At the Bombay Hare Krishna pandal, tent, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) was stunned to hear the same Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”. Some time ago he had heard the mantra from the song of Ganges. Here at Bombay, Srila Prabhupada was speaking on the meaning of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and he explained that this chanting of the Lord’s Holy Names will reawaken our dormant love for God. Richard also learnt that the process of Bhakti yoga helps us revive our relationship with God. He also discovered that the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra refers to the same blue boy to whom he had been irresistibly attracted at Delhi’s sidewalk. He learnt the boy was none other than Krishna, who is considered as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the Bhakti yoga practitioners and followers of Srila Prabhupada. Richard also learnt that chanting of Hare Krishna is the means to connect to God.
Radhanath Swami emphasizes on the chanting of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, and has also provided tips and techniques to chant the mantra better and derive maximum benefits. He calls upon a chanter of the Holy Names to pronounce distinctly and hear the Names of the Lord while chanting. He also implores spiritual aspirants to chant with a sense of urgency and love for God. Repeating his guru’s words, Radhanath Swami says that chanting must be ‘heart deep’ and not simply ‘lip deep’. This means we shouldn’t be simply chanting mechanically by moving our lips but rather we must engage our heart in chanting. Only then we can derive spiritual benefit from chanting of the Holy Names of God. Radhanath Swami emphatically asserts, “The holy name of the Lord is not material name under any circumstances and it’s never any less powerful than Krsna Himself. It never comes in contact with the material nature; it is always eternal and liberated. This is because God and God’s name- they are non-different.”
Radhanath Swami compares the Holy Names to the sun; just as the sun is effulgent and brilliant, the Holy Names too are self-illuminating and one who sincerely vibrates these names, derives direct and personal association of God. This is because God incarnates in the modern age in the form of his Holy Names.
Besides, in this world things are constantly changing. Radhanath Swami reveals how in due course of time we will grow older; our children will be married and gone, we will be retired. We will lose our loved ones and we too will be nearing death. At that time we will realize that during all these years one thing hasn’t changed. And that is the Holy Names of the Lord. The Holy Names are our connection to our eternal relationship with God in the spiritual kingdom of God. By sincerely chanting and connecting to God here in the material world, we are confirming our life after death in the spiritual abode of God.
“Go to India” a sweet but commanding voice; spoke up in the heart of young Richard (later Radhanath Swami) who was immersed in meditation, his search for meaning in life has brought him to the Isle of Crete. Today he was ordered to go to India. Born and raised in the middle class suburbs of Chicago, Radhanath swami grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s era when popular musicians protested war, prejudice and social injustice. Radhanath swami would listen to these songs again and again, but their lyrics referring to God stirred his soul. Peter, Paul and Mary- the folk trio from Greenswich village sang in their debut album
“Early in the morning, about the break of day
I ask the Lord, to help me find my way”
This simple prayer was to guide Radhanath swami in the coming years of his life........
nice article.
Wonderful article.
Very Nice!! in this changing world the thing which never changes is holy name of the Lord.
A very inspirational article indeed! I was deeply touched by the last paragraph in which Radhanath Swami mentions the fleeting nature of this world and how there is only thing which will not change and that is our eternal relationship with the supreme lord krishna.
thanks a lot swamiji
in this world things are constantly changing. Radhanath Swami reveals how in due course of time we will grow older; our children will be married and gone, we will be retired. We will lose our loved ones and we too will be nearing death. At that time we will realize that during all these years one thing hasn’t changed. And that is the Holy Names of the Lord. The Holy Names are our connection to our eternal relationship with God in the spiritual kingdom of God. By sincerely chanting and connecting to God here in the material world, we are confirming our life after death in the spiritual abode of God.So nicely explained by Radhanath Swami Maharaj ! Hare Krsna !
jay ho…..jay jay ho
Amazing.Haribol!
Very nice article explaining the glories of Holy Name…..
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for elaborating on the glories of the holy name and hope the whole world takes to this process.
“Chanting the Holly Names with love and sense of urgency”-the key to derive maximum benefit of chanting Holly Names. I pray for the mercy at the lotus feet of Maharaj ji and senior vaishnavas to understand the urgency and develop love for Krishna.
yes the holy name is the only reality that will accompany us to our next destination.
very nice article by Radhanath Swami maharaj
Wonderful !!
harer naam is the only dharma for kaliyuga. thanx for sharing wonderful article.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for showing us the temporary nature of material relations versus the spiritual eternity of the Lord’s holy names.
wonderful article.
Thank you for sharing this great article on the glory ofthe holy names.
The Holy Name is our life and Soul. Thank you Swamiji.
Thank you for emphasising on the importance of chanting the holy name.
Nice incident! Thanks for sharing.
very nicely described incidents of real life
Brilliat article.Haribol!
Really great article by Radhanath swami.When we cannot concentrate on the Holy names then in it old age what we are going to do with lot of troubles in health.But it is the only shelter when no one is with us.Thank you swamiji.
Yes the things of this world mat come and go but our eternal relationship with our Supreme Father Sri Krisha will never change.Thanks for nice article.
Beautiful article extolling the glories of Holy names of God….thanks
Thank you very much for sharing.
Hari naam is the only wealth in this age.
Holy Names of Lord are solution of every problem. I pray to devotees and lord for mercy so that I can chant holly names with love, sincerity and with a feeling of urgency.
The most wonderful solution – the chanting of the holy names.
Very aptly quoted by Swamiji. Thank you