Title: Chanting Sequence, plastic bags etc.

User: Swami Gaurangapada Date: 2005-02-04 23:54:43

 

Q1. Regarding the Nityananda & Gauranga Mantras is it mandatory to chant the same first and then the Hare Krishna Mantra or is it okay if one chanted the Hare Krishna Mantra and then chanted the Nityanand & Gauranga Mantras......of course completing 16 rounds minimum of each of the above daily like chanting the Mahamantra in the morning and the Nityanand & Gauranga mantras during the course of the day....I hope the above is clear to you.

 

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Ans by SG: As Lord Gauranga Himself states in Shri Shikshashtaka that there no rules of time or sequence in chanting the Holy Names. Therefore you can chant in any order at any time of the day to complete the 16 rounds of each of the Mantras. Normally devotees find it easier to remember by chanting 1 round of Nityananda, 1 round of Gauranga and then 1 round of Hare Krishna. So in this way they chant 16-16-16. They do not have to count the three Mantras separately, they have to count only once.

 

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Q2. Also could you please let me know if it would be offensive or not to print the Hare Krishna Mahamantra on small polybags for Prasad distribution......I mean people would take the prasad and throw the small polybag.....I have heard that it would be offensive to throw something with pictures on it but the mahamantra is okay.....is there any scriptural reference regarding the same or did Prabhupada mention anything about it.I wish to print the following on the polybags which would be beneficial in preaching: Please guide and advise.

 

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Ans2 by SG: If you want to preach the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, you can make Mantra Stickers and distribute them freely. People will take them and stick them or place them in their house and chant at least once daily when they look at the Mantra sticker.

 

Holy Name, Form and the Lord are all one - absolute. There is no difference between the syllables of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and a picture of Lord Krishna. So printing the Holy Names on disposable plastic bags is not at all a good idea. It will lead to offenses towards the Holy Names when the bags are thrown on the ground, trampled on, disposed in the garbage or eaten from etc. etc. So please avoid it if you can.

 

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Q3. Would you be having the book "Amrita Pravaha Bhasya" by Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

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Ans3 by SG: Shri Amrita Pravaha Bhashya is the most nectarean commentary of Seventh Goswami Shrila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura to Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita in which he reveals the four syllable Gauranga Mantra and many other esoteric truths about Lord Gauranga's pastimes. It has not yet been translated into English. I have read it a few times in the original Bengali script which I have. I plan to translate the Amrtita Pravaha Bhashya and Anubhashya to Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita later on in my life after I have completed Shri Chaitanya Bhagavata and other main scriptures.