Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Ādi 17.73
The Holy Name Is the Lord Himself
“When a student interpreted the glories of the holy name as a prayer of exaggeration, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, greatly unhappy, immediately warned everyone not to see the student’s face henceforward.”
What the purport teaches
- A student claimed that the holy name’s glories were exaggerations meant to induce people to chant. This interpretation is called artha-vāda and is one of the ten offenses against the holy name.
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was greatly unhappy and warned everyone not to see the offender’s face. He immediately bathed in the Ganges with His clothes on to teach everyone to avoid nāma-aparādha.
- The holy name is identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should never distinguish between the Lord and His name or regard the name’s glories as mere exaggerations.
Try this today
Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra today, remembering that the Lord and His holy name are not different.
Ask yourself
How would remembering that the holy name is the Lord Himself affect my chanting?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.