Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahā-mantra – Meaning, Lyrics & Chanting Guide

This transcendental mahā-mantra, chanted and propagated worldwide by Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda and the ISKCON movement, is the essence of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava practice. Recited daily in nāma-japa and kīrtan, especially at ISKCON temples and Harinaam events, it is the sound incarnation of the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Chanting this mantra revives our dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness and connects the soul directly with divine reality.

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण
कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे
हरे राम हरे राम
राम राम हरे हरे

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma Hare Hare

Meaning (English): The Great Mantra for Deliverance: a spiritual call invoking the Supreme Lord (Kṛṣṇa and Rāma) and His divine energy (Hare) for protection, grace, and transcendental union.

अर्थ (हिंदी): यह महामंत्र भक्त की करुण पुकार है—हे श्रीकृष्ण! हे श्रीराम! हे हरि की आन्तरिक शक्ति हरे! मुझे अपनी कृपा में शरण दो और मेरे हृदय में भक्ति प्रकट करो।

Why This Mantra Matters

According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, this mantra is not a material sound but a direct vibration from the spiritual world. It is the most effective means of spiritual realization in Kali-yuga. Through chanting, the conditioned soul reconnects with the Lord's internal energy, Hara, and is uplifted from illusion (Māyā) to their original, joyful spiritual state. Even without knowing the meaning, sincere chanting can awaken divine love and ecstasy. The mantra purifies all layers of consciousness—sensual, mental, and intellectual—and draws the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa and His eternal consort Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

When & How to Chant

• Chanted daily during japa (108x) and kīrtan (group singing)
• Best at Brahma-muhūrta (early morning, 4–6 AM)
• Can be chanted silently, aloud, or sung with instruments
• Mood: desperate longing for divine shelter, surrender, and love

What is the Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra?

The Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra is a sacred 16-word prayer from the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava tradition, invoking God in His most intimate and blissful forms—Kṛṣṇa and Rāma—along with His divine energy, Hara. It’s not merely a chant but a divine vibration that purifies the heart, awakens bhakti (devotion), and delivers the soul from illusion. Introduced globally by Śrīla Prabhupāda, it is now chanted daily by millions around the world as the central practice of the ISKCON movement.