Vedic / Shaastric / Scriptural References for Chanting / performing Sankritana Yagna of

Hare Krishna Mahaa-Mantra

1. etaavataalam agha-nirharanaaya pumsaam, sankirtanam bhagavato guna-karma-naamnaam
     vikrusya putram aghavaan yad ajaamilo 'pi, naaraayaneti mriyaamana iyaaya muktim

(Shrimad Bhaagavatam (SB) 6.3.24)
Therefore it should be understood that one is easily relieved from all sinful reactions by chanting the holy name of the Lord and chanting of His qualities and activities. This is the only process recommended for relief from sinful reactions. Even if one chants the holy name of the Lord with improper pronunciation, he will achieve relief from material bondage if he chants without offenses. Ajaamila, for example, was extremely sinful, but while dying he merely chanted the holy name, and although calling his son, he achieved complete liberation because he remembered the name of Narayana.

2. saayam praatar grnan bhaktyaa, duhkha-graamaad vimuchyate

(SB 1.3.29)
If one always chants the holy name of the Lord with great devotion in the evening and in the morning, one can become free from all material miseries.

3. anudinam idam aadarena shrnvan

(SB 4.23.39)
One can achieve liberation if one hears the holy name of the Lord constantly, every day with great respect.

4. tasmaat sankirtanam vishnor, jagan-mangalam amhasaam;   mahataam api kauravya, viddhy aikaantika-nishkrtam

(SB 6.3.31)
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of the sankirtana movement is the most auspicious activity in the entire universe. Please try to understand this so that others will take it seriously.

5. naamaaparaadha- yuktaanaam, naamaany eva haranty agham;   avishraanti- prayuktaani, taany evaartha-karaani cha

(Padma Puraan)
Even if in the beginning one chants the Hare Krsna mantra with offenses, one will become free from such offenses by chanting again and again.

6. jihvaa na vakti bhagavad guna-naamadheyam, chetas cha na smarati  tach-charanaar avindam
     krsnaaya no namati yach-chira ekadaapi, taan aanayadhvam asato 'krta-vishnu- krtyaan

(SB 6.3.29 – Yama-raaja instructs his servants)
My dear servants, please bring to me only those sinful persons who do not use their tongues to chant the holy names and qualities of Krishna, whose hearts do not remember the lotus feet of Krishna even once, and whose heads do not bow down even once before Lord Krishna. Send me those who do not perform their duties toward Vishnu, which are the only duties in human life. Please bring me all such fools and rascals.

7. krte yad dhyaayato visnum, tretaayaam yajato makhaih,   dvaapare paricharyaayaam, kalau tat hari-kirtanaat

(SB 12.3.52)
Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Visnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.

8. dhyaayan krte yajan yajnais, tretaayaam dvaapare 'rchayan,   yad aapnoti tad aapnoti, kalau sankirtya kesavam

(Vishnu Puraana (6.2.17), Padma Puraana (U.kh 72.25), Brhan-Naaradiya Puraana (38.97))
Whatever is achieved by meditation in Satya-yuga, by the performance of yajna in Treta-yuga or by the worship of Krsna's lotus feet in Dvapara-yuga is also obtained in the Age of Kali simply by chanting the glories (holy name) of Lord Kesava.

9. dvaapariyair janair visnuh, pancharaatrais tu kevalaih,   kalau tu naama-maatrena, pujyate bhagavaan harih

(Naaraayana-Samhitaa)
In Dvaapara-yuga, devotees of Lord Visnu and Krsna rendered devotional service according to the principles of pancha-raatrika. In this age of Kali, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped simply by the chanting of His holy names.

10. kaler dosa-nidhe raajann, asti hy eko mahaan gunah,   kirtanaad eva krsnasya, mukta-sangah param vrajet

(SB 12.3.51)
My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.

11. krsna krsneti krsneti, svapan jaagrad vrajamstatha,   yo jalpati kalau nityam, krsna-rupi bhaveddhi sah

(Varaaha Puraan)
Whoever continuously chants Lord Krsna's holy name, even in his sleep, can easily realise that the name is a direct manifestation of Krsna Himself, in spite of the influences of Kali-yuga. This has been ordained by Lord Krsna.

12. kali-kaala ku-sarpasya, tiksna-damstrasya maa bhayam,   govinda-naama-daanena, dagdho yasyati bhasmataam

(Skanda Puraan)
I see that Kali-yuga is like a black, poisonous snake with a gaping mouth and fangs. But please be unperturbed dear devotees and listen with faith. Once the holy name of the Lord is being chanted, it is like igniting a forest fire which will burn to ashes the poisonous snakes within the forest.

13. yagnaanaam japa-yagno 'smi

(Bhagavad Gita (BG) 10.25)
Of sacrifices I Am the chanting of the holy names – JAPA.

14. kali-kaale naama-rupe krsna-avataara,   naama haite haya sarva-jagat-nistaara

(Shri Chaitanya Charitaamrta (CC) Aadi Lilaa 17.22)
In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Krsna. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered.

15. tathaa chaivottamam loke, tapah shri-hari-kirtanam,   kalau yuge visesena, vishnuu-prityai samaacharet

 (Skanda Puraana)
In this way the most perfect penance to be executed in this world is the chanting of the name of Lord Sri Hari. Especially in the age of Kali, one can satisfy the Supreme Lord Vishnu by performing sankeertana.

