Philosophy: why the Hare Krishna mantra is topmost?

Are benefits of chanting real benefits or by-products?

...the Hare Krishna mantra is called the " maha-mantra " or great mantra,all Vedic mantras are contained within the Hare Krishna mantra,this is the prescribed method for salvation in the Kali-yuga.In other ages sacrifices of unimaginable magnitude had to be preformed by the most powerfull of brahmins,this is not possible today.

One could say that it is not that the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is the topmost, but it is the mood and meaning of the mantra that is the topmost. It is a prayer requesting pure unmotivated loving devotional service of the Lord and His associates free from any tinge of desire for personal wellbeing and benefit, and that this is the topmost prayer. Religious processes change according to time, place and circumstance, but the attitude and mood as found in the meaning of the maha-mantra prayer is the one mood is that is good for all times, places, circumstances, countries, yugas and religions.

rasa108:Sorry deena but this is not correct...because Krsna is non-different from His Holy names (contained in the Hare Krsna maha mantra) He is present there -

Thanks Rasa for mentioning this this is a fundamental point of the philosophy. I still stick by my point though, that anyone who prays with the same pure mood of unalloyed devotion as exemplified in the maha-mantra, even though they may not say the words hare, krsna or rama, can still get the same benefit. Otherwise what is the meaning of Krishna being called Bhava-grahi Janardana?

There are other mantras depending to the line you are in radha krishna mantra is for example given to many perfect siddhas in our line (line of Jahnavi Mata). However according to our philosophy ANY name of Krishna can give topmost perfection, but mantra should be received in parampara, that is the key. ys

Krishna is only attainable through the maha mantra? Better say that is the method given to us by our spiritual master and is the best for us.
Krishna is in all his Holy Names.
Not that we equal our age and circumstances with a fundamentalist "whole world" "all ages" view. Of course feels better to feel special, but other devotees attained Krishna by other means and mantras and they are not less or different.

Srutis and Smritis about the Hare Krishna maha-mantra preached by Lord Chaitanya

kali-santarana upanishadi

(1) hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare;
hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare.

(2) iti shodasakam namnam, kali-kalmasha-nasanam;
natah parataropayah, sarva-vedeshu drisyate.

In the Kali-santarana Upanishad (5-6), it is stated:

“The sixteen words-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-are especially meant for counteracting the contaminations of Kali. To save oneself from the contamination of Kali, there is no alternative in all the Vedas except the chanting of these sixteen words.”

(3) iti shodasa kalasya jivasyavarana vinasanam;
tatah prakasate para brahma medhapaye ravi rasmi mandali veti

“This maha-mantra consisting of sixteen names of Krishna is the destroyer of the (16-layered) illusory covering of all the living entities. Only when the coverings are destroyed, Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear in the heart of the living entities, just like the sun appears with full intensity when the clouds are removed.”

Here is some more

In the Agni Purana, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra as preached by Lord Chaitanya is mentioned:

“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare: Whoever chants this mantra, even neglectfully, will attain the supreme goal of life. Of this there is no doubt.”

padma-purane-svarga-khande (50.6)

harir eva samaradhyah, sarva deve suresvarah;
hari naam maha-mantrair, nasyat papa pisacakam.

In the Padma Purana, Svarga Khanda (50.6), the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is mentioned:

“All the grievous sins of one who one-pointedly worships Lord Sri Hari, the Lord of all
the demigods and devotees, and chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, are removed.”

narada-pancaratre

trayo vedah shad-angani chandamsi vividhah surah
sarvam ashtaksharantah-stham yac canyad api van-mayam
sarva-vedanta-sararthah samsararnava-taranah

The Narada-pancaratra also praises the Hare Krishna maha-mantra as follows:

“The essence of all Vedic knowledge-comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity [karma-kanda, jnana-kanda and upasana-kanda], the chandas, or Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods-is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience.” (Translation by Srila Prabhupada)

vayu purane

kalau nashta-drisam esha, mat-padyarka udeshyati.

In the Vayu Purana, the maha-mantra is described:

“‘For they who have become blinded by the influence of Kali-yuga, a verse with My holy names will rise like a glorious sun. This verse is:

hare krishna, hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare;
hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare.

“‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare;
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

sakrid dvis trir yatha-sakti, yavaj jivam athapi va;
vyaharan svapaco ’pi syan, mama bhakto na samsayah.

