The Most Important

“Simply by chanting the holy name of Krishna once, a person is relieved from all the reactions of a sinful life. One can complete the nine processes of devotional service simply by chanting the holy name.” (CC Madhya 15.107)

Srila Prabhupada, in his purport to this verse, comments as follows: “In this regard, Srila Jiva Goswami states in his book Bhakti-sandarbha (173): yadyapi anya bhaktih kalau kartavya, tada; kirtanakhya-bhakti-samyogenaiva. Out of the nine processes of devotional service, kirtana is very important. Srila Jiva Goswami therefore instructs that the other processes, such as arcana, vandana, dasya and sakhya, should be executed, but they must be preceded and followed by kirtana, the chanting of the holy name. We have therefore introduced this system in all of our centers. Arcana, arati, bhoga offering, deity dressing and decoration are all preceded and followed by the chanting of the holy name of the Lord - Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.”