Holy Name

Reflections on the grace, potency, divinity of the Holy Name of the Lord. Also, on the moods, methods and mellows of the Holy Name.

Why my Japa feels Heavy?

We may blame noise outside for our struggles in japa, but even ‘peaceful’ forests couldn’t save Ajamila. The real noise is within. When the heart is calm and free from offenses, the Holy Name flows like the unobstructed flow of Ganges.

Inattentive More Chanting or Attentive Less Chanting?

In the process of chanting our 16 rounds, we often struggle with attentiveness. And inattentive chanting is said to be the 11th offense. If we chant extra rounds, and that too without much attention, won’t that cause further problems? The general solution that the acaryas give for progressing from nāmaparādha to nāmābhasa is continuous chanting. But if our existing rounds are filled with inattention, then won’t additional chanting lead to more offenses?

Topmost Purification by the Holy Name

Among all the processes available to a sadhaka for attaining spiritual perfection, chanting the holy name offers the highest purification of the heart. Although Krishna and His service are absolute—meaning there is no intrinsic difference between different services, chanting holds a unique prominence.

Try, Cry or Die

Every day, sitting down to focus on 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra is a great challenge. Though chanting is the most accessible way to connect with Krishna in this age of Kali, at times, we may not feel His presence. Should we really expect purification of heart with a lower level of chanting? Can we easily attain Krishna’s grace by putting no or little efforts? How can we ensure that our chanting becomes a deeply fulfilling experience every single day?