Lord Caitanya (right) and Lord Nityananda

The Glories of Chanting the Hare Krishna Maha mantra, explained by Lord Caitanya. With evidences from the following authentic Vedic scriptures. There are many more.

The Srimad-bhagavatam, The Laghu Bhagavatamrita,The Kurma Purana, The Skanda Purana, The Brhan-naradiya Purana, The Brahmanda Purana, The Vahni Purana, The Brhan-naradiya Purana,The Srimad-bhagavatam Mahapurana, The Vishnu-dharmottara, The Nrsingha Purana, The Vishnu-yamata, The Padma Purana, The Brahmanada Purana, The Vamana Purana, Vishvamitra-samhita, The Laghu Bhagavatamrita, The Bodhyana-samhita, The Garuda Purana, The Bhagavad-gita, The Narayana-vyuha-stava, The Vishnu-dharma, The Prabhasa-khanda, The Vaishnava Cintamani, The Brhan-naradiya Purana, The Adi Purana, The Nrsingha Purana.

In the last (21st) Chapter entitled Nama-mahima of his wonderful book Prema-vivarta, Srila Jagadananda Pandita describes the super-excellent narration of the divine glories of the Hare Krishna
Maha-mantra by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself to His devotee Krishnadas as follows…

One day, Krishnadas broke his long silence and asked Lord Caitanya a question in Kashi Mishra’s house. “If you will kindly permit me to ask, then please tell me about the unlimited and wonderful glories of theHare Krishna Maha-mantra, about which even Lord Siva and Lord Brahma are unacquainted.”

Lord Caitanya replied: “The excellences of the Maha-mantra are like an ever-expanding shore less ocean. Even Lord Krishna Himself does not know the limits of It, what to speak of ordinary mortals. I will

The Hare Krishna Maha Mantra

simply repeat what is written in the scriptures. If you listen with proper faith, you can be delivered from this distressful material world.

“The Maha-mantra is capable of dissolving sins and removing impediments. The Maha-mantra embalms sufferings and diminishes the detriments that are so characteristic of Kali-yuga. It redeems the un-redeemable residents of hellish planets and nullifies the inevitable sinful reactions carried over from previous births. The Maha-mantra purifies offenses and is the quintessence of all transcendental activities, shining more brilliantly than the Vedas. The scriptures declare that the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the highest spiritual activity, higher than making pilgrimages to the holiest of places. The Maha-mantra is omnipotent and bene

dicts the chanter with unimaginable good fortune. It’s very nature is that It elevates one to experience divine bliss. The chanter is no ordinary person, for he becomes worthy of the entire world’s praise. The Maha-mantra is the only means of salvation for the fallen conditioned souls, and It is always worshipable for It offers the much desired liberation, exalts one to the supreme spiritual abode and blesses the chanter with transcendental love of Godhead, Sri Hari.The Sruti and Smrti contain proofs of the Maha-mantra’s sublime position. It is the supreme destination of all spiritual aspirations and the mainstream of the current of bhakti (devotional service).

The Ultimate Glories of Chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra As Explained by Lord Caitanya Himself

The Maha-mantra Destroys All Sins “One of the inherent characteristics of the Maha-mantra is that It destroys all sins. Hear first the different, authoritative conclusions on the subject. Take not of Ajamila, the example of a sinner, who on his deathbed unconsciously called out, ‘Narayana’, the Supreme Lord’s Name. The innumerable sins he had committed in countless lives were immediately absolved.

“The Srimad-bhagavatam 6.2.7 states that Ajamila had already atoned for all his sinful actions. Indeed, he has atoned not only for sins performed in one life but for those performed in millions of lives, for in a helpless condition he chanted the Holy Name of ‘Narayana’. Even though he did not chant purely, he chanted without offenses, and therefore he is now pure and eligible for liberation.

“The most heinous offenses like murdering a woman, a King, a cow or a Brahmana; taking intoxicants, cohabiting with Guru’s wife, betraying a friend, stealing, etc, are easily condoned simply by chanting the Maha-mantra. Once one is purified of his sins, he becomes attracted to Lord Krishna. In this way the Maha-mantra guides the living entity to his penultimate spiritual goal.
Note: One must never commit any sin in the name of the Maha Mantra, like sinning and chanting. One must simultaneously give up all such negative karmic activities.

