PL4ever wrote:JKhedrup wrote:Krishna, the ultimate and omnipresent form of god, incarnated as Chaitanya to introduce the method of chanting the names of God using the Maha Mantra (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama....)
Interesting that Chaitanya never chanted Hare Krishna and this mantra was never mentioned in books of first Chaitanya followers. His mantra was Hari Haraye Namah. Hare Krishna Mantra is an invention of 19th century. It was taken from Kalisantarana Upanishad which is also new upanishad, because the original was lost centures ago. And in this upanishad maha-mantra starts with Hare Rama. Not with Hare Krishna like they chant in in ISKCON. Hare Krishna Movement is not even Hinduism. Swami Prabhupada said it himself in one of his books. ISKCON is the pseudo-hinduistic totalitarian cult.
dear PL4ever, your statement is false.
Mahaprabhu most certainly CHANTED and taught his followers and devotees to chant the Hare Krsna mahamantra!!! Mahaprabhus most common kirtan was Hari Haraye Namah BUT he chanted JAPA of Hare Krsna Mahamantra and advocated others to.
you must have forgotten the history from the 15th century to present day of many great mahasiddhas who attained Prema through isolated practices of hare krsna japa. to say hare krsna mantra is a 19th century invention is just wrong.
before the common KIRTAN of Hare Krsna there was ALWAYS the bhajanandi path of solitary Hare Krsna japa. this is FACT.
scholars are not entirely in agreement that is started with Hare Rama in the older texts.
and for the record Swami Bhativedanta and iskcon/Gaudiya Math, does NOT represent traditional Caitanya Vaishnavism.
in fact he is not a Praabhupada in the traditional sense a Prabhupada is one born of the family of the great luminaries of bengal, hence Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Acarya etc. a true Prabhupada would be Tinkudi Babaji.
sources:
The following famous instructions of Sri Caitanya are related in the Caitanya Bhagavata (2.23.75-78):
Apane sabAre prabhu kore upadeze |
kRSNa-nAma mahA-mantra zunoho hariSe ||
hare kRSNa hare kRSNa kRSNa kRSNa hare hare |
hare rAma hare rAma rAma rAma hare hare||
prabhu kohe kohilam ei mahA-mantra |
iha japa giyA sabe koriyA nirbandha||
iha hoite sarva-siddhi hoibe sabAra |
sarva kSaNa bolo ithe vidhi nAhi Ara ||
"The Lord ordered everyone in great joy: 'Listen to the Krishna-nama maha-mantra:
'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.'
The Lord said: 'I have spoken the maha-mantra. Perform japa of this mantra a prescribed number of times.
'All perfection will be attained through this. Chant this mantra at every moment - there is no other rule.'"
I'll post some relevant references in this regard. There are plenty.
Rupa Goswami describes Mahaprabhu's chanting in his Prathama-Chaitanyastakam (5):
hare kRSNety uccaiH sphurita-rasano nAma-gaNanA-
kRta-granthi-zreNI-subhaga-kaTi-sUtrojjvala-karaH |
vizAlAkSo dIrghArgala-yugala-khelAJcita-bhujaH
sa caitanyaH kiM me punar api dRzor yAsyati padam ||
The loud sounds of "Hare Krishna" appearing on his tongue, counting the names
on a splendid string with a series of auspicious knots from a cloth around his waist,
his two eyes so large they seem to reach his ears, his arms extending to his knees -
When will this Chaitanya again become visible to me?
This shows that Mahaprabhu saw it fit to chant the names in environments beyond the conventional scenario for mantra-dhyana, as customarily you wouldn't be chanting the private mantra aloud. The word uccaiH is rather unequivocal in that it was indeed out and loud.
