The Nectar of

Instruction
 ÇRÉ UPADEÇÄMÅTA TEXT 4 to
TEXT 5
• From Mantra 4 to Mantra 5:

• NOI Verse 4  importance of associating with Vaishnavas.

• NOI Verse 5 
- What kind of Vaiñëava should be selected as a friend? &
- How Vaiñëavas should be served.
 ÇRÉ UPADEÇÄMÅTA TEXT 5
kåñëeti yasya giri taà manasädriyeta
dékñästi cet praëatibhiç ca bhajantam éçam
çuçrüñayä bhajana-vijïam ananyam anya-
nindädi-çünya-hådam épsita-saìga-labdhyä
TRANSLATION
One should mentally honor the devotee who chants the holy name of
Lord Kåñëa, one should offer humble obeisances to the devotee who
has undergone spiritual initiation [dékñä] and is engaged in worshiping
the Deity, and one should associate with and faithfully serve that pure
devotee who is advanced in undeviated devotional service and whose
heart is completely devoid of the propensity to criticize others.
 TEXT 5

THREE TYPES OF NEOPHYTES Please save me

from maya.
Prakrta-sahajiya Prakrta-bhakta Harinama-bhakta Please save me
from my raging
Chants Chants 16 rounds of Chants MINIMUM 16 senses. Please
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna ROUNDS OF HARE let me chant
CASUALLY mantra DAILY KRISHNA DAILY Lord, engage
my senses in
Follows 4 regulative Follows 4 regulative Your service.
Attached to
principles principles
women, money
and intoxication Serves Vaishnavas,
Only serves Guru
Guru and Krishna.
and Krishna. Feels
Has faith that
he/she is the best
Krishna is GOD Should be offered
Disciple respectful obeisances
(mind, words and body
Respected within Respect such a person
one's mind, but within his mind,
should be shown Transition to
their association
should be avoided
favor ( words) Madhyama Adhikari
 HARINAMA-BHAKTA TRANSITION TO
MADHYAMA-ADHIKARI

...but those neophyte devotees who are actually

initiated by the bona fide spiritual master and are
seriously engaged in carrying out the orders of the
spiritual master should be offered respectful
obeisances. (NOI. 5, purport, p50)

When one is actually initiated by the bona fide

spiritual master and when he seriously engages in
the service of the Lord, he should be accepted as a
madhyama-adhikari.
(NOI. 5, purport, p53)
 MADHYAMA-ADHIKARI

A madhyama-adhikari has received spiritual

initiation from the spiritual master and has been fully
engaged by him in the transcendental loving service
of the Lord. (NOI. 5, purport, p48)

The madhyama-adhikari is a devotee who worships

the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the highest
object of love, makes friends with the Lord's
devotees, is merciful to the ignorant and avoids
those who are envious by nature.
(NOI. 5, purport, p49)
 UTTAMA-ADHIKARI

An uttama-adhikari is not interested in blaspheming others, his

heart is completely clean, and he has attained the realized state of
unalloyed Krishna consciousness. (NOI. 5, purport, p48)

Out of many such Vaisnavas, one may be found to be very

seriously engaged in the service of the Lord and strictly following all
the regulative principles, chanting the prescribed number of rounds
on japa beads and always thinking of how to expand the Krishna
consciousness movement. Such a Vaisnava should be accepted as
an uttama-adhikari, a highly advanced devotee, and his association
should always be sought. (NOI. 5, purport, p50/57)

…an uttama-adhikari Vaisnava can be recognized by his ability to

convert many fallen souls to Vaisnavism. (NOI. 5, purport, p58)
 What is Initiation, Diksha?
dékñä-käle bhakta kare ätma-samarpaëa
sei-käle kåñëa täre kare ätma-sama

"At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the
Lord, Kåñëa accepts him to be as good as Himself.“ [CC Antya 4.192-93]

