One of the critical practices in Sanatan Dharma during Kali yuga is chanting the name of the Lord to seek His blessings and attain spiritual liberation. Lord Vishnu is the Supreme Lord, and He has incarnated on earth in various forms to establish Dharma and protect the world from evil forces. The ten important incarnations of Lord Vishnu, known as the Dasavatara, have been mentioned in the scriptures. Pandit Shree Kashinath Mishra has explained in his videos that in Satya yuga, the name to chant was ‘Bhagwan Maha Vishnu,’ in Treta yuga, it was ‘Bhagwan Shri Narayan’ and ‘Bhagwan Shri Ram,’ in Dwapara yuga, it was ‘Bhagwan Shri Krishna.’ In Kali yuga, it is ‘Bhagwan Shri Jagannath.’ However, as we transition between Kali yuga and Satya yuga, knowing the holiest name to chant is imperative to give us the maximum spiritual benefit. So, the question arises, which name of the Lord should devotees chant in the present times to be rescued from the impending doom?

Innumerable sacred names of Lord Vishnu are mentioned in the holy scriptures of Mālikā, Gīta Gōvindam (work of poet Jayadev that depicts the relationship between Lord Krishna, Maa Radha, and the Gopis), Srīmada Bhāgavatama Mahapurana and various other scriptures of Sanatan Dharma. However, the holiest name for this era is ‘Mādhaba.’

‘So what is the meaning of the name ‘Mādhaba’? ‘Mā‘ of the word ‘Mādhaba‘ represents ‘Bhrama Swarupa Jagat Mata,‘ i.e., the manifestation of the feminine power of the formless Lord.’ Dhaba’ means Lord (‘Swami‘). Thus, ‘Mā’ and ‘Dhaba’ together, meaning the Lord of ‘Bhrama Swarupa Jagat Mata,’ is Mādhaba. Because ‘Mā’ signifies the manifestation of the Lord’s female potency (‘Jagat Swarupa’), and ‘Dhaba’ means Lord (‘Swami’). So, this is the meaning of Mādhaba. Therefore, we must ponder why the name should be Mādhaba.

In the Dwapar yuga, when Lord had the name of Shri Krishna, Goddess Bhagwati had asked the Lord, “Lord, I’d christened your name to be Mādhaba, then why did you alter it (to Krishna)?” The Lord replied, ‘Look, I’ve reserved this name for Kali yuga when I’ll use this mighty name ‘Mādhaba’ for the upliftment and rescue of my devotees, hence in this yug (Dwapara yuga) and this incarnation, I have the name of Shri Krishna.’ So, Goddess Bhagwati was blissfully pleased with it.

The writings of Malika elaborate on this as

‘Mādhaba ācārjya sampradāy hōiba cittā hēba nityānanda’

The writings of Mālikā elaborate that Lord Mādhaba’s community, which will be formed to establish righteousness (‘Dharma Sansthapana’), will be called ‘Sudharma Maha Maha Sangha’ as well as ‘Madhaba Acharya Sampraday’ Moreover, the Tilak (a mark worn by Hindus on the forehead to denote the faith or sect they follow) worn by the devotees of Lord Sri Chaitanya dev (one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu) will be adorned on the forehead of Lord Mādhaba’s devotees.

Further, more has been written as follows,

‘śēṣa kali līlā bhāba tō āgē bujhāi kahibi sarba lō jāi phula Kalkī rūpa dharibē Mādhaba’.

This couplet is inscribed in the Odia language. It means that when the Lord incarnates at the end of Kali yuga, at that time, Lord’s name will be Mādhaba.

Further, Mahapurush (great sage) Achyutananda has authored in Bhavishya Malika,

‘Mādhaba Mādhaba nitya…cahala paḍiba, dēkhilā bēlaku tāṅku…cinhi na pāriba

sari galā līlā rāma…harī harī ghōṣa…paddara bindha rē jāi…śaraṇa tu paśa.’

Mahapurush Achyutananda has stated (through this verse) in Bhavishya Malika ‘Mādhaba Mādhaba nitya cahala paḍiba,’ which means pastimes akin to those displayed in gōlaka dhāma (Lord’s abode) will be effulgent daily, perpetually, in this mortal land, and the devotees across the universe will chant ‘Mādhaba Mādhaba .’People will be astounded but unable to recognize the Lord, Mādhaba. It’s also written that devout people will chant His name and say that Mādhaba has been incarnated to restore righteousness. But human beings will not be able to understand this. Mahapurush Achyutananda has also noted that at the end of Kali yuga, devotees will promulgate the name of the Lord, but not all will recognize the Lord.

Further, in the scriptures of Gīta Gōvindam, the name Mādhaba has been given prominence. For all devotees of Lord Vishnu, those from Vrindaban (‘Vrindaban Vasi’) or those who hail the Lord’s various forms, such as Dwarkadhish Shri Krishna, Shri Ram, Badrinarayan (Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Badrinarayan in Badrinath/Badridham, one of the four sacred Dhams) or Shri Jagannath this incident will be very valuable. When (in Dwaparyug) Maa Radha Rani first met Shri Krishna, Lord Brahma and Nanda Baba (Lord Krishna’s foster father) entrusted Lord Shri Krishna to Maa Radha Rani, then with which name did Maa Radha Rani for the very time address Lord Krishna? What was that name? Details of this are cited in chapter 110 of the part called ‘Krishna Janm Khand’ of the holy scripture Brahmavaivart Puran as,

‘mā ca brahma svarūpā jā mūla prakr̥ti īśvarī nārāyaṇī tri bikhyātā viṣṇu māyā sanātanī,

māhālakhmī svarūpā ca veda mātā sarasvatī rādhā vasuṅdharā gaṅgā tāsaṅga svāmī ca mādhaba, tāsaṅga svāmī ca mādhaba’

It’s written, rādhā vasuṅdharā gaṅgā tāsaṅga svāmī ca mādhaba‘. So, upon meeting the Lord for the first time, Maa Radha Rani had addressed Him as ‘Mādhaba, hey Mādhaba .’She did not address him as ‘Krishna,’ but what did Maa say? She said, ‘Mādhaba, hey Mādhaba’! So how important is the name Mādhaba to all the residents of Vrindaban and all devotees of Lord Vishnu? Since Maa Radha Rani first addressed Lord Krishna by the name Mādhaba, it is of utmost importance for us devotees to follow this name. Hence, the name Mādhaba was hidden in Dwaparyug and is effulgent now in Kali yuga. So you must chant the name of Mādhaba, by which you will shield yourself from the mayhem inflicted by Kali and be bestowed with the blessings of Lord Vishnu.