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| Gauranga Nama |
Q. What is the Achintya Bheda-Abheda (Simultaneous difference and non-difference) between Gauranga Nama
and Krishna Nama?
A. by Swami Gaurangapada:
Krishna Nama and Gauranga Nama are same but there are some differences also. The following are some
differences:
1. There are 10 offenses to be avoided in Krishna Nama whereas there are no offenses considered in Gaura
Nama.
2. Although Krishna is Gauranga, but Gauranga is audarya vigraha. It is said in Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya that
if one worships Krishna without Gauranga, then Krishna Prema will come after a very prolonged period of time,
but if Gauranga is worshipped along with Krishna, then Krishna Prema will come in a short time.
Those who say that the Krishna Mantra includes everything so that there is no need of chanting Gauranga
Mantra, should think why scriptures say in the above way. The actual understanding is that Krishna Prema can
be obtained very quickly by chanting Gauranga's Name. If Krishna's Name alone, (without Gauranga's Name) is
chanted then sage Narada and Pushkara Tirtha both state in Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya that it will take
millions and millions of years to awaken Krishna Prema.
Why it is said that by chanting Gauranga's Name along with Krishna's Name very quickly Krishna Prema will
come? This is because Gauranga's Name eradicates all types of namaparadha (offenses) in the chanting of
Krishna's name.
"namaaparaadham sakalam vinasya
chaitanya naamasrita maanavaanaam"
3. Lord Nityananda Prabhu says that offenders are punished in Vrindavana but they are given Krishna Prema in
Navadvipa.
4. In Anubhasya commentary to Chaitanya Charitamrita, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur says that
although Krishna Nama and Gauranga Nama are non-different from each other, still Krishna Nama shows mercy
on liberated souls and Gauranga Nama shows mercy on fallen and offensive jivas. Hence he recommends to
chant Nityananda and Gauranga Nama.
We have to consider whether chanting Pancha Tattva Mantra three times before kirtana and one time before
Hare Krishna mantra is sufficient for the most fallen souls of Kali Yuga.
When Srila Prabhupada said chant Krishna's Name always he meant the Hare Krishna Mantra, and when he says
chant Gauranga's Name always he meant the Gauranga Mantra not the Pancha Tattva Mantra. This is clear from
the fact that he told to chant Gauranga's Name always but not to chant Pancha Tattva Mantra always meaning
only three times before Hare Krishna Kirtana and one time before one round of Hare Krishna.
All bonafide Vaishnava Mantras can be chanted on Tulasi Beads. If devotees of Lord Nrisingha can chant japa of
Nrisingha Mantra on beads, if devotees of Lord Rama can chant Rama Mantra on japa beads, if devotees of Lord
Narayana can chant the Narayana Mantra on japa beads, why can't a devotee of Lord Gauranga exclusively
attached to Lord Gauranga chant japa of the most bonafide and sublime Gauranga Mantra on beads considering
the fact that Lord Gauranga is the ultimate origin of all the above Vishnu Tattvas and the Supreme Personality of
Godhead Himself?
Shrila Prabhupada said Christians and others can chant the bonafide Names of God known in their religions
(Christ, Allah etc) on beads. Please refer to the book the Science of Self-Realization. So why would Shrila
Prabhupada object to the chanting of Lord Gauranga's name on beads especially when he came specially to
preach the Holy Name of Lord Gauranga around the world as per his own words found in this book?
As per the greatest Vedic book Jaiva Dharma by Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, there are three kinds of devotees
who enter into the supreme abode of Goloka Vrindavana (Chp 17, Jaiva Dharma):
ONE CAN SIMULTANEOUSLY WORSHIP GAURANGA BY CHANTING THE GAURA-GOPALA MANTRA AND RADHA-
KRISHNA BY CHANTING THE HARE KRISHNA MAHA-MANTRA
Vrajanatha: What is the final destination of the soul who is a devotee of Lord Gauranga?