“The chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the best process of atonement for a thief of gold or other valuables, for a drunkard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, for one who kills a Brahmana, or for one who indulges in sex with the wife of his Guru or another superior. It is also the best method of atonement for one who murders women, the King or his Father, for one who slaughters cows, and for all other sinful men. Simply by chanting the Maha-mantra, such sinful persons may attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, Who therefore considers, ‘Because this man has chanted My Holy Name, My duty is to give him protection.'” (Srimad-bhagavatam 6.2.9) This requires giving up sinful activities

S.B 6.2.12 One’s main purpose in human life should be to purify his existence and achieve liberation. As long as one has a material body, one is understood to be impure. In such an impure, material condition, one cannot enjoy a truly blissful life, although everyone seeks it. Therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.5.1) says, tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam suddhyet: one must perform tapasya, austerity, to purify his existence in order to come to the spiritual platform. The tapasya of chanting and glorifying the name, fame and attributes of the Lord is a very easy purifying process by which everyone can be happy. Therefore everyone who desires the ultimate cleansing of his heart must adopt this process. Other processes, such as karma, jnana and yoga, cannot cleanse the heart absolutely.

Penances And Vows Are Insignificant Activities Compared To Chanting The Hare Krishna Maha-mantra
“Observing penances and vows like chandrayana-vrata strictly according to scriptural injunctions cannot completely eradicate the sins a sinner commits. Yet, by chanting the Maha-mantra even once, one becomes totally free from all sins.

“By following the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies or undergoing atonement, sinful men do not become as purified as by chanting once the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Although ritualistic atonement may free one from sinful reactions, it does not awaken devotional service, unlike the chanting of the Maha-mantra, which reminds one of the Lord’s fame, qualities, attributes, pastimes and paraphernalia (Srimad-bhagavatam 6.2.11)

“Even if the Maha-mantra is chanted unconsciously, jokingly, simply for entertainment, or neglectfully, the most grievous sins are absolved, and he enters the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha, lying beyond the jurisdiction of Yamaraja, the god of death.

“One who chants the Maha-mantra is immediately freed from the reactions of unlimited sins, even if he chants indirectly [to indicate something else], jokingly, for musical entertainment, or even neglectfully. This is accepted by all the learned scholars of the scriptures. (Srimad-bhagavatam 6.2.14)

“If one chants the Maha-mantra and then dies because of an accidental misfortune, such as falling from the top of a house, slipping and suffering broken bones while traveling of the road, being bitten by a serpent, being afflicted with pain and high fever, or being injured by a weapon, one is immediately absolved from having to enter hellish life, even though he is sinful. (Srimad-bhagavatam 6.2.15)

“As a fire burns dry grass to ashes, so the Maha-mantra, whether chanted knowingly or unknowingly, burns to ashes, without fail, all the reactions of one’s sinful activities. (Srimad-bhagavatam 6.2.18)

“The Laghu Bhagavatamrita states that the Maha-mantra is the only real friend of the living entity. By the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, one very easily uproots all sinful reactions that have been accumulated not only in this lifetime but also for many past lives and which are yet to mature into fruitation.

“It further states that a sinful offense committed against a saintly person is a serious crime, and only by chanting the Maha-mantra can one be freed from the reaction (along with asking forgiveness from that saintly person if he is physically present).

“The scriptures have amply described the various forms of prayascitta (rituals for atonement of sins). However all of these ritualistic activities are inconsequential compared to the chanting of the
Maha-mantra.

“The Kurma Purana states that the process of chanting the Maha-mantra has the power to eradicate all the accumulated and sinful reactions and much more, so much so that the Maha-mantra can absolve more sinful reactions than one is even capable of committing.

“It further states that it is impossible to commit such volumes of sinful activities in this age of Kali which cannot be eradicated by the chanting of the Maha-mantra.

“The Skanda Purana states that all the sins committed through actions, mind, words, and body can be permanently nullified in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra.

