvami states that the substance of all the Vedic mantras is the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. Every mantra begins with the prefix nama om and eventually addresses by name the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By the supreme will of the Lord there is a specific potency in each and every mantra chanted by great sages like Narada Muni and other rsis. Chanting the holy name of the Lord immediately renovates the transcendental relationship of the living being with the Supreme Lord. (Sri Caitanya−caritamrta Adi−lila 7.76)
Krsna consciousness, the chanting of the maha−mantra, is the essence of the Vedic principle: In the Narada−pancaratra it is stated that all the Vedic rituals, mantras, and understanding are compressed into the eight words Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Similarly, in the Kali−santarana Upanisad it is stated that these sixteen words, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, are especially meant for counteracting the degrading and contaminating influence of this materialistic age of Kali. The process of chanting is, therefore, not only the sublime method for practical perfection of life, but the authorized Vedic principle inaugurated by the greatest Vedic scholar and devotee, Lord Caitanya (whom we consider an incarnation of Krsna). We are simply following in His authorized footsteps.
The scope of the Krsna consciousness movement is universal. The process for regaining one's original spiritual status of eternal life, full with bliss and knowledge, is not abstract, dry theorizing. Spiritual life is not described in the Vedas as theoretical, dry, or impersonal. The Vedas aim at the inculcation of pure love of God only, and this harmonious conclusion is practically realized by the Krsna consciousness movement, or by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra.
As the goal of spiritual realization is only one, love of God, so the Vedas stand as a single comprehensive whole in the matter of transcendental understanding. Only the incomplete views of various parties apart from the bona fide Vedic lines of teaching give a rupturous appearance of the Bhagavad−gita. The reconciliative factor adjusting all apparently diverse propositions of the Vedas is the essence of the Veda, or Krsna consciousness (love of God). (The Science of Self−Realization)
All Vedic literature prescribes the chanting of the name of Krsna: My dear Dr. Staal: … Regarding convincing you that all scriptures prescribe chanting of the name of Krsna, I can simply present the authority of Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya recommended, kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. adi 17.31] ["Hari, Krsna, is constantly to be praised" (Siksastaka 3)]. Similarly, Madhvacarya quotes, vede ramayane caiva harih sarvatra giyate ["Hari is sung about everywhere in the Vedas and Ramayana"]. Similarly, in the Bhagavad−gita [15.15] the Lord says, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah ["By all the Vedas, I am to be known"].
In this way we find all the scriptures aiming at the Supreme Person. In the rg−veda [1.22.20] the mantra is om tad visnoh paramam padam sada pasyanti strayah ["The demigods are always looking to that supreme abode of Visnu"]. The whole Vedic process, therefore, is to understand Lord Visnu, and any scripture is directly or indirectly chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord, Visnu. (The Science of Self−Realization)
One who chants the holy names is understood to have passed through all forms of Vedic ritual, sacrifice, austerity, and study: [Devahtti to Lord Kapila]: Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your name! Even if born in the families of dog−eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Aryans. To be chanting the holy name of Your Lordship, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimage, studied the Vedas and fulfilled everything required.
As it is stated in the previous verse, a person who has once offenselessly chanted the holy name of God becomes immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices. One should not be astonished by this statement of Srimad−Bhagavatam. One should not disbelieve or think, "How by chanting the holy name of the Lord can one become a holy man to be compared to the most elevated brahmana?" To eradicate such doubts in the minds of unbelievers, this verse affirms that the stage of chanting of the holy name of the Lord is not sudden, but that the chanters have already performed all kinds of Vedic rituals and sacrifices. It is not very astounding, for no one in this life can chant the holy name of the Lord unless he has passed all lower stages, such as performing the Vedic ritualistic sacrifices, studying the Vedas and practicing good behavior like that of the Aryans. All this must first have been done. Just as a student in a law class is to be understood to have already graduated from general education, anyone who is engaged in the chanting of the holy name of the Lord−Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare−must have already passed all lower stages. It is said that those who simply chant the holy name with the tip of the tongue are glorious. One does not even have to chant the holy name and understand the whole procedure, namely the offensive stage, offenseless stage and pure stage; if the holy name is sounded on the tip of the tongue, that is also sufficient. It is said herein that nama, a singular number, one name, Krsna or Rama, is sufficient. It is not that one has to chant all the holy names of the Lord. The holy hames of the Lord are innumerable, and one does not have to chant all the names to prove that he has already undergone all the processes of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. If one chants once only, it is to be understood that he has already passed all the examinations, not to speak of those who are chanting always, twenty−four hours a day.