It cleans the mirror of the mind;
It extinguishes the blazing conflagration of material life;
It spreads the moon rays that make
the white lotus of auspiciousness bloom;
It is the life of spiritual knowledge;
It increases the ocean of divine ecstasy
and at every moment gives a full taste of ambrosia,
bathing the entire soul."
[Sikshastakam (1) by Sri Krsna Caitanya,
translation by Jan Brzeziński (Jagadananda Das Pandit)]
Each and every day, a lot of followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu chant on the japa-mala (beads) the fixed in number of mukhya-mantra or maha-mantra composed of God’s names Hare, Krishna and Rama, which are dancing within the vibration: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
What does it mean? There are plenty of useful explanations of this mantra given by saints like Bhaktivinode Thakur and many else, but till we only read or listen about mantra, we won’t attain its meaning actually. Very prescribed to practice it is comprehension, that God and his names are non-different, because God is within his names directly with his quality, form and acting.
Is any initiation required to successfully chant these holy names? No, it isn't. Caitanya Mahaprabhu quoting Rupa Gosvami taught, that the holy name doesn’t depend on pious activities or initiation with its regulative principles. The holy name doesn’t wait for all these things, because it is self-sufficient [see: Padyavali (29) by Sri Rupa Gosvami or Sri Caitanya-caritamrta: Madhya-lila (15.109-111) by Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami].
The holy name is within every heart. No one can neither give nor take away someone the holy name. The holy name is ours from the outset and belongs to each as any belongs to the holy name forever.
I believe that God has many names. Remembering them helps me to remember him
in essence among an external being around. Some say - always remember God and never forget him.