Śravaṇaṁ Kīrtanam - Hearing and Chanting the Glories of God
The twin processes of śravaṇaṁ (hearing) and kīrtanam (chanting) form the bedrock of spiritual life. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead begins here. By hearing about the Lord from authorized scriptures and pure devotees, one becomes inspired to chant His glories. This dynamic exchange clears the consciousness of material contamination and reawakens the soul's dormant love for God.
The Primary Process of Devotional Service
According to the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the path of bhakti consists of nine different activities, but hearing and chanting are the most important. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that just as a seed needs water to grow, the creeper of devotional service in the heart is nourished by the water of hearing and chanting. Whether one is a neophyte or a liberated soul like Nārada Muni, this process remains the constant occupation.
- According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 7.5.23-24): This is a statement given by Prahlada Maharaja in answer to a question raised by his father. Prahlada Maharaja said - To hear or chant about Visnu, to remember Him, to serve His lotus feet, to worship Him.
- The seed of devotional service sown in the heart of the devotee may be cultured by pouring water in the form of hearing and chanting of the holy name and pastimes of the Lord. The creeper of devotional service, so nourished, gradually grows.
- Of the nine different items of bhakti-yoga, the first and foremost is to chant and hear about the Lord.
- A person serious about making progress in devotional service must always think of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must always chant His glories, and must always hear about His activities. - These are the preliminary principles of following the scriptural rules and regulations.
Cleansing the Heart and Mind
The immediate result of hearing and chanting is the purification of the heart. Śrīla Prabhupāda quotes Lord Caitanya's famous verse, ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam: the chanting of the holy name sweeps away the dirt of material desires. This process is compared to a powerful medicine that cures the disease of material existence. By constantly engaging the tongue and ear in the Lord's service, one becomes free from envy, anger, and lamentation.
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu also says, ceto-darpana-marjanam: (CC Antya 20.12) the process of hearing and chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord washes away the dirty things accumulated in the core of the heart.
- The process of hearing and chanting about the glories of the Lord is the only means to clarify the heart of material contamination.
- Actually, when one chants or discusses the transcendental activities of the Lord, he immediately becomes nonenvious.
- The medicines include hearing and chanting and remembering the glories of Godhead, worshiping the transcendental form of Godhead, offering Him transcendental service, accepting Him as one's supreme friend and lastly, surrendering unto Him in all circumstances.
Creating the Spiritual World
A unique potency of chanting is its ability to transform the atmosphere. Śrīla Prabhupāda states that wherever pure devotees chant the glories of the Lord, that place immediately becomes Vaikuṇṭha, or the spiritual world. The Lord Himself confirms that He does not reside merely in His abode, but He is present wherever His devotees chant His glories. Thus, one can live in the material world but remain untouched by it, simply by the strength of kīrtanam.
- A pure devotee can create Vaikuntha or Vrndavana anywhere simply by chanting the glories of the Lord without offense.
- A place immediately becomes Vaikuntha whenever the holy topics of the Personality of Godhead are discussed by pure devotees. This is the process of sravanam kirtanam visnoh (SB 7.5.23), chanting and hearing about the Supreme Lord Visnu.
- Any time or anywhere pure devotees meet and chant the glories of the Lord, the Lord is present without any doubt. It is said by the Lord Himself that He always stays where His pure devotees chant His glories.
- Despite the pleasant atmosphere, the minds of denizens do not become agitated because in the spiritual world, vaikuntha planets, the spiritualistic minds of inhabitants are so much absorbed in the spiritual vibration of chanting the glories of the Lord.
The Universal Remedy for Kali-yuga
In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, other methods of spiritual realization are difficult to perform. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is the only remedy. This process is universal; it is not restricted to any specific religion or community. Anyone, anywhere—whether Hindu, Muslim, or Christian—can chant the holy name of God and attain the highest perfection.
- In the present confused state of humanity, Krsna consciousness, 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 - is the only remedy for setting the world aright.
- Every country, every nation and every community throughout the world has some conception of the holy name of God, and as such either the Hindus or the Muhammadans or the Christians, everyone can easily chant the holy name of God in a meditative mood.
- The simple way to worship the Supreme Lord in this age of disturbance is to hear and chant about His great activities.
- For the present generation, the chanting, vibration of holy name of God, is recommended in the scriptures. It is said that meditation was possible in the Satya-yuga, when people were cent percent pure. For the present, mostly, people are impure.
Practical Application and Offenses
To ensure success in this process, Śrīla Prabhupāda prescribes a strict discipline: chanting at least sixteen rounds of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra daily on beads. He warns that mechanical chanting is not enough; one must carefully avoid the ten offenses to the holy name. If one neglects this and continues to commit offenses, they will not attain love of God, even after many births.
- Always follow the four principles, take prasadam, and above all chant your sixteen rounds a day, and thus you will make steady advancement in devotional service.
- If one is infested with the ten offenses in the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, despite his endeavor to chant the holy name for many births, he will not get the love of Godhead that is the ultimate goal of this chanting.
- One should, therefore, be encouraged to develop his service attitude toward the Lord, because this will help him to chant without any offense.
- If one is not even able to chant 16 rounds, then he must make it up the next day. He must be sure to keep his vow. If he does not strictly follow this out, then he is sure to be negligent. That is offensive in the service of the Lord.
Conclusion
The path of śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam is the lifeline for the conditioned soul. By engaging the tongue in chanting and the ear in hearing, one gradually revives their eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that if we stick to this process with determination and faith, we will surely return home, back to Godhead.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Chanting about God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.