The Power of Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahā-mantra
Śrīla Prabhupāda, the founder-ācārya of krishna consciousness movement, shares profound insights about Haridāsa Ṭhākura, the exemplary devotee known as the Nāmācārya (teacher of the holy name).
The Elevation of Haridāsa Ṭhākura
“Although Ṭhākura Haridāsa happened to take his birth in a Moslem family, he was elevated to the post of nāmācārya by Lord Caitanya due to his rigidly attended principle of chanting three hundred thousand holy names of the Lord daily:
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare HareAnd because he chanted the holy name of the Lord constantly, it is understood that in his previous life he must have passed through all the ritualistic methods of the Vedas, known as śabda-brahma. Unless, therefore, one is purified, one cannot take to the principles of Kṛṣṇa consciousness or become engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord, Hare Kṛṣṇa.”
(Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 6.44, Purport | 1972 Edition)
The Extraordinary Chanting of Haridāsa Ṭhākura
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains:
“Haridas Thakur chanted 3 lakhs of names each day, that means 16 names in the mantra, 108×16 or 1,728 names in each round of mala, dividing 300,000 by 1,728 comes to roundabout 175 rounds on beads daily. And for us it is even difficult to chant 16 rounds! That is why Haridas Thakur is “nama-carya.” We find in Chaitanya Charitamrta information that both Lord Chaitanya and Haridas Thakur were constantly absorbed in chanting the Hare Krishna mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.”
(Letter to Yajnesvara — Bombay, 2 January 1972)
The Unfathomable Qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura
“The transcendental qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura are innumerable and unfathomable. One may describe a portion of them, but to count them all is impossible.”
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā 3.95)
“No one can describe all the qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. One may say something about them just to purify himself.”
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā 3.97)
The Daily Practice of Haridāsa Ṭhākura
“Haridāsa Ṭhākura constructed a cottage in a solitary forest. There he planted a tulasī plant, and in front of the tulasī he would chant the holy name of the Lord 300,000 times daily. He chanted throughout the entire day and night.”
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā 3.100)
The Simple Process of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
Śrīla Prabhupāda advises:
“Haridāsa Ṭhākura, being the ācārya of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, is called Nāmācārya Haridāsa Ṭhākura. From his personal Example we can understand that chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and becoming highly elevated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is very simple. Without difficulty one can sit down anywhere, especially on the bank of the Ganges, Yamunā or any sacred river, devise a sitting place or cottage, plant a tulasī, and before the tulasī chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra undisturbed.”
(Excerpt from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā 3.100, Purport)
Following in the Footsteps of Haridāsa Ṭhākura
“One should not, however, imitate Haridāsa Ṭhākura, for no one else can chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra 300,000 times a day. Such chanting is for the mukta-puruṣa, or liberated soul. We can follow his example, however, by chanting sixteen rounds of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra on beads every day and offering respect to the tulasī plant. This is not at all difficult for anyone, and the process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra with a vow before the tulasī plant has such great spiritual potency that simply by doing this one can become spiritually strong.
Therefore we request the members of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement to follow Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s example rigidly. Chanting sixteen rounds does not take much time, nor is offering respects to the tulasī plant difficult. The process has immense spiritual potency. One should not miss this opportunity.”
(Excerpt from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā 3.100, Purport)
The Recognition of a True Spiritual Master
“It is said, phalena paricīyate: one is recognized by the result of his actions. In Vaiṣṇava society there are many types of Vaiṣṇavas. Some of them are called gosvāmīs, some are called svāmīs, some are prabhus, and some are prabhupāda. One is not recognized, however, simply by such a name. A spiritual master is recognized as an actual guru when it is seen that he has changed the character of his disciples. Haridāsa Ṭhākura actually changed the character of the professional prostitute. People greatly appreciated this, and therefore they all offered obeisances to Haridāsa Ṭhākura and glorified”
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā 3.143, Purport)
Note: All the above quotes are from the original first edition books of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