 Full surrender

divyaà jïänaà yato dadyät, kuryät päpasya saìkñayam

tasmäd dékñeti sä proktä, deçikais tattva-kovidaiù

"By dékñä one gradually becomes disinterested in material enjoyment and

gradually becomes interested in spiritual life.“
[Bhakti-sandarbha (868) by Çréla Jéva Gosvämé]
 Prerequisite : When one becomes so disinterested in material enjoyment, he becomes fit for
initiation by the spiritual master…..When a person is serious about accepting dékñä, he
must be prepared to practice austerity, celibacy and control of the mind and body. If one
is so prepared and is desirous of receiving spiritual enlightenment (divyaà jïänam), he is fit
for being initiated.
 Diksha is a process and not a one time event
 HH Giriraj Maharaj : Diksha is complete when one comes to bhava. At that point Krishna
accepts the devotee on the same level as Himsef, and the devotee becomes eligible to serve
Krishna with his transcendental senses.
 So formal initiation is the beginning of surrender and at platform of bhava the surrender
is complete when all the anrthas are removed and then Krishna accepts him
 1st 3 of 64 items are most important –SB 7.7.29-31
`Adau guru padasraya’ `krsna diksadi siksanam’ `visrambhena guroh seva’
 One must accept the pure devotee, the representative of God, as one's guru and then offer him all
the respects one would offer the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the secret of success. For
one who adopts this method, the perfect process is revealed.

guru-çuçrüñayä bhaktyä sarva-labdhärpaëena ca

saìgena sädhu-bhaktänäm éçvarärädhanena ca
çraddhayä tat-kathäyäà ca kértanair guëa-karmaëäm
tat-pädämburuha-dhyänät tal-liìgekñärhaëädibhiù
TRANSLATION
One must accept the bona fide spiritual master and render service unto him with great
devotion and faith. Whatever one has in one's possession should be offered to the
spiritual master, and in the association of saintly persons and devotees one should
worship the Lord, hear the glories of the Lord with faith, glorify the transcendental
qualities and activities of the Lord, always meditate on the Lord's lotus feet, and
worship the Deity of the Lord strictly according to the injunctions of the çästra and
guru. [SB 7.7.30-31]
Vaidhi Sadhana Bhakti

Eligibility of the Candidate for

Advancing in Devotional Service

FAITH KNOWLEDGE

Uttama Strong & convinced Strong. Can convince

opposing opinion.
Madhyama Good, but can't always defeat
Convinced opposing opinion

Kaniñöha Weak. Cannot offer arguments

Weak & to opposing opinion.
Easily swayed
çraddhä’-çabde—viçväsa kahe sudåòha niçcaya
by the word çraddhä faith is said firm certain
kåñëe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kåta haya
unto Lord Kåñëa / devotional service/by executing / all activities completed / are

Çraddhä is confident, firm faith that by rendering

transcendental loving service to Kåñëa one automatically
performs all subsidiary activities. Such faith is favorable
to the discharge of devotional service. (CC. Mad 22.62)
“Faith" means conviction that the goal of life is
to please Kåñëa, & abandon all other desires.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna,designed tinyPPT.com

HarebyHare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
 Three types of devotees
While giving instructions to Sanätana Gosvämé, Lord
Caitanya Mahäprabhu divided devotional service into
three categories based on Sraddha -- Faith.
çraddhävän jana haya bhakti-adhikäré
‘uttama’, ‘madhyama’, ‘kaniñöha’——çraddhä-
anusäré (Cc.Madh.22.64)
“One becomes qualified as a devotee on the
elementary platform, the intermediate platform and the
highest platform of devotional service according to the
development of his çraddhä [faith].”
THREE TYPES OF DEVOTEES
Kanishta -
Harinam initiated, Trying to Chant

Madhyama –
Brahman initiated,
Fully engaged in seva
Uttama –
Very Advanced in KC,
Not interested in blaspheming others,
Heart completely clean
 Neophyte devotee
(Kanishtha-adhikari)
Neophye devotee (Kaniñöha- bhägavata)

