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Hare Krishna Mantra shown in original Sanskrit

Introduction

File:1Gouranga1.jpg

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^[1], 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^[2]:

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." ^[3]

Modern Day

File:6Singing2.jpg

Devotees singing the Hare Krishna mantra

"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:

Kali Santarana Upanishad

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.

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

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Image:Mahamantra.gif|thumb|200px|Hare Krishna Mantra in [[Devanagari]].]]
+[[Image:Mahamantra.gif|thumb|200px|Hare Krishna Mantra shown in original Sanskrit]]
-The '''Hare Krishna''' [[mantra]], also referred to as '''Maha Mantra''' ("Great Mantra") is a sixteen word [[Vaishnava]] mantra, popularized by the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]].
 == Introduction ==
@@ Line 7: / Line 5: @@
 [[Image:1Gouranga1.jpg|thumb|200px|Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu -- copyright 2005 [[Bhaktivedanta Book Trust|BBTI]]]]
-The words "Hare Krishna" are part of a [[mantra]] comprising [[Sanskrit]] names of [[God]] ([[Vishnu]]) in the [[vocative]] case of ''[[Hari]]'' ("golden one"),  ''[[Krishna]]'' and ''[[Rama]]'' (both translating to "dark coloured one"), two [[avatar]]s of Vishnu. According to  Prabhupada, ''Krishna'' and ''Rama'' refer to God himself, while  ''Hari'' refers to "the energy of God"{{ref|ref-1}}
+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{{ref|ref-1}}, 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 are{{ref|ref-mantra}} (in [[IAST]]):
+The words of the 'Maha' Mantra, or 'Great' Mantra are{{ref|ref-mantra}}:
-:''{{IAST|hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa}}''
-:''{{IAST|kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare}}''
-:''{{IAST|hare rāma hare rāma}}''
-:''{{IAST|rāma rāma hare hare}}''
+'''HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA'''
-== History ==
-The mantra is first attested in the ''[[kalisaṇṭāraṇopaniṣad]]'', a [[Viashnava]] [[Upanishad]] associated with the [[Black Yajurveda]], where the two halves of the mantra appear in inverse order, viz. ''hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare / hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare'' (of course, if repetitions of the mantras are run together, the outcome will be identical). It was popularized by  [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] roughly around [[1500]] CE.  The reason given for Caitanya inversion of the mantra is that he  wanted to spread it to all the fallen souls of the current  [[Kali Yuga]], regardless of qualification. Since there were injunctions that the [[Vedic]] mantras (including those in Upanishads) are not to be chanted publicly or by members of the lower [[caste]]s, Caitanya reversed the two halves so as not to offend the orthodox [[Brahmins]]. It is said to be equally potent either way and this way it could be freely distributed and chanted in public.
+'''KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE'''
-Following Caitanya, the mantra is referenced throughout  [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]] literature, for example  in the  [[Gaudiya Kanthahara]] by [[Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura]] (17:30-40). It has become increasingly popular since the [[1960s]] through the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] founded by  [[A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada]], under the order of Bhaktisiddhanta, his [[guru]], to bring the teachings from India and to single-handedly spread them around the world.
+'''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 ==
@@ Line 26: / Line 29: @@
 : "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." {{ref|ref-2}}
-== "Hare Krishna" devotees ==
+== Modern Day ==
 [[Image:6Singing2.jpg|thumb|350px|Devotees singing the Hare Krishna mantra]]
 "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 [[sari|saris]], and selling [[Bhagavad Gita As It Is|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 ==
-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.
+For the full Content of Kali Santarana Upanishad including the Maha-Mantra see this following link:
+* [http://www.celextel.org/ebooks/upanishads/kali_santarana_upanishad.htm Kali Santarana Upanishad]
+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 [[caste]]s', 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 Vaisnava]]s 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 ==
-# {{note|ref-1}} "The word Hara [sic] 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 [http://www.krishna.com/main.php?id=316 ''Krishna.com''] article.
+# {{note|ref-1}} "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 [http://www.krishna.com/main.php?id=316 ''Krishna.com''] article.
-# {{note|ref-mantra}} See [http://www.religioustolerance.org/hare.htm ''Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance''] for more information regarding ISKCON teachings about the Maha Mantra.
+# {{note|ref-mantra}} See [http://www.religioustolerance.org/hare.htm ''Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance''] for more informatting reguarding the formatting of the Maha Mantra.
 # {{note|ref-2}} For the original text, see this [http://www.krishna.com/main.php?id=316 ''Krishna.com''] article.
@@ Line 64: / Line 98: @@
 * [http://www.psena.com/ ISKCON youth]
 * [http://veda.harekrsna.cz VEDA - Vedic Knowledge Online]
+* [http://www.bharatavarsa.net/ Global image Gallery]
 {{Hinduism}}