Hare Krishna (mantra)

The Hare Krishna mantra, also referred to as the Maha-mantra (great mantra), is a sixteen-word Vaishnava mantra which appears in the Kali-Santarana Upanishad. It is traditionally chanted by devotees of Krishna, a principal deity in Hinduism, particularly within the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition.

The mantra consists of the following Sanskrit names of God:

• Hare
• Krishna
• Rama

The mantra is typically rendered as:

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

The mantra is believed to be a powerful tool for spiritual realization and liberation (moksha). Chanting is often performed repetitively, either individually (japa) or in groups (kirtan), and is considered a primary practice for attaining love of God. The repetition is often aided by the use of prayer beads (japa mala).

The meaning and significance of the names within the mantra are subject to various interpretations within the Vaishnava traditions. Generally, "Krishna" and "Rama" are understood as names of God, referring to the all-attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead and the source of all pleasure, respectively. "Hare" is interpreted as a vocative form addressing Hara, which is often understood as Radha, the divine feminine energy and consort of Krishna. Thus, the mantra can be understood as a plea to Krishna and Radha to engage the chanter in their loving service.

The Hare Krishna movement, formally known as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, popularized the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra globally, making it widely recognized.