Hare Krishna Maha-mantra

Srila Prabhupada once announced, “The chanting of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s name is more essential than the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.” One smart devotee then inquired whether we should therefore chant rounds of the Panca-tattva mantra to which Srila Prabhupada replied, “No — because Lord Caitanya’s instruction was to chant Hare Krishna.”

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is a very simple mantra consisting of only three words: Hare, Krishna, and Rama.
Hare means unto Mother Hara (i.e. Lord Krishna’s personal pleasure potency, Srimati Radharani).
Krishna means the all-attractive Lord.
Rama means the source of all enjoyment.
When we chant Hare Krishna we are praying: “O energy of the Lord (Hare), O Lord (Krishna and Rama) please engage me in Your service!”
Maha-mantra means it is the Great Mantra Of Deliverance.

Lord Caitanya and the Vedas both recommend this process:

hare krishna hare krishna
krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama
rama rama hare hare
iti sodasakam namnam
kali-kalmasa-nasanam
natah parataropayah
sarva-vedesu drsyate

The sixteen words of the Hare Krishna mantra are especially meant for counteracting the contaminating influence of the age of Kali. After searching through all the Vedic literature, one cannot find a better method.

The Glories of the Holy Names

Krishna and His name are non-different
The Lord’s name has descended from Goloka
Invested with the Lord’s spiritual potency
Purifies the heart and mind
The chanting process is simple, sublime, and all-auspicious; even a child can take part
Frees one from sinful reaction and material bondage;
Chanting “Rama” gives the same result as chanting the 1000 names of Vishnu
Chanting once “Krishna” has the same potency as 3x the 1000 names of Vishnu
Also effective for someone who is not even aware of its potency
Contains the benefits of all other Vedic rites; to be chanting is the same as having performed all the Vedic processes of purification
The means in this age for attaining pure love of God (Krishna-prema)
Protects you from maya and falldowns
Purifies the whole atmosphere
Yields the same results as the processes of previous yugas
Elevates one even from a low background
The only possible process in this age: everything else is too difficult to execute
Chanters are most attractive to Krishna
All the Vedic knowledge is contained within the maha-mantra, the essence of the Vedas is to chant, and by chanting one realizes the meaning of the Vedas
The ultimate means to attain the ultimate success

Vedic verses glorifying the holy names

“By once chanting the holy name of the Lord, which consists of the two syllables ha-ri, one guarantees his path to liberation.” (Skanda Purana)
“Simply by chanting one holy name of Hari, a sinful man can counteract the reactions to more sins than he is able to commit.” (Brhad-Vishnu Purana)
“If one chants the holy name of the Lord, even in a helpless condition or without desiring to do so, all the reactions of his sinful life depart, just as when a lion roars, all the small animals flee in fear.” (Garuda Purana)
Refer also to the story of Ajamila and the story of the Yavana
“Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Vishnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.” (SB 12.3.52)
“To say nothing of the spiritual advancement of persons who see the Supreme Person face to face, even a person born in a family of dog-eaters immediately becomes eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices if he once utters the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or chants about Him, hears about His pastimes, offers Him obeisances or even remembers Him.” (SB 3.33.6)
“My dear Narada, actually I do not reside in My abode, Vaikuntha, nor do I reside within the hearts of the yogis, but I reside in that place where My pure devotees chant My holy name and discuss My form, pastimes and qualities.” (Padma Purana)
“O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.” (SB 2.1.11)
“Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the essential value of this age of Kali. Such enlightened persons worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age all perfection of life can easily be achieved by the performance of sankirtana.” (SB 11.5.36)
“Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the holy name of Krishna, which is feared by fear personified.” (SB 1.1.14)

Three Levels of Chanting

1. Namaparadha: Conditioned chanting with offences

(aparadha = offence)

This is the level that most people start on when they first take up regular chanting. The ten kinds of offences are covered in the next section.

To attain the next stage one must continue to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra regularly according to the principles of trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna (Siksastaka 3) and repent, “I have committed offences unnecessarily or unknowingly.” Then one will attain the next stage called namabhasa (offenceless chanting).

2. Namabhasa: Liberated chanting without offences

(abhasa = morning twilight; “the faint light of the holy name”)

This stage of chanting immediately frees the chanter of all sinful reactions and gives liberation. It has two divisions: sraddha-namabhasa and namabhasa.

Namabhasa: If someone chants the holy name accidentally.

Chanting as a joke
In the course of ordinary discussion
In indicating something extraneous
In negligence

Sraddha-namabhasa

This is when a completely faithful devotee chants on the liberated platform and avoids all the offences. This is almost on the transcendental platform. Continued chanting on this level leads to the next.

