Chanting Hare Krishna mantra purifies our soul and promotes love of God. It brings liberation along the way. One of the major purpose of birth is to purify ourselves, just like sides of a diamond are initially coated with dirt, but with cleaning again and again, it shine. Similarly, in each of our life, one of our sole purpose is to purify our soul so that eventually we go back to the Supreme Godhead – Krishna (moksha).
Krishna Mahamantra could be chanted anywhere, anytime (eg. cooking, driving etc.) & without any previous qualification. When we chant Hare Krishna, we automatically develop spiritual knowledge and detachment from material and sense objects. Chanting Hare Krishna mantra gets you out of the endless cycle of birth and death. It cleanses the heart of all illusions and misunderstandings which is very important as God dwells only in a pure heart. By chanting Hare Krishna, you become free from all anxieties and eventually feel happy as it brings you to self-realization-and shows you how to act as a self-realized soul. It is the main pillar to Krishna Consciousness as it gives you soul strength during the difficult situations of life, which is under the control of Maya (Illusionary Energy). In absence of Hare Krishna mahamantra, we get entangled into the Illusionary Energy of Maya and get stuck in the endless spiral of emotional, mental and physical problems thus filling our life with pain, sorrow, unhappiness and depression.
How is it different from other mantras?
When Krishna left the "material" world in Dwaparyug and Kaliyug started, all the mantras lost their true power. Only "Hare Krishna" mantra was stated as the most effective mantra, because it was especially for Kaliyug, where people are not so spiritually pure. People may be chanting other mantras. As per Bramha Samhita, 1 times "Krishna" = 3 times "Rama" =1000 names of Vishnu. Before any religious prayer is started, we chant Vishnu’s name for purification (Om Vishnu, Om Vishnu, Om Vishnu). Chaitanya Mahaprabhu made this secret mantra open to all and said anybody can chant it. The lowest among mankind, i.e even the chandalas can chant it, because earlier Brahmanas were only allowed.
The following vedic verses says,
"Harer nama harer nama
Harer namaiva kevalam
Kalau nasty eva nasty eva
Nasty eva gatir anyatha"
Which means - "In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way." So, "Hare Krishna" mahamantra has no substitute.
All other Vedic mantras are included in the chanting of Hare Krishna. So just by chanting this mantra, you get the benefit of all others. It purifies not only us but every living entity around you. Whoever hears the chanting gets spiritual benefit. It is the most effective means of self-realization in the present Age of Kali. Nothing else works nearly as well.
(Usha Nandwani)