Sri-Harinama Cintamani

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Why, we might ask, is the Holy Name the most valuable thing? Is direct darsana of the Lord not better, or a wish-fulfilling tree or or or ...? The answer is given by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura - the Holy Name of the Lord has descended into this world to benefit one and all. Thus it is the most merciful form of all of Krsna ‘s other forms:

"Everything in the material world is made of maya. It is dull and inert. The individual souls, imprisoned in the material world are the only spiritual entities within this world. Assuming the form of His Holy Name, Lord Krsna has descended here. Thus the Holy Name is the second spiritual entity in this world."

(Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Footnote to Sri Harinama Cintamani 2.35)

When a living being is so fortunate as to obtain the great treasure of the Holy Name and when he cultivates the chanting of Nama Prabhu with all sincerity, he becomes free of innumerable sins and gets blessed with pure love of Krsna. That is the incredible power and mercy of the Holy Name.

This is not an empty promise by a particular group of Caitanya Vaisnavas. No, the ancient scripture Srimad-Bhagavatam confirms this again and again. In the beginning of his divine instruction to King Pariksit, who has only 7 more days to live, the great Sukadeva Goswami, without wasting a moment, tells his disciple the essence of that greatest of all scriptures:

etan nirvidyamananam

icchatam akuto-bhayam

yoginam nmpa nirnitam

harer namanukirtanam

"O King, constant chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge."

(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 2.1.11)

How TO CHANT PROPERLY

If anyone thinks about all this carefully, he will certainly become inspired to welcome the chanting of the Holy Name as his foremost occupation. Who could ever ignore a powerful and kind king who comes into a prison house to not only release all its prisoners but to offer them a close relationship with Himself in His wonderful eternal kingdom?

The chanting of the Holy Name however has to be done properly. Without knowing how to chant in the right way, one would surely be unsuccessful in his efforts. The analogy of shooting with a bow is given in the scriptures to alert us to the dangers of not chanting properly:

"The vedic mantra is the bow, the pure living entity the arrow, and the target the Supreme Being."

(Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.15.42)

Therefore, the Hare Krsna mantra is our bow, the pure soul the arrow, and Radha and Krsna the goal. If the arrow is to hit the target if the archer is to reach Radha and Krsna through his chanting - the archer cannot be thoughtless when he aims. We need to know the science of how to aim the arrow of our chanting properly.

If you do not know how to use a bow and arrow, you will surely miss the goal and remain disappointed. Sri Harinama Cintamani therefore teaches us systematically how to chant properly. By giving us innumerable positive tips how to avoid the 10 offences which can otherwise cover the effect of chanting like clouds that cover the sun. The work enhances the practice of chanting like no other spiritual text. And throughout the text it teaches us about the goal — Radha and Krsna in the Kingdom of God.

This is not an ordinary book. Only persons who have firm faith in Lord Caitanya and in devotional service, and who take shelter of the holy name are qualified to understand this book.

Persons who have faith that by following the path of sadhana-bhakti by and taking shelter of the holy name they will attain all perfection are the best of spiritual aspirants. In Sri Siksastaka Lord Caitanya taught about the holy name. Lord Caitanya also taught Haridasa Thakura and selected him to be the greatest teachers of the holy name.

