We are so fortunate that Krishna agrees to appear on our tongues while we sincerely chant the holy name. For Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, the experience of chanting was so overwhelming that he desired millions of tongues to glorify Krishna – tuṇḍe tāṇḍavinī ratiṁ vitanute tuṇḍāvalī-labdhaye.
Rūpa Gosvāmī also described the holy name as a festival for the tongue – nāmāni praṇayena te sukṛtināṁ tanvanti tuṇḍotsavaṁ – “Now that we have become Your devotees, Your holy names have created a jubilant festival in our mouths.” (Padyavali)
When we chant the holy name through our tongues, it is nothing less than worship of Krishna Himself.
Why the Holy Name Does Not Flow Easily?
Sometimes we may notice that the holy name does not swiftly flow from our tongue. It requires effort, as if Krishna is resisting. Why does this happen? Why doesn’t the Holy Name appear as a festival for us?
Just as Krishna did not appear in the womb of Devakī until the six previous children representing the six anarthas were destroyed, similarly Krishna doesn’t not stay for long in an impure place. In the same way, if our tongue is impure, Krishna resists dancing on it.
In a conditioned state, our tongue is poisoned by gossip, criticism, and mundane talk. We take joy in drinking poison, and we lament, fear and resist speaking about Krishna.
Making our Tongue Chaste
The Bhāgavatam mentions: jihvāsati dardurikeva sūta—the tongue that does not chant the holy name of Krishna but instead blabbers uselessly is like the croaking of a frog, inviting its own destruction.
We have twenty-four hours in a day. Some go in sleep, but of the remaining time, what flows out of our tongue? Is it pure or impure? We need to really look for what is coming out of our tongue every moment. If impure, then chanting naturally becomes difficult. Krishna chooses where to appear, and He appears only in a pure place.
When Krishna danced on the hoods of the serpent Kāliya, He purified them of their poison. After Kaliya was purified, Krishna even invited the gopis for a rasa dance on Kaliya’s hoods.
By engaging our tongue in Krishna’s service—speaking kṛṣṇa-kathā, appreciating devotees, honoring only Krishna-prasāda—we beautify and purify it. Then Krishna feels so pleased that He does not wish to leave that tongue.
Let Krishna Dance on your Tongue
There was once a devotee named Krishna-priyā Devī who could not resist chanting the holy names. She was addicted to them. Even after holding her tongue, she could not stop chanting the Holy Name. How was this possible? Krishna became so controlled by her devotion that He simply could not leave her tongue.
When the tongue becomes chaste and purified, Krishna does not want to go anywhere else. And since Krishna is non-different from His name, the Holy Name also never leaves.
Śrīla Prabhupāda therefore said—why only sixteen rounds, why not sixteen thousand? This becomes the mood of a devotee whose tongue has become fully dedicated to Krishna.
The journey of our life is to transform our unchaste tongue into a fully chaste one – engaged only in Krishna’s service. Then the tongue becomes a joyful playground for Krishna, a place where He eternally dances, sings, and enacts His pastimes.
Then chanting doesn’t remain a burden for us. It becomes a festival of bliss, for eternity.
