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Introduction
The words "Hare Krishna" are part of a mantra comprising Sanskrit names of God in the vocative case. This mantra is from an ancient text called the Kali Santarana Upanishad. The word Hare refers to the energy of the Lord, and the words Krishna and Rama refer to the Lord Himself. Although of ancient origins the Maha-mantra, as it is often called, has become particularly well known in India ever since 500 years ago when Caitanya Mahaprabhu (also known as Gouranga) began a mission to spread it publically to 'every town and village' in the world.
The words of the 'Maha' Mantra, or 'Great' Mantra are:
HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE
HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE
The individual names are pronounced as 'Ha-ray', 'Krish-na' and 'Rar-m' respectively. The mantra is repeated, either out-loud (kirtan), softly to oneself (japa), or internally within the mind.
History
The practice of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra has existed for many thousands of years, especially within India. It has become increasing popular since the 1960's when an elderly monk known as A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, on the order of his guru (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura) brought the teachings from India and single-handedly took the responsibility of spreading them around the world.
Chanting the Maha Mantra
Srila Prabhupada describes the process of chanting the Maha Mantra as follows:
- "Krishna consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind; this consciousness is the original energy of the living entity. When we hear the transcendental vibration, this consciousness is revived ...... This chanting of 'Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare' is directly enacted from the spiritual platform, and thus this sound vibration surpasses all lower strata of consciousness - namely sensual, mental, and intellectual ...... As such anyone can take part in the chanting without any previous qualification."
Modern Day
"Hare Krishna" brings to mind, to many, the famous Hare Krishna devotees, who first hit the streets of Western cities in the 1960s and 1970s, dancing and chanting with drums and cymbals, wearing saffron dhotis or saris, and selling books. These devotees were members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. ISKCON was the first organised Vaishnava group to make a large impression outside of India, now a number of such Vaishnava groups are actively preaching within the Western world such as surviving offshoots of the Gaudiya Math and The Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mission.
Classification
From a scholarly perspective Hare Krishna devotees are classified as practitioners of Bhakti Yoga. They are also referred to as Gaudiya Vaishnavas, because they follow a line of gurus descending from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who appeared in Bengal (Gauda is an old name of Bengal). Vaishnavism comes under the general banner of being a Hindu religion.
Kali Santarana Upanishad
For the full Content of Kali Santarana Upanishad including the Maha-Mantra see this following link:
The mantra as originally written/spoken was 'reversed' by Caitanya Mahaprabhu 500 years ago so that the 'Hare Krishna' lines are said before 'Hare Rama'. The reason for this was that Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to spread this maha-mantra to all the fallen souls of this current age (Kali Yuga), regardless of qualification. Now, technically, there are Vedic injunctions that the Vedic mantras (such as this mantra of the Kali Santarana Upanishad) are not to be publically chanted, and they are never to be chanted by so-called 'lower castes', etc. In order to solve the problem, while keeping within the context of the Vedas and thus not offending the 'orthodox' Brahmins, Mahaprabhu reversed the two halves. It is said to be equally potent either way and this way it could be freely distributed, chanted in public, etc.
Other Scriptural References
The practice of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is recomended throughout the Vedic literature, for example:
Agni Purana
"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."
Stava-mala-vidybhusana-bhasya
"When the sixteen names and thirty-two syllables of the Hare Krishna mantra are loudly vibrated, Krishna dances on one's tongue"
Baladeva Vidyabusanain Bhaktisiddhanta's Gaudiya Kanthahara 17:30
Ananta Samhita
"This sixteen-name, thirty-two syllable mantra is the Maha-mantra in the age of Kali by which all living beings can be delivered. One should never abandon chanting this mahamantra."
"About this divinely spiritual Maha-mantra, which delivers one from material existence, the original guru, Lord Brahma, has said 'The srutis have declared this mantra to be the best means of deliverance in the age of Kali'. Having all heard this from Brahma, the sons and disciples of Brahma, beginning with Narada, all accepted the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and, having meditated on it, attained perfection."
Ananta-samhita is a Pancharatra agama, part of the pancaratra corpus known collectively among Gaudiya Vaisnavas as the Narada Pancaratra.
Padma Purana
"All the grievous sins of one who worships Lord Sri Hari, the Lord of all lords, and chants the holy name, the Maha-mantra, are removed."
Svarga Khanda 50.6
Hippie Culture
In the 1970s, Hare Krishnas became understandably confused with the hippie subculture. The 1971 Hindi film "HARE RAMA, HARE KRISHNA", written and directed by Dev Anand, was shot with many real-life hippie extras. To this very day, as a result of this movie classic, young Western travelers are greeted with mocking renditions of the film’s hit title song, “Hare Krishna, Hare Ram” but which is more generally known by its opening line, “Dum maro dum, ...... Take another toke!”
In reality most serious 'Hare Krishna' practitioners live according to very strict rules. For example it is expected that initiates take vows to abstain from all forms of drugs & intoxication (including caffeine); avoid eating any meat, fish or eggs; not to engage in gambling; and also not to indulge in any sexual relations except for purposes of procreation within marriage. For non-initiates it is left to the individuals personal discretion as to how many of these rules they are sensibly able to follow, but these four 'Regulative Principles' remain as the agreed standard to aim towards.
Notes
- "The word Hara is a form of addressing the energy of the Lord, and the words Krishna and Rama (which mean "the highest pleasure eternal") are forms of addressing the Lord Himself." - A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. See Krishna.com article.
- See Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance for more informatting reguarding the formatting of the Maha Mantra.
- For the original text, see this Krishna.com article.
See also
- International Society for Krishna Consciousness
- Gaudiya Math
- Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mission
- kalisaṇṭāraṇopaniṣad
External links
- Srila Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaj website
- Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhar Maharaj website
- World Vaishnava Association
- Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti
- Bhaktivedanta Memorial Library (lectures & essay database by various Gaudiya Vaishnava Theologians)
ISKCON
- krishna.com All About Krishna
- Hear the Hare Krishna Mantra
- ISKCON website
- ISKCON youth
- VEDA - Vedic Knowledge Online
- Global image Gallery