“The Brhan-naradiya Purana states that the scriptures proclaim unequivocally that the Maha-mantra is the cure for all diseases. ‘O resident of Puri, I say it is true, trust Me. Just chant the Names of Govinda,Acyutananda, Krishna, Madhusudana, etc. Chant the Maha-mantra with feeling from the heart and with tears flowing from the eyes. This will rid you of all material diseases and sufferings’.

“The Brahmanda Purana states that chanting of the Maha-mantra can purify even the most fallen sinner, and after he becomes purified, he in turn is to be counted amongst the saintly persons who can purifyothers by his association.

“The Vahni Purana states that all dreadful fears and sufferings, like severe sickness, the fear of capital punishment, etc, are easily quelled by chanting the Maha-mantra.

“The Brhan-naradiya Purana states the chanting of the Maha-mantra drives away all types of chronic diseases, sufferings, distressful conditions and inauspicious situations.

“The Srimad-bhagavatam Mahapurana 12.12.48 states that when people properly glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead by chanting the Maha-mantra or simply hear about His power, the Lord personally enters their hearts and cleanses away every tract of misfortune, just as the sun removes the darkness or as a powerful wind drives away the clouds.

“The Vishnu-dharmottara states that a person afflicted by poverty, hopelessness, despondency, weakness of mind, fear and serious diseases and distress can rarely see the redeeming rays of hope, but if he simply chants the Maha-mantra of the Name of Narayana, he will certainly be released from this intolerable misery and experience unlimited happiness. The Hare Krishna Maha-mantra possesses inconceivable power and potency. By chanting the Maha-mantra, all evil spirits, ghosts, demons and monsters, etc, flee in fear, putting an end to the living entities’ extreme trepidations. Chanting removes all inauspiciousness, tribulations, hunger, thirst, confusion, and so on.

“After knowing all these facts about the potency of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, if one is still in doubt about Its efficacy, then he will not achieve any success in chanting. Another esoteric point about the Maha-mantra the devotee must be aware of is that one receives the mercy of the Maha-mantra only by increasing one’s faith and not by faithless doubting.

“The Skanda Purana states that Kali-yuga is like a black, poisonous snake with a gaping mouth and fangs. But please be unperturbed dear devotees and listen with faith. Once the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is being chanted, it is like igniting a forest fire which will burn to ashes the poisonous snake within the
forest.

“The Vishnu-dharmottara states that in this dark age of Kali-yuga, sincere devotees of the Supreme Lord should leave aside all other means for liberation and take full shelter of the Maha-mantra. This is the real responsibility and duty. There is unlimited bliss in chanting the Maha-mantra and the different Names of Krishna like Hari, Keshava, Govinda, Vasudeva and Jaganmaya. For one who chants constantly with unflinching faith, he remains unaffected by the reverses of Kali-yuga, because his heart has become purified by chanting.

“The Nrsingha Purana states that an abominable sinner, a fit resident of hell, can easily become a devotee of the Lord by chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Thus he can enter into the highest spiritual abode of the Lord.

“Prarabdha, or unmanifested reactions of sinful activities committed in a previous life, can be counteracted only by means of chanting the Maha-mantra.

“This result cannot be achieved by pursuing speculative knowledge or performance of fruitive activity. In fact, it is impossible to break free from the entanglement of karma (results of actions) without the help of the chanting process. The kind of liberation the Maha-mantra offers to the living entity will never again allow him to be induced to perform fruitive activities, but will rather make him transcend illusion and thethree material modes.

“Srimad-bhagavatam 6.2.46 states that one who desires freedom from material bondage should adopt the process of chanting and glorifying the Name, Fame, Form and Pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at Whose feet all the holy places stand. One cannot derive the proper benefit from other methods, such as pious atonement, speculative knowledge and meditation in mystic yoga, because even after following such methods one takes to fruitive activities again, unable to control his mind, which is contaminated by the base qualities of nature, namely passion and ignorance.

“If a person who is in a death stupor, suffering acutely in a state of coma, somehow—uncounsciously or otherwise—chants or hears the Maha-mantra, the bonds of karmic reaction that bind him are severed, and he attains the supreme goal. In Kali-yuga or for that matter in any yuga, such liberation is unobtainable by any other methods.