16. etaavaan eva loke 'smin, pumsaam dharmah parah smrtah,   bhakti-yogo bhagavati, tan-naama-grahanaadibhih

(SB 6.3.22)
Devotional service, beginning with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is the ultimate religious principle for the living entity in human society.

17. kalim sabhaajayanty aaryaa, guna jnaah saara-bhaaginah,   yatra sankirtanenaiva, sarva-svaartho 'bhilabhyate

(SB 11.5.36)
Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the essential value of this age of Kali. Such enlightened persons worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age all perfection of life can easily be achieved by the performance of sankirtana.

18. naama-sankirtanam yasya, sarva-paapa pranaashanam,   pranaamo duhkha-samanas, tam namaami harim param

 (SB 12.13.23)
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering.

19. mahaabhaagavataa nityam, kalau smakirtaya kesavam

 (Skanda Puraana)
The hallmark of a mahabhagavata the most elevated devotee in Kali-yuga is that he chants the holy name of the Lord constantly.

20. varjams-tisthaan svapannaasnan, svaasan vaakya-prapurane,   naama-samkirtanam visnor-helaya kali-vardhanam,
       krtvaa svarupatam yati, bhakti-yuktam param vrajet

 (Linga Puraana)
In our normal activities of eating, sleeping, sitting, dreaming, etc. to chant Krsna's names, while nullify the ill effects of Kali-yuga, is the perfection of speech. Even if a person chants Krsna's names indifferently, he will surely achieve his svarupa, or original spiritual self and attain that state beyond all material fear and lamentation. He will reach Vaikuntha, the supreme goal.

21. cheto-darpana-maarjanam bhava-mahaa-daavaagni-nirvaapanam, sreyah-kairava-chandrikaa-vitaranam vidyaa-vadhu-jivanam, aanandaambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnaamrtaasvaadanam, sarvaatmaa-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam

 (Shri Chaitanya Charitaamrta (CC) Antya Lilaa 20.12)
Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Krsna, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Krsna expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.

22. naama chintaamanih krsnas, chaitanya-rasa-vigrahah,   purnah shuddho nitya-mukto, 'bhinnatvaan naama-naaminoh

(Shri Chaitanya Charitaamrta (CC) Madhya Lilaa 17.133)
The holy name of Krsna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krsna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krsna's name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krsna Himself. Since Krsna's name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krsna's name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krsna and Krsna Himself are identical.

23. kali-yuge yuga-dharma -- naamera prachaara,    tathi laagi' pita-varna chaitanyaavataara

 (Shri Chaitanya Charitaamrta (CC) Aadi Lilaa 3.40)
The religious practice for the Age of Kali is to broadcast the glories of the holy name. Only for this purpose has the Lord, in a yellow color, descended as Lord Caitanya.

24. tan naasti karmajam loka- vag-jam manasam eva vaa,    yan na kshapayete paapam kalau govinda-kirtanam

 (Skanda Puraana)
"It is impossible to commit such volumes of sinful activities in this age of Kali that cannot be eradicated by the chanting of the holy name of Govinda.

25. hari-naama para ye cha ghore kali-yuge narah, te eva krtakrtyas cha na kalir badhate hi tan
       hare kesava govinda vaasudeva jaganmaya, itirayanti ye nityam na hi tam badhate kalih

(Brhan-Naaradiya Puraana)
In this dark age of Kali-yuga, sincere devotees of the Supreme Lord should leave aside all other means for liberation and take full shelter of the holy name. This is their real responsibility and duty. There is unlimited bliss in chanting the different names of Krsna: Hari, Kesava, Govinda, Vaasudeva and Jaganmaya. For one who chants constantly with unflinching faith, he remains unaffected by the reverses of Kali-yuga, because his heart has become purified by chanting.

26. yathaa tathaa harer naama kirtayanti sma narakah,    tathaa tathaa harau bhaktim- uchvahanto udivam yayuh

(Nrsimha Puraana)
An abominable sinner a fit resident of hell, can easily become a devotee of the Lord by chanting Krsna's name. Thus he can enter into the highest spiritual abode of the Lord.

27. om a'sya jananto naama chid-vivaktan,    mahaste vishnoh sumatim bhajamahe om tat sat

(Rg Veda 1.56.3)
One who philosophically understands that the Lord's holy name and His potencies are the same can properly approach and worship the Supreme Lord with transcendental knowledge and choice prayers.

28. Harer naama Harer naama Harer naamaiva kevalam

      kalau naasty eva naasty eva naasty eva gatir anyathaa

(Brhan-Naaradiya Puraan)
For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali, 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.

29. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

     Hare Raama Hare Raama, Raama Raama Hare Hare

     iti sodasakam naamnaam, kali-kalmasa-naasanam

     naatah parataropaayah, sarva-vedesu drsyate

(Kali-Santarana Upanisad – Lord Brahmaa instructs Lord Naarada Muni)
After searching through all the Vedic literature one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krsna Mahaa-Mantra.

Please remember that these are only a few excerpts from the ocean of Vedic literatures. Many more evidences can be found in the holy book 'Prema Vivarta' – Ch. 20 The Glories of the Holy Name

Always Chant...

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare |
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma Hare Hare ||

...and be Happy

Importance of chanting-ULTIMATE