Krishna, the Supreme Person is the origin of all dharma, the essence of all Vedas, and the meditation of all great authorities who understand the absolute truth. By practicing the yuga-dharma (spiritual practices for the specific yuga), everyone will attain the highest satisfaction of soul, mind, and body. Krishna and His holy name are non-different. His name is all-powerful, all-auspicious. Simply by chanting the holy name of Krishna, one can transcend the modes of material nature and attain the supreme spiritual goal. Kali Yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, that is marked with violence, deceit, and overall spiritual degeneration is the last of the four ages (Satya, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali). In this age of Kali, there is no means of attaining salvation other than chanting the holy names of Lord Hari.
harer-nama harer-nama harer-namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty-eva nasty-eva nasty-eva gatir anyatha
(Brhad Naradiya Purana)
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In this age of Kali the only means of deliverance is chanting of the holy name of Lord Hari. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.
Hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
Hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
Iti sodasakam namnam kali kalmasa nasanam
Natah parataropayah sarva vedesu drsyate
(Kali Santarana Upanishad)
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The sixteen syllables of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra: ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare’ destroy all inauspiciousness in this age of Kali. This is the verdict of the Vedas.
Holy Name of Krishna – savior of fallen souls in Kali Yuga
Kaler dosa nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah
Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta sangha param vrajet
(Srimad Bhagavatam, 12.3.51)
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My dear King, although Kali Yuga is an ocean of faults, yet there is one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the holy names of Krishna, one gets liberated from material bondage and is promoted to the transcendental spiritual kingdom.
harinama-para ye ca ghore kali-yuge narah
te eva krtakrtyasca na kalir badhate hi tan
hare keshava govinda vasudeva jaganmaya
itirayanti ye nityam na hi tan badhate kalih
(Brhan Naradiya Purana)
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Living beings who devote themselves to the chanting of the Holy Names of the Supreme Lord Hari are not affected by the reverses of Kali Yuga. Chanting the Holy Names ’Hari’, ‘Keshava’, ‘Govinda’, ‘Vasudeva’, ‘Jagan-Maya’ ,one overcomes the hindrances posed by Kali Yuga.
Dhyayan krte yajan yajnais tretayam dvapare ‘rcayan
Yadapnoti tadapnoti kalau sankirtya kesavam
(Padma Puran, Uttara Khanda, 42nd chapter)
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Whatever results were attained in Satya Yuga through meditation, in Treta Yuga by performing yajna, and in Dvapara yuga by Archana, can only be attained in Kali Yuga by Hari-Nama Kirtana, chanting the names and glories of Krishna, who is known as Keshava.
Krishna and His holy name are non-different
dana-vrata-tapas-tirtha-kshetradinam ca yah sthitah
saktayo deva-mahatam sarva-papah-harah subhah
rajasuyasvamedhanam jnanam adhyatma-vastunah
akrsiya harina sarvah sthapitah svesu namasu
(Skanda Purana)
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The Lord has drawn all of His purifying power invested within the practice of charity, religious rituals, austerity, visiting holy sites of pilgrimages, Karma-Kanda rituals that are offered unto the demigods, rajasuya yajna, asvamedha yajna, knowledge of self-realization and has infused them into His Names.
Nama cintamanih krsnas caitanya rasa vigrahah
Purnah suddho nitya mukto bhinnatvan nama naminoh
(Sri Bhakti rasamrta sindhu, Purva Vibhagaga, 2.233)
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The holy name of Krishna is a transcendental wish-fulfilling gem. It bestows all spiritual blessings, for it is Krishna Himself. It is the personification of divine mellows, the source of all pleasure. The holy name of Krishna is eternally liberated and spiritual. This is because the name of Krishna and Krishna Himself are identical.
Kali kale nama rupe krishna avatara
Nama haite haya sarva jagat nistara
(Chaitanya Charitamrta, Adi, 17.22)
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In this age of Kali, Krishna Himself appears in the form of His holy name. Through the holy name, the entire universe is delivered.
