The Hare Krishnamantra, also referred to reverentially as the Maha Mantra ("Great Mantra"), is a sixteen-word Vaishnava mantra made well known outside of India by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (commonly known as 'the Hare Krishnas').[1] It appears within many traditions of Hinduism and is believed by practitioners to bring about a higher state of consciousness when heard, spoken, meditated upon, or sung out loud.[2] According to Gaudiya Vaishnava theology, this higher consciousness ultimately takes the form of pure love of God (Krishna).[3]
The mantra
The Hare Krishna mantra is composed of Sanskrit names in the vocative case: Hare, Krishna, and Rama (in Anglicized spelling, the IAST of the three vocatives is hare, kṛṣṇa and rāma; roughly pronounced IPA: ['hɐre:], ['kɹ̩ʂɳɐ], ['ra:mɐ], see Sanskrit for pronunciation details):
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Rama and Krishna both appear as names of Vishnu in the Vishnu sahasranama and refer primarily to the 7th and 8th Maha Avataras of Vishnu[4]. "Hare" can be interpreted as either the vocative of Hari, another name of Vishnu meaning "he who removes illusion", or as the vocative of Harā[5], a name of Rādhā, Krishna's eternal consort or Shakti. According to A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Harā refers to "the energy of God" while Krishna and Rama refer to God himself, meaning "He who is All-Attractive" and "He who is the Source of All Pleasure".[6] Rama can also refer to Radha-Raman, another name of Krishna meaning beloved of Radha[7], or as a shortened form of Balarama, Krishna's first expansion.[8]
The mantra is repeated, either out loud (kirtan), softly to oneself (japa), or internally within the mind. 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." [9]
History
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534)
The Hare Krishna Tree in Tompkins Square Park under which Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada began the first recorded public chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra outside of India.[10]
"Hearken to that which all Shrutis (the Vedas) keep secret and hidden, through which one may cross the Samsara (mundane existence) of Kali. He shakes off (the evil effects of) Kali through the mere uttering of the name of Lord Narayana, who is the primeval Purusha".
Narada asks to be told this name of Narayana, and Brahma replies
"Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare; These sixteen names are destructive of the evil effects of Kali. No better means than this is to be seen in all the Vedas."
The mantra was popularized by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu roughly around 1500 CE when he began his mission to spread this mantra publicly to 'every town and village' in the world, travelling throughout India, and especially within the areas of Bengal and Orissa[11]. Some versions of the Kali Santarana Upanishad give the mantra with Hare Rama preceding Hare Krishna, and others with Hare Krishna preceding Hare Rama (as quoted above). The latter format is by far the more common within the Vaishnava traditions, within which it is a common belief that the mantra is equally potent when spoken in either order.[12]
In the 1960's an elderly monk known as A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, on the order of his guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, brought the teachings of Sri Chaitanya from India and single-handedly took the responsibility of spreading them around the Western world. Beginning in New York, he encircled the globe fourteen times in the final eleven years of his life, thus making 'Hare Krishna' a well-known phrase in many parts of the world.[13]
The "Hare Krishna" movement
A Gaudiya Vaishnava (Hare Krishna) temple at Tirupathi
From a theological 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.[15]
Most serious 'Hare Krishna' practitioners live according to strict rules. For example, initiates take vows to abstain from all forms of recreational drugs and intoxicants (including caffeine), from eating meat, fish and eggs, from gambling, and from all sexual relations except for purposes of procreation within marriage. For beginners and non-initiates, how many of these rules are to be followed is left to one's own discretion,[16] but these four 'regulative principles' remain as a standard.[17]
In terms of general diet among Gaudiya Vaishnavas, onions, garlic, and mushrooms are also generally avoided due to their purportedly adverse effects on the consciousness of the eater.[18]
Hippie culture
In the 1970s, Hare Krishnas became confused with the hippiesubculture. The 1971 Hindi film Hare Rama, Hare Krishna, written and directed by Dev Anand, was shot with many real-life hippie extras. But in fact the genuine Hare Krishna followers were a far cry from hippies. Although Prabhupada was open to anyone, members had to follow the four regulative principles, one of which is "no intoxicants"[19]. Elevation and joy were to be derived from chanting God's holy names.
