The Supreme Absolute Truth - Part 25
Date: 2017-11-08 Author: Narahari Krishna das
Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.
This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "The Supreme Absolute Truth". In previous offerings we have been meditating on the Supreme Brahman's nature, form, qualities, activities, powers. Now we will now continue to meditate on the name of Parabrahman. vi) The Name of Parabrahman: Omkara is an important name used to denote the Supreme Brahman and non- different from Him. And the holy name Hare Krishna mantra is the most merciful manifestation of Supreme Brahman denoted by Omkara. In the purport of Bhagavata purana verse 9.14.48 Srila Prabhupada explains this point, “The same name omkara is manifest in the mantra Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Unless one is a brahmana, one cannot utter omkara and get the desired result. But in Kali-yuga almost everyone is a shudra, unfit for pronouncing the pranava, omkara. Therefore the shastras have recommended the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.”
The holy name is verily the Supreme Absolute truth since it consists of the two syllables Krishna and Rama which denote the Supreme Brahman directly. The following slokas states how the name Krishna and Rama indicates the Supreme Absolute Truth. In Mahabharata Udyoga Parva-71.4 it is said,
kṛṣir bhū-vācakaḥ śabdo ṇaś ca nirvṛti-vācakaḥ tayor aikyaṁ paraṁ brahma kṛṣṇa ity abhidhīyate Mahabharata - Udyoga Parva - 71.4)
The word "krish" is the attractive feature of the Lord's existence, and "na" means spiritual pleasure. When the verb "krish" is added to the affix "na," it becomes "Krishna," which indicates the Supreme Absolute Truth (param brahma).
In Padmapurana it is said
ramante yogino ’nante satyānande cid-ātmani iti rāma-padenāsau paraṁ brahmābhidhīyate
Because the transcendentalists take pleasure in the unlimited true pleasure of spiritual existence, the Supreme Absolute truth, Parabrahman is called Rama. By chanting the mahamantra which consists of the syllables Krishna and Rama one gets the association of the Supreme Absolute Truth and attain love of Godhead. There is a nice story in Padma purana regarding this. In Kurukshetra a merchant by named Satyavasuda lived. He married a woman named Jayanthi and lived a happy life. But the married life did not last long and the merchant died leaving the young wife behind. And Jayanthi did not have a child and had unfulfilled lusty desires and hence she started having illicit affairs with many other men and gradually degraded to becoming a prostitute. Her parents were upset by this and drove her out of her home. She then roamed in the streets without shelter and one day she came across a hunter who was trying to sell two beautiful male parrots. She bought both of them and continued her roaming. One of her previous lovers took pity on her and provided her a house and things to live. In the new home, Jayanthi started taking care of the two parrots and named them Krishna and Rama respectively and taught them to chant Krishna and Rama. In this way, everyday she chanted the names many times and in due course of time she became old and passed away.
Yamadutas came and arrested her and took her to Yamaraj. On the way, Vishnudutas forbade them and asked for her release. The Yamadutas said “She lived by a very low profession and did not do any pious activities and hence she is our candidate." But Vishnudutas replied ”She named her two parrots and named them Krishna and Rama and taught them to chant these names. She also chanted these two names in that process. So she is now purified and hence eligible for the spiritual world”. Saying this they took her to Vaikunta.
Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport of Bhagavatam 9.14.48 how Omkara and Mahamantra carry the same meaning “Omkara is a mantra, or maha-mantra, and Hare Krishna is also a maha-mantra. The purpose of pronouncing omkara is to address the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva (om namo bhagavate vaasudevaaya). And the purpose of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is the same. Hare: “O energy of the Lord!” Krishna: “O Lord Krishna!” Hare: “O energy of the Lord!” Rama: “O Supreme Lord, O supreme enjoyer!”
Thus the name of Parabrahman (Omkara and Holy names) is infinitely great and exalted and Srila Prabhupada preached the Mahamantra all over the world so that everyone gets an opportunity to chant them and associate with the Parabrahman.
Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Narahari Krishna das Chennai.