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Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Nama Bhiksha Kendra

“Ya Yetanmama Bhakteshu sampradadhyãt |
tasyãham brahmadãyasya dadãmyãtmãnamãtmana” ||

------ Lord Krishna, in his final instructions to His devotee and disciple Uddhava, says, “Jnãna dãna” (imparting spiritual knowledge) is the highest of all services that can be rendered to mankind.
By ‘Jnãna dãna’ the Lord means the Divine knowledge that will take people across the ocean of transmigration (‘samsãra sãgara’) and not mere worldly knowledge.

Well! What is Divine Knowledge? It is verily the knowledge of the way to Lord Krishna! And, should not the way be the simplest one whence people caught in the turmoil of Kali Yuga cry for a way of escape? And, that simple, easy route of escape is verily NAMASANKIRTAN – chanting the Divine Name of the Lord!
The ‘cursed’ Kali Yuga, which is said to be the Age of the wicked is also a ‘blessed’ one, for, in this Age mere uttering the Divine Name of the Lord would suffice to reach the Lotus Feet of the Lord! 

Our Mahans, the torchbearers of Sanatana Dharma, have always advocated only words of the Vedas; for, the Vedas is verily the Lord’s intellect. The Vedas have shown innumerable ways to attain the Feet of the Lord. However, the chosen way should adhere to the words of the Vedas and also suit the Age of our existence. And, the Maha Mantra “Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!” is a way advocated by the Vedas as well the tailor made for this Age.

All our Scriptures assert that in the Age of Kali, whence people are by nature impure of mind, Nãmasankirtan (chanting the Divine Name of the Lord) is the ONLY way to reach the Supreme Lord –   Kalau Kalmasha chittãnãm Pãpa Dravyopajeevinãm |  Vidhi Kriya viheenãnãm gathir Govinda keertanam || Further, our Scriptures say,  “Dhyãyan krutey yajan yagnaihi tretãyãm Dwaparey archayan | Yadãpnoti tadãpnoti kalau sankeertya keshavam” || ----Whatever supreme good that could be attained by the performance of meditation in the Age of Kruta, sacrifices in the Age of Treta and worship of the Lord in the Age of Dwãpara can verily be attained, in the Age of Kali, by the mere chanting of the Divine Names of the Lord! Srimad Bhagavatam says, “Nãma Sankirtanam Yasya sarva papa pranãshanam | Pranãmo dukha shamanaha tam namãmi harim param ||” ---- Chanting the Divine Names of the Lord cleanses us of ALL sins, removes all our agony.

Srimad Bhãgavatam, in Ajãmila charitra, explains that while expiation for sins fails to eradicate the ‘vãsanãs’ (lateral impressions) that are the root cause for instigating a person to commit unrighteous acts, chanting the Divine Name uproots the very ‘vãsanãs’ that are the basis for committing sins and leaves no alternative for the Lord but to receive us into His wide open arms!

All the great Saints of India right from the Azhwãrs and the Nãyanmãrs to Thiagarãja Swami, Pãnduranga Bhaktas, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu have all shown that one CAN attain liberation through mere chanting of the Divine Name. Even today we find Sãdhus who have attained the highest state through mere chanting of the Divine Name. This is the glory of 'Nãmasankirtan' -- An absolutely easy, simple path suited to the Age of Kali. The chanting of Divine Names is a free path. It has no ‘binding’ of rules and regulations. Nãmasankirtan can be done by anybody, anytime and anywhere. It involves no cost. It is a path that requires no paraphernalia but leads one to the very Lotus Feet of the Lord.

While mental repetition of the Divine Names leads to the good of the individual, chanting the Divine Names loudly purifies the chanter, the listener (the scriptures say “Shrotrunapi punãti cha”) and the very place where the chanting is done.

 It is verily for this reason that Sri Sri Swamiji advocates group chanting of a single Divine Name - The Maha Mantra. Chanting a single Divine Name of the Lord (‘eka Nãma’) helps the chanter deepen his concentration and also helps in sustaining the chanting for long hours effortlessly.

It is verily with this view in mind that with Lord Krishna’s Blessings and under the able guidance of Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji, “Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Nãma Bhiksha Kendra” was launched on October 20, 1999, the auspicious day of Vijayadasami, at Chennai, to propagate the chanting of the Maha Mantra:
“HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!”

 For the benefit of the entire human race, Sri Sri Swamiji has endeavoured to establish ‘Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Nãma Bhiksha Kendra’ all around the world, to inspire people to come together, at lest a day in a week, to chant the Maha Mantra “Hare Rama Hare Krishna!” As the Name suggests it is verily a ‘center for begging’ (‘Nãma bhiksha Kendra’) – begging people to chant the Divine Name “Hare Rama Hare Krishna!” – for worldly and, in particular, their spiritual welfare.

By the immense Grace of the Lord and the Blessings of Sri Sri Swamiji, 350 ‘Nama Bhiksha Kendrãs’ have so far been established around the world. This is a non-commercial movement, which aims only at the spiritual welfare of all people. One desirous of running the ‘Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Nãma Bhiksha Kendra’ in his area of residence needs to choose the place of chanting (his home or Temple or any other suitable venue in that area), day and time, collect the people in the neighbourhood and chant the Maha Mantra “Hare Rama Hare Krishna!”

The prayers in a place where “Hare Rama Hare Krishna!” Maha Mantra chanting is done regularly are answered immediately. This is the experience of all who have taken up the regular chanting of the “Hare Rama Hare Krishna!” Maha Mantra. To all those who enter the ‘Nãma Bhiksha Kendra’ premises with sincere devotion and dedication, Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji assures that Lord Sri Krishna will take care of them and guide them in every walk of life. This is enough for their lifetime.

The vision of the movement is to go to far-flung places of the world and perform ‘Nãmasankirtan’ on the streets, lanes and by-lanes in order to lift people from the trauma of mundane existence. “Nãmasankirtan should go to people who are unable to come to the place of Nãmasankirtan chanting!” with this motto inscribed in their hearts, Sri Sri Swamiji’s devotees from all walks of life, inspired by Sri Sri Swamiji's loving spiritual guidance, with unwavering faith in the power of Nãmasankirtan, inextinguishable zest to spread Nãmasankirtan for the well being of the world at large and the ever growing taste for singing the Lord's Divine Names, go from place to place knocking at every door to securely fix the Divine Name in the hearts of people, for, this is the only way to world peace at large and liberation of each and every individual, in this Age of Kali.

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