Benefits of Chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra

(Written on February 14, 2020)

ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaḿ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaḿ

śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaḿ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam

ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaḿ prati-padaḿ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaḿ

sarvātma-snapanaḿ paraḿ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-sańkīrtanam

Translation: Glory to the sri-krsna-sankirtana, which cleanses the heart from all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.

According to this verse and the translation there are 6 benefits of chanting the Mahamantra:

• Cleanses the heart from all dust: The mind and the consciousness are cleared from materially motivated desires, doubts, greed, anger, frustration, etc. When one is constantly chanting, they will also be able to get to a position where they have no distractions or thoughts.

• Extinguishes the fire of conditional life: The lust for sense gratification gets extinguished from the living entity. The living entity no longer wants the material items of this world, they are only attracted to the holy names of the Lord.

• Spread the rays of the benediction moon: The life of the living entity becomes auspicious. Because Lord Krishna is on their side, the life of the devotee becomes auspicious as Krishna guides them on the correct path. It is like that saying, “If Krishna is protecting you, then no one can kill you, but if Krishna is coming to kill you, then no one can protect you.” Similarly, for a devotee who is sincerely enthusiastic about sankirtan, Krishna will guide them in the correct path so that they will lose all material attachments and attain the perfection of life. That is how the life of the living entity becomes auspicious.

• Life of all transcendental knowledge: Chanting allows one to become filled with transcendental knowledge. Transcendental knowledge is understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Through chanting, this knowledge will be revealed to the devotee who is eager to transcend in Krishna consciousness.

• Increases the ocean of transcendental bliss: One can feel bhava or love for Krishna and His names. The devotee eventually gets to the stage where they have a loving relationship with the Lord.

Enables us to fully taste the nectar: One is able to taste the nectar of Krishna Consciousness in every step of their life. The devotee is able to relate everything in this material world with Krishna consciousness.