3. Sudha-nama: Pure chanting in love of God

(sudha = pure)

The perfectional stage: while the devotee fully relishes the nectar of the holy name (nama), he sees Krishna’s form (rupa), realises His qualities (guna), and remembers His pastimes (lila).

Ten Offenses to the Holy Name

Padma Purana
Brahma Khanda 25.15–18

To blaspheme devotees who have dedicated their lives to chanting the holy name of the Lord. The holy name, who is identical with Krishna, will never tolerate such blasphemous activities.
To consider the names of Lord Siva or Lord Brahma to be on an equal level with the holy name of Lord Vishnu.
To disobey the orders of the spiritual master or to consider him an ordinary person.
To blaspheme the Vedic literatures or literatures in pursuance of the Vedic version.
To give some interpretation on the holy name of the Lord.
To consider the glories of the holy name of the Lord as imagination.
To think that the Hare Krishna mantra can counteract all sinful reactions and one may therefore go on with his sinful activities and at the same time chant the Hare Krishna mantra to neutralise them is the greatest offense at the lotus feet of Hari-nama.
To consider the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra to be one of the auspicious ritualistic mantras mentioned in the Vedas as fruitive activity.
It is an offense to preach the glories of the holy name of the Lord to the faithless.
If one has heard the glories of the transcendental holy name of the Lord but nevertheless continues in a materialistic concept of life, thinking “I am this body and everything belonging to this body is mine [aham mameti],” and does not show respect and love for the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, that is an offense.

api pramadah: It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting.

1. Blaspheming devotees

A sadhu is anyone who is surrendering to Krishna. To blaspheme such a person is compared to a mad elephant (hati mata) that comes and tramples the creeper of devotion.

Examples: criticising a devotee because…

He has a lower social status
His manners are not yet so polished
He eats too much prasadam
He had previously been a drug addict
He has been weak and temporarily gave up devotional service

Faultfinding versus constructive criticism

Faultfinding:
Pride: making yourself feel superior.
Envy: when someone manifests an anartha that you yourself have.
Frustration: when others do not fulfill your expectations.

Constructive criticism:
With a caring attitude, free from envy, meant to benefit the person, keeping the good things about this person in mind.

A devotee should be like the honey bee that always looks for the nectar and not like the fly that always looks for stool or open sores. One associates with whatever qualities he focuses on, and thus he cultivates those qualities.

Just as a dirty man should no longer be regarded as dirty if he is having a shower, so a devotee, even though still impure, should never be criticised if he is sincerely involved in the purificatory process of bhakti.

How to counter-act the offence: Humbly approach that devotee, offer obeisances, and beg forgiveness.

2. Considering demigods to be equal to Krishna

Applies mainly to India, where many people worship demigods.
The demigods are subordinate and dependent. Whatever powers the demigods have and whatever benedictions they can offer are only possible because Krishna empowers them and gives them His sanction.
Also refers to considering the holy name a material sound vibration.
A devotee must know that the name of Krishna is absolute and non-different from Krishna Himself, whereas the names of the demigods are relative and different from them.

How to counter-act the offence: Study the scriptural statements regarding the nature of the holy name and Krishna; take shelter of the holy name and beg forgiveness

3. Disobeying orders of the spiritual master

Explicit instructions must be followed
Under certain circumstances the spiritual master may deliver general advice or suggestions but leaves it up to the disciple to choose what to do on specific occasions
This offence includes having a material conception of the guru or envying him

How to counter-act the offence: Humbly approach the guru, offer obeisances, and beg forgiveness.

4. Blaspheming the Vedic Literature

To denounce the information in the revealed scriptures.
To regard the Vedas as mundane literature
To keep scriptures in a dirty place

How to counter-act the offence: Offer flowers to the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita

5. Considering the glories of the holy name to be imaginary

To consider the statements as exaggerations just to motivate people
To think that devotees have given artificial importance to the holy name.
Don’t be surprised; the holy name is non-different from Krishna
It’s simply a question of time before one gets the effects of chanting
See conversation with Haridasa Thakur (CC Ant 3.176-86)

How to counter-act the offence: Study the philosophy, take shelter of the holy name and beg forgiveness

6. Giving some mundane interpretation

To think that chanting creates a chemical reaction in the brain and simply produces some euphoric effect
For example, thinking that Hari means impersonal Brahman, Krishna refers to the mind, and Rama means satisfaction; Or Krishna = black = unknown
To define the holy name of the Lord in terms of one’s mundane calculation

