Harinam Sankirtan “Street chanting”

Outside Dylan’s candy store at the corner of Lincoln rd and Meridian ave. Starting at 7:30 pm. We will sing and play instruments chanting the Maha Mantra, and distribute books. Everyone is welcome to join and take part.

There is a parking garage nearby on 17th st.
We usually park there.

Harinama Sankirtan is an ancient Vedic tradition in India. It was brought to our attention in this age by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, an incarnation of God. As authorized by him and confirmed in Sanskrit texts:

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta,
Ādi-līlā

TEXT 76

“harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā “

'For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative to the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord.'

The age of kali is the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, our current age we live in. Previous ages ‘Satya Yuga’ - meditation was recommended, ‘Treta Yuga’ - sacrifices (fire) to Lord Vishnu were recommended, ‘Dvapara Yuga’ - temple worship was recommended. Since those types of meditation and sacrifices are difficult in this age due to our fallen and ignorant condition. The best remedy is chanting of the holy name of the lord. This helps re-establish our spiritual relationship with Krishna and in turn will makes us happy. This process of Bhakti -yoga is simple but yet very effective in achieving peace and happiness in a chaotic world we live in.

As practitioners of this type of Bhakti -yoga, we have found that it really works and does have great merit in its effectiveness. It is like medicine for a sick person. The doctor tells someone who is sick to take a medicine and follow some strict regimen to get better. If one follows the instructions of the doctor, even though he might not understand the science behind it, the patient will get better and even cured. Similarly, with this chanting of the holy name, we might not understand the science behind it, but if we do it as it prescribed, we will definitely get cured from our material miserable conditions.

Our chanting on the street enables us to give this process to the people who maybe unaware of this spiritual process and are looking for some sort of peace and happiness. We very simply chant the Maha Mantra

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare Hare

This Maha (greatest, top most) mantra is also confirmed in ancient texts.

The Nārada-pañcarātra

trayo vedāḥ ṣaḍ-aṅgāni
chandāṁsi vividhāḥ surāḥ
sarvam aṣṭākṣarāntaḥsthaṁ
yac cānyad api vāṅ-mayam
sarva-vedānta-sārārthaḥ
saṁsārārṇava-tāraṇaḥ

"The essence of all Vedic knowledge-comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity [karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa and upāsanā-kāṇḍa], the chandas, or Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods-is included in the eight syllables Hare Kīṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa. This is the reality of all Vedānta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience."

Also the Kali-santaraṇa Upaniṣad states,

"Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare-these sixteen names composed of thirty-two syllables are the only means to counteract the evil effects of Kali-yuga. In all the Vedas it is seen that to cross the ocean of nescience there is no alternative to the chanting of the holy name."

Similarly, Śrī Madhvācārya, while commenting upon the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad, has said:
dvāparīyair janair viṣṇuḥ
pañcarātrais tu kevalaiḥ
kalau tu nāma-mātreṇa
pūjyate bhagavān hariḥ

"In the Dvāpara-yuga one could satisfy Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu only by worshiping Him gorgeously according to the pāñcarātrikī system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting the holy name." In his Bhakti-sandarbha (verse 284)

Therefore, simply by chanting, our lives will be successful. I encourage all of you to come join and blissfully chant and be happy.

We usually do this every Saturday starting at 7:30-8pm, and do it for an hour.