Category:Chanting the Holy Name of Visnu
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that chanting the holy name of Lord Viṣṇu is the foundation of bhakti-yoga and the primary method of purification in the Vedic culture. The quotes reveal several key aspects of this practice. Firstly, the name of Viṣṇu acts as the ultimate atonement (prāyaścitta) for all sinful activities, capable of purifying one internally and externally regardless of their condition.
- Protection and Deliverance: The story of Ajāmila is frequently cited to demonstrate that even unintentional chanting (nāmābhāsa) attracts the protection of the Viṣṇudūtas, saving the soul from hellish punishment. Similarly, Mother Yaśodā and the gopīs chanted Viṣṇu's names to protect the child Kṛṣṇa.
- Comparative Potency: A significant theological point is the hierarchy of names. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the scriptural math: chanting one thousand names of Viṣṇu equals one name of Rāma, and chanting three names of Rāma equals one name of Kṛṣṇa. Thus, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is the most concentrated form of potency.
- Daily Application: The chanting of Viṣṇu's names is integrated into daily Vaiṣṇava etiquette, specifically through the application of tilaka. Devotees chant twelve specific names of Viṣṇu (Keśava, Nārāyaṇa, Mādhava, etc.) while marking twelve parts of the body for protection.
- The Process for the Age: While opulent worship of the Deity was the process for the Dvāpara-yuga, Śrīla Prabhupāda confirms that in the Kali-yuga, satisfying Lord Viṣṇu is accomplished simply by chanting His holy name.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Chanting the Holy Name of Viṣṇu.
Subcategories
This category has only the following subcategory.
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Pages in category "Chanting the Holy Name of Visnu"
The following 49 pages are in this category, out of 49 total.
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- Although Ajamila was calling for his son, he chanted the holy name of the Lord, Narayana, and simply by a glimpse of the chanting of the holy name, he immediately achieved the association of Lord Visnu's order carriers
- Although Lord Siva was present and he is all-auspicious, it was necessary to sanctify the place because his followers had broken into the arena and committed so many obnoxious acts. That sanctification was possible only by chanting the holy name of Visnu
- Apavitrah pavitro va: either he is pure or impure; sarvavastham gato 'pi va: any condition of life, if he chants the holy name of Visnu, then he becomes immediately purified internally and externally
- As soon as devotees begin to hear and chant about Visnu, some rascal svami will say, - No, hearing or chanting any name will do. Why Visnu? Why not Kali
- As soon as the Visnudutas heard their master's name being chanted, they immediately came
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- If a person utters the name Rama only once, he gets the result of chanting one thousand names of Visnu. And if somebody once chants the name Krsna, he achieves the results obtained by chanting the name Rama three times
- If one cannot remember all the names (of Lord Visnu) at one time, one may simply chant, "Lord Visnu, Lord Visnu, Lord Visnu," and always think of Lord Visnu. Visnor aradhanam param: this is the highest form of worship
- If one chants Visnu's names - there are thousands - that is equal to one name Rama. And three times chanting the name of Rama is equal to one "Krsna." Therefore we should take advantage to chant Hare Krsna
- If somebody simply hears attentively, he'll be perfect. This is bhakti: simply hearing. Or sravanam kirtanam, or describing or chanting the holy name, he'll be perfect. Sravanam kirtanam visnu . . . but Visnu, about Lord Visnu, Krsna
- If with the arrow of chanting the holy name of the Lord one pierces Lord Visnu's lotus feet, by dint of performing this heroic activity of devotional service one receives the benefit of returning home, back to Godhead
- In Dvapara-yuga one could satisfy Krsna or Visnu only by worshiping Him gorgeously according to the pancaratriki system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting the holy name
- In Dvapara-yuga, devotees of Lord Visnu and Krsna rendered devotional service according to the principles of Pancaratra. In this Age of Kali, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped simply by the chanting of His holy names
- In the Dvapara-yuga one could satisfy Krsna or Visnu only by worshiping opulently according to the pancaratriki system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting His holy name
- In the sastras it is said that if you chant the name of Visnu, visnu-sahasra-nama, by chanting one thousand times Lord Visnu's name is equal to one name of Rama. And by chanting three times the name of Lord Rama it is equal to one name of Krsna
- It is stated in the Vedic literature that by chanting the different names of Lord Visnu a thousand times, one may be bestowed with the same benefits as by thrice chanting the holy name of Lord Rama
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- Maharaja Pariksit was not at all afraid of being bitten by the snake-bird. Indeed, he requested all the great personalities assembled to continue chanting the holy name of Lord Visnu
- Mother Yasoda chanted different names of Visnu to protect child Krsna’s different bodily parts. Mother Yasoda was firmly convinced that she should protect her child from different kinds of evil spirits and ghosts
- My dear King, the order carriers of Visnu, the Visnudutas, immediately arrived when they heard the holy name of their master from the mouth of the dying Ajamila, who had certainly chanted without offense because he had chanted in complete anxiety
