|| Hare Kṛṣṇa ||
All Glories to Śrī
Guru
& Gaurānga!
All Glories to Śrīla
Prabhupāda!
Nitāi Gaura Premānande,
HARI HARI BOLO!
Patitānām Pāvanebhyo Vaiśṇavebhyo Namo Namaḥ!
Respected devotees,
Please accept our humble
obeisance - dandavat praṇāma, This article is also in the continuation to the previous two articles regarding CHANTING / JAPA / SANKIRTAN of the Hare Krishna Mahaa-Mantra. According to the authorized scriptures (Shaastra), a person who is chanting the Holy Names of the Lord, has to save himself from NAAMA-APARAADHA (offenses while chanting). If he is successful in doing so, there remains no doubt in his attaining the highest perfection. The following are the 'Ten Offenses' as mentioned in the scriptures:
The Ten Offenses to
the Holy Name
are listed as follows in the Padma Puraana, Brahma Khanda
25.15-18, as quoted in the Chaitanya-Charitaamrta (Adi Lilaa 8.24, purport):
shri sanatakumaara uvaacha (Sanatkumaar says to Naaradamuni)
sataam nindaa naamnah paramam aparaadham vitanute
yatah khyaatim yaatam kathamu sahate tad vigarihaam
1. To blaspheme the great saintly persons who are
preaching the glories of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is the worst offense at the
lotus feet of the holy name. The Naama-prabhu, who is identical with Krsna, will
never tolerate such blasphemous activities, even from one who passes as a great
devotee.
shivasya shri-vishnor ya iha guna-naamaadi sakalam
dhiyaa bhinnam pasyet sa khalu hari-naamaahita-karah
2. In this material world the holy name of Vishnu is
all-auspicious. Vishnu's name, form, qualities, and pastimes are all
transcendental, absolute knowledge. Therefore, if one tries to separate the
Absolute Personality of Godhead from His holy name or His transcendental form,
qualities, and pastimes, thinking them material, that is offensive. Similarly,
to think that the names of demigods such as Lord Shiva are as good as the name
of Lord Visnu is also blasphemous.
guror avajnaa
3. It is offensive to consider the spiritual master
material and therefore to envy his exalted position.
shruti-shaastra-nindanam
4. It is offensive to blaspheme the Vedic literature such
as the four Vedas and the Puraanas.
artha-vaadah
5. It is offensive to consider the glories of the holy
name exaggerations.
hari-naamni kalpanam
6. It is offensive to consider the holy name of the Lord
imaginary.
naamno balaad yasya hi paapa-buddhir
na vidyate tasya yamair hi shuddhih
7. The greatest offense at the lotus
feet of the holy name is to think that since chanting the holy name can
counteract all sinful reactions one may therefore go on sinning and at the same
time chant the holy name to neutralize the reactions. One who thinks in this way cannot be purified by any
program of sense restraint and severe austerities, nor by the various
punishments of Yamaraja.
dharma-vrata-tyaaga-hutaadi-sarva-
shubha-kriyaa-saamyam api pramaadah
8. It is offensive to consider the chanting of the holy
name equal to the performance of ordinary religious ceremonies or fire
sacrifices, the observance of austere vows, or the practice of renunciation,
all of which are materialistic auspicious activities.
ashraddadhaane vimukhe 'py ashrnvati
yas chopadesah shiva-naamaaparaadhah
9. It is an offense to preach the glories of the holy name
to those unwilling to hear, to atheists, or to those who have no faith in
chanting the holy name.
shrutvaapi naama-mahaatmyam yah priti-rahito 'dhamah
aham-mamaadi-paramo naamni so 'py aparaadha-krt
10. If a person has heard the glories of the
transcendental holy name of the Lord but nevertheless continues in the
materialistic concept of life, thinking, "I am this body and everything
belonging to this body is mine," and if he thus shows no respect or love
for the chanting of the holy name, that is an offense.
api pramaadah
It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting.
Try to withdraw your mind from the objects of the senses,
exclusively concentrate on the sounds of the mantra, meditate on the meaning of
the mantra, and remain undisturbed by any other thoughts or external
situations. Through devoted concentration on the syllables of the holy name, you
will realize step-by-step the Lord's form, qualities, and pastimes.
Every devotee who claims to be a Vaishnava must carefully guard
against these ten offenses in order to quickly achieve the desired success,
Krsna-Prema.
aparaadha-vimukto hi naamni japtam sadaachaara
naamnaiva tava devarshe sarvam setsyati naanyatah
"Sanatkumaara said, "O Devarshi Naarada, The proper way
to chant the holy name is to always avoid the ten offenses. There is no need
for any other process of spiritual elevation other than chanting the holy name,
for the holy name alone can award one the highest perfection."
Therefore, kindly avoid these offenses and please always keep chanting the Mahaa-Mantra to make your life sublime.
Please feel free to write back to us if you have any doubts or quarries at: iskco...@gmail.com
With sincere prayers for your wellbeing and
dandavat praṇāma,
Your humble servants
at,
Śrī
RādhāGovindajī Dhāma
ISKCON -
Ahmedābād - INDIĀ
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Always
Chant Mahaa-Mantra...
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare
Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare |
Hare Rāma Hare
Rāma, Rāma Rāma Hare Hare ||...and be Happy
