Thursday, January 22, 2015

Hare Krishn Mantra (chant) per Vedic Sanskrit is Maha Mantra

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Lord Siva specifically instructs that chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra is the best process for spiritual realization:
harim bina nasti kijcat papani-starakam kalau | tasmal-lokod-dharana-artham hari-nama prakasayet ||
sarvatra mucyate loko maha-papat kalau yuge | hare-krsna-pada-dvandvam krsneti ca pada-dvayam ||
tatha hare-pada-dvandvam hare-rama iti dvayam | tad-ante ca maha-devi rama rama dvayam vadet ||
hare hare tato bruyad harinama samud dharet | maha-mantram ca krsnasya sarvapapa pranasakamiti ||

Lord Siva says to his wife Parvati-devi: “O Mahadevi! Look! In Kali-yuga there is no easier way to eradicate sins than by the holy names of Lord Krsna. It is therefore essential to propagate the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra among the general populous. The people in Kali-yuga can be easily liberated from the greatest hell by performing sankirtana of this Hare Krsna maha-mantra. To chant the maha-mantra, first chant hare krsna twice, then chant krsna twice, then hare twice. After that, chant hare rama twice, then rama twice and again hare twice. Thus the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. One should chant, articulate and perform sankirtana etc., of this Hare Krsna maha-mantra, which destroys all sins.”
(Sri Brahma Yamala)


harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting of the holy name of ONLY Lord Hari. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.”
(Brhad Naradiya Purana)


harinama para ye ca ghore kali-yuge narah
te eva krtakrtyasca na kalir badhate hi tan hare
kesava govinda vasudeva jaganmaya
itirayanti ye nityam na hi tam badhate kalih
“In this dark age of Kali-yuga, sincere devotees of the Supreme Lord Krsna should leave aside all other means for liberation and take full shelter of the holy name. This is their real responsibility and duty. There is unlimited bliss in chanting the different names of Krsna: Hari, Kesava, Govinda, Vasudeva and Jaganmaya. For one who chants constantly with unflinching faith, he remains unaffected by the reverses of Kali-yuga, because his heart has become purified by chanting.”
(Brhan-naradiya Purana)


hari-nama-para ye ca
hari-kirtana tat parah
hari-puja-para ye ca te
krtarthah kalau-yuge
“Those who engage in chanting the holy name of Lord Hari (japa), are addicted to congregational chanting (kirtana) and engage in the worship of Lord Hari, have accomplished their desires in the age of Kali.”
(Brhan-naradiya Purana)


dhyayan krte yajan
yajnais tretayam dvapare
’rcayan yad apnoti tad apnoti
kalau sankirtya kesavam
“Whatever is achieved in Satya-yuga by meditation, in Treta by offering ritual sacrifices and in Dvapara by temple worship is achieved in Kali-yuga by chanting the names of Lord Kesava congregationally.”
(Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda 42nd Chapter)


satyam kali-yuga vipra
sri harer nama mangalam
param svastyayanam nrnam
nasty-eva gatir anyatha
“Oh brahmana, chanting of the holy name of Sri Hari is the auspicious process in Kali Yuga. It is the highest auspiciousness for mankind. There is no other way.”
(Padma Purana)
krsna krsneti krsneti
svapan jagrad vrajamstatha
yo jalpati kalau nityam
krsna-rupi bhaveddhi sah
“Whoever continuously chants Lord Krsna’s holy name, even in his sleep, can easily realise that the name is a direct manifestation of Krsna Himself, in spite of the influences of Kali-yuga. This has been ordained by Lord Krsna.
(Varaha Purana)


varjams-tisthan svapannasnan svasan
vakya-prapuranenama-samkirtanam
visnor- helaya kali-vardhanam krtva
svarupatam yati bhakti-yuktam param vrajet
“In our normal activities of eating, sleeping, sitting, dreaming, etc. to chant Krsna’s names, while nullify the ill effects of Kali-yuga, is the perfection of speech. Even it a person chants Krsna’s names indifferently, he will surely achieve his svarupa, or original spiritual self and attain that state beyond all material fear and lamentation. He will reach Vaikuntha, the supreme goal.
(Linga Purana)


krte yad dhyayato visnum
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam
kalau tad dhari-kirtanat
Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga be meditating on Visnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord’s feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
(Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.52)