“‘Everyone should chant this maha-mantra again and again, either once, twice, thrice or as many times as possible during the day & night, for as long as one lives. By chanting this mantra even the most sinful person who was a dogeater will immediately become My devotee. Of this there is no doubt.’”

ananta-samhitayam

hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare;
hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare.

In the Ananta-samhita, it is mentioned:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare;
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

shodasaitani naamni, dvatrimsad varnakani hi;
kalau yuge maha-mantrah, sammato jivatarane.

This mantra comprising of sixteen words or thirty-two syllables is known as the maha-mantra in Kali-yuga and is only powerful means through which the living entities can be delivered in Kali-yuga.

varjayitva tu naamitad, durjanaih parikalpitam;
chandobaddham susiddhanta, viruddham nabhyaset padam.

One should never neglect or give up the chanting of this maha-mantra and take to other so-called purificatory processes which are invented by fools and miscreants. One should not engage even in chanting other metrical compostions of the names of God that are against the pure conclusions of the scriptures.

tarakam brahma-namaitad, brahmana gurunadina;
kalisantaranadyasu sruti-svadhigatam hareh.

Lord Brahma and other highly advanced spiritual masters have called this maha-mantra as ‘taraka-brahma-nama’ which means this transcendental mantra is the deliverer of one and all.
This mantra has been glorified in srutis like the Kali-santarana Upanishad and also by Lord Hari Himself.

praptam sri brahma-sishyena, sri naradena dhimata;
namaitad-uttamam srauta-paramparyena brahmanah.

After receiving through aural reception, this topmost of all mantras from their father Lord Brahma, Sri Narada and Brahma’s other sons & disciples chanted it, achieved perfection and taught it to their own disciples in the parampara system.

utshrjyaitan-maha-mantram, ye tvanyat kalpitam padam;
mahanameti gayanti, te sastra-guru langhanah.

Here is some more

brihan-naradiya purane

harer naam harer naam, harer naamiva kevalam;
kalau nasty eva nasty eva, nasty eva gatir anyatha.

In the Brihan-naradiya Purana (38.126), it is very emphatically stated:

“For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali which is full of quarrel and hypocrisy, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative to the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord.”

srimad-bhagavata-mahapurane

(1) krishna-varnam tvishakrishnam, sangopangastra-parshadam;
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair, yajanti hi su-medhasah.

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32) Karabhajana Muni speaks to Videharaja Nimi:

“In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting (of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra) to worship the incarnation of Godhead (Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu), who constantly sings the name of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish (but is like molten gold), He is Krsna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons, and confidential companions.”

(2) kaler dosha-nidhe rajann, asti hy eko mahan gunah;
kirtanad eva krishnasya, mukta-bandhah param vrajet.

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.3.51) it is said:

“My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.”

(3) krite yad dhyayato vishnum, tretayam yajato makhaih;
dvapare paricaryayam, kalau tad dhari-kirtanat.

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.3.52) it is said:

“Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Vishnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet can also be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.”

(4) kalim sabhajayanty arya, guna-jnah sara-bhaginah;
yatra sankirtanenaiva, sarva-svartho ’bhilabhyate.

padma purana

dhyayan krite yajan yajnais, tretayam dvapare ’rcayan;
yad apnoti tad apnoti, kalau sankirtya kesavam.

In the Padma Purana (Uttara-khanda 72.25), it is said:

“Whatever is achieved by meditation in Satya-yuga, by the performance of yajna in Treta-yuga or by the worship of Krishna’s lotus feet in Dvapara-yuga is also obtained in the Age of Kali simply by chanting the glories of Lord Kesava.”

narayana-samhitayam

dvapariyair janair vishnuh, pancaratrais tu kevalaih;
kalau tu naam-matrena, pujyate bhagavan harih.

In the Narayana Samhita, it is said:

“In Dvapara-yuga one could satisfy Krishna or Vishnu only by worshiping Him gorgeously according to the pancaratriki system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting the holy name.”

kali-santarana upanishadi

hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare;
hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare.

iti shodasakam namnam, kali-kalmasha-nasanam;
natah parataropayah, sarva-vedeshu drisyate.

In the Kali-santarana Upanishad it is stated:

“The sixteen words-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-are especially meant for counteracting the contaminations of Kali. To save oneself from the contamination of Kali, there is no alternative in all the Vedas except the chanting of these sixteen words.”