17th Jewel: Nāma-tattva

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Saraswati Ṭhakura

শ্রী গৌड़िয-কন্ঠহার

Gaudiya Kanṭhahāra:

The Jeweled Necklace of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas

17th Jewel

NĀMA-TATTVA

The Ontology of the Holy Name

Being a compendium of quotations from revealed scriptures

concerning the truths about the cult of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu

Compiled under the authority and direction of

His Divine Grace

Bhaktisiddhānta Sāraswāti Goswāmī

Prabhupada

Translated and edited, with original Sanskrit and Bengali and Roman transliteration by

B. V. Mahāyogi, Michael Dolan

Chanting the Holy Name is the Eternal and Highest Dharma for all Souls

१७३
एताबान् एब लोके ऽस्मिन् पुंसां धर्मः परः स्मृतः
भक्ति-य़ोगो भगबति तन्-नाम-ग्रहणादिभिः
17.3

etāvān eva loke 'smin puṁsāṁ dharmaḥ paraḥ smṛtaḥ

bhakti-yogo bhagavati tan-nāma-grahaṇādibhiḥ 

It is recognized that the highest religious principle in human society is devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, beginning with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, nāma- saṅkīrtana. 

(Bhāg. 6.3.22)

The Holy Name is the Essence of the Śrutis

१७.४
निखिल-श्रुति-मौलि रम-माला-द्युति नीराजित- पादपओकजान्त
अयि मुक्त-कुलैर् उपास्यमानं परितस् त्वां हरिनाम संश्रयामि
17.4

nikhila-śruti-mauli rama-mālā-dyuti nīrājita- pādapaokajānta

ayi mukta-kulair upāsyamānaṁ paritas tvāṁ harināma saṁśrayāmi

O holy name, the tips of the toes of your lotus feet are eternally worshiped by the glowing effulgence of the Upaniṣads, the crest jewels of the Vedas. You are eternally adored and chanted by great liberated souls like Nārada and Śukadeva

Gosvāmī. O Harināma, clearing myself of all offenses, I take complete shelter

of You.

(Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Kṛṣṇa- nāmāṣṭakam 1)

The Constitutional Nature of the Holy Name

१७.५
नाम चिन्तामणिः कृष्णश् चैतन्य-रस-विग्रहः
पूर्णह्-शुद्धो नित्य-मुक्तो ऽभिन्नत्वान् नाम नामिणोः
17.5

nāma cintāmaṇiḥ kṛṣṇaś caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ
pūrṇah-śuddho nitya-mukto 'bhinnatvān nāma nāmiṇoḥ

The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is a transcendental wish fulfilling gem it bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Kṛṣṇa Himself. It is the personification of divine mellow, the fountainhead of all pleasure. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is eternally liberated and spiritual. This is because the name of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa Himself are non different. 

(Śrī Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Pūrva-Vibhāgaga 2.233)