Question: In 'Hare Krishna', it seems that the Supreme God is called as many different names. For example, in Christinity Jehovah, but in your sect Krishna, in other religions other names. All these names actually point to the same Supreme Being. Right?
Yes, this is a correct understanding according to the Vedic scriptures."The Lord has different names according to His different activities. For example, (In Vedic scriptures) His name is Madhusūdana because He killed the demon of the name Madhu; His name is Govinda because He gives pleasure to the cows and to the senses; His name is Vāsudeva because He appeared as the son of Vasudeva; His name is Devakī-nandana because He accepted Devakī as His mother; His name is Yaśodā-nandana because He awarded His childhood pastimes to Yaśodā at Vṛndāvana; His name is Pārtha-sārathi because He worked as charioteer of His friend Arjuna. Similarly, His name is Hṛṣīkeśa because He gave direction to Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra."
Using someone's name to address them is personal and thus powerful. Parent's are warned about using labels on coats and paraphernalia with their child's name written on it because a stranger may use the child's name to win his confidence.
I try to use people's names when I speak to them. It makes a more personal connection. And I hate it when I can't remember someone's name.
Saying the Lord's name, we are calling on God. And God is looking in our hearts to see, "What do you want?" If we want something material the holy name gradually exposes to us exactly what that is that stands between us and the Lord. First it has to surface in order to clear away what desire seeds lie within the heart until all that is left is the desire for God alone. That will happen naturally since nothing else can satisfy the soul the way a relationship with the Supreme Soul Mate can.
There are common names and specific names. You can refer to someone as a man or you can refer to him as Mr. Ross, which is more formal compared to when he gets home and his kids call him "Dad", or His wife says, "Honey" or his best friend says, "Greg". Similarly, God has various names according to various purposes or functions. His most intimate and primary name is said to be Krishna. Saying a name such as "God" is considered to be of secondary importance and power.nRecently I have been learning more about this. Harinama Cintamani by the acarya Bhaktivinoda Thakur says:
"Krishna's names are of two types, primary and secondary. By taking shelter of the primary names, the living entity gets the highest benefit. Those names which are part of the transcendental lilä (pastimes) of the Lord are considered primary names. Names such as Govinda, Gopäla, Räma, Rädhänätha and Hari reveal the eternal liläs of the Lord, and by chanting them the living entity gets entrance into the spiritual world.
"The secondary names are those which describe the Lord's functions. The Creator, Paramätmä and Brahman are names for use in karma and jnäna-kända, and give material elevation and liberation. Since the principal names alone give love of Godhead, the devotees accept only the principal names."
In the book called Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, it says:
"There are different names for the Supreme Lord, and these names have different purposes and meanings. For instance, He is known as Paramätmä the Supersoul, Brahman the Supreme Absolute, Srstikartä the creator, Näräyana the transcendental Lord, Rukminiramana the husband of Rukmini, Gopinätha the enjoyer of the gopis, and Krishna. In this way the Lord has different names, and these names indicate different functions."
