Question


Where is it mentioned that chanting Krishna is more powerful than chanting Rama’s name?

Answer


This comparison is actually unfair and made famous from some particular sects only. This is same how they started saying "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare" instead of Kali-Santarana Upanishad version "Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare" i.e. reciting Hare Krishna before Hare Rama in the mantra.

There is not a direct comparison. This is indirectly mentioned in two sources:

  1. Lord Shiva said in Padma Purana,

    The holy name of Rama is equal to one thousand holy names.

  2. Sesha said in Brahmanda Purana,

    By a simple repetition, a single name of Krsna yields that fruit which is yielded by repeating three times the thousand holy names.

Both sources are different and the personalities who said are different. Further, neither of the verses mention Vishnu-Sahasranama, it simply says thousand holy names. So 1000 holy names of first source might be different from 1000 holy names of second source, hence, no fair comparison.

Though first source says in some other place that "Lord Rama's Name alone is more superior than a thousand Names of Lord Vishnu." but thousand Names of Lord Vishnu also not unique across scriptures, they differ from scripture to scripture.

Now, first of all there is no direct comparison between these two names. Also, रामः (raamah) and कृष्णः (krishnah) indeed part of few versions of Vishnu Sahasranama.

So, such lines are just eulogy to the God and should not be used for direct comparisons.


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