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- O Varanana, I chant the holy name of Rama, Rama, Rama and thus enjoy this beautiful sound. This holy name of Ramacandra is equal to one thousand holy names of Lord Visnu
- One who does not chant the holy name of Visnu (Krsna), who does not bow down to the Deity of Visnu, and who does not remember the lotus feet of Visnu is punishable by Yamaraja
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- Pariksit said, "I only request that at the last moment of my life all of you will kindly chant the holy name of Visnu, so that I may realize His transcendental qualities"
- Prahlada Maharaja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia & pastimes of Lord Visnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord - these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service
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- The chanting of the holy name of Lord Visnu is the best process of atonement for a thief of gold or other valuables, for a drunkard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, or for one who kills a brahmana
- The chanting of the holy name of Lord Visnu is the best process of atonement for one who kills a brahmana, or for one who indulges in sex with the wife of his guru or another superior
- The chanting of the holy name of the Lord is perfect; even though one does not know how to please Lord Visnu or His associates, simply by sincerely chanting the holy name of the Lord, everything becomes perfect
- The gopis, headed by mother Yasoda and Rohini, chanted the names of Visnu to give Krsna's body full protection from all evil influences. They washed their hands and feet and sipped water three times, as is the custom before chanting mantra
- The order carriers of Lord Visnu came because Ajamila had chanted the holy name of Narayana. They did not consider why he was chanting
- The pious results derived from chanting the thousand holy names of Visnu three times can be attained by only one utterance of the holy name of Krsna
- The sastra (scripture) states that there are one thousand principal names of Lord Visnu, the Personality of Godhead. But if a person utters the name Rama only once, he gets the result of chanting one thousand names of Visnu
- The Visnudutas instructed that because he (Ajamila) had chanted the four syllables of the name Narayana at the time of his death, he was freed from all sinful reactions
- The word sucaye means one who is cleansed both externally and internally. To become actually cleansed externally and internally, one should chant the holy name of the Lord, Hare Krsna, or Visnu, constantly
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- Vedic culture has taken advantage of keeping cows & chanting the holy name of Visnu since the beginning of history, and persons who are still following the Vedic ways, especially the householders, keep at least one dozen cows & worship the Deity of Visnu
- Visnu-sahasra-nama is recommended to be chanted by common man. But sastra says that after chanting one thousand of Lord Visnu's name - there are hundreds and thousands of names - it is equal to if you chant once Lord Rama's name
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- When one remembers Lord Visnu, he becomes free from material enjoyment. Thus he gradually comes forward toward the transcendental service of the Lord and becomes eligible to chant the holy name of the Lord in the transcendental position
- When putting the twelve tilaka marks on the twelve places of the body, one has to chant the mantra consisting of these twelve Visnu names
- Whether one is in a pure or impure condition, internally or externally, if one chants or even remembers the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Visnu, one immediately becomes purified
- While chanting the name of Narayana, Ajamila was actually thinking of his son, but simply because they heard Ajamila chanting the Lord's name, the order carriers of Lord Visnu, the Visnudutas, immediately came for Ajamila's protection
- While decorating the body with tilaka, we give protection to the body by chanting twelve names of Visnu. Although Govinda, or Lord Visnu, is one, He has different names and forms with which to act differently
- While marking the body with tilaka, one should chant the following mantra, which consists of twelve names of Lord Visnu: Padmanabha and Damodara should be remembered when marking the back
- While marking the body with tilaka, one should chant the following mantra, which consists of twelve names of Lord Visnu: Sridhara should be remembered while marking the left arm, and Hrsikesa should be remembered when marking the left shoulder
- While marking the body with tilaka, one should chant the following mantra, which consists of twelve names of Lord Visnu: When one marks the forehead with tilaka, he must remember Kesava. When one marks the lower abdomen, he must remember Narayana
- While marking the body with tilaka, one should chant the following mantra, which consists of twelve names of Visnu: Trivikrama should be remembered when marking the right shoulder, and Vamana should be remembered when marking the left side of the belly
- While marking the body with tilaka, one should chant the following mantra, which consists oftwelve names of Lord Visnu: one should remember Madhava, and when marking the hollow of the neck one should remember Govinda
- While marking the body with tilaka, one should chant the following mantra, which consists oftwelve names of Visnu: Lord Visnu should be remembered while marking the right side of the belly, and Madhusudana should be remembered when marking the right arm