Being unlimited, God can naturally be expected to have unlimited names. Here's a sampling. Below are the many names for Krishna mentioned in Bhagavad gita:
Acyuta—He who never fails His devotees and who never falls down from His position. (1.21, 11.42, 18.73)
Adhiyajna—the Lord of sacrifice; the Super-soul, the plenary expansion of the Lord in the heart of every living being. (8.2, 8.4)
Ädideva—the original Supreme God. (11.38)
Ädikartä—the supreme creator. (11.37)
Amitavikrama—having unlimited strength. (11.40)
Ananta—He who is unending; He who has no limit. (11.37)
Ananta-rüpa—unlimited form. (11.38)
Anantavirya—having unlimited potency. (11.19, 11.40)
Aprameya—who is immeasurable. (11.17, 11.42)
Apratimaprabhäva—whose power is immeasurable. (11.43)
Arisüdana—killer of the enemies. (2.4)
Bhagavän—Supreme Personality of Godhead; "He who possesses all opulences"; the Supreme Lord, who is the reservoir of all beauty, strength, fame, wealth, knowledge and renunciation; the name refers to the personal form of the Absolute Truth. (10.14, 10.17, (sri-bhagavän uväca: 2.2, 2.11, 2.55, 3.3, 3.37, 4.1, 4.5, 5.2, 6.1, 6.35, 6.40, 7.1, 8.3, 9.1, 10.1, 10.19, 11.5, 11.32, 11.47, 11.52, 12.2, 13.2, 14.1, 14.22, 15.1, 16.1, 17.2, 18.2))
Bhütabhävana—source of all manifestations; origin of everything. (9.5, 10.15)
Bhütabhåt—maintainer of all living entities. (9.5)
Bhütesa—Lord of everything; the supreme controller of everyone. (10.15)
Deva—Supreme Personality of Godhead; God. (11.14, 11.15, 11.44, 11.45)
Devadeva—Lord of all demigods; God of gods. (10.15, 11.13)
Devavara—great one amongst the demigods; best of gods. (11.31)
Devesa—Lord of all lords; God of the gods. (11.25, 11.37, 11.45)
Govinda—giver and object of pleasure to the cows and to the senses. (1.32, 2.9)
Hari—"He who removes all inauspiciousness and steals the hearts of His devotees." (11.9, 18.77)
Hrsikesa—Krsna, the Lord who directs the senses of the devotees; the master of the senses. (1.15, 1.20, 1.24, 2.9, 2.10, 11.36, 18.1)
Isa—the Supreme Lord. (11.44)
Isvara—the Supreme Lord; the Supreme Controller. (4.6, 15.17, 18.61)
Jaganniväsa—refuge of the universe. (11.25, 11.37, 11.45)
Jagatpati—Lord of the entire universe. (10.15)
Janärdana—maintainer of all living entities; chastiser of the enemies; also "He who re-moves the ignorance of His devotees." (1.35, 1.38, 1.43, 3.1, 10.18, 11.51)
Käla—time (another form of Krishna). (11.32)
Kamalapaträksa—lotus-petal-eyed one. (11.2)
Kesava—the Supreme Lord, Krishna, who has fine, long black hair; killer of the demon Kesi (1.30, 2.54, 3.1, 10.14, 11.35, 13.1, 18.76)
Kesinisüdana—killer of the Kesi demon. (18.1)
Krishna—‘dark blue’; the original, two-armed form of the Supreme Lord, who is the origin of all expansions; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the all-attractive person. (1.28, 1.31, 1.40, 5.1, 6.34, 6.37, 6.39, 11.35, 11.41, 17.1, 18.75, 18.78)
Mädhava—husband of the goddess of fortune; "He who appeared in the Madhu dynasty." (1.14, 1.36)
Madhusüdana—killer of the demon Madhu. (1.34, 2.1, 2.4, 6.33, 8.2)
Mahäbähu—having mighty arms. (6.38, 11.23, 18.1)
Mahätmä—the great Lord; the great soul. (11.12, 11.20, 11.37, 11.50, 18.74)
Mahäyogesvara—the most powerful mystic. (11.9)
Paramesvara—the supreme controller. (11.3, 13.28)
Prabhu—the Lord, or the Master. (9.18, 9.24, 11.4, 14.21)
Prajäpati—the Lord of creatures (Visnu). (3.10)
Prapitämaha—the Lord is sometimes addressed as prapitämaha, the great-grandfather, be-cause He is the creator of Brahmä who is known pitämaha, the grandfather and creator of one universe. (11.39)
Purusottama—Lord Krsna, who is the Supreme Person, meaning "the most exalted person." (8.1, 10.15, 11.3, 15.18, 15.19)
Sahasrabähu—thousand-handed one. (11.46)
Sakha—dear friend. (11.41)
Ugrarüpa—whose form is fierce. (11.31)
Värsneya—descendant of Vrsni. (1.40, 3.36)
Väsudeva—the Supreme Lord, Krsna, son of Vasudeva, and proprietor of everything, material and spiritual. (7.19, 11.50, 18.74)
Visnu—the Personality of Godhead; "He who pervades the entire universe." (10.21, 11.24, 11.30)
Visvamürti—personification of the universe. (11.46)
Visvarüpa—whose form is the universe. (11.16)
Visvesvara—Lord of the universe; the ultimate controller. (11.16)
Yädava—He who appears in the Yadu dynasty. (11.41)
Yajna—"the personification of sacrifice"; the goal and enjoyer of all sacrifices. (3.9, 4.23)
Yogesvara—the supreme master of all mystic powers. (11.4, 18.75, 18.78)
Yogi—supreme mystic. (10.