Baladeva confirms in his Stava-mala-vibhusana-bhasya that this indeed refers to the thirty-two syllable maha-mantra:
hare kRSNeti mantra-pratIka-grahaNaM. soDaza-nAmAtmanA dvAtrIMza-daksareNa mantreNoccair-uccAritena sphuritA kRta-nRtyA rasanA jihvA yasya saH ||
"The Hare Krishna mantra was resounding in His mouth. The mantra consisting of sixteen names and thirty-two syllables was uttered and dancing on His tongue."
This is also described in the mangalacharana of Rupa Goswami's Laghu-bhagavatamrita. The word udgIrNa indicates it was very audible indeed:
zrI-caitanya-mukhodgIrNA hare-kRSNeti varNakAH |
majjayanto jagat premNi vijayantAM tad-AhvayAH || 4 ||
"The syllables 'Hare Krishna' and so forth emanated from the mouth of Sri Caitanya, drowning the universe in prema. Let these names be glorified!"
Raghunatha Das Gosvami states in the Saci-Sunvastakam of his Stavavali:
nijatve gauDIyAn jagati parigRhya prabhur imAn
hare-kRSNety evaM gaNana-vidhinA kIrtayata bhoH |
itiprAyAM zikSAM janaka iva tebhyaHparidizan
zacI-sUnuH kiM me nayana-zaraNIM yAsyati punaH || 5 ||
"When will that son of Mother Saci -- who, taking the residents of Bengal as His own, inspired them to chant Hare Krishna a a prescribed number of times daily and who like a father gave them many cherished instructions -- again become visible to me?"
The word kIrtayata is not very customary for describing the chanting of a private mantra. From this, we may conclude that while the counting of the mantra was prescribed, it was not within the constraints of what we read in texts such as Hari-bhakti-vilasa on the chanting of mantras.
Then, in Prabodhananda Sarasvati's Chaitanya Candramritam (16):
badhnan prema-bhara-prakampita-karo granthIn kaTI-DorakaiH
saGkhyAtuM nija-loka-maGgala-hare-kRSNeti-nAmnAM japan |
azru-snAta-mukhaH svam eva hi jagannAthaM didRkSur gatA-
yAtair gaura-tanur vilocana-mudaM tanvan hariH pAtu vaH ||
His hand trembling of prema as he touched the knots on the rope on his waist,
counting the japa of the names "Hare Krishna" that bring auspiciousness for the world,
his face is bathed in tears as he roamed to and fro, seeking to meet Jagannatha,
may this golden figure, who brought delight to the eyes of all, protect you!
Here again, Mahaprabhu roams about with his mala of knotted rope, roaming to and fro, which is something you wouldn't customarily do while chanting a private mantra.
Prabodhananda Sarasvati describes in his Vrindavana Mahimamrita (17.89) how Mahaprabhu would sing (upagIta) the Hare Krishna mantra:
hare kRSNa kRSNeti mukhyAn
mahAzcarya-nAmAvalI-siddha-mantrAn |
kRpA-mUrti-caitanya-devopagItAn
kadAbhyasya vRndAvane syAn kRtArthaH ||
"Sri Caitanya Deva, the very form of mercy, sung the perfected mantra, 'Hare Krishna, Krishna' and so forth. When will He give His favor to me, causing me to attain Sri Vrindavan?"
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya notes in his Caitanya Satakam (64) that the Hari-nama mantra was also to be chanted in sankirtan:
vizaNNa cittAn kali pApa-bhItAn
saMvIkSya gauro hari-nAma-mantraM |
svayaM dadau bhakta-janAn samAdizat
kuruSva saGkIrtana-nRtya vAdyaiH ||
"Seeing the people of the world afraid of the sins of the age of Kali and dejected at heart, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally gave them the hari nama mantra and also ordered them to do loud sankirtana of this maha-mantra while dancing and playing musical instruments."