“A präkåta-bhakta, or
materialistic devotee,
- does not purposefully study the çästra
- does not try to understand the
actual standard of pure devotional service.
- does not show proper respect to advanced devotees.
- He may, however, follow the regulative principles learned from his
spiritual master or from his family who worships the Deity.
He is to be considered on the material platform, although he is trying
to advance in devotional service. Such a person is a bhakta-präya
[neophyte devotee]. [ÇB 11.2.47]
anishta adhikari’s characteristics
1. Mistakes material expertise to be
advancement in devotional service
2. Archana vs Bhajana
3. Conscious of only
Deity in the temple.
4. Thinks high of himself.
anishta adhikari’s characteristics

5. Disturbed if a Madhyama devotee

criticizes non-devotees of the Lord.
6. Offends demigods
7. Does not appreciate the
paraphernalia of the Lord.
KANISHTA ADHIKARI
Typically the kaniñöha-adhikäré is eager to engage his
materialistic qualifications in the service of the Lord,
mistaking such material expertise to be the sign of
advanced devotion.

But by continuing to serve the Supreme Lord and the

devotees engaged in propagating the Lord’s mission, the
kaniñöha-adhikäré also advances in his realization and
comes to the stage of dedicating his activities to
helping more advanced Vaiñëavas.

Even such kaniñöha-adhikärés can help ordinary living

entities by their association, since at least the kaniñöha-
adhikärés have faith that Kåñëa is the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.
But by continuing to serve
the Supreme Lord and the
devotees engaged in
propagating the Lord’s
mission, the kaniñöha-
adhikäré also advances in his
realization and comes to the
stage of dedicating his
activities to helping more
advanced Vaiñëavas.
Kanishtha devotee is angry or disturbed
if a nondevotee is criticized
Such a kaniñöha-adhikäré, therefore, is disturbed if a
second-class devotee criticizes the nondevotees of the
Lord. In the name of compassion or kindness, a
kaniñöha-adhikäré approves of the nondevotional
activities of such materialistic men. Because the
kaniñöha-adhikäré is ignorant of the higher realms of
devotional service and the unlimited transcendental bliss
of Kåñëa consciousness, he sees devotional service
merely as the religious aspect of life but thinks that life
has many enjoyable and worthwhile nondevotional
aspects.
If such materialistic devotees follow the rules and regulations of Deity worship,
they will gradually be elevated to a higher standard and eventually become pure
devotees of the Lord, unless they commit offenses against other devotees, in
which case their advancement will be checked.
 KANISHTA ADHIKARI

Be conscious that God is everywhere, not only in

the temple
Çréla Madhväcärya comments that one in the lowest
stage of devotional service faithfully worships the
Deity in the temple but is not aware that the
Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually all-
pervading. This same mentality can be seen in the
Western countries, where people commit all types
of sinful activities in their homes and in the street
but then piously go to a church and pray to God
for mercy. Actually, God is in our home, God is in
the street, God is in our office, God is in the forest,
God is everywhere, and therefore God should be
worshiped everywhere by the process of devotional
service at His lotus feet.
 Kanishtha devotee offends demigods
A devotee of the Lord should not misinterpret Bhagavad-gétä’s injunctions
against demigod worship as a license to offend the demigods, who are bona fide
Vaiñëavas.