Hare Krishna in popular culture
The Hare Krishna mantra appears in a number of famous songs, notably those of The Beatles and George Harrison, and has been at the number-one spot in the UK singles charts on more than one occasion within songs such as My Sweet Lord. One song from 1969 by the Radha Krsna Temple, simply entitled Hare Krsna Mantra reached no. 17 in the UK music chart and appeared on the music show Top of the Pops. It also made the no.1 slot in both German and Czechoslavakian music charts.[20]
The practice of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is recommended in the Puranas, the Pañcaratra, and throughout Vaishnava literature in general[21]. For example:
"All the grievous sins are removed for one who worships Lord Sri Hari, the Lord of all lords, and chants the holy name, the Maha-mantra."—Padma Purana; Svarga Khanda 50.6
"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."— Agni Purana
"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 maha-mantra."—Ananta-samhita
"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 heard this from Brahma, all the sons and disciples of Brahma, beginning with Narada, accepted the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and, having meditated on it, attained perfection."—Ananta-samhita
"When the sixteen names and thirty-two syllables of the Hare Krishna mantra are loudly vibrated, Krishna dances on one's tongue"—Stava-mala-vidyabhusana-bhasya; Baladeva Vidyabhusana in Bhaktisiddhanta's Gaudiya Kanthahara 17:30
^Srimad Bhagavatam 3.14.32 " Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare can be chanted both softly to oneself or loudly"
^Meditations on the Hare Krishna Mahamantra "[Hare] = O Hari!...." & "Because she steals Krishna's mind and because she is the embodiment of Krishna's divine joy, Sri Radha is known as Hara. Hare is the vocative form of that name"
^ "The word Harā 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.
^Gaudiya.com - Practice "Rama is another name for Him [Krishna], meaning the one who brings delight to Radha"
^Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi-5.132 "if someone says that the "Rama" in "Hare Rama" is Lord Ramacandra and someone else says that the "Rama" in "Hare Rama" is Sri Balarama, both are correct"
^ For the original text, see this Krishna.com article.
^No Water in the Desert Bombay, December 12, 1974: "Sometimes they first of all place "Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare." And sometimes they place "Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna..." There is no difference. Sometimes they say, "No, it should be Hare Rama first." Sometimes they..., "No, Hare Krsna." But that is not very important"
^Gaudiya.com - practice "it should be noted that everyone may adopt them according to their particular eligibility and evolve over time closer to perfection. "
^Bhag-P 11.5.33 "The followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu strictly follow the four regulative principles of no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat-eating and no gambling. They try to always chant Hare Krishna and engage in the service of the Lord."
^Hare Krishnas and ISKCON "These physical pleasures, the eating of fish, meat or eggs, the use of intoxicants, illicit sex, and gambling and frivoulous sports, are called the four regulative principles."
Repository of Hari’s boons, Enchanter of universe, Essence of Hari’s grace, He whose holy feet is worshipped, He who kills enemies of good thought, He who daily dances the cosmic dance, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa
He who likes song of refuge, He who is in the mind of devotees, He who is the great ruler, He who loves to dance, He who shines like the rising sun, He who is king of all beings, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God
He whose soul is truth, He who is the darling of all souls, He who created universe, He who shines with a glittering Halo, He who is the temple of “OM”, He who loves songs, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God
He who rides a horse, He who has a pretty face, He who has the blessed mace as weapon, He who bestows grace like a teacher, He who loves songs, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God
He who is worshiped by the three worlds, He who is the soul of all gods, He who is the lord of Shiva, He who is worshipped by devas, He who is who is worshipped three times a day, He whose thought is fulfilling, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God
He who destroys fear, He who brings prosperity, He who is enchanter of universe, He who wears holy ash as ornament, He who rides a white elephant, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God
He who blesses with enchanting smile, He who has is very pretty, He who is adorned by sandal paste, He who has a pretty mien, He who is a like a lion to the elephants, He who rides on a tiger, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God
He who is dear to his devotees, He who fulfills wishes, He who is praised by Vedas, He who blesses life of ascetics, He who is the essence of Vedas, He who enjoys divine music, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa
Although John Lennon and Paul McCartney were the Beatles' main songwriters, Harrison generally wrote or sang lead on a few songs per album. His later compositions earned him growing admiration as a talent in his own right. Despite his artistic growth he remained overshadowed by the Lennon/McCartney duo. After the band's breakup it was Harrison who achieved the first #1 single ("My Sweet Lord") by any ex-Beatle. Besides his talents as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and sitarist, he was also a record producer.
