Sri Sanmodana Bhasyam, Part 8
BY: SUN STAFF
Jun 25, 2010 — CANADA (SUN) — A commentary on Lord Caitanya’s ‘Siksastakam’ by HDG Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, with a Bengali song for each verse that expands upon Mahaprabhu’s devotional moods (Sanskrit, 1886).
From the above quotations of different revealed scriptures we can conclude that the holy name is endowed with unlimited spiritual potencies. In the practice of karma, jnana, yoga, etc. the sadhaka is bound by the strict rules of scripture and the factors of time, place and circumstances. But in chanting and remembering the Lord’s name there is no such consideration of time, place or circumstances – this indeed is an example of Lord’s fathomless mercy upon us.
Yet in spite of all this it is truly a matter of great regret that we cannot develop even a drop of attraction for this most magnanimous holy name. The word durdaiva or misfortune is synonymous with offenses to the holy name (namaparadha). A concise resume of these offenses is given below.
1) Criticizing and finding faults in devotees or sadhus is a serious offence against the holy name. How can the name tolerate criticism of devotees who have dedicated their lives to propagating the glories of the Name? Therefore offending sadhus or saintly person is the first namaparadha.
2) Those who try to comprehend spiritual subject matter with material intelligence falsely conclude that Lord Visnu’s name, form, qualities and pastimes are different from the Lord Himself. In other words, they impose material characteristics and limitations on spirituality. Thus they equate demigods like Siva and Brahma with the Supreme Lord Visnu, or even think that these demigods are independent of Lord Visnu. The chanting of such persons is offensive.
3) It is an offense against the holy name to consider the spiritual master (who is self-realized and perfect in the chanting of the holy name) to be an ordinary mortal who possesses a material body, and to thus disobey and disregard him.
4) It is an offense to criticize and find fault with the Vedas, Puranas and other corollary scriptures.
5) It is an offense to think the glories of the holy name are exaggerated.
6) It is an offense to consider the holy name to be fictitious or concocted.
7) One who commits sinful activities on the strength of chanting the holy name can never be exonerated from this offense by any process, including the disciplines of yama, niyama, dhyana, meditation and so on in the yoga system.
8) Only a person in illusion thinks that mundane ritualistic activities such as charity, fasting, vows, abnegation, austerity and so on are on the same level as the transcendental activity of chanting the holy name.
9) It is also an offense to instruct a faithless person who is adverse to hearing the name on the glories of the holy name.
10) After hearing the wonderful qualities of the name, it is offensive to maintain material attachments of ‘me’ and ‘mine’. This means one has not developed a genuine attraction or interest for chanting.
It is imperative that a devotee avoids these ten offenses in chanting the holy name of the Lord. He must never try to counteract his sins or accrue piety through ritualistic observances, because he is neither required nor even eligible to perform karmakanda rituals. If perchance a devotee commits a namaparadha, then with an anxious heart he should go on chanting continuously. Such continuous chanting will protect him from committing further offenses as well as uproot his previous offenses. The scriptures clearly state that chanting alone can absolve all offenses and sinful reaction. Hence chanting the holy name is the best shelter for everyone. Chanting removes the very desire to commit namaparadha and gradually elevates one to the highest spiritual platform of Krsna-prema.
When one is free from offenses, his attachment for the Name increases; he will soon attain all perfection. Here `all perfection’ is synonymous to Krsna-prema. This is Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s second instruction.
Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Antya 20.17-19:
“Because people vary in their desires, You have distributed various holy names by Your mercy. Regardless of time or place, one who chants the holy name, even while eating or sleeping, attains all perfection. You have invested Your full potency in such individual holy name, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attachment for chanting Your holy names.”
“O Lord! Out of Your causeless mercy You have manifested x own potencies. You have not imposed rigid rules for chanting and remembering Your names, i.e., You have not laid down conditions barring anyone to chant or remember Your name even during eating, reclining, sleeping etc. But I am so wretched that I am not attracted to Your names.”
The word bahu or many indicates the two types of the Lord’s names, principal and secondary. The principal names include Krsna, Radharamana, Gopijanavallabha, etc. that convey the loving conjugal mood of the Lord; and Rama, Vasudeva, Narasimha, etc. that convey His awe inspiring opulent mood.
Brahman, Paramatma etc. are His secondary names; they are incomplete, separated and partial names. The Lord’s principal names are non-different from the Lord and possess all His energies; the secondary names are also impregnated with His pastime potencies but in partial degrees only.
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