Çréla Madhväcärya states, tad-bhaktänäm upekñakäù kuryur viñëäv api

dveñam. Those who neglect or show indifference to the devotees of the Lord are
to be considered offenders at the lotus feet of Viñëu. Similarly, those who
disrespect the demigods will become bereft of devotional service and be forced
to rotate again and again within saàsära, the cycle of birth and death. Püjyä deväs
tataù sadä: the demigods are always to be offered respect, since they are devotees
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If someone is envious of the demigods,
he is to be considered envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
 Kanishtha devotee
cannot appreciate Lord’s paraphernalia

According to Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté

Öhäkura, the inability of the kaniñöha-
adhikäré to appreciate the Lord’s devotees,
entourage and paraphernalia indicates that
such a materialistic Vaiñëava is still affected
by the speculative understanding of the
karma-vadés and Mäyävädés, those who are
dedicated to sense gratification and
impersonal speculation about the Absolute.
 Kanishtha devotee
cannot appreciate
Lord’s paraphernalia

Çréla Prabhupäda often said that only the impersonalist desires to see Kåñëa alone; we
desire to see Kåñëa with His cows, His friends, His parents, His gopés, His flute, jewelry,
forest scenery and so on. Kåñëa is gorgeous in the setting of Våndävana. One who is
uninterested in the Lord’s paraphernalia, entourage and devotees has a stunted
conception of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This must be due to contamination
from the impersonal and sensuous understandings of life.
Difference between
`archana’ and `bhajana’
Çréla BSST has given a nice explanation of the
difference between arcana and bhajana. Arcana
refers to the platform of sädhana-bhakti, in which
one serves the Lord to carry out the rules and
regulations of the process. One who has achieved
the shelter of the Lord’s holy name and is totally
engaged in the attempt to serve the Lord should
be considered to be on the platform of bhajana,
even though his external activities may
sometimes be less strict than those of the
neophyte engaged in arcana.
 Intermediate devotee
(Madhyama-adhikari)
(1) Madhyama Adhikari offers his love to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead SB 11.2.46
(2) Madhyama Adhikari is a sincere friend to all the
devotees of the Lord.
(3) Madhyama Adhikari shows mercy to ignorant
people who are innocent and non-blasphemous
(4) Madhyama Adhikari disregards those who are
envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
 MADHYAMA ADHIKARI
Keep distance from envious, but meditate upon ways to save them

 According to Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura, if a Vaiñëava preacher

encounters one who is envious of him, the preacher should remain far away from such
an envious person. But the Vaiñëava preacher may meditate upon ways to save the
envious class of men. Such meditation is called sad-äcära, or saintly behavior. Çréla
Jéva Gosvämé has mentioned Prahläda Mahäräja as an example of a saintly person.
In Çrémad-Bhägavatam (7.9.43) there is the following statement by Prahläda : naivodvije
para duratyaya-vaitaraëyäs

 Although a Vaiñëava preacher constantly meditates on the welfare of all living

entities, he will not associate with those who are unreceptive to the message of the
Supreme Lord, Kåñëa. In this regard Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura states that
even Bharata Mahäräja, Vyäsadeva and Çukadeva Gosvämé do not exhibit their
How to progress from
Kanishta stage to
Madhyama stage?
HOW TO PROGRESS FORM KANISHTHA TO MADHYAMA
 One should not remain on the kanishtha level but progress to madhyama

 BSST Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.47 purport

 as a kaniñöha-adhikäré gradually comes to perceive the mental activities of a devotee
and tries seriously to advance to a higher stage, his materialistic conceptions will go
away of their own accord
 1. perceive the mantal activities = understanding the attitude of a devotee while he is
performing devotional service
 what is most imp in our progress is he attitude / consciousness of performing the
particular activity
eg. With what consciousness I am cleaning the floor
 2. Have a serious desire to advance
 To please Krishna and the devotees, because Krishna is pleased with that attitude
and purified consciousness
 CC Madhya 22.71
rati-prema-täratamye bhakta—tara-tama
ekädaça skandhe tära kariyäche lakñaëa
TRANSLATION
“A devotee is considered superlative or superior according to his attachment and love. In
the Eleventh Canto of Çrémad-Bhägavatam, the following symptoms have been given.

 If one has the attatchment or taste one which inspires the people.

 How do we know who has love?