This Hare Krishna mantra was also sung during Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's acceptance of sannyasa, as Kavi Karnapura describes in his Chaitanya Charita Mahakavya (11.54):
tataH zrI gaurAGgaH samavadad atIva pramudito
hare kRSNety uccair vada muhur iti zrImaya tanuH |
tato 'sau tat procya pratibalita romAJca lalito
rudaMs tat tat karmArabhata bahu-duHkhair vidalitaH ||
"When Sri Gauranga accepted sannyasa, the barber took the blade in his hand but was not able to shave any of the Lord's curly locks out of grief. In great ecstasy Sri Gauranga Deva told him to repeatedly chant Hare Krishna out loud. Then the barber loudly chanted the same and began his job of shaving while he wept and his body was studded with goose pimples."
Mahaprabhu's behavior while chanting the Krishna-nama Maha-mantra is further described in his dialogue with Ishvara Puri (CC Adi 7.72, 78, 81, 83):
mUrkha tumi, tomAra nAhika vedAntAdhikAra |
kRSNa-mantra japa sadA ei mantra-sAra ||
dhairya dharite nAri, hailAma unmatta |
hAsi, kAndi, nAci, gAi, yaiche madamatta ||
kibA mantra dilA, gosAJi, kibA tAra bala |
japite japite mantra karila pAgala ||
kRSNa-nAma-mahA-mantrera ei ta' svabhAva |
yei jape, tAra kRSNe upajaye bhAva ||
Ishvara Puri: "You are a fool, you have no eligibility for Vedanta. Always do japa of the Krishna-mantra, the essence of all mantras."
Mahaprabhu: "Unable to maintain my patience, I have become maddened. I laugh, cry, dance and sing like a madman.
"What kind of mantra you have given, Gosai, and what is its power? By doing japa of this mantra, I have become mad!
"It is the nature of Krishna-nama maha-mantra that anyone who does its japa, in him bhava for Krishna awakens."
It is hard to imagine Mahaprabhu sitting still and meditating on the mantra, given the vibrant and ecstatic nature he ascribes to his experiences with it.
Mahaprabhu is frequently portrayed chanting "Hari, Krishna" together with devotees (CC 2.7.98):
ei zloka paDi pathe calilA gaurahari |
loka dekhi' pathe kahe bala hari hari ||
sei loka prema-matta haJA bale hari kRSNa |
prabhura pAche saGge yAya darzana-satRSNa ||
"Reciting this verse, Gaurahari walked along the path. Seeing people on the way, He told them, 'Say Hari Hari!' These people became maddened in prema, saying 'Hari Krishna!' They would follow behind the Lord, being eager to see Him."
Such instances are quite common (CC 2.16.168, 2.17.159, 3.11.58):
eta kahi sei cara hari kRSNa gAya |
hAse kAnde nAce gAya bAulera prAya ||
"Saying this, that [Muslim] messenger sang 'Hari Krishna!', laughed, cried, danced and sang like a madman."
duGhe preme nRtya kari kare kolAkuli |
hari kRSNa kaha duGhe bale bAhu tuli ||
"Both of them [the two brahmins]danced and embraced in ecstatic love, uttering 'Hari Krishna'; thus both of them sang, raising their arms."
hari kRSNa zabde sabe kare kolAhala |
premAnande mahAprabhu hailA vihvala ||
[Upon Haridasa's departure] "All of them very loudly chanted 'Hari Krishna!' in the bliss of ecstatic love, and Mahaprabhu became overwhelmed."
Prabhu told everyone to chant "Hari, Krishna" (CC 2.25.176):
bAhu tuli' prabhu kahe bala kRSNa hari |
daNDavat kare loke hari-dhvani kari ||
"Raising His arms, Prabhu said, 'Please say "Krishna Hari!"'. People offered obeisances, and the sounds of 'Hari' resounded.
There are also many other references along the same lines in Chaitanya Charitamrita and Chaitanya Bhagavata, such as the following incident in the latter:
prasanna zrI mukhe hare kRSNa kRSNa bali |
vijaya hailA gauracandra kutUhalI ||
hare kRSNa hare kRSNa bali prema sukhe |
pratyakSa haila Asi advaita-sammukhe ||
"With a shining face and greatly jubilant, Gaurachandra triumphantly chanted 'Hare Krishna, Krishna', steeped in the joy of prema, coming to the place of Advaita Acharya."
