Chanting the Holy Name of Hari

The chanting of the holy name "Hari" is a central feature of the saṅkīrtana movement inaugurated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. "Hari" is a primary name of Kṛṣṇa, meaning "He who takes away all inauspiciousness." Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this simple two-syllable vibration has the power to purify the heart, liberate the chanter from hellish conditions, and award the highest perfection of life.

The Power of the Vibration

Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights the immense scriptural glory of the name Hari. He states that a person who chants the two syllables "ha-ri" has effectively studied all four Vedas—Ṛg, Sāma, Yajur, and Atharva. The potency of the name is such that even if one chants it accidentally or while dying in distress, they are immediately absolved from entering hellish life.

• A person who chants the two syllables ha-ri has already studied the four Vedas - Sama, Rg, Yajur and Atharva.
• If one chants the holy name of Hari and then dies because of an accidental misfortune, such as being bitten by a serpent, being afflicted with pain and high fever, one is immediately absolved from having to enter hellish life, even though he is sinful.
• By following the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies or undergoing atonement, sinful men do not become as purified as by chanting once the holy name of Lord Hari.

Tumultuous Kīrtana

In the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the chanting of "Hari! Hari!" was a constant phenomenon. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes scenes where the Lord would raise His arms in ecstasy, inducing thousands of people to shout the holy name. This vibration would fill the sky, creating an atmosphere of Vaikuṇṭha even in the material world.

• All around Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is also known as Gaurahari, people began to shout the holy name of Hari. Lord Caitanya, immersed in His usual ecstasy of love, danced in the midst of them.
• Whenever the crowds were too great, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stood up, raised His hands and chanted, "Hari! Hari!" to which all the people responded, filling both the land and sky with the vibration.
• Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced and chanted all around the platform, and as the holy name of Hari roared tumultuously, the whole universe became filled with the vibration.

Spontaneous Chanting

The chanting of Hari was not limited to formal kīrtanas. It became a part of the daily life of the people. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that devotees would chant "Hari" after taking prasādam, when seeing the Lord, or even while working. Cowherd boys, fishermen, and even those from other communities were swept up in the wave of chanting simply by seeing the Lord.

• All the devotees took prasadam, filling themselves to the brim. Thereafter, chanting the holy name of Hari, they stood up and washed their hands and mouths.
• All the cowherd boys who saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passing joined with Him and began to shout loudly, "Hari! Hari."
• Passing along the beach, they saw a fisherman approaching with his net over his shoulder. Laughing, crying, dancing and singing, he kept repeating the holy name "Hari, Hari."

Converting the Non-Believers

The power of the holy name Hari was such that it could transform the hearts of even the staunchest philosophers and non-believers. Śrīla Prabhupāda mentions how Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, a strict Māyāvādī sannyāsī, eventually joined the chanting. Similarly, Muslim magistrates and Buddhist teachers were induced to chant, proving the universal applicability of the holy name.

• As soon as he (Prakasananda Sarasvati) saw the beautiful body of Lord Caitanya and the Lord dancing with His associates, Prakasananda Sarasvati also joined and began to sing: Hari! Hari.
• Sri Gadadhara dasa, the twenty-third branch, was understood to be the topmost, for he induced all the Muslim Kazis to chant the holy name of Lord Hari.
• When all the disciples chanted the holy names Krsna, Rama and Hari, the Buddhist teacher regained consciousness and immediately began to chant the holy name of Lord Hari.

Conclusion

Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that in the Kali-yuga, the medicine for deliverance is the chanting of the holy name of Hari. Whether one chants "Hari," "Kṛṣṇa," or "Rāma," the result is the same: freedom from material bondage and the attainment of pure love of God. The pastimes of Lord Caitanya demonstrate that this chanting is the most joyful and effective process for self-realization.

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