“Srimad-bhagavatam 12.3.44 states that when a man is about to die, he becomes terrified and collapses on his bed. Although his voice is faltering and he is hardly conscious of what he is saying, if he utters the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra he can be freed from the reaction of his fruitive work and achieve the supreme destination. But still people in the age of Kali will not worship the Supreme Lord through the chanting process.

“The Vishnu-yamata states that the Maha-mantra should be chanted with sincere faith and devotion and without envy. Krishna then forgives all of his countless offenses. As for the unfortunate soul who does not believe in the potency of the Maha-mantra, the gates of liberation remain always closed to him.

“Discrepancies that arise while pronouncing Vedic hymns and following regulative principles of ritualistic activities in regard to time, place and paraphernalia are all rectified by chanting the Hare
Krishna Maha-mantra, and thus one experiences unlimited joy. Chanting is the most important of all spiritual activities, so if one takes shelter of the Maha-mantra he will automatically achieve perfection in all other devotional endeavours.

“Srimad-bhagavatam 8.23.16 states that there may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when the Maha-mantra is chanted, everything becomes faultless.

“The Vishnu-dharmottara states that the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the essence of the Vedas, and far superior to it. Anyone who doubts this faces constant misery. Pranava (the sound OM) is one of Krishna’s Names; the Vedas have emanated from this see sound ‘OM’, spoken first by Lord Brahma. Thus one who constantly chants the Maha-mantra which is full of the Names of Lord Hari, is considered to have mastered the four Vedas.

“The Skanda Purana states that there is no need whatsoever to undertake the tedious study of the four Vedas, namely, Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. Simply go on chanting the Maha-mantra and the Names of Lord Govinda. That is all that is required to achieve perfection in this age.

“The Padma Purana states that each Name of Lord Vishnu is greater and more potent than the entire Vedas; and Lord Rama’s Name alone is superior to a thousand Names of Vishnu.

“The Brahmanada Purana states that the spiritual result one obtains from chanting a thousand Names of Vishnu three times (i.e. Three Names of Lord Rama) is attained by chanting Lord Krishna’s Name just once.

“Therefore dear devotees, please continuously chant:

hare krsna hare krsna, krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare

“The Hare Krishna Maha-mantra consisting of sixteen Names is perfect in every respect, and chanting this mantra gives one the highest benefit and perfection in spiritual life.

“Why undertake so many inconveniences to visit pilgrimage places simply to gain some piety, when by constantly chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, wherever you are situated, you can accrue the results of all pious activities?

“The Skanda Purana states that for one who continually chants the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra there is no extra spiritual benefit by visiting even such holy places as Kurukshetra, Kashi, Pushkara, etc.

“The Vamana Purana states that the spiritual value of chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is far superior to even circa ambulating millions and millions of holy pilgrimages.

“On a visit to the holy land of Kurukshetra, the powerful sage Vishvamitra made a statement which is recorded in the Vishvamitra-samhita. He said that he had heard the names of many holy places of pilgrimages in this material universe but none of them possessed even one millionth of the spiritual potency contained in the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. This statement is of utmost value to everyone.
“The Laghu Bhagavatamrita questions the necessity for studying such voluminous works as the Vedic literature and its corollaries. And why do you people visit innumerable holy pilgrimage sites? One who truly desires to liberate the soul from illusion, let him constantly chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and the other Names of Lord Govinda.

“It continues to state that the chanting of the Maha-mantra is the highest spiritual activity, far superior to all other pious activities. One who chants with this realization is automatically executing all other prescribed religious duties. Pious activities like giving millions of cows in charity on solar eclipses, residing in Prayaga in the month of Magha (December-January) and observing strict vows and baths; performing countless sacrifices and disbursing mountains of gold are not equivalent to a minutest fraction of a fraction of the spiritual potencies acquired by chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra.

“The Bodhyana-samhita states that even if hundreds of altruistic works are performed for the benefit of the general people’s welfare, all such activities are mundane activities according to the scriptures. The chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra alone can actually give complete liberation from this material world. Every other activity is insignificant in comparison.

