The Importance of Gaura Naam Tattva in SL

By Nava Gauranga dasa

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna! Second Life and other Virtual Worlds can be like the shadow of the material world, but in many ways are more full of material desires. This is because people can express all their material desires to the fullest extent and freedom in Virtual Worlds.

Therefore how much more essential is the spreading of Gaura Naam? How much more the need to extend this mercy of Gaura Naam Tattva? As Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has expressed, this Secret of all Secrets-Gaura Naam, is the only hope for the fallen souls of Kali Yuga!

Shrila Prabhupada in Cc Antya-lila 2.31 purport:

"Worshipers of Shri Gaurasundara accept the four syllables gau-ra-an-ga as the Gaura mantra, but pure worshipers of Radha and Krishna accept the four syllables ra-dha krs-na as the Gaura-gopala mantra. However, Vaishnavas consider Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu nondifferent from Radha-Krishna (shri-krishna-chaitanya radha-krishna nahe anya). Therefore one who chants the mantra "gauranga" and one who chants the names of Radha and Krishna are on the same level."

Commentary by Swami Gaurangapada:

It is very clear from this purport by Shrila Prabhupada that one who chants the Gauranga Mantraraja and one who chants the Hare Krishna Mahamantra are both chanting the Names of Radha-Krishna and are thus on the same level. Then why should one criticize the other? If Shrila Prabhupada says that both are equal then the chanters of both the Mantras (Gauranga and Hare Krishna) have to be accepted on an equal level by all the followers of Shrila Prabhupada.

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada
Purport to Chaitanya-Charitamrita Adi 8.31:

"The Hare Krishna Mahamantra considers the offenses whereas the Names of Gauranga-Nityananda don't consider offenses. An offensive chanter will never achieve the fruit of chanting (pure love for Krishna) by chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Therefore till the time he is commiting offenses, he should chant the names of Nityananda and Gauranga. Due the repeated chanting of the names of Nityananda and Gauranga, the offenses will be destroyed and he will achieve the fruit of chanting."

"The name of Krishna and Gauranga-Both are non-different than the named Lord. Those who think that Krishna is any way inferior or limited than Gauranga are in gross ignorance. But in practical considerations with respect to benefit awarded to the conditioned souls, the chanting of Shri Nityananda and Gauranga's Name is more useful and helpful for everyone. The mercy of Krishna's names is generally only upon liberated or perfected souls who are surrendered to Him. But the magnanimity of the names of Lord Nityananda and Gauranga is especially for the souls who are offenders and full of anarthas and desires for material sense-gratification. The chanting of Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga's Names and Their worship quickly delivers the soul from all the offenses and thus the soul achieves shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga-Krishna without any delay."

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada in Shri Chaitanya-Bhagavata, Madhya-Khanda 3.134:

"Simply by chanting or hearing the name of Lord Nityananda, the sinful inclinations in the hearts of all the living entities in the universe are permanently destroyed and their inherent purity is automatically awakened. On chanting or hearing the name of Lord Nityananda, even the merchants, degraded, fallen and foolish people are purified and immediately become realized in the Absolute Truth and devotees of the Lord."

Shrila Sacchidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya Chp 1:

kali jivera aparadha asankhya durvara;
gauranga-nama vina tara nahika uddhara.

"The offenses and sins of the living entities in Kali-yuga are unlimited and absolutely insurmountable. That is why the souls can never ever be delivered without the regular chanting the most merciful name of Gauranga."

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The Importance of Gaura Naam Tattva in SL
Nava Gauranga dasa
Sun, 16 Sep 2007 12:45:00 GMT