Babaji: Krsna and Gauranga are not different. They are both shelters of the feature of sweetness (madhurya-
rasa). They do have one difference. Madhurya-rasa (the Lord's sweetness) has two features: 1. madhurya
(sweetness), and 2. audarya (mercy). When sweetness is prominent, Lord Krsna is manifested. When mercy is
prominent, Lord Gauranga is manifested. The spiritual world of Vrndavana is divided into two abodes: 1. the
abode of Lord Krsna, and 2. the abode of Lord Gauranga. The eternally perfect and eternally liberated souls who
have sweetness first and mercy second reside in Lord Krsna's abode. They are Lord Krsna's associates. The
eternally perfect and eternally liberated souls who have mercy first and sweetness second reside in Lord
Gauranga’s abode. They are Lord Gauranga’s associates. Some souls manifest two forms and reside in both
abodes simultaneously. Other souls manifest only one form and are present in one of the abodes and not in the
other. Souls who during the time of sadhana worship only Lord Gauranga, at the time of attaining perfection go
to Lord Gauranga's abode and serve Him there. Souls who during the time of sadhana worship only Lord Krsna,
at the time of attaining perfection go to Lord Krsna's abode and serve Him there. Souls who during the time of
sadhana worship both Lord Krsna and Lord Gauranga, at the time of attaining perfection manifest two forms, go
to both Lord Krsna's abode and Lord Gauranga's abode, and in their two forms serve the two Lord's
simultaneously in both places. This truth: that Lord Gauranga and Lord Krsna are simultaneously one and
different from each other, is a very confidential secret.
Commentary by Swami Gaurangapada:
So it is very clear that there are three kinds of souls who enter the topmost Vaikuntha planet Goloka which has
two partitions: Navadvipa and Vrindavana. Those who worship only Lord Gauranga by chanting the Nityananda
and Gauranga Mantrarajas enter into Navadvipa and those who worship only Lord Krishna by chanting the Hare
Krishna Mahamantra may enter into Vrindavana only when they become free from all offenses which may take a
very long time. The third kind of souls are those who worship both Gauranga and Krishna simultaneously by
chanting both Their Names and they enter into both Navadvipa and Vrindavana simultaneously with two spiritual
bodies after attaining perfection. Even the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas can take us into eternal
Vrindavana as per Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya and even the Hare Krishna Mahamantra can take us to the
eternal Navadvipa because they are totally non-different. The only biggest problem is that since the Hare Krishna
Mahamantra and Krishna’s Name has the consideration of the ten offenses for the conditioned souls, they may
not achieve either of the two abodes even for thousands of lifetimes or millions of years simply by only the
chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra as per the revealed scriptures.
It is greatly unfortunate and inauspicious for the world that some devotees worship the Deities of Their
Lordships Shri Shri Nityananda-Gauranga daily but criticize the sublime process of chanting the Holy Names of
Nityananda and Gauranga on a daily or regular basis on beads. This is a clearly a big offense of differentiating
between the Holy Name and Deity (Form) of the Lord.
Imagine a devotee standing before a Deity of Their Lordships Shri Shri Nityananda-Gauranga in a temple. And if
there are 1000 visitors in that day asking which Deity is this, he or she will have to chant the Nityananda and
Gauranga Mantrarajas 1000 times each that day. So this is not prohibited. But just because you hold the most
purifying Tulasi beads in your hand while chanting the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas it becomes a taboo
for some. To say that Krishna’s Name in the form of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra can be chanted on japa beads
and Gauranga’s Name in the form of the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas cannot be chanted on beads is
clearly committing the biggest offense of considering difference between the Holy Names of Lord Krishna and
Lord Gauranga.
"Simply by chanting or hearing the name of Lord Nityananda, the sinful inclinations in the hearts of all the living
entities in the universe are permanently destroyed and their inherent purity is automatically awakened. On
chanting or hearing the name of Lord Nityananda, even the merchants, degraded, fallen and foolish people are
purified and immediately become realized in the Absolute Truth and great devotees of the Lord." (SBSSTP in Shri
Chaitanya Bhagavata, Madhya-Khanda 3.134 purport)
TOP
and Krishna Nama?