“The Garuda Purana questions the reliability of sankhya-yoga (deductive philosophical speculation), astanga-yoga (the eightfold yoga process), etc, to offer one liberation. It states that if one is really searching for mukti (liberation), then such a person should continuously chant the Maha-mantra. In fact, mukti is also insignificant in comparison to the actual result one achieves by chanting the Maha-mantra. Mukti is but facile even to someone who chants the Maha-mantra indifferently.

“One who constantly chants the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, the Maha-mantra dances on his tongue. He may have taken birth in a family of dog-eaters (svapaca), but he should be considered a highly elevated brahmana. He must have already performed severe austerities and penances, visited all the holy places, taken bath in all of the sacred rivers and deeply studied the conclusions of the Vedas. Thus, obtaining immense piety in this way, he has come to the platform of incessantly tasting the Nectar of the Maha-mantra.

“Srimad-bhagavatam 3.33.7 states: ‘Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting the Maha-mantra! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who
chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Aryans. To be chanting the Maha-mantra, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimages, studied the Vedas and fulfilled everything required.’

The Skanda Purana states that the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the greatest chant for deliverance. It can easily offer all perfections and bring one to the highest spiritual realizations. This fact has been boldly proclaimed in the Vedic literatures. The chanting of the Maha-mantra brings completely under control all the six vicious vices (lust, greed, anger, etc.) and the impious senses, thus freeing one to execute perfect devotional service to the Supreme Lord Krishna.

“The really qualified and intelligent scholar who applies his knowledge by proper behaviour and who relishes the essence of the scriptures, appreciates Kali-yuga because it is only in this yuga that one attains the highest perfection through the simple but sublime process of vibrating the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra.

“Srimad-bhagavatam 11.5.36 states: ‘Those whoa re 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 fallen age all perfection of life can easily be achieved by the performance of sankirtana of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra.

“The Skanda Purana states that the supremely potent Maha-mantra is equal in all respects to the Supreme Lord Krishna Himself, because Lord Krishna has invested the Maha-mantra with all of His potencies. Krishna has collected the spiritual results accrued by charity, austerity, penance, pilgrimage, karma-kanda rituals offered to the demigods, rajasuya-yajna, asvamedhy-yajna, knowledge of self-realization, etc. and infused them into the Maha-mantra to make It absolutely powerful.

“The Brahmanda Purana states that Lord Krishna, the Lord of all the demigods, possesses inconceivable potencies, and the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and all of His Names are endowed with the sam potencies. One should thus develop attachment for the Maha-mantra, for the omnipotent Maha-mantra can give one every desirable object.

“The world become joyful hearing the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, and everyone becomes attached to the Lord. The perfected souls offer their respectful homage to Him, but the demons are afraid, and they flee away. Lord Krishna and the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra are the same; the Maha-mantra has immense powers of influence, It is not lacking anything just like the Lord Himself.

“The Bhagavad-gita 11.36 states: ‘Arjuna said: ‘O Master of the senses, the world becomes joyful upon hearing Your Name, and thus everyone becomes attached to You. Although the perfected beings offer You their respectful homage, the demons are afraid, and they flee here and there. All this is rightly done.’

“The Brhan-naradiya Purana states that material qualifications, caste, etc. are not the required qualifications for chanting the Maha-mantra. One does not need formal initiation of have to undergo vows of purification to be eligible to chant the Maha-mantra. Whoever constantly chants the Maha-mantra along with the other Names of the Supreme Lord like Narayana, Jagannatha, Vasudeva, Janardana, is respected by all as a spiritual master. That person who chants the Maha-mantra in sleeping, walking, dreaming and while performing other chores, is to be worshipped by everyone.

“The Narayana-vyuha-stava states that anyone who chants the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is to be worshiped as a guru without considering that such a person is a sudra, a pukkasa, a yavana or of even lower birth, etc.

“The Padma Purana states that one who is shelter less, who has no higher spiritual goals, who is a debauchee, cruel, violent, very licentious and devoid of knowledge, austerity or religious principles canbecome more elevated than the pious men simply by chanting the Maha-mantra.

