Question: You said that the holy name is very personal. What does that really mean? Everybody is chanting the same Hari nam. Then how can it be personal?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
The Holy Name is non-different from Krishna Himself. Padma Purana confirms “abhinnatvan nama-naminoh” (cf Cc Madhya 17.133).
And Krishna is a person. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam. (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13) In Sri Brahma Samhita, the invocation mantra states “isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah/ anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam.”
Put these two understandings together and what do you get?
As Krishna is a person – the Supreme Person – so is the Holy Name. As the Supreme Person, Krishna has unlimited potencies; so does His name! *namnam akari bahudha nija sarva saktih:* the Holy Name of the Lord is invested with all the transcendental potencies of Krishna and can render all benedictions to living beings (Siksastakam 2). A beginning chanter may perceive the Holy name merely as a sound vibration, or a representation *of* Krishna; but in a more realized state, the pure chanter feels the personal presence of Krishna in His Holy Name.
As a devotee would approach Krishna or Krishna’s Deity form in a very personal manner considering His feelings and His personal reciprocation, similarly one can approach and take shelter of the Holy Name in a very personal mood – in a mood of humility, submission, prayerfulness and with loving feelings (bhajatam priti purvakam). And the Holy Name (Nama Prabhu) hears and reciprocates with all of our submission and devotion. Whereas when one approaches the Holy Name in an impersonal manner – neglectfully or thinking of the holy name as merely a sound vibration, then accordingly one doesn’t receive the full benefit of approaching Krishna in that manner.
That the holy name is personal also indicates that each one of us can experience a personal relationship with the holy name, just as every devotee can claim a personal relationship with Krishna. As Krishna expanded Himself to bless each of the 16,108 queens with His association, or as when He went to Mithila to bless Srutadeva and King Bahulasva (Krsna Book, Chapter 86), in the same manner, although innumerable devotees are calling upon Krishna’s Holy Name, each one can personally experience loving reciprocation with the holy name.
