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The Names of the Lord are capable of giving all sorts of comforts and happiness.

Eligibility is not a criterion for this. People belonging to any caste and creed irrespective of their gender can attain the lotus feet of God by chanting His names. There are also no restrictions regarding place, time, land or other such factors for the Divine name. Yet, there are ten major offences that have been listed regarding the Divine Name. They are :

1. Censure of Saints / Sadhus
2. Differentiating between the Names of the Lord
3. Insulting the Guru.
4. Censure of Shastras.
5. Regarding the statements praising the Divine Names as mere eulogy.
6. Committing sins in the hope that the Divine Name will protect.
7. Considering the Divine Name on par with Dharma, Vrata(fasting), Japa etc.
8. Initiating the Divine Name to a person without any interest in it.
9. Not having developed love for the Divine Name even after having heard its greatness and glory.
10. Indulging in sensual pleasures with the sense of I and mine.

Those who have developed steadfast devotion to the Divine Names due to meritorious deeds done in previous lives and due to the association of saints must cautiously avoid these offences. Mahãprabhu too, always instructed his devotes to refrain from such offences. He watchfully guarded his devotees. Very often he used to advice them - "Look! Never should you censure the devotees. You must be indifferent towards non-devotees and have a respectful attitude towards devotees. You must have love and respect among yourselves. Do not find fault with anybody." Whenever Mahãprabhu's devotees met, they embraced one another with love. One prostrated at the feet of another. With great love, they mingled as though belonging to a single family.

To be continued...

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