The opposing opinion to the one we are presenting in this text is that the Maha Mantra can besung in Kirtan. This opinion falls apart when we point out that there is NO TEXT that supports this, but the inevitable response is that there is no text that prohibits it. Honestly, I ask you if this is a valid defense in, say, a court of law? Is it valid at all? Surprisingly, from the other side this is the only evidence for those who believe that the Maha Mantra can be sung in Kirtan, along with a couple of doctored and contrived interpretations from Shastra, while the evidence
of the Maha Mantra being only for Japa is overwhelming. All of Gaudiya Siddhanta states it over and over again, and even then, there are those who would deny it… What else are we to expect in Kali Yuga? If only to totally destroy the demon of illusion, we will continue to bring forward more authoritative Gaudiya Vaishnava verses, not ones coming from this guru or that one, but from the eternal luminaries of Gaudiya Vaishnavism before the creation of some particular Math or philosophical school. This is the Maha Mantra of Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu.
One very important detail is how all the Acharyas are emphasizing that Sri Gouranga is “chanting Japa.” Would it not be enough to just say he’s chanting the Maha Mantra?
Smiling Prabhu said to all the bhaktas:
Spread this holy name of mine, from house to house. All people, young and old, who live in Navadvipa, Chandalas, poor people, honest as well as criminals alike. Teach them all the holy name along with the knots (Japa). Then all will cross beyond mundane existence.
— Locana Dasa Thakura, Chaitanya Mangala
The Master, having accepted all the people of Gauda as his own, teaches them as a father: Oh, repeat the names, “Hare Krishna” through the practice of counting them (Japa). Will that son of Sachi ever return before the path of my eyes?
— Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, Chaitanyashtaka, 5
In these verses of adoration for Sri Gouranga and in the authorized biographies, it is mentioned that he is “counting the Maha Mantra in Japa.” I repeat, there is not one verse that states that he was chanting the Maha Mantra in Kirtan. My question is, why would someone begin teaching against Sri Gouranga’s practice and that of the Acharyas who dedicated their lives to the mission of Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu? Another verse from Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati confirms this:
Prabodhananda Sarasvati has elevated the name of Sri Gaurahari as the chanter of the Maha Mantra while counting, when he extends his blessings to the people of the world: as his hand trembles with divine love, he makes knots in the band around his waist in order to count while he repeats the names “Hare Krishna,” which are his own names that bless the world. His face wet with tears, he longs to see Jagannath, who is his own self. Thus, he comes and goes from the temple, elevating all who see him. May the golden bodied Hari protect you.
— Prabodhananda Sarasvati, Chaitanya Candramrita, 3.16
All the Acharyas venerate Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur for being the first biographer of Sri Gouranga. In his “Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata,” which is often highly praised by Sri Krishna Das Kaviraj in his immortal work, “Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita.” Sri Vrindavan Das Thakur writes:
“All glories to Chaitanyachandra, who is non-different from Lord Murari,
who is the new lamp of Navadvipa, who is like a lion without equal in subjugating the atheists appearing as elephants, and who holds a cord for counting his own names, Hare Krishna, while he chants.”
— Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata 2.5.1
The Shastra is replete with evidence concerning the Maha Mantra and its use. An honest seeker would not find proof indicating that the Maha Mantra should be sung in Kirtan; instead, they would encounter more verses explaining the connection between Japa and the repetitions of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. Having explained all this, I believe it is evident that what is stated in this text is correct. If there were verses that say otherwise, I would obviously cite them in
this study, but they are not found in Gaudiya Siddhanta. Among the many Lilas we could study, one in particular that I would like to share involves Vaninatha, a close servant of Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu, who is arrested and put in mortal danger. Sri Gouranga sends a messenger to inquire about his condition. The following verses reveal the marvelous attitude that a perfect devotee of Sri Gouranga possesses:
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked the messenger:
What was Vaninatha doing when he was arrested and taken to that place?
— Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Antya Lila 9.55
The messenger answered: Free from all fear, he repeated without ceasing the Maha Mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
— Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Antya Lila 9.56
He counted his prayers with the fingers of his two hands,
and every time he completed a thousand repetitions, he made a mark on his body.
— Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Antya Lila 9.57
Upon hearing this, the Lord felt quite pleased.
Who can understand the mercy of the Lord for His devotee?
— CC Antya Lila 9.58
Now think about yourself. If the police of a tyrannical government who opposed your philosophy and spirituality arrested you, you would be aware that your life is in their hands. The crime is the public adoration of the names of God, being under arrest, in prison, what would you do? Surely you would not make waves, looking for the possibility that they might free you. You wouldn’t start chanting even more loudly the Maha Mantra, not to speak of marking your body in order to keep the count of the number of your prayers. This would be a proof of your unbreakable faith in Sriman Mahaprabhu. The next logical question would be, if
Kirtan of the Maha Mantra and Japa of the Maha Mantra are both permitted, why didn’t Vaninatha simply chant the Maha Mantra without counting, in order to not draw the attention of those demonic police? The answer is simple: Sri Gouranga instructs the Maha Mantra Japa (with counting). An alternative interpretation to his sacred instructions did not exist. This is precisely what all of us should do, without fear, to chant the Maha Mantra only in Japa just as Sri Gouranga taught and how he chanted in his own life in the terrestrial Goura Lila.
Extract from the book The Mahamantra of Sri Gouranga.
Download the full PDF. To ask how: gourasangha@gmail.com
About the Author
Radhe Radhe. Pranams. Muchas gracias por entregar este aclaratorio y fundamentado relato sobre la correcta ejecución del Mahamantra, como lo entrego Sri Caitanya Mahaprabu.
Radheshyam