A. by Swami Gaurangapada:
Krishna Nama and Gauranga Nama are same but there are some differences also. The following are some
differences:
1. There are 10 offenses to be avoided in Krishna Nama whereas there are no offenses considered in Gaura
Nama.
2. Although Krishna is Gauranga, but Gauranga is audarya vigraha. It is said in Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya that
if one worships Krishna without Gauranga, then Krishna Prema will come after a very prolonged period of time,
but if Gauranga is worshipped along with Krishna, then Krishna Prema will come in a short time.
Those who say that the Krishna Mantra includes everything so that there is no need of chanting Gauranga
Mantra, should think why scriptures say in the above way. The actual understanding is that Krishna Prema can
be obtained very quickly by chanting Gauranga's Name. If Krishna's Name alone, (without Gauranga's Name) is
chanted then sage Narada and Pushkara Tirtha both state in Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya that it will take
millions and millions of years to awaken Krishna Prema.
Why it is said that by chanting Gauranga's Name along with Krishna's Name very quickly Krishna Prema will
come? This is because Gauranga's Name eradicates all types of namaparadha (offenses) in the chanting of
Krishna's name.
"namaaparaadham sakalam vinasya
chaitanya naamasrita maanavaanaam"
3. Lord Nityananda Prabhu says that offenders are punished in Vrindavana but they are given Krishna Prema in
Navadvipa.
4. In Anubhasya commentary to Chaitanya Charitamrita, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur says that
although Krishna Nama and Gauranga Nama are non-different from each other, still Krishna Nama shows mercy
on liberated souls and Gauranga Nama shows mercy on fallen and offensive jivas. Hence he recommends to
chant Nityananda and Gauranga Nama.
We have to consider whether chanting Pancha Tattva Mantra three times before kirtana and one time before
Hare Krishna mantra is sufficient for the most fallen souls of Kali Yuga.
When Srila Prabhupada said chant Krishna's Name always he meant the Hare Krishna Mantra, and when he says
chant Gauranga's Name always he meant the Gauranga Mantra not the Pancha Tattva Mantra. This is clear from
the fact that he told to chant Gauranga's Name always but not to chant Pancha Tattva Mantra always meaning
only three times before Hare Krishna Kirtana and one time before one round of Hare Krishna.
All bonafide Vaishnava Mantras can be chanted on Tulasi Beads. If devotees of Lord Nrisingha can chant japa of
Nrisingha Mantra on beads, if devotees of Lord Rama can chant Rama Mantra on japa beads, if devotees of Lord
Narayana can chant the Narayana Mantra on japa beads, why can't a devotee of Lord Gauranga exclusively
attached to Lord Gauranga chant japa of the most bonafide and sublime Gauranga Mantra on beads considering
the fact that Lord Gauranga is the ultimate origin of all the above Vishnu Tattvas and the Supreme Personality of
Godhead Himself?
Shrila Prabhupada said Christians and others can chant the bonafide Names of God known in their religions
(Christ, Allah etc) on beads. Please refer to the book the Science of Self-Realization. So why would Shrila
Prabhupada object to the chanting of Lord Gauranga's name on beads especially when he came specially to
preach the Holy Name of Lord Gauranga around the world as per his own words found in this book?
As per the greatest Vedic book Jaiva Dharma by Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, there are three kinds of devotees
who enter into the supreme abode of Goloka Vrindavana (Chp 17, Jaiva Dharma):
ONE CAN SIMULTANEOUSLY WORSHIP GAURANGA BY CHANTING THE GAURA-GOPALA MANTRA AND RADHA-
KRISHNA BY CHANTING THE HARE KRISHNA MAHA-MANTRA
Vrajanatha: What is the final destination of the soul who is a devotee of Lord Gauranga?