 Love is shown by activity in which one is absorbed without fruitive mentality
 ready to extend himself and make sacrifice
 he is consistent in all situations and self motivated
Eg. Narasimhananda Brahmacari
 Topmost devotee
(Uttama-adhikari)
Topmost devotee (Uttama- adhikäré)
Eligibility:

“One who is expert in logic and in

understanding the revealed scriptures, and
who always has firm conviction and deep
faith that is not blind,
is to be considered a topmost devotee in
devotional service.”

Caitanya-caritämåta Madhya-lélä 22.66

(Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu 1.2.117)
Topmost devotee
(Uttama- bhägavata)
Most Expansive Vision:
“The most advanced devotee sees
within everything the soul of all
souls, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Çré Kåñëa.

Consequently he sees
systematically everything in
relation to the Supreme Lord and
under-stands that everything that
exists is eternally situated within
the Lord.”
A devotee of the highest level of spiritual qualification is
glorified for the expansiveness of his spiritual vision. For
example, when the stalwart demon Hiraëyakaçipu
questioned his self-realized son Prahläda Mahäräja as to
the whereabouts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Prahläda, being a mahä-bhägavata, or pure devotee,
answered straightforwardly that the Supreme Lord is
everywhere. The demoniac father then asked if God was in
the pillar of the palace. When Prahläda answered yes,
Hiraëyakaçipu, being a bona fide demon, struck the pillar
with his sword, trying to kill God, or at least disprove His
existence. Then Lord Nåsiàhadeva, the most ferocious
form of the Supreme Lord, immediately appeared and
finished forever the illicit program of Hiraëyakaçipu. Thus
Prahläda Mahäräja can be accepted as an uttama-adhikäré
devotee.
Most Expansive Vision: The qualification for seeing Kåñëa every-where is:
premäïjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaù sadaiva hådayeñu vilokayanti
“. . . whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion
tinged with the salve of love.”
Brahma-saàhitä 5.38
 UTTAMA ADHIKARI
Uttama adhikari is prepared to offer respects even to a demon

 If it is the Lord’s desire, a pure devotee can offer his respects to all living
beings. For example, Çréla Jéva Gosvämé mentions that Uddhava and
other pure devotees of the Lord were always prepared to offer respectful
obeisances even to such persons as Duryodhana. Madhyama-adhikärés,
however, should not imitate such uttama-adhikäré behavior.

 Çréla VCT : atra sarva-bhüteñu bhagavad-darçana-yogyatä yasya kadäcid

api na dåñöä. A madhyama-adhikäré cannot at any time perceive the
presence of the Supreme Lord within all living beings, whereas an
uttama-adhikäré, however he acts on the second-class platform to carry
out the Lord’s mission, is aware that every living entity is ultimately a
forgetful Kåñëa conscious living entity.

 BSST - it is the duty of the madhyama-adhikäré to extend himself as the

right hand of the uttama-adhikäré, vowing to work for the benefit of
others and offering to help in distributing love of Kåñëa.
 WHO IS A PURE DEVOTEE?
“Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that a person who
simply chants the holy name of Krishna once becomes perfect and
should be regarded as a Vaisnava. This is confirmed by Srila Rupa
Gosvami in his Upadesamrta (5): krsneti yasya giri tam
manasadriyeta…

When one is situated on the neophyte platform, one cannot

understand the devotional ingredients of a pure, unalloyed devotee.
However, when the novice engages in devotional service --
especially in Deity worship -- and follows the order of a bona
fide spiritual master, he is a pure devotee. Anyone can take
advantage of hearing about Krishna consciousness from such a
devotee and thus gradually become purified. In other words, any
devotee who believes that the holy name of the Lord is
identical with the Lord is a pure devotee, even though he may
be in the neophyte stage. By his association, others may also
become Vaisnavas.” (CC, Madhya, 15.106, purport)
 extTEXT SIX: VAISNAVA-APARADHA IS MORE
SINFUL THAN MATERIAL SINS

