Mahamantra from Mahanidhi Swami

[Paramananda das]

Meaning of the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mantra

Once Vallabhacarya met Mahaprabhu in Jagannatha Puri and asked about the meaning of Kṛṣṇa’s name. Lord Caitanya was sitting amongst His most intimate followers including Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acarya, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Sri Svarupa Damodara, Sri Raya Ramananda, Sri Rupa Gosvami and Sikhi Mahiti. When Mahaprabhu failed to reply, Vallabhacarya repeated the question because he wanted to present his own scholarly explanation. Finally Mahaprabhu said:

kṛṣṇa-nāmera bahu artha nā māni
‘śyāma-sundara’ ‘yaśodā-nandana,’—ei-mātra jāni

I do not know the meaning of Kṛṣṇa’s name. I only know that Kṛṣṇa is Yasodanandana and Syamasundara. I do not know any other meanings. (Cc. Antya 7.86)

Success in japa depends on conception and consciousness. One must hold the right conception or meaning of the mantra in the mind while chanting, and one’s consciousness must be filled with surrender. Regarding this point, Sri Caitanya-siksamrta says, “By chanting the name while understanding its meaning and praying to Kṛṣṇa with tears in the eyes, gradually by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, the chanting will advance. If this method is not followed, it will take many lifetimes to reach perfection.”

At the time of initiation, the spiritual master explains the meaning of the mantra, so the disciple can meditate on the right conception and chant with the correct consciousness. In describing the five saṁskāras to purify a disciple, the Sanat-kumāra-saṁhitā says, “At initiation the spiritual master will utter two mantras above the right ear and explain the meaning of the mantras.” “One receives a mantra from the mouth of a bona fide spiritual master, who instructs the disciple in the meaning and ultimate purpose of the mantra.” (SB 11.21.15 p.)

Thakura Bhaktivinoda explains that Māyāvādīs and materialists also chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, but due to their wrong conception they receive an imperfect result. Their chanting is filled with desires for sense gratification and liberation. The syllables of the holy name are there, but the Supreme Lord is not. Nevertheless, the wish-fulfilling nāma bestows some paltry secondary benefits upon such chanters, but never the ultimate treasure of kṛṣṇa-prema.

Attaining the eternal loving service of Radha-Govinda in Vrajaloka is the ultimate benefit of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. Devotees understand this, and therefore they cherish the holy name more than anything else in the world.
(An excerpt from the book Art of Chanting by Mahanidhi Swami)