How to counter-act the offence: Reveal it to a devotees and beg forgiveness

7. Committing Sinful Activities

To commit sins with the expectation of neutralising the reactions by chanting
Prabhupada often repeated that this is the greatest offense
For example, people who go to church to confess but then sin again next week
After taking shelter of the holy name, one should strictly restrain him or herself from committing sinful acts.
Accidental sins don’t count

How to counter-act the offence: The only thing that can help is to sincerely repent

8. Considering chanting the holy name to be one of the auspicious ritualistic activities

Karma-kanda: performing religious ceremonies, following austere vows, practicing renunciation, penances and austerities, fire sacrifices in order to gain material benedictions (wealth, power, health, etc.) from the demigods.
To think that chanting Hare Krishna belongs to this category or is a pious activity
To equate chanting to other spiritual activities, such as meditation, austerity, penance or sacrifice
One should not try to utilise the holy name for one’s personal service
Chanting the holy name is meant for attaining love of God

How to counter-act the offence: Approach devotees and attain sambandha-jnana from them

9. Instructing a faithless person

To glorify the importance of the holy name, or elevated information of Krishna to persons who have no interest; who are not ready to hear, or who may as a result of hearing become more antagonistic.
Pseudo-spiritualists selling the holy name to unqualified persons.

What about public chanting and preaching?

You can get people to chant; by chanting they will be purified and appreciate the holy name. Srila Prabhupada encouraged everyone to chant, but he didn’t immediately tell them all the details.
When you make this offence, you run the risk of diminishing your own faith

How to counter-act the offence: No recommendation given for counteracting this offense. Just don’t do it.

10. Incomplete faith / material attachments

Material attachments: to be attached to the misconception of possessing something, or to accept the body as one’s self, while executing the process of spiritual cultivation.
Bodily concept: I and mine.
We must have a service attitude and let go of the attachments
We may be attached but if we are stubbornly attached, one should intend to get free of attachments. We should mark them with “X” just as a woodcutter marks trees to be cut down in the future
Having complete faith in the holy name means that you feel the holy name is all you need (to be happy, etc). Keeping material attachment means you still think you need these things

How to counter-act the offence: In order to develop complete faith and give up attachments, associate with advanced devotees and chant with them

Lack of Concentration

This is like inviting someone around to visit, and then ignoring them. You are calling out to Krishna, but meanwhile you are distracted by the mind or what is going on elsewhere.
Examples: While chanting, reading the notice board, having a chat, driving the car, tidying up the room, thinking about different things.
To have the full effect, the holy name must enter the ear and make an impression on the mind. The mind must be focused on the sound vibration. This is an association with Krishna. We want to associate as fully as possible.

How to counter-act the offence: Pray to the holy name that one may always chant clearly and hear attentively

Japa Workshop:
Process, Techniques, and Methodology

Chanting, while mostly devotional, is also a technical process of meditation. This section will help you to understand more of what is involved and how to improve your japa meditation.

The proper use of beads

Start from bead no.1; turning at bead no.108
Turn each bead in the fingers.
Don’t chant on or cross the larger bead where you start

Pronunciation

One should note in this connection that chanting involves the activities of the upper and lower lips as well as the tongue. All three must be engaged in chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The words “Hare Krishna” should be very distinctly pronounced and heard. Sometimes one mechanically produces a hissing sound instead of chanting with the proper pronunciation with the help of the lips and tongue. Chanting is very simple, but one must practice it seriously.
(Srila Prabhupada, Cc Adi 7.32 purport)

On one hand, there are different pronunciations throughout India and the sastra does state that the holy name is still effective even if improperly pronounced, but it is beneficial to concentrate and practice clear pronunciation.

Typical faults

‘H’ in Hare: sometimes dropped
‘A’ in Hare: mispron. ‘O’ as in Lorry; should be ‘uh’ as in Hurry.
‘R’ in Hare: sometimes sounds more like ‘D’
‘E’ in Hare: mispron. ‘I’ as in Bit; should be ‘ay’ as in Ray.
‘K’ in Krishna: sometimes sounds more like ‘G’ in Grip.
‘R’ in Krishna: sometimes dropped: ‘Kishna’
‘SH’ in Krishna: ‘G’ as in Genre (French pronunc.) or ‘S’ as in Snug.
‘N’ in Krishna: sometimes dropped: ‘Krisha’
‘A’ in Krishna: run together with the next Hare: ‘Krishna-ray’
Rama: be careful not to call out for Rum.
Sometimes with ‘Rama Rama Rama,’ you get the ‘revving-up-the-motorbike’ effect: ‘manar-manar-manar-manarrrr!’ (trying to chant too fast)
Note: Both Ram and Rama are OK.

