*Q. Why to chant Hare Krishna?*

*1. Brihadnāradiya Purān*

हरेर्नाम हरेर्नाम हरेर्नामैव केवलं। कलौ नास्त्यैव नास्त्यैव नास्त्यैव गतिरन्यथा।।

Translation: Harinām, Harinām, Harinām is the ONLY and foremost means to achieve emancipation. There is no other way, no other way, no other way in this age of Kali.

*2. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.17.22*

कलि काले नाम रूपे कृष्ण अवतार। नाम हइते हय सर्व जगत निस्तार।।

Translation: In this age of Kali, Krishna has incarcerated in form of his holy name, the Hare Krishna mahamantra. It is only by his holy can the entire universe be delivered.

*3. Kali-Santarana Upanishad of Yajur Veda*

(Lord Brahma is answering to Narada's question)

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे। हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे।। इति षोडषकं नाम्नाम् कलि कल्मष नाशनं। नात: परतरोपाय: सर्व वेदेषु दृश्यते।।

Translation: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare. This sixteen named mantra can counteract the evil effects of Kali. No better means is seen in the entire Vedas than it.

*4. Ananta Samhita of Atharva Veda*

षोडषैतानि नामानि द्वत्रिन्षद्वर्णकानि हि। कलौयुगे महामंत्र: सम्मतो जीव तारिणे।।

Translation: Consisting of sixteen names & of thirty-two varnas(alphabets), the maha-mantra(Hare Krishna maha-mantra) is the only means of deliverance for all living entities in Kali-yuga.

*5. Chaitanya Upanishad of Atharva Veda*

स: ऐव मूलमन्त्रं जपति हरेर इति कृष्ण इति राम इति।

Translation: He(Lord Chaitanya) constantly chants the prime mantra, consisting of 'Hare' followed by 'Krishna' & then 'Rama'.

*6. Sri Vishnu Dharmottara Puran*

जपतो हरिनामानिस्थानेशतगुणाधिक:। आत्मानञ्चपुनात्युच्चैर्जपन्श्रोतृन्पुनातपच॥

Translation: Chanting of Hari-nama loudly is hundred times better than Japa. By Japa one purifies oneself, while by loud chanting one purifies the self & the hearers.

*7. Padma Purān*

द्वत्रिन्षदक्षरं मन्त्रं नाम षोडषकान्वितं। प्रजपन् वैष्णवो नित्यं राधाकृष्ण स्थलं लभेत्।।

Translation: Vaishnavas who daily chant the thirty-two lettered maha-mantra consisting of the sixteen holy names, easily attain to the abode of Radha-Krishna.

*8. Padma Purān*

नाम: चिंतामणि कृष्णश्चैतन्य रस विग्रह:। पूर्ण शुद्धो नित्यमुक्तो भिन्नत्वं नाम नामिनो:।।

Translation: The holy name of Krishna is like Chintamani & embodiment of transcendental bliss. It is completely pure & eternal. There is no difference between Krishna & his holy name.

*9. Lord Shiva is saying to Mother Parvati*

श्रीराम राम रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे। सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं राम नाम वरानने॥

Translation: By meditating on 'Rama Rama Rama', my mind gets absorbed in the divine consciousness of Rama. These(3 names of) Rama is equal to the thousand names of Vishnu(Vishnu Sahasranama) in comparison.

*10. Brahmanda Puran*

सहस्त्र नाम्नां पुण्यानां त्रिरा-वृत्त्या तु यत-फलम्। एकावृत्त्या तु कृष्णस्य नामैकम तत प्रयच्छति॥

Translation: The pious result obtained by reciting three thousand names of Lord Vishnu(3 times recitation of Vishnu Sahasranam) can be obtained by chanting only once the holy name of Lord Krishna.

*11. Hari-Vamsha Puran*

वेदेरामायणेचैवपुराणेभारतेतथा। आदावन्तेचमध्येचहरि: सर्वत्र गीयते॥

Translation: In Vedas, Ramayan, Puranas & Mahabharata as well as in the beginning, end or middle of these; Everywhere Lord Hari has been glorified.