But what about Mahaprabhu's direct instructions? Vrindavan Das describes the his advice to Tapana Misra on the matter in his Chaitanya Bhagavata (1.14.143-147) :
sAdhya-sAdhana-tattva ye kichu sakala |
hari-nAma-saGkIrtane milibe sakala ||
harer nAma harer nAma harer nAmaiva kevalam |
kalau nAsty eva nAsty eva nAsty eva gatir anyathA ||
hare kRSNa hare kRSNa kRSNa kRSNa hare hare |
hare rAma hare rAma rAma rAma hare hare ||
ei zloka nAma bali laya mahA-mantra |
zola-nAma batriza-akSara ei tantra ||
sAdhite sAdhite yabe premAGkura habe |
sAdhya-sAdhana-tattva jAnibA se tabe ||
"Everything is accomplished by Hari-nama sankirtana, including the goal of life (sadhya) and the means for its attainment (sadhana).
In this age of Kali, the only means for deliverance is the chanting of the names of Hari. There is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way.
'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.'
This verse of names is called the maha-mantra. It contains sixteen names of the Lord, consisting of thirty-two syllables.
Chanting this mantra again and again will awaken the sprout of prema within the heart, and thus the goal of life and the means for its attainment is understood."
The following famous instructions of Sri Caitanya are related in the Caitanya Bhagavata (2.23.75-78):
Apane sabAre prabhu kore upadeze |
kRSNa-nAma mahA-mantra zunoho hariSe ||
hare kRSNa hare kRSNa kRSNa kRSNa hare hare |
hare rAma hare rAma rAma rAma hare hare||
prabhu kohe kohilam ei mahA-mantra |
iha japa giyA sabe koriyA nirbandha||
iha hoite sarva-siddhi hoibe sabAra |
sarva kSaNa bolo ithe vidhi nAhi Ara ||
"The Lord ordered everyone in great joy: 'Listen to the Krishna-nama maha-mantra:
'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.'
The Lord said: 'I have spoken the maha-mantra. Perform japa of this mantra a prescribed number of times.
'All perfection will be attained through this. Chant this mantra at every moment - there is no other rule.'"
The final statement is very significant in the light of the idea that chanting the maha-mantra would be forbidden in kirtana: sarva kSaNa bolo ithe vidhi nAhi Ara - "Chant this mantra at every moment - there is no other rule."
The following event described in Lochan Dasa's Chaitanya Mangala is also a noteworthy example:
bAhu prasAriyA prabhu brAhmaNe tulilA |
tAra ghare bhakti bhare gAna AraMbhilA ||
brAhmaNera ghara yena haila vRndAvana |
hari-nAma zunibAre Aise sarva-jana ||
hare kRSNa hare kRSNa kRSNa kRSNa hare hare |
hare rAma hare rAma rAma rAma hare hare ||
"Embracing a brahmin with his out-stretched arms, Prabhu brough devotion to his house and began to sing.
The brahmin's house became like Vrindavan, and everyone gathered, hearing the names of Hari:
'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.'"
The following verses are found in the Padma-purana:
harer nAma mahA-mantrair nazyet pApa pizAcakaM |
harer agra svarair uccair nRtyaM stan-nAmakrin-naraH |
punAti bhuvanaM vipra! gaGgAdi salilaM yathA ||
hare pradakzinaM kurvann uccais tan nAma krin naraH |
karatAlAdi sandhAnaM susvaraM kAla zabditam ||
“Anyone who dances in front of Sri Hari and loudly chants the hari nama maha-mantra will destroy all witches of sin. Just as the water of sacred rivers like the Ganga purify the universe, similarly those who circumambulate Sri Hari and loudly perform nama sankirtana of the 16-word maha-mantra with sweet voices and while clapping the hands, purify the entire universe.”