Answer
We should understand why the śāstra reveals the nature of the divine name. In this material world there are countless sounds, but among them is the transcendental sound—the holy name of the Lord. That source of everything is a person, Krishna. He has a name, and He is not different from His name.
When we chant that name, we are not merely producing a material vibration. We are associating with Him directly. He is present in His name. So when we chant with the proper attitude, we actually connect with Him. Then our consciousness—now limited by time, space, and bodily identification—begins to open and awaken.
As that awakening happens, we start perceiving that there is a reality beyond the material world. Our faith (śraddhā) deepens, and gradually it becomes realization. We begin to understand, experience, and eventually live in that consciousness continuously. That state is Krishna consciousness—being aware of the true nature of reality.
All of this becomes possible simply by coming in touch with Krishna through His holy name, because the name and the Lord are non-different. This is a great facility given especially to human beings: by chanting, we can directly associate with the Supreme and awaken our dormant consciousness.
This is a transcendental process. Just as a television, when properly connected, can receive signals from distant places through a system and method, similarly the śāstra describes a process—a vidhāna—by which we can connect to the transcendental reality, receive higher knowledge, and experience it.
That method is taking shelter of the holy name.