“The conclusion is that if Krishna

consciousness is covered by material sins,
one can eliminate the sins simply by chanting
the Hare Krishna mantra, but if one pollutes
his Krishna consciousness by offending a
brahmana or a Vaisnava, one cannot revive
it until one properly atones for the sin by
pleasing the offended Vaisnava or
brahmana. This was the course that Durvasa
Muni had to follow, for he surrendered unto
Maharaja Ambarisa. A vaisnava-aparadha
cannot be atoned for by any means other than
by begging the pardon of the offended
Vaisnava.” (Purport, SB 4.26.24)
 Text Six
To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their
lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord:
Remedies:
a) Fall at the devotee’s feet and beg for forgiveness.
Sincerely repent.
b)If the devotee is not appeased by our apologies, we
should serve him for many days according to his
desires.
c)If the offence is so great that the devotee’s anger does
not die, one should take full and constant shelter of the
chanting of the holy name. Srila Visvanatha Chakravatri
Thakura says that in time, the divine power of the holy
name will free the person from his offence. However, he
warns that one should not take advantage of this to
avoid begging for forgiveness and serving the devotee.
This type of mentality implicates one in further offence.

[Harinama Cintamani by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura]

 Text Six
To disobey the orders of the spiritual master:
The result of offending the spiritual master is that
the mantra one has received from the spiritual
master loses its meaning and purpose. At the time
of initiation, the spiritual master invests the holy
name into the mantra, but if one offends the
spiritual master, the mantra becomes useless.
Subsequently, one falls into sinful company and
adopts unauthorized scriptures.

Remedies:
a) Cast away the bad association and bogus
scriptures.
b)Throw oneself at the lotus feet of one's spiritual
master, repenting piteously

[Harinama Cintamani by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura]

 NOI : One should not become a spiritual master unless he has attained the platform of uttama-
adhikäré. A neophyte Vaiñëava or a Vaiñëava situated on the intermediate platform can also accept
disciples, but such disciples must be on the same platform, and it should be understood that they
cannot advance very well toward the ultimate goal of life under his insufficient guidance. Therefore a
disciple should be careful to accept an uttama-adhikäré as a spiritual master…….

 HH Sivrama swami in Suddh-bhakti chintmani :

Although technically these 2 classifications (about uttama, madhyama etc)
speak about different things
(SB classifies according to adhikara and CC according to Faith and Knowledge),
SP, with the exception of the following purport equates the two in his teachings.
 BVT however in the Bhakti-tattva-vivek specifies
Uttama as the requirement for the madhayama to make progress.
 Uttama adhikari also may be at different stages (ruci, asakti, bhava, prema).
 an uttama is not automatically an uttama but he may be an advanced madhyama
(a advanced madhyama who is on the path of progress)…..
 either case they are qualified to be Guru as they can defeat arguments and never fall down
 `rati-prema-täratamye bhakta-taratama’
“Attraction and love for God are the ultimate goal of devotional service.
The degrees of such attraction and love distinguish the different stages of
devotion—neophyte, intermediate and perfectional.” (Cc. Madhya 22.71)

