Kali Santarana

#108-upanishads

• Narada asks Brahma, "How can one cross the influence of Kali while roaming the earth?"
• Brahma responds, "I will reveal a secret, the very essence of the Vedas."
• Brahma then gives a simple but powerful method: the utterance of the divine name of Narayana.
• The Upanishad declares that no higher means than this is found in all the Vedas.

Which Divine Name?

• When Narada asks which name, Brahma gives the Shodasha-Nama, the Sixteen Names mantra:
  Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
• The mantra destroys the inner impurities of Kali Yuga.
• It removes the covering of the jeeva or individual soul, which the text describes as being enveloped by sixteen kalaas. (The text does not specify what these sixteen are.)
• When these coverings are removed, the Inner Divine reveals Itself, like the sun appearing when clouds disperse.

Any Procedure?

• Narada asks whether there is a special method or ritual for the practice.
• Brahma replies that no special procedure is required.
• The mantra may be recited whether one is ritually pure or impure.
• Finally, the Upanishad emphasizes that the repeated chanting of this mantra removes even grave faults (negative Karma) and leads to liberation.

Posted: Jun 21, 2026