Authoritative biographies affirm that Haridasa Thakura was born in a Muslim family. This we know for certain. Haridasa was born in a rural village named Budana. Because of his previous pious deeds he soon became attracted to the worship of Lord Krsna. Leaving home, and fashioning a small cottage in the forest of Benapola, he passed his days chanting and remembering Lord Krsna’s holy names. Harassed by non-devotees, he left and made a home by the Ganga’s bank. Some wicked men sent a prostitute to corrupt him. Hearing Lord Krsna’s holy names from Haridasa’s mouth, the prostitute became a saintly devotee. Offering his small cottage in Benapola to the new devotee, Haridasa left that province. Singing and singing Lord Krsna’s holy names, he crossed the Ganga, came to Saptagrama, and stayed in the home of Srila Yadunandana Acarya. Accompanied by Yadunandana Acarya, again and again he attended meetings hosted by the rent-collectors Sri Hiranya and Govardhana. At one of those meetings he debated the glories of the holy name with a brahma-bandhu named Gopala Cakravarti. Hiranya and Govardhana fired that brahmana from his job, and because of his offense to a Vaisnava, the brahmana developed leprosy. At that time Govardhana’s small son, Raghunatha dasa, became attracted to Vaisnavism by Haridasa’s mercy. Sad at heart by hearing of Gopala Cakravarti’s sufferings, Haridasa left that place, took shelter of Advaita Prabhu in Phuliya-grama, made his home in a cave by the Ganga’s bank, and engaged in nirjana- bhajana (solitary worship of the Lord). Thinking his personal fame and glory unimportant, a devotee may leave the association of the people in general and live like a hermit, but the glory of a devotee can never really be hidden. In this way Haridasa’s fame and glory became widespread. Hearing of it, the Muslims became angry. The Muslim king of that place had Haridasa arrested and made him suffer. Haridasa was filled with mercy for every living being. Not considering other’s faults, he gave blessings to everyone. Leaving that place, he returned to his cave. A few days later Lord Caitanya came to that place. In Lord Advaita’s company, Haridasa met Lord Caitanya and took shelter of His feet. From that time on Lord Caitanya engaged Haridasa in preaching the glories of the holy name. When Lord Caitanya went to Jagannatha Puri, Haridasa followed and lived by a Siddha-bakula tree. When Haridasa left this world, Lord Caitanya personally placed him in a samadhi by the seashore and personally performed his funeral sankirtana and festival.

The devotees who associated with Lord Caitanya in His pastimes became very devoted to Him. By His order they preached His teachings to the world. Asking of him some questions, Lord Caitanya made the truth of the holy name appear from Haridasa’s mouth. These teachings are described in many places in Sri Caitanya- caritamrta, Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, and in many other books describing devotional service. Encouraged at various times by various devotees, I have compiled an anthology of various writings describing Sri Haridasa Thakura’s preaching about the holy name. From different faraway places I have gathered many books about Haridasa. Seeing that the statements of the sahajiydas, baulas, and many others are only incoherent ramblings that have no value, I have taken great care to avoid their words. In this way I found one or two books explaining the pure Vaisnava philosophy. Actually there were sixteen titles in thirty-two manuscripts, books pleasing to the rasikas. At this | was very happy. Sri Haridasa Thakura taught the glories of the holy name to various pure devotees, and, in their gurudeva’s name, these disciples wrote various books. Seeing these books, the devotees in Srihatta-grama who had originally encouraged me to write became very thankful. All these books I found contained Haridasa’s teachings about the holy name. This book, Harinama Cintamani, is a compilation of those teachings. To please the devotees, devotees whose only wealth is Lord Krsna, I now publish this book. I do not think persons who are not devoted to the holy name, persons who do not think Lord Krsna is their only wealth, should read this book. I have no wish to hear the foolish arguments of the non-devotees.

Most munificent Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in Mayapur, West Bengal on 18 February 1486 and without any discrimination He distributed the love of Godhead to one and all. His life and teachings are available in many authoritative books, which are written by His intimate associates and their disciples.

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says,

golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana,

"The only remedy is hari-nama-sankirtana, the chanting of the Hare Krsna mahd-mantra, which is descended from the spiritual world, Goloka Vrndavana."

Lord brought this prema-nama, "Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare" from His transcendental abode and whole heartedly distributed it in this mortal world to each and every living being. Vaisnava dcaryas say, this is a special Kaliyuga called as ‘dhanya-kali’ because Lord Gaurdanga personally appeared and distributed the holy name, which is the simple and sublime way to achieve the love of Godhead which is very difficult to achieve in other yugas. Normally Kali-yuga is very degraded and people are too much entangled in sinful activities and are ignorant about their true identity. But in this rare age people can restore their divine identity very easily by the special blessings of the Supreme Lord. The only yajna required to re-establish our eternal and blissful relationship with Supreme Lord is chanting His transcendental holy names. By chanting the holy names of the Lord we are in immediate contact with Krsna.