Yes, this is a correct understanding according to the Vedic scriptures."The Lord has different names according to His different activities. For example, (In Vedic scriptures) His name is Madhusūdana because He killed the demon of the name Madhu; His name is Govinda because He gives pleasure to the cows and to the senses; His name is Vāsudeva because He appeared as the son of Vasudeva; His name is Devakī-nandana because He accepted Devakī as His mother; His name is Yaśodā-nandana because He awarded His childhood pastimes to Yaśodā at Vṛndāvana; His name is Pārtha-sārathi because He worked as charioteer of His friend Arjuna. Similarly, His name is Hṛṣīkeśa because He gave direction to Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra."
Using someone's name to address them is personal and thus powerful. Parent's are warned about using labels on coats and paraphernalia with their child's name written on it because a stranger may use the child's name to win his confidence.
I try to use people's names when I speak to them. It makes a more personal connection. And I hate it when I can't remember someone's name.
Saying the Lord's name, we are calling on God. And God is looking in our hearts to see, "What do you want?" If we want something material the holy name gradually exposes to us exactly what that is that stands between us and the Lord. First it has to surface in order to clear away what desire seeds lie within the heart until all that is left is the desire for God alone. That will happen naturally since nothing else can satisfy the soul the way a relationship with the Supreme Soul Mate can.
There are common names and specific names. You can refer to someone as a man or you can refer to him as Mr. Ross, which is more formal compared to when he gets home and his kids call him "Dad", or His wife says, "Honey" or his best friend says, "Greg". Similarly, God has various names according to various purposes or functions. His most intimate and primary name is said to be Krishna. Saying a name such as "God" is considered to be of secondary importance and power.nRecently I have been learning more about this. Harinama Cintamani by the acarya Bhaktivinoda Thakur says:
"Krishna's names are of two types, primary and secondary. By taking shelter of the primary names, the living entity gets the highest benefit. Those names which are part of the transcendental lilä (pastimes) of the Lord are considered primary names. Names such as Govinda, Gopäla, Räma, Rädhänätha and Hari reveal the eternal liläs of the Lord, and by chanting them the living entity gets entrance into the spiritual world.
"The secondary names are those which describe the Lord's functions. The Creator, Paramätmä and Brahman are names for use in karma and jnäna-kända, and give material elevation and liberation. Since the principal names alone give love of Godhead, the devotees accept only the principal names."
In the book called Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, it says:
"There are different names for the Supreme Lord, and these names have different purposes and meanings. For instance, He is known as Paramätmä the Supersoul, Brahman the Supreme Absolute, Srstikartä the creator, Näräyana the transcendental Lord, Rukminiramana the husband of Rukmini, Gopinätha the enjoyer of the gopis, and Krishna. In this way the Lord has different names, and these names indicate different functions."
Being unlimited, God can naturally be expected to have unlimited names. Here's a sampling. Below are the many names for Krishna mentioned in Bhagavad gita:
Acyuta—He who never fails His devotees and who never falls down from His position. (1.21, 11.42, 18.73)
Adhiyajna—the Lord of sacrifice; the Super-soul, the plenary expansion of the Lord in the heart of every living being. (8.2, 8.4)
Ädideva—the original Supreme God. (11.38)
Ädikartä—the supreme creator. (11.37)
Amitavikrama—having unlimited strength. (11.40)
