Yuga Dharma

When we refer to the Yuga Dharma we mean the eternal activity to be performed by the conditioned soul (Atman), or the Jiva, in order to obtain liberation or the highest spiritual development. This Yuga Dharma has been indicated clearly by Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu in the Chaitanya Charitamrita:

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty evanāsty eva gatir anyathā

— CC Madhya 6.242

This words from Sriman Mahaprabhu are confirmed as well in the Srimad Bhagavatam:

kaler doṣa-nidhe rājannasti hy eko
mahān guṇaḥkīrtanād eva
kṛṣṇasyamukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet

O King, even though Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, still there is one good quality of this era: by chanting the names (Harinama) of Krishna, one can be freed from material bondage and ascend to the transcendental realm.

— Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.51

The words of Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu are also confirmed by the Kali Santarana Upanishad, where Brahmadev, creator of the material universe, instructs Narada Muni:

sa hovaca brahma sadhu prishto’smisarva shruti rahasyam
gopyam tac chrinu yena kali samsaram tarishyasi

Lord Brahma responded: “You asked the most important and relevant question for the benefit of humanity. I will tell you the most hidden secret.” The secret of the Vedic Scriptures, with this help all can easily cross this most dangerous era of Kali.

sa hovaca hiranyagarbah hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama hare hare iti shodashakam namnam, kali-kalmasha-nashanam natah parataropayah, sarva-vedeshu drishyate

Narada asks what this name of Narayan? and Brahma responds:

Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
These sixteen names destroy the harmful effects of Kali.
There is no better remedy than this in all the Vedas.
punar narada prapaccha bhagavan kasya vidhi-riti

Srila Narada asked Lord Brahma again:
“What is the procedure and rule for chanting this Maha Mantra?”

Here Narada Muni asks what are the rules for this Maha Mantra, which indicates that Sri Narada knows that this Mantra is not only Harinam, but a Mantra which has rules and regulations. If the Maha Mantra were not a Mantra, this question would be a non sequitur.
Someone may think that Narada Muni, who is the spiritual master of the entire universe, isn’t very intelligent since he is confusing Harinam for a Mantra. This wouldn’t just be falling into Aparadha against one of the greatest Vaishnavas at the level of the entire universe, but it also indicates a terrible eclipse (ego) of consciousness in whoever would come to think like this.

tam hovaca nasya vidhi-riti sarvada shuci-ashucira va pathan
brahmanam salokya samipya sarupatam sayujyatam eti

Lord Brahma responds: No rules or regulations are involved in chanting this Maha Mantra. It should always be chanted, independently, if one finds himself in a pure or impure condition.

Here Brahmadev indicates what Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu will also state, “there are no regulations other than counting the repetitions of the Maha Mantra.” As a Mantra, this is the only regulation. We read in the next verse:

yadasya shodashikasya sardha trikotir japatitada brahma hatyam tarati vira hatyam svarna steyat puto bhavati. pitrideva manushyanam apakarat puto bhavati

When one chants the sixteen names of the Maha Mantra 35 million times (sardha trikotir), he is absolved of the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa or a Kshatriya, or stealing or participating in harmful activities against one’s ancestors, other persons or living entities.

Brahmadev indicating a NUMBER (35 million) of repetitions of the Maha Mantra is supremely significant, as all Mantras effectively work under a “prescribed number,” which we will evidence further on in the words and instructions of the same Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu. With this information we can understand that in this Age of Kali there is no other form to obtain liberation other than the chanting of the names of Hari.

Extract from the book The Mahamantra of Sri Gouranga.
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