Hare Krishna Mahamantra — Word-by-Word Meaning

हरे कृष्ण महामंत्र

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

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Word-by-Word Breakdown

हरे

Hare

The Lord's divine energy (Shakti) that delights in his service — vocative of Hara

कृष्ण

Krishna

The all-attractive supreme consciousness — the supreme personality of Godhead

राम

Rama

The source of all pleasure and joy — the reservoir of all transcendental bliss

Complete Translation

O Hare (divine energy), O Krishna (supreme consciousness), O Rama (supreme joy) — please engage me in your service.

Origin & History

Source: Kali-Santarana Upanishad

Author: Revealed to Brahma by Narayana

Period: Ancient (specific date debated)

The Hare Krishna Mahamantra appears in the Kali-Santarana Upanishad, where Brahma reveals it to sage Narada as the supreme method of liberation in the age of Kali. Narada asks: "What is the remedy for the evils of Kali Yuga?" Brahma answers: "The sixteen names — Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare — these 16 names destroy all the evil effects of Kali Yuga. No better means exists in all the Vedas." Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 CE) later popularized the public chanting of this mantra across India.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hare Krishna Mahamantra mean?▼

The three names invoke three aspects of the divine: Hare = the Lord's divine energy (Shakti) that delights in his service; Krishna = the all-attractive supreme consciousness; Rama = the source of all pleasure and joy. Together they form a prayerful appeal: "O divine energy, O Krishna, O Rama — please engage me in your loving service." It is less a request for material benefit and more a prayer for connection with the divine.

How many times should I chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra?▼

The Vaishnava tradition recommends 16 rounds of 108 repetitions daily — a total of 1,728 repetitions. This takes 1.5-2 hours. For beginners, starting with 1-4 rounds and gradually increasing is the recommended approach. Even one sincere round daily is transformative over time.

Is the Hare Krishna Mahamantra the same as the Hare Rama Mantra?▼

Yes. The Hare Krishna Mahamantra and Hare Rama Mahamantra refer to the same 16-word mantra, just emphasising different names within it. The full mantra contains both Krishna and Rama.

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