Hare Krishna

The words "Hare Krishna" are part of a mantra comprised of Sanskrit names of God in the vocative case. This mantra is from an ancient text called the Kali Santaran Upanishad. The word 'Hare' refers to the energy of the Lord, and the words 'Krishna' and 'Rama' refer to the Lord Himself. The Maha-mantra has been well known in India ever since 500 years ago when a person known as 'Caitanya Mahaprabhu' (also known as Gouranga) spread it publically around the country

Related Topics:
Mantra - Sanskrit - God - Vocative - Upanishad - Hare - Krishna - Rama - Caitanya Mahaprabhu - Gouranga

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The 'maha', or great, mantra is as follows:

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HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA

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KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

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HARE RAMA HARE RAMA

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RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

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The practice of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra has existed for many thousands of years, especially within India. It has become increasing popular around the world 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 Western world.

Related Topics:
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

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Srila Prabhupada describes the process of chanting the Maha-Mantra as follows:

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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.

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For many Westerners, "Hare Krishna" brings to mind 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 such as Bhagavad Gita As It Is. 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.

Related Topics:
1960s - 1970s - Dhotis - Saris - Bhagavad Gita As It Is - International Society for Krishna Consciousness - ISKCON - A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - Vaishnava - India - Gaudiya Math - Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mission

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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.

Related Topics:
Bhakti - Yoga - Gaudiya Vaishnavas - Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

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