While still a Beatle, Harrison became attracted to Indian music and Hinduism. Both would subsequently play a prominent role in Harrison’s life and music. His use of the sitar introduced the instrument to millions of Western listeners. He adopted Hinduism (as there is no conversion in Hinduism) and his last rites were performed according to Hindu tradition.
He left school in the summer of 1959 without attaining any academic credentials (or even being allowed to sit his O-levels). He formed a skiffle group called 'The Rebels' with his brother Peter and a friend, Arthur Kelly. [7]
In the early days of the group, when it was still called the Quarrymen, Harrison was asked by McCartney to join, after John asked Paul. Harrison was the youngest member of the group, initially looked upon as a kid by the others.[8] He was never officially asked to join the group, but hung out with the others and filled in when he was needed, and was soon looked upon as one of the group.[9] During the early years of the group's rise to local fame, Harrison's mother often cheered him on from the audience, much to the consternation of Lennon's Aunt Mimi, who once complained to her that they could all have "lovely peaceful lives" but for Mrs Harrison's encouraging the group. While McCartney was the "cute Beatle" and Lennon the leader, Harrison was still a favourite of the female fans. At some concerts, the group was occasionally showered with Jelly Babies, which Harrison had said to be his favourite sweet (unfortunately American fans could not get hold of this soft British confection, replacing them instead with hard jelly beans, much to the group's discomfort).[10]
Harrison was not regarded as a virtuoso guitarist in the early days of The Beatles' recording career. Several of Harrison's Beatles guitar solos were recorded under specific directions from McCartney, who on occasion demanded that Harrison play what he envisioned virtually note-for-note.[citation needed] Other Harrison solos were directed or modified by producer George Martin. Martin admitted years later, "I was always rather beastly to George."[11] Toward the end of the 1960s, however, Harrison became known as a fluent, inventive, and highly accomplished lead and rhythm guitarist.[citation needed] In the 1970s and thereafter, his slide work became his signature sound.
Harrison was the first of The Beatles to arrive on American soil, when he visited his sister, Louise, in Benton, Illinois, in September 1963, some five months before the group appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.[12] During this visit, George browsed a record store and inquired about his group's music.[citation needed] The store owner had not even heard of them, and British pop music was conspicuously absent in the States: even top performer Cliff Richard's recent movie, Summer Holiday, was relegated to second billing when it played. Harrison returned to England, reporting to his bandmates that it might be difficult for them to succeed in America.[citation needed]
During the era of Beatlemania, Harrison was characterised as the "quiet Beatle", noted for his introspective manner and his tendency not to speak in press conferences.[citation needed] He studied situations and people closely, though, and was the most interested of any Beatle in the group's finances, often quizzing Brian Epstein about them.[citation needed] Despite his "quiet Beatle" image, Harrison also had a slightly wild side. Once, at a bar, a photographer got on Harrison's bad side. He got too close, and Harrison proceeded to throw his drink at the offending press member.[10] He could also wisecrack as well as anyone in the band; when a reporter asked what they did in their hotel suite between shows, Harrison told him, "We ice-skate."[citation needed]
During The Beatles' first trip to the U.S., in February 1964, Harrison received a new "360/12" model guitar from the Rickenbacker company; this was a 12-string electric but its unusual headstock design meant it looked at first glance like a 6-string. He began using the 360 extensively in the studio soon after. Roger McGuinn liked the effect Harrison achieved so much that it became his signature guitar sound with the Byrds.
Harrison wrote his first song, "Don't Bother Me", during a sick day in 1963, as an exercise "to see if I could write a song", as he remembered. "Don't Bother Me" appeared on the second Beatles album (With the Beatles) later that year, on Meet the Beatles! in the U.S. in early 1964, and also briefly in the film A Hard Day's Night. Although he wrote a song for the Beatles for Sale album, it was not used and the group did not record another Harrison composition until 1965, when he contributed "I Need You" and "You Like Me Too Much" to the album Help!.