Lord teaches the different aspects of devotional service to the world through His eternal associates. In this book, we will find that on the order of the Lord, the Nama-acarya Srila Haridasa Thakura is humbly revealing the divine secrets of holy name which were unheard or unspoken to the people of this world. This sacred conversation took place between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Haridasa Thakura in Siddha-bakula, Jagannatha Puri. Our revered acarya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, compiled and presented this unmatched talk on holy name in his work known as "Sri Harinama Cintamani."

"Sri Harinama Cintamani" book is most essential and important work of Thakura Bhaktivinoda who appeared and restored the mission and teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this modern era. He is also well known in the Vaisnava community as the Seventh Gosvami.

This book is divided into fifteen chapters and is composed in Bengali verses. It is actually a conversation between Lord Caitanya and Haridasa Thakura. The Lord personally asks questions about the glories of the holy name, and Haridasa Thakura gives extensive answers. The first three chapters describe the inconceivable glories of the holy name, acceptance of the holy name, and chanting the holy name free of impersonalist misconceptions. Fourth through thirteenth chapters elaborate on the ten offenses against pure chanting, and the last two chapters describe thirty two offenses to be avoided in the execution of pure devotional service, as well as a nectarean discussion on the process of practicing such devotion culminating in self-realization in pure ecstatic love of Godhead.

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in his book Teachings of Queen Kunti mentioned the purpose of our movement,

"All the centers of the Krsna consciousness movement are opened only for this purpose to facilitate chanting, dancing, and worshiping so that we shall not forget Krsna."

Easiest way to always remember Krsna is to vibrate the holy name by our tongue. Therefore it is most essential to understand and imbibe the teaching, which is given in this book for one who wants to advance in devotional service. Especially, one who wants to improve his nadma-bhajana and the understanding of holy name of Krsna.

It is my great fortune that by the grace of my spiritual master Srila Gopal Krsna Gosvami, I have become an instrument in publishing this book on the holy name of the Lord written by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. He originally wrote this great work in very melodious Bengali payara (verse), which is easily understandable by every class of men. We have tried our best to maintain original appearance of this book by keeping Bengali titles, verses, and footnotes that were given by Thakura Bhaktivinoda.

l am eternally indebted to the various devotees for their invaluable services to successfully publish this book. From the core of my heart, I am thankful to Sitarani devi dasi who took her precious time to edit this book. I am also grateful to Namabhava Dasa who has designed a beautiful cover for this book.

All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who introduced the chanting of the Lord’s Holy Name in every town and village around the world.

Congratulations to all the readers!

You have in your hand a rare and most precious treasure, a sincere harinama sadhaka’s guidebook for attaining love of God Sri Harinama Cintamani. It is an invaluable legacy and birthright of the Gaudiya Vaisnava-sampradaya, gifted by our most revered and merciful predecessor acarya, Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

"How may the conditioned souls be easily delivered from their suffering?" It is in answer to this succinct and deep question from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that Namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura summarized the essence of pure chanting. In Sri Harinama Cintamani, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura takes us on an ethereal journey to witness the conversations between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Haridasa Thakura on the most crucial subject for this age of Kali the chanting of the holy name — Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

harinama ye jagate dile kripa kari

siddhi labhe shista jiva laibeka vari

upaya haile nama sastrera sammata

anya Subha karma madhe haila ganita

O Lord, You mercifully gave to the world the holy name of Lord Krsna. Intelligent souls will chant the holy name to attain perfection. The holy name is the primary way to attain perfection. That is the scriptures conclusion. Other pious deeds are counted as secondary ways to attain perfection.

(Sri Harinama Cintamani 11.20-21)

tara madhye sarva-srestha nama-sankirtana

niraparadhe nama laile paya prema-dhana

"Of the nine processes of devotional service, the most important is to always chant the holy name of the Lord. If one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very easily obtains the most valuable love of Godhead."

(Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Sanatana Gosvami in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila 4.71)

Just as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Sri Ramananda Raya and Srila Rupa Gosvami to respectively reveal the rasas and their secrets; Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya to explain the intricacies of liberation; He wanted Srila Haridasa Thakura, born without special qualifications, to deliver nama-tattva, the process for this age. He awarded him the title of ‘Namacarya’. It is our good fortune that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura compiled these instructions in straightforward language for the benefit of simple minded Kali- yuga reprobates.

**Contents and Sample Pages**