The Hare Krsna maha-mantra has been prescribed by Lord Brahma:
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare | hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare ||
iti sodasakam namnam kali-kalmasa-nasanam | natah parataropayah sarva-vedesu drsyate ||
Lord Brahma instructs his son and disciple, Narada Muni as follows: “The sixteen words of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra – (Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare) – are especially meant for counteracting the sins of Kali-yuga. To save oneself from the contamination of Kali-yuga there is no other alternative, but to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.After searching through all the Vedic scriptures one cannot find a method of religion for this age (Kali-yuga) so sublime as the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.”
(Kalisantarana Upanisad 5; 6 of Krishna Yajur Veda)


hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare | hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare ||
sodasaitani namani dvatrimsad varnakani hi | kalau yuge maha-mantrah sammato jivatarane ||
varjayitva tu namaitad durjanaih parikalpitam | chandobaddham susiddhanta viruddham nabhyaset padam ||
tarakam brahma-namaitad brahmana gurunadina | kalisantaranadyasu sruti-svadhigatam hareh ||
praptam sri brahma-sisyena sri naradena dhimata | namaitad-uttamam srauta-paramparyena brahmanah ||
utsrjyaitan-maha-mantram ye tvanyat kalpitam padam | mahanameti gayanti te sastra-guru langhanah ||
tattva-virodha-sanprktam tadrsam daurjanam matam | sravatha pariharyam syadatma-hitarthina sada ||
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare | hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare ||
“’Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare’ – This sixteen-name, thirty-two syllable mantra is the maha-mantra in Kali-yuga by which all living beings can be delivered. One should never abandon chanting this maha-mantra and take to other so-called purificatory processes which are practiced by rascals, or engage in chanting other metrical compositions of the name of Krishna that are against the pure conclusions of the scriptures, or are filled with rasaabhaas. About this divinely spiritual maha-mantra, which delivers one from material existence, the original guru, Lord Brahma, has said, kali-santararadi sruti, “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.
(Sri Ananta-samhita)


Radha Hrdya Khanda, Romaharsana Suta prays to Sri Vedavyasa as follows:
yat tvaya kirtitam natha hari-nameti sanjitam | mantram brahma-padam siddhi karam-tad-vad-no-vibho ||
“O master, O mighty one! Please glorify the Hari-nama mantra situated in transcendence, the cause of all perfection!”
grhanad yasya mantrasya dehi brahma-mayo bhavet |
sadhyah putah surapo ‘pi sarva-siddhi-yuto bhavet | tad-aham te ‘bhidhasyami maha-bhagavato hamsi ||
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare | hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare ||
iti sodasakam namnam tri-kala kalmasapaham | natah parataropayah sarva vedesu vidhyate ||
Sri Vedavyasa said to Romaharsana Suta “O my son the embodied soul who takes up the maha-mantra will become filled with transcendence, and by accepting it, even a drunkard will attain all perfections. I will recite this mantra to you, for you are a swan-like maha-bhagavata and a suitable candidate. Just see! The sixteen word maha-mantra, ’Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare’, can destroy the sins of the three worlds. The Vedas do not mention a method for achieving liberation from material bondage superior to the chanting of this maha-mantra.
(Brahmanda Purana)




srnu matarmahamaye visva-bija-svarupini | hari namno mahamaye kramaG vad suresvari ||
“Hear me, O mother Mahamaya, seed of the universe personified, mistress of the gods! Please explain the sequence of Hari-nama.”
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare | hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare ||
dvatrim sadaksaranyeva kalau namani sarvadam | etanmantram suta srestha prathamam srnuyannarah ||
Tripura-devi said: “O best among sons! The maha-mantra for Kali-yuga bestows all perfection. This maha-mantra, is composed of sixteen names and thirty-two syllables: ’Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare’. Therefore, a person who desires his own welfare should first hear this Hare Krsna maha-mantra from a bonafide spiritual master.”
(Sri Radha Tantra)



hare-krsnau dvir avrttau | krsna tadrk tatha hare ||
hare rama tatha rama | tatha tadrg ghare manuh ||
”The words hare krsna are repeated twice, and then krsna and hare are both separately twice repeated. In the same way, hare rama, rama and hare are twice repeated.The maha-mantra is thus: ’Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare’.”
(Sanat-Kumara-samhita)