Babaji: Krsna and Gauranga are not different. They are both shelters of the feature of sweetness (madhurya-
rasa). They do have one difference. Madhurya-rasa (the Lord's sweetness) has two features: 1. madhurya
(sweetness), and 2. audarya (mercy). When sweetness is prominent, Lord Krsna is manifested. When mercy is
prominent, Lord Gauranga is manifested. The spiritual world of Vrndavana is divided into two abodes: 1. the
abode of Lord Krsna, and 2. the abode of Lord Gauranga. The eternally perfect and eternally liberated souls who
have sweetness first and mercy second reside in Lord Krsna's abode. They are Lord Krsna's associates. The
eternally perfect and eternally liberated souls who have mercy first and sweetness second reside in Lord
Gauranga’s abode. They are Lord Gauranga’s associates. Some souls manifest two forms and reside in both
abodes simultaneously. Other souls manifest only one form and are present in one of the abodes and not in the
other. Souls who during the time of sadhana worship only Lord Gauranga, at the time of attaining perfection go
to Lord Gauranga's abode and serve Him there. Souls who during the time of sadhana worship only Lord Krsna,
at the time of attaining perfection go to Lord Krsna's abode and serve Him there. Souls who during the time of
sadhana worship both Lord Krsna and Lord Gauranga, at the time of attaining perfection manifest two forms, go
to both Lord Krsna's abode and Lord Gauranga's abode, and in their two forms serve the two Lord's
simultaneously in both places. This truth: that Lord Gauranga and Lord Krsna are simultaneously one and
different from each other, is a very confidential secret.
Commentary by Swami Gaurangapada:
So it is very clear that there are three kinds of souls who enter the topmost Vaikuntha planet Goloka which has
two partitions: Navadvipa and Vrindavana. Those who worship only Lord Gauranga by chanting the Nityananda
and Gauranga Mantrarajas enter into Navadvipa and those who worship only Lord Krishna by chanting the Hare
Krishna Mahamantra may enter into Vrindavana only when they become free from all offenses which may take a
very long time. The third kind of souls are those who worship both Gauranga and Krishna simultaneously by
chanting both Their Names and they enter into both Navadvipa and Vrindavana simultaneously with two spiritual
bodies after attaining perfection. Even the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas can take us into eternal
Vrindavana as per Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya and even the Hare Krishna Mahamantra can take us to the
eternal Navadvipa because they are totally non-different. The only biggest problem is that since the Hare Krishna
Mahamantra and Krishna’s Name has the consideration of the ten offenses for the conditioned souls, they may
not achieve either of the two abodes even for thousands of lifetimes or millions of years simply by only the
chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra as per the revealed scriptures.
It is greatly unfortunate and inauspicious for the world that some devotees worship the Deities of Their
Lordships Shri Shri Nityananda-Gauranga daily but criticize the sublime process of chanting the Holy Names of
Nityananda and Gauranga on a daily or regular basis on beads. This is a clearly a big offense of differentiating
between the Holy Name and Deity (Form) of the Lord.
Imagine a devotee standing before a Deity of Their Lordships Shri Shri Nityananda-Gauranga in a temple. And if
there are 1000 visitors in that day asking which Deity is this, he or she will have to chant the Nityananda and
Gauranga Mantrarajas 1000 times each that day. So this is not prohibited. But just because you hold the most
purifying Tulasi beads in your hand while chanting the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas it becomes a taboo
for some. To say that Krishna’s Name in the form of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra can be chanted on japa beads
and Gauranga’s Name in the form of the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas cannot be chanted on beads is
clearly committing the biggest offense of considering difference between the Holy Names of Lord Krishna and
Lord Gauranga.
"Simply by chanting or hearing the name of Lord Nityananda, the sinful inclinations in the hearts of all the living
entities in the universe are permanently destroyed and their inherent purity is automatically awakened. On
chanting or hearing the name of Lord Nityananda, even the merchants, degraded, fallen and foolish people are
purified and immediately become realized in the Absolute Truth and great devotees of the Lord." (SBSSTP in Shri
Chaitanya Bhagavata, Madhya-Khanda 3.134 purport)
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