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References to the Mahamantra

The mahamantra is the Great Chant of Deliverance. The origin of the mahamantra has a transcendental origin, as the mahamantra is non-different from Lord Krsna. Many scriptures have cited the glories of the mahamantra.

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare

hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

iti sodasakam namnam kali-kalmasa-nasanam

natah parataropayah sarva-vedesu drsyate

The sixteen names of the Hare Krsna mahamantra: hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare, hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare destroy all the inauspiciousness of the age of Kali. This is the conclusion of all the Vedas. (Kali-santarana Upanisad from Krsna Yajur Veda)

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare

ratanti halaya vapi te krtartha na samsayah

Hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare: Whoever chants this mantra, even neglectfully, will attain the supreme goal of life. Of this there is no doubt. (Agni Purana)

harir eva samaradhyah sarva deve suresvarah

hari nama maha mantrair nasyatpapa pisacakam

All the grievous sins of one who worships Lord Sri Hari, the Lord of all lords, and chants the holy name, the Mahamantra, are removed. (Padma Purana, Svarga Khanda 50.6)

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare

hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

sodasaitani namani dvatrimsad varnakani hi

kalau yuge maha-mantrah sammato jivatarane

varjayitva tu namaitad durjanaih parikalpitam

chandobaddham susiddhanta viruddham nabhyaset padam

tarakam brahma-namaitad brahmana gurunadina

kalisantaranadyasu sruti-svadhigatam hareh

praptam sri brahma-sisyena sri naradena dhimata

namaitad-uttamam srauta-paramparyena brahmanah

utsrjyaitan-maha-mantram ye tvanyat kalpitam padam

mahanameti gayanti te sastra-guru langhanah

tattva-virodha-sanprktam tadrsam daurjanam matam

sravatha pariharyam syadatma-hitarthina sada

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare

hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

Hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare, hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare: This sixteen-name, thirty-two syllable mantra is the mahamantra in the age of Kali by which all living beings can be delivered. One should never abandon chanting this mahamantra and take to other so-called purificatory processes which are practiced by rascals, or engage in chanting other metrical compositions of the name of Krsna that are against the pure conclusions of the scriptures, or are filled with rasaabhaas. About this divinely spiritual mahamantra, which delivers one from material existence, the original guru, Lord Brahma, has said, kali-santararadi sruti, "The srutis have declared this mantra to be the best means of deliverance in the age of Kali". Having all heard this from Brahma, the sons and disciples of Brahma, beginning with Narada, all accepted the Hare Krsna mahamantra and, having meditated on it, attained perfection. (Ananta-samhita)

Ananta-samhita is a Pancaratra agama, part of the pancaratra corpus known collectively among Gaudiya Vaisnavas as the Narada Pancaratra)

Mahamantra is further mentioned in CC Antya 9.56, CB Madhya 23.76-77, Narada Pancaratra etc.

hare krsna krsneti krsneti mukhyan

mahascarya-namavali-siddha-mantran

krpa-murti-chaitanya-deva upagitan

kadabhyasya vrndavane syan krtartha

When will my heart become satiated by perfecting the chanting of the Hare Krsna mahamantra in Sri Vrindavan Dham, which the most merciful Sri Chaitanyadeva personally chanted and distributed to the fallen souls out of compassion? This wonderful mahamantra is mixed with the mellows of love and is the chief and the perfection of all other mantras. They are full of spiritual energies and glories. (Sri Vrindavana Mahimamrta by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati 17.89)

UPDATED: April 1, 2009