The Supreme Lord Sri Krsna says to Lord Brahma:
tatha catra bhavisyami bhaktyanugraha-kamyaya |
sahasraso’vatara me gita brahman yuge yuge | bana-margair veda-margai ripunam tatra sanksayam ||
bhaktanam taranam krtva khyapitam sva-yasah ksitau | kalau nasta-drsam esa mat-padyarka udesyat ||
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare | hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare ||
sakrd dvis trir yatha-sakti yavaj jivam athapi va | vyaharan svapaco’pi syan mama bhakto na samsayah ||
“O Brahma, yuga after yuga I kindly appear in many thousands of incarnations.” “Walking either on the path of arrows or the path of the Vedas, I deliver the devotees, destroy their enemies, and place My glory on the earth.” “For they who have become blinded by Kali-yuga, a mantra with My holy names will rise like a glorious sun. This verse is: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.” “One should chant this mantra once, twice, thrice, as many times as one is able, or again and again for as long as one lives. By chanting this maha-mantra even a dogeater may become My devotee.”
(Vayu-Purana)


Pipplada mentions that Vrsabhanu Maharaja once prayed to Kratu Muni, “O Lord, if you want to favour me, then please donate to me the names of Hari.” At that moment the saintly Kratu Muni gave him the sixteen name maha-mantra (Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare). By clearly pronouncing this maha-mantra, one can attain brahma (salokya, samipya, sarupya and sayujya). Not only that, one can attain krsna-prema, the fifth goal of human life (panca purusartha).’ ”
(Brahmanda Purana, Uttara Khanda 6.55)


Lord Brahma tells his son Pipplada as follows:
mantro guhyah paramo bhakti vedyah
“The Maha-Mantra is confidential, transcendental and can be understood only by devotional service, (bhakti-yoga).”
namany astav asta ca sobhanani |
tani nityam ye japanti dhiras te vai mayam atitaranti nanyah |
paramam mantram parama-rahasyam nityam avartayanti ||


These sixteen names are supremely beautified. Those who chant them regularly are sober persons who are able to cross beyond the illusory energy. There is no other means. One should repeat this maha-mantra which is the supreme secret, regularly.
(Caitanya-Upanisad, Atharva-Veda)


It is further stated by Lord Brahma as follows:
sva nama-mula-mantrena sarvam hladayati vibhuh | sa eve mulam-mantram japati haririti krsna iti rama iti ||
“The name is the root of all mantras, the splendid one bringing joy to everyone. This root-mantra is chanted as Hari, Krsna and Rama.”

sa eva mula-mantram japati harir iti krsna iti rama iti || 11 ||
“He (Lord Caitanya) chants the original mantra consisting of Hari, Krishna and Rama.”
(Caitanya Upanisad)
dvatrimsad-aksaram mantram nama-sodasakanvitam |
prajapan vaisnavo nityam radha-krsna-sthalam labhet ||
“Those Vaisnavas who always chant the maha-mantra composed of sixteen names divided into thirty-two syllables (Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare) attain Sri Vrndavana, the abode of Sri Radha-Krsna.”
(Padma Purana)


In the Padma Purana it is further stated regarding congregational chanting of the maha-mantra:
harer nama maha-mantrair nasyet papa pisacakam |
harer agra svarair uccair nrtyam stan-namakrin-narah | punati bhuvanam vipra! gaggadi salilam yatha ||
hare pradaksinam kurvann uccais tan nama krin narah | karataladi sandhanam susvaram kala sabditam ||
“Anyone who dances in front of Sri Hari and loudly chants the maha-mantra (Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare) will destroy all witches of sin. Just as the water of sacred rivers like the Ganga purify the universe, similarly those who circumambulate Sri Hari and loudly perform nama sankirtana of the sixteen word maha-mantra with sweet voices and while clapping the hands, purify the entire universe.”
(Padma Purana)
advitiyam yatha mantram tarakam brahma namakam
japitva siddhim apnoti satyam satyam vadamy aham
imam eva japan mantram tryamabakas tripur antakam
Chanting the peerless taraka-brahma-mantra (Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare), which is taraka-brahma-nama, the great chanting for deliverance in Kali-yuga, one obtains perfection. This is the truth. This is the truth. It is only by chanting this great mantra Lord Siva killed the Tripurasuras.
(Smriti Sastra)