Chanting the Holy Name of Krishna – superior to all pious activities
ma richo ma yajustata ma sama pathha kinchana
govindeti harer nama geyam gayasva nityasah
(Skanda Purana)
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Do not recite the Rig, Yajur, Sama or Atharva Veda. Just chant the holy name of Lord ‘Govinda’ incessantly.
tirtha-koti-sahasrani tirtha-koti-satani ca
tani sarvany avapnoti vishnor namanukirtanat
(Vamana Purana)
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What one cannot obtain after touring millions and billions of holy places is achieved simply by chanting the holy names of Lord Vishnu.
prayaga-gangodaka-kalpa-vasah
yajnayutam meru-suvarna-danam
govinda-kirterna samam satamsaih
(Laghu Bhagavatah)
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The actions of donating millions of cows during solar eclipses, staying at sacred Prayag by the Ganges for a Kalpa (billions of years comprising a cycle of the 4 yugas), offering countless sacrifices or donating Mount Sumeru’s worth of Gold in charity does not compare to even one-hundredth the value of chanting the Lord Govinda’s Holy Name.
Nama vinu kali kale nahi ara dharma
Sarva mantra sara nama, ei sastra marma
(Chaitanya Charitamrta, Adi, 7.74)
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In this age of kali, there is no other religious principle other than chanting the holy name of Krishna. The holy name of Krishna is the essence of all other Vedic hymns. This is the purport of the Vedic scriptures.
Chanting the Holy Name of Krishna – superior to all other yogic practices
kim karishyati sankhyena kim yogair nara nayaka
muktim-ichchhasi rajendra kuru govinda-kirtanam
(Garuda Purana)
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O King, What will you do with Sankhya Yoga (path of deductive philosophical speculation) or Astanga Yoga (eightfold mystic yoga) processes? If you are searching for liberation then incessantly chant the holy name of Govinda.
aho bata svapaco to gariyan
yaj jihvagre vartate nama tubhyam
tepus tapas te juhuvuh sasnur arya
brahmanuchur nama grnanti ye te
(Srimad Bhagavatam, 3.33.7)
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Oh, how glorious! Even an outcast on whose tongue appears Your holy name is worshipable! Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have performed severe austerities, fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Aryans. To chant Your holy name, they must have bathed at holy sites of pilgrimage, studied all the Vedic scriptures and fulfilled everything needed.
Chanting the Holy Name of Krishna – transforms the greatest sinners into the most glorious saints
na niskrtair uditair brahma vadibhis
tatha visuddhyaty-aghavan vratadibhih
yatha harer nama-padair udahrtais
tad uttamahsloka-gunopalambhakam
(Srimad Bhagavatam, 6.2.11)
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(Vishnu-Dutas said) By following the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies or undergoing atonement, sinful men do not become as purified as by chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.The chanting of the holy Name reminds one of the Lord’s qualities.
mahapataka-yukto pi
kirtayan manisam harim
suddhantahkarano bhutva
jayate pamkti-pavanah
(Brahmanda Purana)
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By chanting the Holy Name of the Lord day and night, even the greatest sinner is purified and is transformed into a saint who can purify others by his association.
One who chants the holy name of Krishna attains spiritual perfection
sanketyam parihasyam va stobham helanam eva va
vaikuntha-nama-grahanam-asesagha-haram viduh
(Srimad Bhagavatam, 6.2.14)
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(Vishnu-dutas said) Even if one chants the holy name of Lord Hari indirectly, jokingly, for entertainment, or even neglectfully, one is immediately freed from the reactions of unlimited sins. This is accepted by all the learned transcendentalists.
Hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
Ratanti halaya vapi te krtartha na samsayah
(Agni Puran)
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Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare : Anyone who chants this mantra, even neglectfully, will attain the supreme goal of life. Of this there is no doubt.
Krsna mantra haite habe samsara mochana
Krsna nama haite pabe krsnera charana
(Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi, 7,73)
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By chanting Krishna’s holy name one attains liberation from material existence. Indeed, by chanting Krishna’s holy name one is able to behold the lotus feet of Krishna.