Sri Sri Radha–Krsna–Sahasra–Nama (Thousand Names of Sri Sri Radha–Krsna)

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I offer my respectful obeisance’s to Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose intelligence is the most sharp, and who eternally enjoys transcendental pastimes in the nectar ocean of Sri Radha’s company.

Goddess Radha (radha – devi) is the creator of the universes (jagat – kartri), the protector of the universes (jagat – palana – tat – para), the destroyer of the universes (jagal – laya – vidhatri), the controller of all (sarvesi), and the mother of all (sarva – sutika). Verse 180 – 181

In Sri Caitanya – caritanmrta we read how, as Lord Caitanya toured South India, He came to Siddhavata, where he saw the deity of Ramacandra. There, the Lord accepted lunch at the house of a brahmana who constantly chanted the holy name of Ramacandra. Thereafter, Lord Caitanya continued his travels and after some time, he returned to Siddhavata, where he again visited the house of the brahmana, who was now constantly chanting the Hare Krsna maha – mantra.

After finishing his lunch there, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the brahmana, “My dear friend, kindly tell me what your position is now. Formerly you were constantly chanting the holy name of Lord Rama. Why are you now constantly chanting the holy name of Krshna?”

The brahmana replied, “This is all due to your influence, Sir. After seeing you, I have lost my lifelong practice. From my childhood I have been chanting the holy name of Lord Ramacandra, but upon seeing you I chanted the holy name of Lord Krsna just once. Since then, the holy name of Krsna has been tightly fixed upon my tongue. Indeed, since I have been chanting the holy name of Krsna, the holy name of Lord Ramacandra has gone far away.

“From my childhood I have been colleting the glories of the holy name from revealed scriptures. In the Padma Purana it is stated: ‘The Supreme Absolute Truth is called Rama because the transcendentalists take pleasure in the unlimited true pleasure of spiritual existence.’

“In Mahabharata it is stated: ‘The word krs is the attractive feature of the Lord’s existence, and na means spiritual pleasure. When the verb krs is added to the affix na, it becomes “Krsna,” which indicates the Absolute Truth.’

“As far as the holy names of Rama and Krsna are concerned, they are on an equal level, but for further advancement we receive some specific information from the revealed scriptures. In the Brhad – visnu – sahasranama – stotra in the Uttara – khanda of the Padma Purana it is stated:
Sahasra – namnam punyanam
Trir – avrttya tu yat phalam
Ekavrttya tu krsnasya
Namaikam tat prayacchati

‘The pious results derived from chanting the thousand holy names of Visnu three times can be attained by only one utterance of the holy name of Krsna.’

“In the Brahmanda Purana it is said:
Rama rameti rameti
Rame rame manorame
Sahasra – namabhis tulyam
Rama – nama varanane
(Lord Siva addressed his wife, Durge:)

‘O Varanana, I chant the holy name of Rama, Rama, Rama and thus enjoy this beautiful sound. This holy name of Ramacandra is equal to one thousand holy names of Lord Visnu.’

“According to this statement of he sastras, the glories of the holy name of Krsna are unlimited. Still I could not chant His holy name. Please hear the reason for this. My worshipable Lord has been Lord Ramacandra, and by chanting his holy name I received happiness. Because I received such happiness, I chanted the holy name of Lord Rama day and night. By your appearance, Lord Krsna’s holy name also appeared, and at that time the glories of Krsna’s name awake in my heart.

Sir, you are that Lord Krsna Himself. This is my conclusion.” Saying this, the brahmana fell down at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After showing mercy to the brahmana, Lord Sri Caitanya Mhaprabhu left the next day. Since chanting the holy name of Krsna once is equal to chanting the thousand holy names of Visnu three times, we can hardly imagine the value of chanting this Radha – Krsna sahasra – nama.