“The Vishnu-dharma states that there are no rules indicating time, place or circumstances for chanting the Maha-mantra, nor is anyone prohibited from chanting if he is unclean or contaminated.

“The Skanda Purana states: ‘Just go on chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Do not be inhibited by external rules such as those governing cleanliness, the Maha-mantra is fully independent of all such material prescriptions and It is the supremely purifying agent, cleansing everything but without becoming affected in any way.’

“The Vaishnava Cintamani states that ritualistic religious practices like yajna, charity, sacred baths and chanting of Vedic hymns are all regulated by rules of time, cleanliness, etc. To consider that the chanting of the Maha-mantra is subject to the same restrictions is a gross blunder. There are no hard and fast rules for chanting. Therefore, everyone chant the Maha-mantra at all times.

“For the yogi who is searching for peace of mind, tranquility and freedom from fear, the only quick and effective way is to chant the Maha-mantra.

“Srimad-bhagavatam 2.1.11 states: ‘O Kings, constant chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge’.

“The Skanda Purana states that the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the most magnanimous deliverer of souls. The Maha-mantra alone offers the living entity sure and easy liberation. One needs to chant the Maha-mantra or the Name of Lord Hari just once, and immediately become an eligible candidate for liberation.

“The Padma Purana states that anyone who chants the Maha-mantra or the Name of Narayana even once with a pure heart, having conquered sleep and lethargy is liberated and is in constant communion with the Lord.

“A living entity, enmeshed in the abysmal ocean of repeated birth and death, even if unconsciously or unknowingly chants the Maha-mantra, he becomes immediately liberated and personified fear of being afraid of the Maha-mantra goes away.

“Srimad-bhagavatam 1.1.14 states: ‘Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, which is feared by fear personified’.

“Srimad-bhagavatam 3.9.15 states: ‘Let me take shelter of the lotus feet of Him Whose incarnations, qualities and activities are mysterious imitations of worldly affairs. One who invokes His transcendental Names in the Form of the Maha-mantra, even unconsciously, at the time he quits this life, is certainly
washed immediately of the sins of many, many births and attains Him without fail’.

The Hare Krishna Maha Mantra

“In the Vishnu Purana it is stated: ‘In our normal activities of eating, sleeping, sitting, dreaming, etc. to chant the Maha-mantra, will completely nullify the ill effects of Kali-yuga and is the perfection of speech. Even if a person chants ‘Hare Krishna’ indifferently, he will attain that state beyond all material fear and
lamentation. He will eventually reach Vaikuntha, the supreme goal’.

“In the Varaha Purana is it stated: ‘If someone or other, one chants the Maha-mantra, Krishna is attracted to him and He showers him with causeless mercy. Even a ghostly haunted drunkard, miserably suffering numerous health disorders simply chants the Maha-mantra, then liberation is immediately within his easy
reach’.

“The Padma Purana states: ‘Chanting the Maha-mantra is the highest goal of this human form of life. It is the supremely opulent and auspicious goal of life’.

“The Prabhasa-khanda states: ‘The Maha-mantra is the most auspicious of all auspicious things. It’s Form is transcendental and is the ultimate fruit of the desire tree of the Vedas. Thus, whoever chants the Maha-mantra either with faith or negligently is immediately delivered. This is the conclusion of all the
Vedic scriptures’.

“The Vaishnava Cintamani states that amongst the different limbs of bhakti, chanting of the Maha-mantra is, according to all the scriptures, the most efficacious. Astanga-yoga necessitates much arduous physical and mental exercise in order to remember (smarana) the Supreme Lord Vishnu. But simply by moving the lips and chanting is the best form of glorification and remembrance of the Supreme Lord. Therefore, chanting is higher than only mental remembrance of the Lord. Because while chanting shravana, kirtana and smarana, all three limbs of bhakti-yoga are accomplished.

“The Vaishnava Cintamani further states that one who has worshipped the Deity of the Lord for at least a thousand lifetimes, and in each life having taken proper brahminical initiation, is able to constantly vibrate the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra.

“The Vishnu Purana states that: ‘The supreme goal which was attained in Satya-yuga by years of prolonged meditation; in Treta-yuga by performing extensive yajnas, in Dvapara-yuga by opulent and scrupulous Deity worship, in Kali-yuga the same results are easily achieved simply by chanting the Maha-mantra’.

