18 Chanting of the holy name is the most important element of devotional service
The most important item in the execution of devotional service is the chanting of the holy name:
Then the Bhattacarya asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu: "Which item is the most important in the execution of devotional service?" The Lord replied that the most important item was the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. There are nine items to be executed in devotional service. These are enumerated in the following verse from Srimad−Bhagavatam (7.5.23):
sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada−sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma−nivedanam
Hearing the glories of the Lord, chanting, remembering, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering worship in the temple, offering prayers, becoming a servant of the Lord, becoming the Lord's friend, and sarvatma−nivedana, offering oneself fully at the lotus feet of the Lord−these are the nine devotional processes. In The Nectar of Devotion, these are expanded into sixty−four items. When Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya asked the Lord which item was most important, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately answered that the most important item is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
– Sri Caitanya caritamrta Madhya lila 6.241
Of the nine processes of devotional service, chanting the holy name is the most important:
[Lord Caitanya to Sanatana Gosvami]: "Among the ways of executing devotional service, the nine prescribed methods are the best, for these processes have great potency to deliver Krsna and ecstatic love for Him. Of the nine processes of devotional service, the most important is to always chant the holy name of the Lord. If one does so, avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very easily obtains the most valuable love of Godhead."
Srila Jiva Gosvami Prabhu gives the following directions in his Bhakti−sandarbha (270)
iyam ca kirtanakhya bhaktir
bhagavato dravya−jati−guna−kriyabhir dina−
janaika−visayapara−karuna−mayiti
sruti−puranadi−visrutih. ata eva kalau
svabhavata evatidinesu lokesv avirbhuya
tan anayasenaiva tat−tad−yuga−gata−
maha−sadhananam sarvam eva phalam
dadana sa krtarthayati. yata eva tayaiva
kalau bhagavato visesatas ca santoso bhavati.
"Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead. This chanting or devotional service does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor on one's having taken birth in a good family. By humility and meekness one attracts the attention of Krsna. That is the verdict of all the Vedas. Therefore if one becomes very humble and meek, he can easily attain the lotus feet of Krsna in this age of Kali. That is the fulfillment of all great sacrifices, penances and austerities because when one achieves ecstatic love of Godhead, he attains the complete perfection of life.Therefore whatever one does in executing devotional service must be accompanied with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord."
– Sri Caitanya caritamrta Antya lila 4.70−71
Of the nine processes of devotional service, hearing and chanting the maha−mantra is the most important:
In the bhakti−yoga system there are nine different processes: hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, worshiping the Deity in the temple, praying, carrying out orders, serving Krsna as a friend and sacrificing for Him. Out of these, sravanam kirtanam, hearing and chanting, are considered the most important. At a public kirtana one person can chant
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
while a group listens, and at the end of the mantra, the group can respond, and in this way there is a reciprocation of hearing and chanting.
– The Perfection of Yoga
Hearing of the holy name of the Lord (sravana) is the basis for understanding the other processes of devotional service:
[Prahlada Maharaja to Hiranyakasipu]: Prahlada Maharaja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Visnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (In other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words)−these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krsna through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.
Hearing of the holy name of the Lord (sravana) is the beginning of devotional service. Although any one of the nine processes is sufficient, in chronological order the hearing of the holy name of the Lord is the beginning. Indeed, it is essential… Unless one hears about the holy name, form and qualities of the Lord, one cannot clearly understand the other processes of devotional service. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends that one chant the holy name of Krsna. Param vijayate sri−krsna−sankirtanam. If one is fortunate enough to hear from the mouth of realized devotees, he is very easily successful on the path of devotional service. Therefore hearing of the holy name, form and qualities of the Lord is essential.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23−24
All processes of devotional service must be preceded and followed by kirtana, which is the most important process:
[Lord Caitanya to Satyaraja]: "… One can complete the nine processes of devotional service simply by chanting the holy name."
The nine devotional processes such as sravana and kirtana can all be attained at once if one simply chants the holy name of the Lord offenselessly. In this regard, Srila Jiva Gosvami states in his book Bhakti−sandarbha (173): yadyapy anya bhaktih kalau kartavya, tada kirtanakhya−bhakti−samyogenaiva. Out of the nine processes of devotional service, kirtana is very important. Srila Jiva Gosvami therefore instructs that the other processes, such as arcana, vandana, dasya and sakhya, should be executed, but they must be preceded and followed by kirtana, the chanting of the holy name. We have therefore introduced this system in all of our centers. Arcana, arati, bhoga offering, Deity dressing and decoration are all preceded and followed by the chanting of the holy name of the Lord−
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
– Sri Caitanya caritamrta Madhya lila 15.107
Chanting of the holy name is one of the five most important practices of devotional service:
[Lord Caitanya to Sanatana Gosvami]: "One should associate with devotees, chant the holy name of the Lord, hear Srimad−Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura and worship the Deity with faith and veneration. These live limbs of devotional service are the best of all. Even a slight performance of these five awakens love for Krsna."
In the Bhakti−rasamrta−sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami states:
anganam pancakasyasya purva−vilikhitasya ca
nikhila−sraisthya−bodhaya punar apy atra samsanam
"The glorification of these five items [association with devotees, chanting the holy name and so on] is to make known the complete superiority of these five practices of devotional service."
– Sri Caitanya caritamrta Madhya lila 22.128−29
