“Importance of Hearing Hari-kathā: Teachings of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura”

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura placed tremendous importance on hearing Hari-kathā (spiritual discourses about Lord Kṛṣṇa and His devotees). According to him, hearing (śravaṇam) is the first and most essential limb of bhakti. Here are the key points from his teachings and writings:

🌿 1. Hearing purifies the heart “By constantly hearing the transcendental sound vibration of Hari-kathā from the lips of pure devotees, the contamination of the heart is cleansed.”

He taught that the ears are the main gateway to the heart. When we hear from a pure Vaiṣṇava, the sound vibration (śabda-brahma) carries Kṛṣṇa’s potency and purifies lust, anger, and greed within.

🌼 2. Hearing is superior to seeing

Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura said: “Do not try to see Kṛṣṇa; serve and hear about Kṛṣṇa, and He will reveal Himself.” He warned that attempting to see the Lord through material eyes leads to sentimentality, while hearing submissively prepares one to see spiritually.

🔱 3. Hearing from the right source is essential He emphasized: “Hari-kathā must be heard from a śuddha-bhakta, not from a professional speaker or non-devotee.” Hearing from a non-realized person he called śabda-brahma-hatya—the murder of divine sound—because it disconnects the listener from the true spiritual current.

🌸 4. Hearing awakens faith and realization “Faith (śraddhā) is born from hearing the words of sādhus.” Hearing increases conviction, detachment, and surrender. Without hearing, he said, no real bhakti can begin, because hearing brings knowledge of the soul and the Lord.

🌺 5. Kīrtana and Śravaṇa go together Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura taught: “Without hearing, there can be no kīrtana. Hearing gives substance to our chanting.” Hearing is like pouring water, and kīrtana is like the blossoming of devotion. One who hears deeply chants purely.

🕊️ 6. Hearing protects from illusion He said that hearing from true devotees breaks māyā’s grip: “If you hear hari-kathā daily, māyā will not be able to enter your heart. Neglect hearing, and you will again fall into worldly thought.”

🪔 7. His instruction to disciples Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura often said: “Our temples are centers for hari-kathā. If there is no hari-kathā, the temple becomes a dead building.” He encouraged his disciples to daily hear and discuss the scriptures like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, and Bhagavad-gītā.