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(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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