Chanting Hare Krishna

Q. Do we need to chant some extra mantras with Hare Krishna?

A. No extra mantras for chanting are required. To say that we need extra mantras would be like saying that we have to visit other holy places in order to visit Vrindavan. No. Vrindavan is Supreme and self-effulgent. Simply by visiting Vrindavan, which is known as Tirtharaja, the King of all Holy Places, one automatically achieves the benefit of visiting all of the Holy Places. Similarly, by chanting Hare Krishna, which is known as Mahamantra, one achieves the benefit of chanting all other mantras.

However, there is one mantra recommended by Srila Prabhupada, the Panca Tattva Mantra, which we chant first before chanting Hare Krishna:

(Jaya) Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu Nityananda
Sri Advaita Gadadhara Srivasadi Gaura Bhakta Vrinda

The chanting of the above mantra could be compared to visiting Mayapur along with visiting Vrindavan. Mayapur and Vrindavan are actually non-different. It is also helpful, when you are authorized, to chant your Guru’s Pranam mantra. This invokes his special blessings to empower you in chanting of Hare Krishna.

If you are properly situated you should be able to enter into the profound condition of pure consciousness immediately. All you have to do is beg very intensely in the mood of a small child crying for her mother. With great intensity beg your Guru and Sri Krishna to bless you with a completely pure heart full of bhakti. Beg intensely as if your life depends upon it, because it factually does. It is a guarantee that if you do this you can enter into the mood of pure bhakti instantly in any time, place, or situation.

Do not fear natural devotional sentiments that may spontaneously arise while you chant. They are a special gift from Krishna. Narottam das Thakur prays,

gauranga’ bolite habe pulaka-sarira
‘hari hari’ bolite nayane ba’ be nira

“When will that opportune moment come to me when there will be shivering of the body as soon as I chant Lord Gauranga’s name? And after the shivering, while chanting Hare Krishna, when will there be tears pouring down from my eyes?”

Such sentiments, if they arise while chanting, are not at all material, are pure spiritual emotions