An intermediate devotee is greatly attracted to chanting the holy name, and by chanting
he is elevated to the platform of love. If one chants the holy name of the Lord with great
attachment, he can understand his position as an eternal servant of the spiritual master,
other Vaiñëavas and Kåñëa Himself. Thus the intermediate Vaiñëava considers himself
kåñëa-däsa, Kåñëa’s servant.
He therefore preaches Kåñëa consciousness to innocent neophytes and stresses the
importance of chanting the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra.
An intermediate devotee can identify the nondevotee or motivated devotee. The
motivated devotee or the nondevotee are on the material platform, and they are called
präkåta. The intermediate devotee does not mix with such materialistic people.
 Srila Prabhupada’s position as
Pre-eminent Siksa guru for all ISKCON devotees
 Sri sampradaya followers keeping Sripad Ramanuja at the
center
 The spiritual master is important for personal guidance but in
the event of diksha guru falling away one should continue KC
by being fixed in the teachings of the pre-eminent shiksha
guru without getting bewildered.
 Therefore keep teachings of Srila Prabhupada as center of our
lives and not keep some other personality as center…….. our
faith should be fixed in the words of the acharya……. This
will ensure our stability…….. not be sentimental and swayed
away by one personality……. People may come and go but
the instructions are eternal.
 NOI : One should not accept a spiritual master without following his instructions.
Nor should one accept a spiritual master just to make a fashionable show of
spiritual life. One must be jijïäsu, very much inquisitive to learn from the bona fide
spiritual master……
CC Madhya 22.113 : There are many regulative principles in the çästras and
directions given by the spiritual master. These regulative principles should act as
servants of the basic principle—that is, one should always remember Kåñëa and never
forget Him. This is possible when one chants the Hare Kåñëa mantra. Therefore one
must strictly chant the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra twenty-four hours daily. One may
have other duties to perform under the direction of the spiritual master, but he must
first abide by the spiritual master’s order to chant a certain number of rounds. In our
Kåñëa consciousness movement, we have recommended that the neophyte chant at
least sixteen rounds. This chanting of sixteen rounds is absolutely necessary if one
wants to remember Kåñëa and not forget Him. Of all the regulative principles, the
spiritual master’s order to chant at least sixteen rounds is most essential.
WHY 64  16 ROUNDS? There are certain
conditions about the quality and serving the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.
 NOI : Everyone begins his devotional life from the
neophyte stage, but if one properly finishes chanting the
prescribed number of rounds of hari-näma, he is
elevated step by step to the highest platform, uttama-
adhikäré.
 The Kåñëa consciousness movement prescribes sixteen
rounds daily because people in the Western
countries cannot concentrate for long periods
while chanting on beads. Therefore the
minimum number of rounds is prescribed.
WHY 64  16 ROUNDS? There are certain conditions about the quality and
serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 However, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura used to say that unless one chants
at least sixty-four rounds of japa (one hundred thousand names), he is considered
fallen (patita). According to his calculation, practically every one of us is fallen, but
because we are trying to serve the Supreme Lord with all seriousness and without
duplicity, we can expect the mercy of Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, who is famous as
patita-pävana, the deliverer of the fallen.

 NOI : The conclusion is that anyone who is trying to advance in Kåñëa consciousness
by regularly chanting the holy name should always be respected by Vaiñëavas. On the
other hand, we have witnessed that some of our contemporaries who are supposed to
be great preachers have gradually fallen into the material conception of life because
they have failed to chant the holy name of the Lord.
 The most imp instruction of the spiritual
master is chanting the holy names which
will take one from kanishtha 
madhyama
 CC Antya 4.71
tära madhye sarva-çreñöha
näma-saìkértana
niraparädhe näma laile
päya prema-dhana

TRANSLATION
“Of the nine processes of devotional service,
the most important is to always chant the
holy name of the Lord. If one does so,
avoiding the ten kinds of offenses, one very
easily obtains the most valuable love of
Text Six In conclusion…

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead and His

devotees who come to this world are executing a
mission, and therefore sometimes they act in a way that
is very difficult to understand. It is said, therefore,
vaisnavera kriya-mudra vijneha na bujhaya: [Cc.
Madhya 23.39] even if one is a very learned and
intelligent scholar, he cannot understand the activities
of a Vaisnava. A Vaisnava accepts anything favourable
for executing his mission. But foolish persons, not
knowing the purpose of such exalted Vaisnavas,
indulge in criticizing them. That is forbidden. Since no
one can understand what a Vaisnava does for the
purpose of executing his mission, to criticize such a
Vaisnava is the offence called sadhu-ninda.”
[CC, Adi,15.22 purport]
The Nectar of
Instruction