The Nature of the Holy Name

The holy name of Krishna has extraordinary spiritual potency because the name of God is non-different to God Himself. Language, in the material sense, is merely representative and symbolic; it does not itself embody the reality it seeks to represent. For example, recitation of the word ‘water’ does not quench our thirst, nor does calling the name of our beloved invoke their presence.

God, on the other hand, is absolute, and thus there is no difference between Him and His name. When one chants the names of God with pure intention and dedicated attention, they actually come in direct contact with Him. In the Absolute realm, symbol embodies reality. Indeed, Vaisnava poets explain how the holy name descends from the spiritual realm and has nothing to do with the material world.