Mantras · हरे कृष्ण महामंत्र

Hare Krishna Mahamantra

Text (Sanskrit, Devanagari)

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे ।हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare |hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare ||

Meaning

O Hara (the Lord’s divine energy), O Krishna, O Rama — the three names called upon in devotion.

अर्थ

हे हरा (भगवान की शक्ति), हे कृष्ण, हे राम — भक्ति से पुकारे गए तीन नाम।

Kali-Santarana Upanishad order: हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे । हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे ॥

Deity	Krishna / Rama
Type	Name mantra
Source	Kali-Santarana Upanishad (which gives the Hare Rama line first)
Language	Sanskrit
Japa count	16 malas a day in the Gaudiya tradition; any number otherwise
When	Any time; morning japa
How	On a 108-bead mala (rudraksha or tulsi), seated facing east or north after bathing; one mala = 108 repetitions. Also sung as kirtan.

Questions

What is the meaning of Hare Krishna Mahamantra?

O Hara (the Lord’s divine energy), O Krishna, O Rama — the three names called upon in devotion.

How many times should Hare Krishna Mahamantra be chanted?

16 malas a day in the Gaudiya tradition; any number otherwise.

When is Hare Krishna Mahamantra chanted?

Any time; morning japa.

Where does Hare Krishna Mahamantra come from?

Kali-Santarana Upanishad (which gives the Hare Rama line first).