(comprehensive), The Thousand Holy Names of ... - Mandhata Global

Çré Viñëusahasranäma
the Dvärapa-yuga] to attain the ultimate destination [of the
personal association of the Lord].”
[Båhan-näradéya Puräëa]
For progress in spiritual life, the Vedic scriptures recommend
austerity and meditation in Satya-yuga, sacrifice for the
satisfaction of Lord Viñëu in Treta-yuga and gorgeous worship
of the Lord in the temple in Dväpara-yuga, but in the Age of
Kali one can achieve spiritual progress only by chanting the
Holy Name of the Lord. This is confirmed in many scriptures.
For example, in Çrémad-Bhägavatam (12.3.51) it is said,
6
kaler doña-nidhe räjann asti hy eko mahän guëaù
kértanäd eva kåñëasya mukta-saìgaù paraà vrajet
“In the Age of Kali there are many faults, for people are
subjected to many miserable conditions, yet in this age there is
one great benediction: simply by chanting the Hare Kåñëa
mahä-mantra one can be freed from all material contamination
and thus be elevated to the spiritual world.”
The Närada-païcarätra also praises the Hare Kåñëa mahämantra
as follows:
trayo vedaù ñaò-aìgäni chandäàsi vividhäù suräù
sarvaà añöäkñaräntaùsthaà yac cänyad api väì-mayam
sarva-vedänta-särärthah saàsärärëava-täraëaù
“The essence of all Vedic knowledge—comprehending the
three kinds of Vedic activity [karma-käëòa, jïäna-käëòa and
upasäna-käëòa], the chandas, or Vedic hymns, and the
processes for satisfying the demigods—is included in the eight
syllables Hare Kåñëa, Hare Kåñëa. This is the reality of all
Vedänta. The chanting of the Holy Name is the only means to
cross the ocean of nescience.”
Similarly, the Kali-santaraëa Upaniñad states,
hare kåñëa hare kåñëa kåñëa kåñëa hare hare
hare räma hare räma räma räma hare hare
iti ñoòaçakaà nämnäà kali-kalmaña-näçanam
nätaù parataropäyaù sarva-vedeñu dåçyate