The fruit of chanting the thirty-two-syllable maha-mantra is described as follows:
harir eva samaradhyah | sarva deve suresvarah ||
hari nama maha mantrair | nasyatpapa pisacakam ||
All the grievous sins of one who worships Lord Sri Hari, the Lord of all lords, and chants the holy name, the maha-mantra (Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare), are removed.
(Padma Purana, Svarga Khanda 50.6)


hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare |hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare ||
sodazaitani namani dvatrimzad varnakani hi |kalau yuge maha-mantrah sammato jivatarane ||
varjayitva tu namaitad durjanaih parikalpitam |chandobaddham susiddhanta viruddham nabhyaset padam ||
tarakam brahma-namaitad brahmana gurunadina |kalisantaranadyasu zruti-svadhigatam hareh ||
praptam zri brahma-zisyena zri naradena dhimata |namaitad-uttamam zrauta-paramparyena brahmanah ||
utsrjyaitan-maha-mantram ye tvanyat kaepitam padam |mahanameti gayanti te zastra-guru langhanah ||
tattva-virodha-saoprktam tadrzam daurjanam matam |sravatha pariharyam syadatma-hitarthina sada ||
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare |hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare ||
“‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama RamaRama Rama Rama Hare Hare’ — This sixteen-name, thirty-two syllable mantrais the maha-mantra in the age of Kali by which all living beings can bedelivered. One should never abandon chanting this maha-mantra and take toother so-called purificatory processes which are practiced by rascals, orengage in chanting other metrical compositions of the name of Krishna thatare against the pure conclusions of the scriptures, or are filled with rasabhasa.
About this divinely spiritual maha-mantra, which delivers one from materialexistence, the original guru, Lord Brahma, has said, kali-santararadi srutite, ‘Thesrutis have declared this mantra to be the best means of deliverance in the ageof 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)



srnu matarmahamaye visva-bija-svarupini | hari namno mahamaye krama vad suresvari ||
“Hear me, O mother Mahamaya, seed of the universe personified, mistress of the gods! Please explain the sequence of Hari-nama.”
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare | hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare ||
dvatrim sadaksaranyeva kalau namani sarvadam | etanmantram suta srestha prathamam srnuyannarah ||
Tripura-devi said: “O best among sons! The maha-mantra for Kali-yuga bestows all perfection. This maha-mantra, is composed of sixteen names and thirty-two syllables: ’Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare’. Therefore, a person who desires his own welfare should first hear this Hare Krsna maha-mantra from a bonafide spiritual master.”
(Sri Radha Tantra)


dvatrimsad-aksaram mantram nama-sodasakanvitam |
prajapan vaisnavo nityam radha-krsna-sthalam labhet ||
“Those Vaisnavas who always chant the maha-mantra composed of sixteen names divided into thirty-two syllables (Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare) attain Sri Vrndavana, the abode of Sri Radha-Krsna.”
(Padma Purana)



Srila Vrindavana Das Thakura describes Lord Caitanya’s instructions to Tapana Misra as follows:
sadhya-sadhana-tattva ye kichu sakala |
hari-nama-sagkirtane milibe sakala || 143 ||
harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam |
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha || 144 ||
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare |
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare || 145 ||
ei zloka nama bali laya maha-mantra |
zola-nama batriza-aksara ei tantra || 146 ||
sadhite sadhite yabe premagkura habe |
sadhya-sadhana-tattva janiba se tabe || 147 ||
“Everything is accomplished by Hari-nama sankirtana, including the goal of life (sadhya) and the means for its attainment (sadhana). In this age of Kali, the only means for deliverance is the chanting of the names of Hari. There is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way. ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.’ This verse of names is called the maha-mantra. It contains sixteen names of the Lord, consisting of thirty-two syllables. Chanting this mantra again and again will awaken the sprout of prema within the heart, and thus the goal of life and the means for its attainment is understood.”
(Sri Caitanya Bhagavata 1.14.143-147)


Gopala Guru Gosvami, drawing from the Brahmanda Purana has presented the following meaning for the maha-mantra:
vijjapya bhagavat-tattvam cid ghanananda vigraham | haratyavidham tatkaryamato haririti smrtah ||
harati sri-krsna-manah krsnahlada-svarupini | ato harety anenaiva sri-radha parikirtita ||
anandaikasukhah sriman syamah kamala locanah | gokulanando nanda-nandanah krsna iryate ||
vaidagdhi sarasarvasvam murtalila dhidaivatam | sri radham ramayan nityam rama ity abhidiyate ||
“The Lord is known as Hari because he takes away the ignorance of his devotees by revealing to them the actual nature of the Supreme Lord and his personal spiritual form.
Because She steals Krishna’s mind, because She is the incarnation of Krishna’s joy, Radha is also known by the name Hara.
The dark, lotus-eyed lord, the only master of the highest joy, who brings pleasure to Gokula, the son of Nanda, is known as Krishna.
Krishna is also known as Rama because the joys of conjugal life are the essence of his being, because He is the titulary deity of loving sports incarnate, and because he brings pleasure to Srimati Radharani.”
From Krishnpath

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