At Janakpur, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) met Vasudev, a handsome sadhu in his early thirties. Vasudeva had the manners of an aristocrat and his speech rang with the distinction of the Queen’s English. He wore immaculately clean robes. Richard had never met such a well-groomed mendicant. He was learned in both spiritual and material subjects, and when he invited Richard to travel by foot for three days to reach an obscure holy place, Richard agreed. They journeyed through countryside the whole way, and whomever they met along the way was charmed by Vasudeva’s gentle nature. But something puzzled Richard.
Behind a mask of cheerfulness, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) sensed that this man was tormented.
Vasudeva shared with Richard that he had been born to a well-to-do family in Calcutta and received a Ph.D., becoming a popular, celebrated professor. However a leader of the powerful black tantric cult controlled Vasudev’s life, and demanded him to surrender. Tantric mysticism, Vasudev explained was extremely powerful, and could be either beneficial or sinister. There are the white tantrics who use their powers to serve humankind. Then there are the black tantrics who use their powers to exploit people’s lives for their own diabolical purposes. They gain terrible influence through unspeakable sacrifices, tantric sex rites, and yoga. This guru was an extremely powerful black tantric, endowed with the power to control people’s minds and manipulate their lives. Vasudev had by the power of the holy name saved himself from the tantric’s effects, and although the tantric was killed, his soul sought revenge and in his astral body he sent his men to hunt for Vasudev, and seek revenge. Vasudev led a tormented life, constantly running in fear of the tantric and his evil men.
For most moderns black magic is part of fiction as in Shakesphere’s Macbeth or the more recent J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. But there’s more to it. I had heard of a lot of cases of evil spells on different people by tantrics. Radhanath Swami’s memoir reminded me of what my grandfather would tell me about these tantric spells. Tantric spells are ineffective on us if we follow two principles- develop confidence in divine, and cultivate strength of the mind. Radhanath Swami encourages people to be under the shelter of the divine. It’s important that we keep our external surroundings clean and also our mind pure by cultivating positive thoughts of love, and service. Reading spiritual books and associating with people aspiring to lead a pure life gives us the immunity from black magic spells.
One sure method that Richard (now Radhanath Swami) discovered was mantra yoga, chanting of the Holy names of God. Radhanath Swami gives interesting logic, “Since God is absolute, His names are non-different from Him. Therefore associating with the Holy names gives us the same benefit as associating with the Lord Himself.” Radhanath Swami’s advice therefore is, “constantly remember God and chant His Holy names.” This not only removes evil spells, it also helps keep them away.
Since we are associating with the Supreme Lord by chanting His names, our lives are filled with spiritual happiness. The occult phenomenon relegates to the background in the face of divine joy that springs from a loving relationship with God.
Table of Contents
Founder-acharya of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
“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........
Radhanath Swami’ instruction,”… constantly remember God and chant His Holy names… ,” does work.
View CommentHarer Nama Harer Nama Harer Nama Eva Kevalam
View CommentKalau Nastaiva Nastaiva Nastaiva Gatir anyatha….Thank you very much Maharaj for teaching us this most important instruction of life.
This narration instills all the more faith in us that holy names are supremely powerful and non different from Lord Himself. Very instructive pastime!
View CommentRadhanath Swami, being a genuine spiritual Guru always gives the right advice of Remembering God and chanting His Holy Names in all circumstances.
View CommentWhere there is Krishna bright like the sun, there cannot be maya and her diabolical forces, which is but shadow.
View CommentSo by being always in the presence of the sun, we can never be in shadow.
All problems of life can be solved simply by canting of the holy name. Thank you maharaj….
View CommentSo nice to know all about this .Thank you very much .
View CommentHoly name alone can dispel all inauspicious and surcharge the atmosphere with positive energy.
View CommentThank you for nice article
View Commentvery correctly explained by HHRM that chanting the holy name of the lord can bring in spiritual happiness in ones life, regards, bhakti
View Commentnice article, regards, rajesh karia
View CommentThankyou very much Radhanath swami for this advice, on how to drive away evil spells from our lives, by the chanting the holy names of the Lord.