“The Skanda Purana states that the hallmark of a maha-bhagavata (the most elevated devotee) in Kali-yuga is that he chants the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra constantly.

“The Brhan-naradiya Purana states that the extraordinary result derived from chanting the transcendentally empowered and eternal Hare Krishna Maha-mantra just a few times cannot be
satisfactorily described, even by great personalities like Lord Siva or Lord Brahma. So marvelous is the Maha-mantra that immediately upon chanting or hearing It, the chanter attains the supreme destination.

“In the Adi Purana, Lord Krishna said to Arjuna: ‘O Arjuna! Listen attentively. When the living entity chants the Maha-mantra which is made up of My Own Names, I never forget this act. I become so obliged to such a person that I Myself begin chanting the Name of that person who is chanting the Maha-mantra not finding any other means to repay his debt. There is no vow like the chanting of the Maha-mantra. No knowledge like It, no mediation which comes anywhere near It, and no other result equal to It. No penance is equal to It, and nothing is as potent or powerful as the Maha-mantra. Chanting the Maha-mantra is the greatest act of piety and the supreme refuge.

Even the words of the Vedas do not possess sufficient power to describe It’s magnitude. Chanting is the highest path to liberation, peace and eternal life. It is the pinnacle of all kinds of devotion, the heart’s joyous proclivity and attraction and the best form of remembrance of the Supreme Lord. The Maha-mantra has appeared solely for the benefit of the living entities as their Lord and Master, their Supreme Worshipable Object and their spiritual guide and mentor’.

“There is no limits to the glories of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Just by hearing It once, even a pukkasa, the lowest of mankind can be saved.

“Srimad-bhagavatam 6.16.44 states: ‘My Lord, it is not impossible for one to be immediately freed from all material contamination by seeing You. Not to speak of seeing You personally, merely by hearing the Holy Name in the form of the Maha-mantra only once, even candalas, men of the lowest class, are free from all material contamination. Under the circumstances, who will not be freed from material contamination simply by seeing You?’

“The Varaha Purana states that whoever continuously chants the Maha-mantra, even in his sleep, can easily realise that the Maha-mantra is a direct manifestation of Krishna Himself, in spite of all bad influences of Kali-yuga. This has been ordained by Lord Krishna Himself.

“The Nrsingha Purana states that one who constantly chants the Maha-mantra and in this way remembers the Lord, even though living in this material ocean of nescience, is like the lotus, which is born in the water but is untouched by it: Its position is transcendental. This great soul is capable of liberating all the suffering residents of the hellish planets.

“The Prabhasa-khanda states that the Maha-mantra is the prime and the most secure shelter for the living entities. The Maha-mantra can eradicate endless offenses and liberate a person.

“The Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, Purva-vibhaga 2.108 states that the Maha-mantra is a transcendental touchstone, a direct manifestation of Krishna Himself, a fully cognisant Being, perfect, pure, eternally independent. The Maha-mantra and Krishna are identical.

“The Rig Veda 1.56.3 states that one who philosophically understands that the Lord’s Holy Name and His potencies are the same can properly approach and worship the Supreme Lord with transcendental knowledge and choice prayers.”

Sri Krishnadas, a resident of Puri-dhama, then humbly enquired from Lord Caitanya with folded hands: “Dear Lord, I have one clarification to be made, which I place before Your lotus feet, after having heard the supremely wonderful glories of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra directly from You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I wonder why the chanting does not give everyone the same result.”

Lord Caitanya replied: “Faith and conviction in the glories of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the root cause of success in chanting. Without this faith, no one can get the desired results from the chanting process. The Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the incarnation of Lord Krishna Himself. Who is omniscient. Thus it bestows the benefit to the chanter solely on the basis of one’s faith in the chanting process. Those who do not have complete faith in the glories of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra will never achieve the desired results from chanting but will be thrown in hell because of their offenses against the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. They will misinterpret the glories and the transcendental nature of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and thus suffer hellish existence.”

Lord Caitanya (right) and Lord Nityananda

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