Chanting the Mantra

In the Vedic tradition, a mantra is a transcendental sound vibration that delivers the mind from material contamination (manas - mind, trāyate - delivers). Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while there are many kinds of mantras for different purposes—some for material opulence, some for protection, and some for liberation—the supreme mantra for the Age of Kali is the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

The Mahā-mantra: The Great Deliverer

Among all mantras, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is known as the mahā-mantra, or the great mantra of deliverance. Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly emphasizes that in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, no other process of self-realization is effective. By chanting these sixteen names, one purifies the mirror of the heart (ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam) and extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence.

• Although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.
• This is the special advantage (liberated from all the bad association of material existence and eligible to go back home, back to Godhead) of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.
• Whatever one does in executing devotional service must be accompanied by the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

Mantras for Deity Worship

For initiated devotees, chanting specific mantras is an integral part of Deity worship (arcana). Śrīla Prabhupāda details how the Gāyatrī mantra, the Gopāla-mantra, and the twelve-syllable mantra (oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya) are used to worship the Lord. Even if physical paraphernalia is missing, one can worship the Deity perfectly simply by chanting these mantras with faith.

• In the beginning, the devotee should chant the dvadasaksara-mantra and offer flower garlands, incense and so on. After worshiping the Lord in this way, one should bathe the Lord with milk and dress Him with proper garments, a sacred thread, and ornaments.
• If paraphernalia is not present physically, one can think of the items and offer them to the Deity by chanting the mantra. Such are the liberal and potent facilities in the process of devotional service.

Protective Mantras

The Vedic culture utilizes mantras as a subtle armor (kavaca) to protect the body and mind from danger, evil spirits, and material impediments. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how Mother Yaśodā and the elderly gopīs would chant mantras to protect the child Kṛṣṇa. Similarly, devotees apply tilaka to twelve parts of the body while chanting the names of Viṣṇu, creating a protective shield.

• All the gopis, headed by mother Yasoda, were bound by maternal affection. After they thus chanted mantras to protect the child (Krsna), mother Yasoda gave the child the nipple of her breast to suck and then got Him to lie down on His bed.
• When putting the twelve tilaka marks on the twelve places of the body, one has to chant the mantra consisting of these twelve Visnu names.

The Pañca-tattva Mantra

Before chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, devotees are instructed to chant the Pañca-tattva mantra (śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda). Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that because the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra can be offensive if chanted by an unprepared person, one should first take shelter of Lord Caitanya and His associates, who are the most merciful and do not consider offenses.

• The method prescribed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pure devotees is to first chant the full Panca-tattva mantra and then chant the maha-mantra - Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
• By such chanting (the name of Panca-tattva) one is blessed with the competency to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra without offense.

Awakening Dormant Love

The ultimate goal of chanting is not just liberation or protection, but the awakening of prema, pure love of God. Śrīla Prabhupāda states that as one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra offenselessly, the heart melts, tears flow, and one attains the platform of bhāva and prema. This is the perfectional stage of life where one constantly remembers Kṛṣṇa.

• As soon as we develop our love for Krsna, we must have to think of Krsna. Just like we think of our lover, beloved, always; similarly, by chanting Hare Krsna mantra we develop our love for Krsna.
• This (Siksastaka 7) is the perfectional stage of chanting the Hare Krsna mantra and eating the fruit of love of Godhead, as exhibited by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Universal and Scientific

Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the potency of the mantra is scientific and universal. It does not depend on one's nationality, caste, or religious designation. Just as medicine cures a disease regardless of who takes it, the mahā-mantra cures the material disease for anyone who chants it. He encourages even those who cannot understand the philosophy to simply chant and see the result.

• I (Prabhupada) think for the Japanese to pronounce Sanskrit language is easier than to pronounce English language; but this mantra is universal, anywhere you go everyone will be able to chant this mantra.
• Anyone, anywhere, can easily take to this Hare Krsna movement; one need only chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, observe the rules and regulations, and stay free from the contamination of sinful life.

Purification of the Atmosphere

The chanting of the mantra has a purifying effect not only on the chanter but on the entire atmosphere. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that constant chanting drives away ghosts, inauspiciousness, and the influence of Kali. It creates a spiritual vacuum where material contamination cannot enter, effectively turning the material world into Vaikuṇṭha.

• After all inauspicious things were driven away by the chanting of the mantra, the Deity's bathing ceremony started. First the Deity was massaged with a large quantity of oil, so that His body became very glossy.
• If the surface of the globe is overflooded with the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, the people of the world will be very, very happy.

Conclusion

Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the chanting of the mantra is the life and soul of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Whether for personal purification, Deity worship, or global peace, the solution lies in the vibration of the holy names. By taking shelter of the mahā-mantra, humanity can solve all problems of life and return to the spiritual world.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Chanting the Mantra. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience his teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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