Namaste
Does japa has any place in chaitanya mahaprabhu’s vaishnabism ? Chaitanya charitamrita never says a word on japa. It only says about nam sankirtan. So far chaitanya charitamrita is concerned, it does not mention about any round of nam japa nor any associates of chaitanya mahaprabhu is found to practice nam japa on beeds for specific numbers. Chaitanya mahaprabhu never taught any of his associates to utter a mantra or to japa nam on beeds. All they did is only nam sankirtan. Nam sankirtan has a very special place in the philosophy of chaitany mahaprabhu’s vaishnabism . Before chaitanya mahaprabhu , nam sankirtan was not practiced by other vaishnab sampradaya although they practiced nam japa which is also practiced by various religious groups . Even believer in Islam and Christianity also use to japa on beeds. Therefore nam sankirtan is a unique feature of chaitany’s vaishnabism.Whether japa having prescribed numbers is preferable to nam sankirtan or not is to be ascertained by the bhakta him/her self. Some one may also treat both japa and sankirtan at the same level but vaishnab in the line of chaitanya mahaprabhu should know what chaitanya charitamrita says. In Anta lila chapter 20 it says :
Harse prabhu kahen suna swarup ramaray
Nam sankirtan kalau param upaya
Trans : mahaprabhu says to swarup damodar and ramanand ray that nam sankirtan is the ultimate way in kaliyug.
Sankirtan yajne kare Krishna aradhana
Sei to sumedha paya krishner charan
Trans : such person is very intelligent who performs Krishna aradhana by doing sankirtan yajna and such intelligent person gets shelter at lotus feet of sri Krishna .
Nam sankirtan haite sarvanartha nas
Sarvasubhodaya Krishna premer ullas
Trans : nam sankirtan can make one free from all evils and by doing all good it initiates flow of Krishna prem.
Sankirtan haite pap sansar nasan
Chitta sudhwi sarva bhakti sadhan udgam
Krishna premodgam premamrita aswadan
Krishna prapti sevamrita samudre majjan
Trans: by practicing sankirtan one can destroy pap sansar , can attain chitta suddhi or purification of mind which leads to develop sarva bhakti sadhan and thereby develop Krishna prem to feel premamrita which ultimately takes to association of Krishna or Krishna prapti to enjoy Krishna sevamrita.
Therefore vaishnab in the line of chaitanya mahaprabhu need not pracrice nam japa for any kind of purification etc.
Khaite suite jatha tatha nam laya
Desh kal niyam nahi sarva sidhvi haya
Trans : chaitanya charitamrita says that place, time or rule make no sense for nam sankirtan. We can do it anytime anywhere even while in eating or sleeping without following any rule.
The most important aspect of nam sankirtan has been mentioned in the sloka “ nayanang galad-asru-dharaya ……….” Which means “ Hey sri krishna, when such day will come to my life that my eyes will be filled with tears running down( bigalita asrudhara) ,my voice wil be choaked with emotion or the hairs of my body will be erected in an ecstasy of joy while I will be uttering your name”. This is the state which can be attained through nam sankirtan. I do not know whether any body can enjoy such state of ecstasy by doing prescribed round of nam japa as he has to count .
Regarding purashcharan , chaitanya charitamrita says in 15 th chapter of madhya lila :
Tabe ramananda aar satyraj khan
Prabhur charane kichu kaila nibedan
Grihastva vishoee aami ki mor sadhane
Sri mukhe ajna kara prabhu nibedi charane
Prabhu kahe – krishna seva vaishnab sevan
Nirantar kara krishna nam sankirtan
Trans : when ramananda raya and satyaraj khan prayed to mahaprabhu that being householder how ccould they do their sadhan, mahaprabhu advised them for krishna seva , vaishnab seva and non stop ( nirantar) krishna nam sankirtan.
Ek krishna nam kare sarva pap kshaya
Naba bidha bhakti purna nam haite haya
Dikshna purashacharya vidhi apeksha na kare
Jihva sparse achandal savare udhvare
Trans : only krishna nam can destroy sarva pap and also nava vidha bhakti ( nine steps) also can be fulfilled by doing nam sankirtan.
Diksha or Purashcharya is not necessary for nam sankirtan.
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