Quotes from Ancient Texts
"There is no vow like chanting the divine names, no knowledge superior to it, no
meditation which comes anywhere near it, and it gives the highest result. No penance is equal to it, and nothing is
as potent or powerful as the divine name.
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Chanting is the greatest act of piety and the supreme refuge. Even the
words of the Vedas do not possess sufficient power to describe its magnitude. Chanting is the highest path to
liberation, peace and eternal life. It is the pinnacle of devotion, the heart's joyous proclivity and attraction,
and the best form of remembrance of the Supreme Being"
Adi Purana
"Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the
essential value of this age of Kali. Such enlightened persons worship kali-yuga because in this
degraded age all perfection of life can easily be achieved by performance of sankirtan"
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.36
Comment: in the original Sanskrit of this verse, kirtan is referred to as 'sankirtan'. The
prefix 'san' means 'complete' and this is another way of referring to kirtan. Kali-yuga is the name given to the
present Iron Age. Although technology has advanced, the Vedic seers see that more subtle aspects of the human
spirit have declined: chivalry, morality, yogic powers and bhakti (love , devotion). Modern science
would have us believe that we are now at the pinnacle of the evolution of humanity, yet yogis, Vedic philosophers
and great Vaishnava gurus and leaders look on the situation in reverse.

"Whatever result was obtained in other ages by the recommended spiritual path for
that age - namely Vishnu meditation in Satya Yuga, performance of Vedic ceremonies in Treta Yuga and temple
worship in Dvapara Yuga - can be obtained in the present Kali Yuga simply by Krishna kirtan. Thus, kirtan is
the yuga dharma for this age"
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.52 (from circa 3200BC)
Explanation: In the Vedic history of the world, there are different recommended spiritual
practises for different time periods. The most recommended path (or yuga dharma) for the present day is
kirtan.
image above right: All-night kirtan in Bengal, India, in the early
1500's
Om anavrittih sabdat
By sound vibration, one becomes liberated
Vedanta Sutra 4.4.22
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