View CommentThere is a saying that “Maare Krishna, rakhe ke? Rakhe Krishna, maare ke?” – meaning, if Krishna wants to kill someone, then no one can protect him and if He wants to protect someone, then no one can kill him. So as Radhanath Swami suggests, if we simply seek protection of the Lord through the chanting of His Holy Names, then no voodoo or black magic spells can harm us.
View CommentMahamantra Yoga is only effective cure against ill effects of all Kinds of Tantra Yoga. Thank you Radhanath Swami for showing us this!
View CommentAll Glories To.H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Rightly said. Only presence of the Holy Name is enough to chase away any evil things that are to come to any one.
Hare Krishna.
View CommentWhat a Good point made by Radhanath Swami.”….associating with the Holy names gives us the same benefit as associating with the Lord Himself The occult phenomenon relegates to the background in the face of divine joy that springs from a loving relationship with God”
View Commentwonderful story swamiji
View CommentThese all impediments in life of a devotee are simply meanth to increase the faith in the process of Krishna Consciouness. thats the only shelter we have through which we will be able to tolerate provoking situations.
View CommentThis is giving hope against hope. “Radhanath Swami encourages people to be under the shelter of the divine”. As Rahanath Swami often advocates taking shelter of holy names of God is the easiest way of taking shleter of the divine in this age of Kali.
View CommentA very interesting article,Thank you for sharing.
View CommentI know of cases where the chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord counters the evil effects very effectively.
View CommentOnly presence of the Holy Name is enough to chase away any evil things that are to come to any one.—Thank U for sharing with us
View Comment‘Radhanath Swami encourages people to be under the shelter of the divine. It’s important that we keep our external surroundings clean and also our mind pure by cultivating positive thoughts of love, and service.’ Thank you for sharing such positive thoughts.
View Commentthis article helps in increasing our faith in the holy names
View Commentthank you very much
View CommentIt is so important that we are always taking shelter of the holy names. Only the chanting of the Lord’s name can protect us from greatest dangers of life.
View CommentWe can learn a lot from this real story. Faith in the Holy Name is what will save us from all the calamities and at the end it only will take us back to Godhead. Thank you Radhanath Swami for encouraging us to chant Holy Name continuosly.
View CommentI know of several instances where Radhanath Swami and his God brothers have stated that all black magic and hypnotism, etc, can be shielded by surrendering to God. Radhanath Swami has taught us the most practical method too.
View CommentA very practical tip to move evil spirits away is chanting the holy names
View CommentThank you Maharaj for inspiring us to be in clean surrounding,esp. internally by chanting the holy names
View CommentVery nice article.
View CommentMaharajah has given us a very simple solution to protect us from evil forces like black magic. Just chant the holy name of the Lord because “Since God is absolute, His names are non-different from Him.
View CommentHmmmm, gd to know
View CommentThanks for sharing this wonderful article
View CommentThe Holy name is all powerful, and nothing bad can come close to us. Thank you Maharaj for guiding us and giving us this knowledge.
View CommentChanting really works!
View Commentvery nice, thank you maharaj
View CommentThe Holy Name is like a suraksha kavach. Hare Krishna!
View CommentSimple and effective way to protect from bad things.
View CommentHoly name the panacea for all problems.
View Commentits true. I have also observed. Chanting of holy name God always works. Thanks a lot for sharing.
View Commentvery nice and wonderful article
View CommentSuch an unusual experience and story. Thank you Radhanath Swami Maharaj for connecting the focus back to the Holy name.
View CommentMaharaj very expertly talks about external and internal cleanliness and how mantra meditation will help us achieve this. Thank you for guiding us.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s advice therefore is, “constantly remember God and chant His Holy names.” This not only removes evil spells, it also helps keep them away. — perfect advice
View Commentwonderful,thank you maharaj
View Commentthanks for sharing this
View CommentThank you very much.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj says the blackness we experience in this world is we have turned away from the all illuminating Diving Lord.
View CommentThanks for sharing your thoughts
The holy name is all auspicious
View Comment