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Excerpts from Sri Bhagavatamrita By His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad 108 Tridandi Swami
Sri Srimat Bhakti Sravan Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

 

The Vedas, Upanishad, Purana, history, smriti etc and all the scriptures sing about the extraordinary importance of Naam. Whether knowing or not knowing the significance of Naam, whether indifferently or with devotion, whether mindfully or otherwise, to the extent that even if it is to abuse the One who is named (naami) - in whichever way the Naam touches the tongue, the fruit of the Naam is received.

It can be compared to a burning coal which when coming in contact with the body causes a burn. This is the intrinsic power of Naam, and in the matter of revealing its fruit, it does not at all depend on the intelligence or knowledge, intent or goal of the person who is taking the Naam.

When Sripad Sanatan Goswami was at Neelachal one day Sriman Mahaprabhu was invited to accept prasadam in the Tota Gopinath temple. Mahaprabhu asked Sripad Sanatan Goswami to join him to partake of the mid-day meal.

Receiving the Lord's invitation Sanatan was beside himself with joy. He lost his body consciousness.He went to Tota Gopinath via the sea shore. It was the height of summer and the time was midday. The fierce rays of the sun had turned the sand fiery hot. Blisters appeared on Sanatan's feet.

But as he had lost external consciousness, he was unaware of it. He became aware of it only when Mahaprabhu pointed it out. Just because Sanatan Goswami had not focussed on the hot sand, it does not mean that the burning sand would desist from doing it's job - scalding his feet. This is the inherent quality of heat.

In the same way, if one utters the Naam even without paying attention the Naam will have its affect as per the inherent power of the holy Naam. The testament to this is Ajamil. Ajamil spent his entire lifetime in immorality and sin. The name of his youngest son was Narayan. In his old age in the last moments of his life when the messengers of Yama appeared, he was frightened out of his wits and began shouting the name of his son.

Just as the hot sand had scorched the feet of Sanatan Goswami, the name of Narayan touched his tongue although Ajamil's focus was not on the actual Supreme Being Sriman Narayan the Lord of Vaikuntha. Nevertheless, the name of Narayan uttered with the intention of calling his son saved Ajamil and destroyed the misdeeds of his entire lifetime. This is similar to the hot sand creating blisters on the feet of Sanatan Goswami even when he was quite unware about it.

But what is the purpose of the intrinsic or tangible power of Naam? Just as fire has the power to burn, in the same way Naam too has the power to fulfill all desires as well as the power to liberate. But why? Why can the same thing not be said about material power? Why can one progress one step when saying the same thing about Naam?

Naam and the One named (naami) are the same. The two are inseparable as per smriti and shruti. Just as the One named is 'chidananda-swarup' embodiment of pure consciousness essence, Naam too is chidananda-swarup pure consciousness form. Being chidananda and being self-effulgent just like the One named, Naam is not dependent on anything else to reveal its glory. The state of mind or the mental goal of the one who takes the Naam are of no consequence to it.

Therefore if by any means once the Naam comes in contact with the senses, its results can be obtained. Sriman Mahaprabhu has also said: "Khaite shuite jotha totha Naam loy; desh kaal niyom nahi sarbosoddhi hoi". (Take the Naam even when eating and sleeping; time and place do not matter; all results are obtained.)

The Naam and the Naami being inseparable, so also the name of Ram and the form of Ram are inseparable. Therefore the greatness that is present in the form of Sri Ramchandra is also present in the Ram Naam. In this way, whatever is the glory of any divine form, the same glory is in their name.

Sri Krishna, being Swayam Bhagavan - God Himself and being the one holding the ultimate expansion of all potencies, His name also contains the ultimate expression of the glories of all divine names. Sri Krishna being Godhead Himself His name too is Godhead personified. Just as all the divine forms reside within Lord Sri Krishna, by worshipping Krishna alone all other divine forms also get worshipped. In the same way all other divine forms reside within Sri Krishna's name. In the uttering of Sri Krishna's name, the names of all other divine forms are also taken.

By taking Sri Krishna's name one obtains the fruit of taking the names of all other divine forms. This means that Sri Krishna's name is empowered to give the fruits that accrue from taking all the other divine names. This is the prominence of Sri Krishna's name as compared to the names of other divine forms. All holy names have the same glory and yet this is the pre-eminence of the name of Sri Krishna.

We can attempt to understand the matter of specialness even among the many similar things with the help of an example. In a college there are a number of professors and there is a principal as well. The principal is also a professor. As professors they are all equal, but within this same-ness, there is a distinction among the professors; each of them being a professor of a particular subject, all of them are not professors of the same subject. Again among them all, the principal has a unique place; along with being a professor he or she is also the Principal.

As principal they hold special powers regarding the governance of the college, the administration and the faculty etc. This is the uniqueness within the same-ness. In the same way, even though all the names of the Lord have the same eminence, yet the Name of Sri Krishna has unparalleled glory. This is the resolution of Sri Hari Bhakti Vilas and Sanatan Goswami.

The jeeva's mind which is always flowing towards worldly matters cannot and does not want to settle itself in the Naam. For that an intense practice is required. Even if the mind does not settle, a daily practice routine of Naam kirtan for some time is absolutely necessary.

It is a sacred duty to accept the practice faithfully. For this reason, a specified number of Naam per day is very useful. This is the reason for chanting the Naam by keeping a count of Sri Hari's Naam on the japa-mala (rosary) and it is highly recommended.

Srila Thakur Haridas practiced a specific number of Naam as a sacred undertaking. Sriman Mahaprabhu has also revealed this exemplary model. Unless it is done in this way, the daily practice of Naam will not happen.

In the beginning even if there is no taste in taking the Naam, practicing the specified number of Naam daily is a duty otherwise a slackness will arise. One will not advance in one's devotional practice. Gradually, with the grace of the Naam itself, when the chitta will become purified then the sweetness of the Naam will be experienced.

For the tongue suffering from pitta-dosha sugar candy tastes bitter and yet, the medicine to cure pitta-dosha is also sugar candy. By continuing to eat sugar-candy in the form of medicine, when the pitta-dosha is cured, then the sweetness of the sugar-candy will be felt.

Sugar-candy is sweet no doubt but if a person who does not suffer from pitta-dosha keeps a small piece of banana leaf on the tongue and places a sugar-candy on top of it, then the sweetness of the sugar-candy will not be felt. Unless the sugar-candy comes in direct contact with the tongue, the sweetness cannot be experienced.

Similar to the cover of the banana leaf, the tongue and other senses of the Maya-engrossed jeeva have a coating of material contamination. That is why when the supremely sweet name of Sri Krishna lands on the senses, its alluring charm cannot be experienced.

 

- To be continued...