References: CC Adi Chapter 1
Mantra
The meaning of the word mantra is described in the Śabda-Kalpa-Druma dictionary:
manana trayate yasmat tasman mantra prakirtitah
"Because it delivers through meditation, it is called a mantra."
🙏 Hare Krishna Maha Mantra
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma Hare Hare
The Great Song of Deliverance
Ananta Saṁhitā
ṣoḍaśaitāni nāmāni dvātriṁśad varṇakāni hi
kalau yuge mahā-mantraḥ sammato jīvatāraṇe
"A mantra consisting of 16 words and 32 syllables is the Maha-mantra of the Kali age, for it is fully capable of delivering all conditioned souls."
Upanishads on the Maha-mantra
📜 Kali-santarana Upanishad
iti ṣoḍaśakaṁ nāmnāṁ kali-kalmaṣa-nāśanam
nātaḥ parataropāyaḥ sarva-vedeṣu dṛśyate
"The sixteen names of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra destroy everything inauspicious in the age of Kali. This is the conclusion of all the Vedas."
Word Meanings
HARE
Krishna's internal energy, Radharani, connecting us to Krishna through bonds of love and service. We address Her first, like a mother.
KRISHNA
All-attractive. The root "kṛṣ" indicates the supreme attractiveness of the Lord, while the suffix "ṇa" means His supreme pleasure.
RAMA
The giver of supreme pleasure. Ramate – to enjoy. Rāmā – the Lord's pleasure energy.
🙏 Srila Prabhupāda's Explanation
"When we chant the Hare Krishna mantra, we are asking: "O Lord Krishna, O energy of Krishna, please, be kind, engage me in Your devotional service.""
The Power of the Holy Name
Siksastaka
nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis
tatrārpitā niyamitah smarane na kālah
etādŗśī tava kŗpā bhagavan mamāpi
durdaivam īdŗšam ihājani nānurāgah
"My Lord, Your holy name bestows all good fortune upon the living entity, and therefore You have many names. You have invested all Your powers in these names, and therefore there are no hard and fast rules for remembering them."
— Chaitanya Mahāprabhu
Cintamani
The holy name of Krishna is cintamani – it fulfills all one's desires. For devotees, it bestows love for Krishna.
Non-different from Krishna
Krishna is non-different from His name and form. The name of Krishna contains within itself all 64 qualities of Krishna.
Types of Names
Primary Names
Describe Krishna's transcendental pastimes:
Krishna, Govinda, Gopala, Rama, Nandanandana, Radha-natha, Madana-Mohana, Madhava, Gopinatha
Secondary Names
Are related to this world:
Paramatma, Jagad-pati, etc.
Methods of Chanting
Sankirtana
Collective Chanting
Authoritative scriptures state that the Maha-mantra is especially powerful when chanted in sankirtana. One who chants loudly is a hundred times superior to one who chants silently.
Japa
Quiet Recitation
Traditionally, Srila Prabhupāda taught the use of japa-mala with 108 beads. Japa is discussed in detail in the 17th chapter of Hari-bhakti-vilasa.
Śri Nāradīya
japato hari-nāmāni sthāna-śata-guṇādhikaḥ
ātmānaṁ ca punāty uccair japan śrotṝn-punāti ca
"When one chants loudly, he also benefits and purifies those who hear him: animals, insects, birds, trees, and plants."
"Rama's name is laddu, Krishna's name is ghi, and Hari's name is sweet rice. Mix them together and drink!"
Agni Purana
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
ratanti halaya vapi te kṛtartha na samśayaḥ
"Anyone who chants this mantra even carelessly will achieve the highest goal of life."
Brahma Yamala (Lord Shiva Declares)
"In the age of Kali, there is no easier way to remove sins than harinama... Everyone should chant and perform sankirtana of the Sri Krishna maha mantra, which destroys all sins."
Mahamantra Vyakhya (Explanations)
1. Divine Qualities
harati tri-vidham tapam...
The Lord is known as Hari because He takes away the three kinds of suffering. Krishna means supreme pleasure, and Rama means that yogis derive pleasure in the Supreme Soul.
2. Madhurya (Confidential Qualities)
vijnapya bhagavat-tattvam...
Hari removes ignorance. Hare (Radha) "steals" Krishna's mind. Krishna is Nanda-nandana (son of Nanda), who gives joy to Gokula. Rama means the personification of loving pastimes.
3. Yugala (Divine Couple)
mano harati krsnasya...
Radha is called Hara because She is the personification of Krishna's pleasure. Krishna is so called because He "robbed" the women of Vraja (gopis) by playing His flute.
Japa Mantras (For Beads)
When taking the beads:
avighnam kuru male tvam...
"O Mala, please destroy any inauspiciousness in my chanting. Grant me the position of service to Radha and Krishna."
Offering the beads (Nama-mala-samarpana):
nama-yajno mahayajnah...
"The sacrifice of the name is the highest yajna. In order to please Lord Chaitanya, I offer this sacrifice."
Srila Prabhupāda's Instruction:
Rolling the beads between the fingers while chanting "Hare Krishna...", then holding the beads still between the thumb and middle finger while chanting "Hare Rama...". This helps concentration.
Questions
Self-Check Questions
- Explain the basic meaning of each word in the Maha-mantra.
- Why is it necessary to chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra?
- In which scriptures is the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra mentioned?
- Quote the translation of the Maha-mantra given by Srila Prabhupāda.