Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) 6.2.14
sāṅketyaṁ pārihāsyaṁ vā
stobhaṁ helanam eva vā
vaikuṇṭha-nāma-grahaṇam
aśeṣāgha-haraṁ viduḥ
One who chants the holy name of the Lord 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.
Imagine how blessed we are!! Just to make fun of The Hare Krishna Movement, children on the streets in America, used to say: “Hey, see the Hare Krishnas are going!” and Prabhupada used to gladly smile at them. He protested when other devotees would try to scold these children, because of the understanding of the above mentioned verse..
We cannot fathom how fortunate we are. The mercy of Lord Krishna is overflowing and never ending, especially in Kali Yuga: the age of quarrel and hypocrisy….
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 17.22
kali-kāle nāma-rūpe kṛṣṇa-avatāra
nāma haite haya sarva-jagat-nistāra
“In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered.
What is the meaning of Hare Krishna Mahamantra? Where in the scriptures is it mentioned?
In The Kali-santaraṇa Upaniṣad, it is said:
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
O Śrimatī Rādhārāṇī (the divine energy of the Lord Kṛṣṇa), O all-attractive reservoir of pleasure, Lord Śri Kṛṣṇa, please engage me in Your loving devotional service.
iti ṣoḍaśakaṁ nāmnāṁ kali-kalmaṣa-nāśanaṁ
nātaḥ parataropāyaḥ sarva-vedeṣu dṛśyate
“After searching through all the Vedic literature, one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa.”
Prabhupada says: “One may or may not know the value or language of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, but if one somehow or other chants it, he will immediately be purified, just as one who takes a potent medicine will feel its effects, regardless of whether he takes it knowingly or unknowingly.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.19, Purport)
“ When we hear the transcendental vibration (of Hare Krishna Mahamantra), the seed of Krishna Consciousness (originally there in everyone, but in a dormant stage) is revived. And the process is recommended by authorities for this Age.
By practical experience also, we can perceive that by chanting this maha-mantra, or the “Great Chanting for Deliverance,” one can at once feel transcendental ecstasy from the spiritual stratum.
There is no need of understanding the language of the mantra, nor is there any need of mental speculation nor any intellectual adjustment for chanting this maha-mantra. It springs automatically from the spiritual platform, and as such, anyone can take part in this transcendental sound vibration, without any previous qualification, and dance in ecstasy.
We have seen it practically. Even a child can take part in the chanting..
The three words, namely Hara, Krishna and Rama, are transcendental seeds of the maha-mantra, and the chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord and His internal energy, Hara, for giving protection to the conditioned soul. The chanting is exactly like a genuine cry by the child for the mother.
Mother Hara helps in achieving the grace of the supreme father, Hari, or Krishna, and the Lord reveals Himself to such a sincere devotee.
No other means, therefore, of spiritual realization is as effective in this Age, as chanting the maha-mantra”.
(Purport by Srila Prabhupada on hare Krishna Mahamantra)
Lord Śri Chaitanya (Lord Krishna’s incarnation in Kali yuga), says:
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā 6.242
harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā
“ ‘In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.’ ”
In the vedic scriptures, there are so many examples of those who have got liberated by chanting the holy names of Lord Hari. One such brāhmaṇ is Ajamila who although born into a brahmin family, married and was practicing religious principles, fell down from his great position just because of sight of an illicit act. He gave up the company of his chaste wife and children, left the responsibility of caring his parents and brought home a prostitute. To maintain the prostitute, he even started stealing. With the prostitute he beget many children and the last son’s name was ‘Narayan’. At the time of his death, he helplessly called out for his son ‘Nārāyan, Nārāyan…’ and thus was liberated from being punished by Yamaraj. The Śrimad Bhāgavatam describes thus:
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) 6.2.7
ayaṁ hi kṛta-nirveśo
janma-koṭy-aṁhasām api
yad vyājahāra vivaśo
nāma svasty-ayanaṁ hareḥ
Ajāmila has 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 Nārāyaṇa. Even though he did not chant purely, he chanted without offense, and therefore he is now pure and eligible for liberation.
There is further description that, “The ritualistic ceremonies of atonement recommended in the religious scriptures are insufficient to cleanse the heart absolutely because after atonement one’s mind again runs toward material activities. Consequently, for one who wants liberation from the fruitive reactions of material activities, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, or glorification of the name, fame, and pastimes of the Lord, is recommended as the most perfect process of atonement because such chanting completely eradicates the dirt from one’s heart.
“At the time of death, Ajāmila helplessly and very loudly chanted the holy name of Nārāyaṇa. That chanting alone has already freed him from the reactions of all sinful life. Therefore, O servants of Yamarāja, do not try to take him to your master for punishment in hellish conditions.
It is clear how the Holy Name is a savior for any of us in any situation in any condition. The chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra doesn’t require any kind of purifications and anyone in any situation can just do it.
According to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s instructions, one should not wait to purify himself before chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Whatever our condition may be, we should begin chanting immediately. By the power of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, we will gradually be relieved from all material contamination and will get shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, the ultimate goal of life.
(Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 22.199 Purport)
There are so many mentions in the Vedic Scriptures about the Glories of chanting Hare Krishna.
Padma Purāṇa
Nāmāparādha-yuktānāṁ
nāmāny eva haranty agham
aviśrānti-prayuktāni
tāny evārtha-karāṇi ca
The chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa is recommended for persons who commit offenses, because if they continue chanting they will gradually chant offenselessly. Even if in the beginning one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahamantra with offenses, one will become free from such offenses by chanting again and again.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.5.32
kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ
sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair
yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ
In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.3.51
kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann
asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ
kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya
mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vraje
My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) ŚB 12.13.23
nāma-saṅkīrtanaṁ yasya
sarva-pāpa praṇāśanam
praṇāmo duḥkha-śamanas
taṁ namāmi hariṁ param
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.7.17
Because in this age there are no qualified brāhmaṇas, people should perform yajña by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra (yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ). Life is meant for yajña, and yajña is performed by the chanting of
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.30.4
Of course, these austerities were performed in the Satya-yuga, Dvāpara-yuga and Tretā-yuga, but not in this age of Kali. In this Kali-yuga, one can attain the same results simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Because the people of this age are fallen, the Lord is kind enough to give them the easiest method. Simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, one can attain the same results.
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 8.28
anāyāse bhava-kṣaya, kṛṣṇera sevana
eka kṛṣṇa-nāmera phale pāi eta dhana
As a result of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches.
Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 1.235
Balitvāt kṛṣṇa-mantrāṇāṁ saṁskārāpekṣaṇaṁ na hi
“The Kṛṣṇa mantra is so strong that there is no question of śodhana.”
This sublime method of chanting Hare Krishna is very easy and the more it is performed, the more we are purified. Prabhupada often quoted: If the surface of the globe is overflooded with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, the people of the world will be very, very happy.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.10, Purport)
Here are a few links for knowing more about Hare Krishna Mahamantra chanting from various divine hymns.
Shikshashtakam
Kevalashtakam