Offenses to the Holy Name – Criticizing Sadhus

Namaparadha – Sadhu-ninda

Criticizing devotees is the greatest offense that can be done to the Holy Name.

How can the Name tolerate criticism of those who spread His glories?

Glories to Gadadhara Prana[1] and Jahnava Jivana[2]! Glory to Sitanatha[3]. Glory to Srivasa and all devotees.

The Lord said: Hari Dasa, now explain in detail the offenses against the Holy Name.

Hari Dasa replied: Lord, by Your might, I will say whatever You make me say.

The ten types of offenses against the Holy Name

Dasa-vidha namaparadha

The Sastras say that there are ten types of offenses against the Holy Name. I am very afraid of these offenses.

Please give me strength so that I can talk about all these offenses one by one.

(1) Criticizing Sadhus. (2) Considering the Devas to be independent and considering the Name, form, qualities of Krishna’s pastimes to be different from Krishna Himself. (3) Ignoring the Guru who reveals nama-tattva. (4) Offending the Sastras describing the glories of the Holy Name. (5) Creating imaginary meanings for the Holy Name when the Sastras have already described them. (6) Performing sinful actions on the strength of chanting the Name. (7) Giving instructions on the Name to those who do not have sraddha. (8) Thinking of Hari-nama as an auspicious worldly activity. (9) Being inattentive when chanting the Holy Name. (10) Remaining dependent on the concept of “I and mine” and not showing love for the Name, even after knowing His glories.

I will now explain these offenses.

The author of the Puranas[4] states that anyone who is not careful not to commit these offenses is a fool.

One who knows the glories of the Holy Name but does not venerate It and remains attached to the concept of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ is immersed in the world of repeated births and deaths.

[1] Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

[2] Nityananda Prabhu.

[3] The Lord of Sita Devi, Advaita Acarya.

[4] Sri Vyasadeva.

This is a section of the book “Harinama Cintamani (English)”.

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