Offences Against the Holy Name of the Lord

According to the authorized scriptures (Shaastra), a person who is chanting
the Holy Names of the Lord, has to save himself from NAAMA-APARAADHA
(offenses while chanting). If he is successful in doing so, there remains no
doubt in his attaining the highest perfection. The following are the 'Ten
Offenses' as mentioned in the scriptures:
The Ten Offenses to the Holy Name are listed as follows in the Padma Puraana, Brahma Khanda 25.15-18, as quoted in the Sri Chaitanya-Charitaamrita (Adi Lila 8.24, purport):

shri sanatakumaara uvaacha (Sanatkumaar says to Naaradamuni)

sataam nindaa naamnah paramam aparaadham vitanute
yatah khyaatim yaatam kathamu sahate tad vigarihaam

1. To blaspheme the great saintly persons who are preaching the glories of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra is the worst offense at the lotus feet of the holy name. The Naama-prabhu, who is identical with Krsna, will never tolerate such blasphemous activities, even from one who passes as a great devotee.


shivasya shri-vishnor ya iha guna-naamaadi sakalam
dhiyaa bhinnam pasyet sa khalu hari-naamaahita-karah


2. In this material world the holy name of Vishnu is all-auspicious.Vishnu's name, form, qualities, and pastimes are all transcendental,
absolute knowledge. Therefore, if one tries to separate the Absolute
Personality of Godhead from His holy name or His transcendental form,
qualities, and pastimes, thinking them material, that is offensive.
Similarly, to think that the names of demigods such as Lord Shiva are as
good as the name of Lord Visnu is also blasphemous.


guror avajnaa
3. It is offensive to consider the spiritual master material and therefore
to envy his exalted position.

shruti-shaastra-nindanam

4. It is offensive to blaspheme the Vedic literature such as the four Vedas
and the Puraanas.


artha-vaadah5. It is offensive to consider the glories of the holy name exaggerations.


hari-naamni kalpanam
6. It is offensive to consider the holy name of the Lord imaginary.


naamno balaad yasya hi paapa-buddhir
na vidyate tasya yamair hi shuddhih

7. The greatest offense at the lotus feet of the holy name is to think that since chanting the holy name can counteract all sinful reactions one may therefore go on sinning and at the same time chant the holy name to neutralize the reactions. One who thinks in this way cannot be purified by any program of sense restraint and severe austerities, nor by the various punishments of Yamaraja.


dharma-vrata-tyaaga-hutaadi-sarva-
shubha-kriyaa-saamyam api pramaadah

8. It is offensive to consider the chanting of the holy name equal to the
performance of ordinary religious ceremonies or fire sacrifices, the
observance of austere vows, or the practice of renunciation, all of whichare materialistic auspicious activities.

ashraddadhaane vimukhe 'py ashrnvati
yas chopadesah shiva-naamaaparaadhah

9. It is an offense to preach the glories of the holy name to those
unwilling to hear, to atheists, or to those who have no faith in chanting
the holy name.
shrutvaapi naama-mahaatmyam yah priti-rahito 'dhamah
aham-mamaadi-paramo naamni so 'py aparaadha-krt

10. If a person has heard the glories of the transcendental holy name of the
Lord but nevertheless continues in the materialistic concept of life,
thinking, "I am this body and everything belonging to this body is
mine,"and if he thus shows no respect or love for the chanting of theholy name,
that is an offense.

api pramaadah

It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting.

Try to withdraw your mind from the objects of the senses, exclusively
concentrate on the sounds of the mantra, meditate on the meaning of the
mantra, and remain undisturbed by any other thoughts or external situations.
Through devoted concentration on the syllables of the holy name, you will
realize step-by-step the Lord's form, qualities, and pastimes.

Every devotee who claims to be a Vaishnava must carefully guard against
these ten offenses in order to quickly achieve the desired success,
Krsna-Prema.



aparaadha-vimukto hi naamni japtam sadaachaara
naamnaiva tava devarshe sarvam setsyati naanyatah

"Sanatkumaara said, "O Devarshi Naarada, The proper way to chant the holy
name is to always avoid the ten offenses. There is no need for any other
process of spiritual elevation other than chanting the holy name, for the
holy name alone can award one the highest perfection."

Therefore, kindly avoid these offenses and please always keep chanting the
Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra: "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare" to make your life sublime...