Another question on "Radhey Shyam" and "Hare Ram Hare Krishn" maha mantra

Question: I have a question about chanting the holy names of God. Over the last couple of years I have been chanting the Hare Krishn maha mantra daily. I do about one round in the morning and then as a means to try and remember Krishn, I chant it quietly to myself throughout the day whenever I can remember. Last night I heard in a lecture that I was listening to, that Maharajji instructed one of his disciples to chant the name "Radhey Radhey" instead of what he was used to chanting which was chanting "Ram Ram". Also, tonight I just read on the JKP website a letter written by Maharajji about how to do devotion. In it he says,

"All the time in your heart you must remember the name ‘Radhey Shyam’ or ‘Radhey Radhey."

My question to you is, should I do the same and chant "Radhey Radhey" instead of the maha mantra or does it not make a difference?

Also, what does Radhey Shyam mean? Is Shyam a name of Krishn, like Govinda?

Answer: Practically speaking, you can chant anything that helps you remember Radha and Krishn. There is no strict rule about what name to chant. In JKP, we do devotion to Radha Krishn, and we desire to attain Their Divine love. They are the most loving form of God. It is a natural phenomenon that you are likely to think about the one whose name you are saying. When you chant the name "Radhey", you are likely to remember Radhey, so you will attain Radhey. When you chant the name Ram, you are likely to remember Ram, so you will attain Ram. Thus, you should chant the name of the form of God you wish to attain.  

Regarding the Hare Ram maha mantra, it contains the names of Krishn, Ram and Vishnu and can be used for devotion to any one of Them. In JKP, we do many chantings with the different names of Radha and Krishn, and we also chant the Hare Ram mantra. When I am quietly remembering God's name throughout the day, sometimes I like to chant the Hare Ram mantra too. But most of the time I say either 'Radhey Shyam' or 'Radhey Radhey'. The reason is that it is simpler and also, it can be done with the breath which helps. You can say "Radhey" on the inhalation and "Shyam" on the exhalation (silently in your heart). Or you can say 'Ra' on the inhalation and 'dhey' on the exhalation. Both work very well. The effect is very deep and immediate. This is something which Shree Kripaluji Maharaj emphasizes a lot. He says it is important to do this throughout the day as much as you can. This helps to maintain a remembrance of Radha and Krishn so that your devotion continues throughout the day, even when you are working.

Shyam is a name of Krishn, just like Govind. Shyam means the one who is dark complexioned. Shyama is a name of Radha, which means the one who is with Shyam or belongs to Shyam.

Of course, along with remembering any name of God, it is most important to do roop dhyan. The power of the name for the most part remains dormant unless we also visualize the form of God whose name we are taking. You can see the form of Radha Krishn in whole or in part. You can visualize any part of Their body, and you can even have an interaction with Them. Feel that They are close to you, even if your imagination of the visual form is weak. And feel that They are yours and you belong to Them.

Swami Nikhilanand, JKP Radha Madhav Dham. © 2011. All rights reserved.

Hare Ram maha mantra

When doing devotion, should I chant Radha's name, or the maha mantra? Which is better?

As far as what name or mantra to remember, that is a personal choice for you. Every name of God contains His unlimited power.  One cannot be said to be more powerful than any other. The same goes for any mantra: the power in the mantra comes from God's name which is in the mantra. So any name of God is a powerful mantra. But of course the name or mantra must be taken with faith (that God is in His name) and along with roop dhyan (remembrance of the form of Radha Krishn, or whatever form of God you are worshiping).  In the satsang of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, we chant many names of Radha and Krishn, and we also chant the maha mantra. It is totally up to your personal preference. Just remember to do roop dhyan while you are chanting, and you are on the right track. Roop dhyan is the term Maharajji uses to describe thinking of the form of Radha Krishn, which also includes thinking of Their abode, leelas, qualities of Their personality, etc.

Swami Nikhilanand, JKP Radha Madhav Dham. © 2011. All rights reserved.

What is the value of mantra dikcha?

Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj teaches that you must purify your mind by doing roop dhyan (loving remembrance) of Radha Krishn. Whether you use a mantra to help you in your remembrance, or you just chant a name of God, or you listen to kirtan to help with your remembrance, the only thing that matters is that you remember Radha Krishn. So he does not give any importance to the use of mantra, and he himself does not give any mantra. He simply teaches how to do remembrance (roop dhyan).

Just because you have taken a mantra from another Guru does not mean that you are bound to keep following that for your whole life. If there is something else which is going to give you more benefit, then you can change your spiritual practice and no one is going to punish you. Some people feel a kind of psychological bondage that because they have taken mantra from someone, they cannot try anything else for their whole life. This is not correct. In fact, this is one reason that mantra dikcha is so popular, because it creates a kind of psychological bondage.

Study the teachings of Kripaluji Maharaj and understand more deeply what the path of bhakti is, what a true Guru is, and how a Guru Graces his devotees. I would recommend reading any of his books, which can be ordered online at http://shop.JKP.org. Also, his speeches come on TV Asia here in America every morning. If you are in India, the speeches are aired every day on Sahara Samay Channel (6.30 AM), Sadhana Channel (7.10 AM) and Aastha Channel (6.20 PM).

Swami Nikhilanand, JKP Radha Madhav Dham. © 2011. All rights reserved.  

Remembering Radha Krishn through their Divine names

You can chant anything that helps you remember Radha and Krishn. God's name is all-powerful and all-Blissful. Any name of God is a direct connection to God. You do not need any special mantra. All you need to do is to take the name with faith (that this is the Divine name of God, not just a word) and feel God close to you. Kripaluji Maharaj says to chant either Radhey Shyam or Radhey Radhey with each breath. You can say Radhey on the inhalation and Shyam on the exhalation (silently in your heart). Or you can say 'Ra' on the inhalation and 'dhey' on the exhalation. While doing this, it is important to visualize or feel the presence of Radha Krishn very close to you (this is called roop dhyan). The effect is very deep and immediate; all you have to do is try it.

Swami Nikhilanand, JKP Radha Madhav Dham. © 2011. All rights reserved.