My spiritual master was once asked, “Maharaja, do you have any personal Deities?”
He took out his japa beads from his bead bag and replied, “These are my personal Deities.”
I had heard this pastime long ago, but today, while chanting, it reappeared in my mind. If we reflect deeply, how profound is this realization!
How would we behave if Radha and Krishna were physically present before us? How do we serve the deities in the temple?
The Grace of the Holy Name
Holy Name is non-different from Krishna. When we chant the Holy Name, we are directly worshipping Krishna. This is why we respectfully address the Holy Name as Harinam Prabhu. He is a PERSON! Just as there are offenses in Deity worship, there are also offenses to the Holy Name. The Holy Name has the power to bestow Krishna prema, yet he can also be offended if not chanted with the proper attitude.
When we serve the deities, we must maintain external purity, follow numerous rules and regulations, and possess all brahminical qualifications. The same Krishna in the form of Holy Name is accessible to all, without the need of either external or internal purity. Just think about it – Can we even imagine to enter the Deity room immediately after waking up in the morning without even having completed our morning rituals?? Obviously not. We have examples of devotees who got Deities in their dreams after which they took their baths and then entered the altar. But, we can chant the Holy Name immediately upon waking up, without even the need of performing any morning rituals. Such is the magnanimous nature of Harinam Prabhu!
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu states in CC Antya 20.18,
khāite śuite yathā tathā nāma laya
kāla-deśa-niyama nāhi, sarva-siddhi haya
Regardless of time or place, one who chants the holy name, even while eating or sleeping, attains all perfection.
If Holy Name is so glorious and magnanimous, what should be our mood while chanting?
The Proper Mood of Chanting
Ādarād (Respect)
Would we allow ourselves to be distracted while serving the deities? Certainly not! We would be extremely careful and focused. Similarly, if we chant the Holy Names with the same respect and attentiveness, Harinam Prabhu becomes pleased and showers His mercy upon us.
Anudinam (Consistency)
Chanting is not a mere one-time activity; it is a dedicated service that we ought to perform day after day, month after month, year after year.
Srila Rupa Goswami says,
syāt kṛṣṇa-nāma-caritādi-sitāpy avidyā-
pittopatapta-rasanasya na rocikā nu
kintv ādarād anudinaṁ khalu saiva juṣṭā
svādvī kramād bhavati tad-gada-mūla-hantrī
The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Kṛṣṇa are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidyā [ignorance] cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root. NOI Text 7
Serving the Holy Name:
While serving Deities, we are serving Krishna directly. In the same manner, when we are chanting the Holy Name, it is a direct service to Krishna. Service to Lord Krishna begins with the tongue.
It is stated,
ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ
sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ
“The transcendental name, form, qualities, and pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa cannot be grasped by the material senses. However, when one renders service with a sincere spirit, beginning with the tongue—by chanting—Krishna reveals Himself.” Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.234
By service to Krishna in the form of His Holy Name, we can become a recipient of Krishna’s mercy.
Austerity & Bliss in Service
Every limb of devotional service has got two facets:
1. Purification
2. Benediction
While chanting, we may not always experience ecstasy. However, if we take it as an austerity, Krishna is most pleased. His ultimate reward is His own sweet love, which He bestows upon a sincere chanter. The sole way to obtain this benediction is when we go through the process of purification.
With just a small effort on our part, Krishna bestows upon us the most valuable gift—His divine love!
So, the next time we take our japa beads in our hands, if we remember that by chanting, I am serving Krishna, just as I serve the Deities, we can have a great experience. We can even mentally offer flowers to the Deity of the Holy Name. We can intensely try to pray to Harinam Prabhu to bestow grace upon us. How wonderful the experience of such a chanting will be!
Harinam Prabhu ki Jaya!
