(comprehensive), The Thousand Holy Names of ... - Mandhata Global
(comprehensive), The Thousand Holy Names of ... - Mandhata Global
(comprehensive), The Thousand Holy Names of ... - Mandhata Global
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Çré Viñëusahasranäma<br />
Name is itself the process <strong>of</strong> deliverance. Ten such <strong>of</strong>fenses are<br />
mentioned in the Padma Puräëa.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first <strong>of</strong>fense is to vilify the great devotees who have<br />
preached about the glories <strong>of</strong> the Lord. Blasphemy <strong>of</strong> the pure<br />
devotees is the most serious <strong>of</strong> the <strong>of</strong>fenses that deprive us <strong>of</strong><br />
the benefit <strong>of</strong> chanting. <strong>The</strong> self-realized pure devotee is not an<br />
ordinary human being, but is an authorized representative <strong>of</strong><br />
the Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa. As such, he has the power to<br />
award pure devotional service to Kåñëa, which is the key to<br />
spiritual liberation and eternal happiness. One should not<br />
regard the pure devotee with a critical or envious attitude,<br />
since this can place formidable obstacles in one’s path <strong>of</strong><br />
spiritual advancement. It is better not to become too familiar<br />
with the pure devotee, but to maintain some formality <strong>of</strong><br />
respect with him. This will help prevent us from committing<br />
<strong>of</strong>fenses by cultivating a service attitude.<br />
<strong>The</strong> second <strong>of</strong>fense is to see the <strong>Holy</strong> <strong>Names</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Lord in<br />
terms <strong>of</strong> worldly distinction. <strong>The</strong> Lord is the proprietor <strong>of</strong> all<br />
the universes, and therefore He may be known in different<br />
places by different <strong>Names</strong>, but that does not in any way qualify<br />
the fullness <strong>of</strong> the Lord. Any nomenclature that is meant for<br />
the Supreme Lord is as holy as the others because it is meant<br />
for the Lord. All the transcendental <strong>Holy</strong> <strong>Names</strong> are as<br />
powerful as the Lord, and there is no bar for anyone in any<br />
part <strong>of</strong> the creation to chant and glorify the Lord by the<br />
particular <strong>Holy</strong> <strong>Names</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Lord as they are locally<br />
understood. All <strong>of</strong> His <strong>Holy</strong> <strong>Names</strong> are absolute and allauspicious,<br />
and one should not distinguish among different<br />
<strong>Holy</strong> <strong>Names</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Lord as one does with material objects and<br />
their names.<br />
<strong>The</strong> third <strong>of</strong>fense is to neglect the orders <strong>of</strong> the authorized<br />
äcäryas or spiritual masters. <strong>The</strong>re are many authorized<br />
spiritual masters in the disciplic lineage or paramparä, and all<br />
<strong>of</strong> them have given wonderful instructions capable <strong>of</strong> saving<br />
the entire world. If we follow these instructions we will be<br />
benefited, even if we do not understand them. For example,<br />
the Vaiñëava spiritual masters are unanimous in their<br />
glorification <strong>of</strong> worship <strong>of</strong> the holy tuläsé plant as a means to<br />
achieve pure devotional service. It does not matter if one<br />
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