Ananta—He who is unending; He who has no limit. (11.37)
Ananta-rüpa—unlimited form. (11.38)
Anantavirya—having unlimited potency. (11.19, 11.40)
Aprameya—who is immeasurable. (11.17, 11.42)
Apratimaprabhäva—whose power is immeasurable. (11.43)
Arisüdana—killer of the enemies. (2.4)
Bhagavän—Supreme Personality of Godhead; "He who possesses all opulences"; the Supreme Lord, who is the reservoir of all beauty, strength, fame, wealth, knowledge and renunciation; the name refers to the personal form of the Absolute Truth. (10.14, 10.17, (sri-bhagavän uväca: 2.2, 2.11, 2.55, 3.3, 3.37, 4.1, 4.5, 5.2, 6.1, 6.35, 6.40, 7.1, 8.3, 9.1, 10.1, 10.19, 11.5, 11.32, 11.47, 11.52, 12.2, 13.2, 14.1, 14.22, 15.1, 16.1, 17.2, 18.2))
Bhütabhävana—source of all manifestations; origin of everything. (9.5, 10.15)
Bhütabhåt—maintainer of all living entities. (9.5)
Bhütesa—Lord of everything; the supreme controller of everyone. (10.15)
Deva—Supreme Personality of Godhead; God. (11.14, 11.15, 11.44, 11.45)
Devadeva—Lord of all demigods; God of gods. (10.15, 11.13)
Devesa—Lord of all lords; God of the gods. (11.25, 11.37, 11.45)
Govinda—giver and object of pleasure to the cows and to the senses. (1.32, 2.9)
Hari—"He who removes all inauspiciousness and steals the hearts of His devotees." (11.9, 18.77)
Hrsikesa—Krsna, the Lord who directs the senses of the devotees; the master of the senses. (1.15, 1.20, 1.24, 2.9, 2.10, 11.36, 18.1)
Isa—the Supreme Lord. (11.44)
Isvara—the Supreme Lord; the Supreme Controller. (4.6, 15.17, 18.61)
Jaganniväsa—refuge of the universe. (11.25, 11.37, 11.45)
Jagatpati—Lord of the entire universe. (10.15)
Janärdana—maintainer of all living entities; chastiser of the enemies; also "He who re-moves the ignorance of His devotees." (1.35, 1.38, 1.43, 3.1, 10.18, 11.51)
Käla—time (another form of Krishna). (11.32)
Kamalapaträksa—lotus-petal-eyed one. (11.2)
Kesava—the Supreme Lord, Krishna, who has fine, long black hair; killer of the demon Kesi (1.30, 2.54, 3.1, 10.14, 11.35, 13.1, 18.76)
Kesinisüdana—killer of the Kesi demon. (18.1)
Krishna—‘dark blue’; the original, two-armed form of the Supreme Lord, who is the origin of all expansions; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the all-attractive person. (1.28, 1.31, 1.40, 5.1, 6.34, 6.37, 6.39, 11.35, 11.41, 17.1, 18.75, 18.78)
Mädhava—husband of the goddess of fortune; "He who appeared in the Madhu dynasty." (1.14, 1.36)
Madhusüdana—killer of the demon Madhu. (1.34, 2.1, 2.4, 6.33, 8.2)
Mahäbähu—having mighty arms. (6.38, 11.23, 18.1)
Mahätmä—the great Lord; the great soul. (11.12, 11.20, 11.37, 11.50, 18.74)
Mahäyogesvara—the most powerful mystic. (11.9)
Paramesvara—the supreme controller. (11.3, 13.28)
Prabhu—the Lord, or the Master. (9.18, 9.24, 11.4, 14.21)
Prajäpati—the Lord of creatures (Visnu). (3.10)
Prapitämaha—the Lord is sometimes addressed as prapitämaha, the great-grandfather, be-cause He is the creator of Brahmä who is known pitämaha, the grandfather and creator of one universe. (11.39)
Purusottama—Lord Krsna, who is the Supreme Person, meaning "the most exalted person." (8.1, 10.15, 11.3, 15.18, 15.19)
Sahasrabähu—thousand-handed one. (11.46)
Sakha—dear friend. (11.41)
Ugrarüpa—whose form is fierce. (11.31)
Värsneya—descendant of Vrsni. (1.40, 3.36)
Väsudeva—the Supreme Lord, Krsna, son of Vasudeva, and proprietor of everything, material and spiritual. (7.19, 11.50, 18.74)
Visnu—the Personality of Godhead; "He who pervades the entire universe." (10.21, 11.24, 11.30)
Visvamürti—personification of the universe. (11.46)
Visvarüpa—whose form is the universe. (11.16)
Visvesvara—Lord of the universe; the ultimate controller. (11.16)
Yädava—He who appears in the Yadu dynasty. (11.41)
Yajna—"the personification of sacrifice"; the goal and enjoyer of all sacrifices. (3.9, 4.23)
Yogesvara—the supreme master of all mystic powers. (11.4, 18.75, 18.78)
Yogi—supreme mystic. (10.
