Summary of Chapter 12: Nama, Rupa, Guna and Lila in the Holy Name

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

By fully surrendering to the chanting process one will receive the causeless mercy of the name. The blissful pastimes of Kṛṣṇa will then flow through the mind without any effort. Kṛṣṇa will reveal everything in a purified heart, sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ. Sarasvati Thakura says such wonderful realizations are impossible without Kṛṣṇa’s holy name:

rūpa-guṇa-līlā-sphūrti nāma chāḍā haya nā
rūpa-guṇa-līlā hoite kṛṣṇa-nāma haya nā

“Revelations of the Lord’s transcendental form, qualities, and pastimes are never manifest in the absence of His holy name. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is never separated from His transcendental form, qualities or pastimes.” (Prākṛta Rasa Śata Dūṣiṇī, 31)

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati describes chastity of the senses: “Other than the pure transcendental names of Kṛṣṇa, which are completely free from all material contact, nothing else should be spoken. Other than the pure transcendental forms of Kṛṣṇa, which are completely free from all material contact, nothing else should be seen. Other than the pure transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, which are completely free from all material contact, nothing else should be heard. Other than the pure transcendental pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, which are completely free from all material contact, nothing else should be served.” (Prākṛta Rasa Śata Dūṣiṇī, 45-46)

It is only by the mercy of Sri Guru and Lord Gauranga that one will obtain these sublime states of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya- nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

His nature (tattva) is that He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. His name (nāma) is Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. His form (rūpa) is golden. His quality (gūna) is that He is the most magnanimous of all incarnations. His pastime (līlā) is to distribute the highest love of Godhead, kṛṣṇa-prema. I offer my obeisances unto that most generous Lord, Sri Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 19.53)

An excerpt from the book Art of Chanting