Buying a sitar himself as The Beatles came back from a Far East tour, he became the first Western popular musician to play one on a pop record, on the Rubber Soul track "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)". He championed Shankar with Western audiences and was largely responsible for having him included on the bill at the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967. Shankar had not admired Harrison's first Indian-influenced efforts, but the two became friends, and Harrison began his first formal musical studies with Shankar.[citation needed]After a few initial lessons with Pandit Ravi Shankar, Harrison was placed under the tutelage of Shambhu Das [2].
During the filming of the movie Help!, on location in the Bahamas, a Hindu devotee presented each Beatle with a book about reincarnation. Harrison's interest in Indian culture expanded to his embracing Hinduism. A pilgrimage with wife Pattie to India, where Harrison studied sitar, met several gurus and visited various holy places, filled the months between the end of the final Beatles tour in 1966 and the commencement of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band sessions.
When, during his lifetime, Harrison bequeathed to ISKCON his Letchmore Heath mansion (renamed Bhaktivedanta Manor) north of London, he redoubled speculations that he would leave ISKCON a large sum in his will.[citation needed] Whilst some sources indicate he left nothing to the organisation,[14] others report he did leave a sum of 20 million pounds.[15]
Harrison formed a close friendship with Eric Clapton in the late 1960s, and they co-wrote the song "Badge," which was released on Cream's Goodbye album in 1969. Someone — variously reported as Harrison, Starr, or Clapton — misread Harrison's handwritten "bridge" (a term for a section of a song which typically links the verse to the chorus) as "badge", and this became the title. Harrison also played rhythm guitar on the song. For contractual reasons, Harrison was required to use the pseudonym "L'Angelo Misterioso." One of Harrison's compositions for The Beatles' Abbey Road album, "Here Comes the Sun", was written in Clapton's back garden. Clapton also guested on the Harrison-penned Beatles track "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". Through Clapton, Harrison met Delaney Bramlett, who introduced Harrison to the slide guitar.[3]
Harrison's songwriting improved greatly through the years, but his material did not earn respect from his fellow Beatles until near the group's breakup (McCartney told Lennon in 1969: "George's songs this year are at least as good as ours"). Harrison later said that he always had difficulty getting the band to record his songs.
Friction among Harrison, Lennon, and McCartney increased markedly during the recording of The Beatles, as Harrison threatened to leave the group on several occasions. Between 1967 and 1969, McCartney on several occasions expressed dissatisfaction with Harrison's guitar playing. Tensions came to a head during the filming of rehearsal sessions at Twickenham Studios for what eventually became the Let It Bedocumentary film. Conflicts between Harrison and McCartney appear in several scenes in the film, including one in which Harrison retorts to McCartney, "OK, well, I don't mind. I'll play whatever you want me to play or I won't play at all if you don't want me to play. Whatever it is that'll please you, I'll do it." Frustrated by ongoing slights, the poor working conditions in the cold and sterile film studio, and Lennon's creative disengagement from the group, Harrison quit the band on 10 January. He returned on 22 January after negotiations with the other Beatles at two business meetings.[17]
The group's internal relations were more cordial (though still strained) during recordings for the album Abbey Road. The album included "Something" and "Here Comes the Sun", probably Harrison's most popular Beatles songs. "Something" is considered to be one of his best works and was recorded by both Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, who deemed it "the greatest love song of the last fifty years". (However, Sinatra credited the song as his "favourite Lennon-McCartney composition", rather than crediting Harrison when making the compliment.) Harrison's increasing productivity, coupled with his difficulties in getting The Beatles to record his music, meant that by the end of the group's career he had amassed a considerable stockpile of unreleased material.
When Harrison was asked years later what kind of music The Beatles might have made if they had stayed together, his answer was to the point: "The solo stuff that we've done would have been on Beatle albums." Harrison's assessment is confirmed by the fact that many of the songs on their early solo albums premiered at various times during The Beatles' recording sessions but were not actually recorded by the group.
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