Chanting speed

In the beginning you may be slow (around 10 minutes per round)
It is important to practice proper pronunciation
But in time you should naturally speed up (no more than 7 – 7½ minutes per round)
Ultimately it is individual, but most devotees find that speeding up increases the intensity of their chanting and their concentration level
If your rounds are taking too long, it could mean that you are distracted
Try to maintain good, clear pronunciation with a good speed
Some devotees can chant a round in 5 – 5½ min, but be careful not to lose the clarity of the syllables!

Posture

One’s mental and physical state is affected by one’s bodily posture and can be altered by changing the posture. That is why practicing asanas is integral to the yogic process, which is a highly developed science.
Importantly, you can affect the mind’s ability to concentrate.
Remain peaceful, and accept the proper attitude by adopting certain postures
Perhaps you have already experienced the difference between chanting sitting in a conventional chair (legs down) and sitting cross-legged
Basically, sit cross-legged with a little extra support under your bottom. The back and neck should be erect in a straight line, the head up. Breathing should be deep and rhythmic.
Discuss further with your tutor.

Common pitfalls

“Prajalpa-japa”: Unnecessarily talking while chanting
“Dive-bomb japa”: Falling asleep while chanting (head nodding off)
“Radar japa”: constantly looking all around the room
“Machine-gun japa”: much too fast while shaking the finger
“Jibber-japa”: it is just gibberish, no one can understand it
“Day-dreamjapa”: not concentrating, following the wandering mind

Attentiveness

This is the most essential part of chanting: how attentive are you?

Imagine you are driving a car and you have a passenger sitting next to you. The passenger is continually pointing things out and trying to draw your attention to them: “Oh, look there’s a shoe sale on! Look at those nice shoes! … Ah, look at that guy with the funny hat! … Are those your gloves on the back seat? … Look out, no, no, turn left! Oh, I thought we had to go left. … Look at the TV shop – is that your favorite football team playing? … Uh-oh, check this out: there’s a guy getting arrested over there….” If you keep getting distracted by what your passenger is saying, you’re going to crash the car.

The passenger is like your mind, and driving the car is like chanting your rounds. If you keep talking to someone and they are continuously ignoring you, eventually you are just going to shut up. That is the best way to deal with the mind: just ignore it and keep your attention on “the road”, it will eventually shut up.

Tip

Keep a paper and pencil to note anything down that should not be forgotten. Then you can tell your mind that you will think about it later.

An interesting exercise

Keep a list of all the subjects brought up by the mind during your japa and then review it at the end. Usually you can just throw away the whole list because you didn’t need to think about any of these things at all. It is a very graphic way of proving to yourself that you don’t need to take the mind so seriously (the mind won’t like that and will try to convince you that you should take it very seriously).

The big picture

Now, chanting is not just about getting the technique right. It is important to not lose sight of the big picture. We are ultimately not independent of Krishna, and we must always humbly pray to Him and seek His shelter and guidance. In the larger picture, we must always see that we have to get to the platform of taste in our chanting and ultimately attain love for Krishna.

Attitude

Your mood, attitude, or mentality is also very important while chanting. Chanting is not just a mechanical process. It must be accompanied with the appropriate feelings, performed for the right purpose, and with proper consciousness.

Enthusiasm/Great Eagerness: One should realize that love for Krishna is the ultimate goal. He should have total eagerness to attain it, even to the point of crying for it, like a baby. That is the price one must pay.
Prayerful: Remember that the maha-mantra is a prayer. Remember the meaning of the prayer, and offer it in a prayerful mood: a communication between you and God – a very personal experience.
Helpless/Dependent: A devotee feels helpless without the Lord’s mercy and dependent on the holy names. Example: small child and grown teenagers.
Humility/ Reverence: When we take darsan of the Deity, we must first take our shoes off, ring a bell, bow down, conch shells blow, the curtains are drawn – we are seeing the form of the Lord. The same respect and reverence should be given to the holy name.
Service: Chanting is a kind of service. It should be performed in a serving mood, serving the holy name by uttering it. Not that we are the master of Krishna, causing Him to manifest.
Grateful: Be thankful to the Lord for the mercy that He is bestowing upon you and all the fallen souls in the form of His holy name
Tolerant: All difficulties and obstacles of the mind must be tolerated. One may not have any taste for chanting or find the process hard to follow. All discomforts must be tolerated for Krishna’s satisfaction.
Patient: It may take a lot of practice before one gets better at chanting. One must patiently continue to endeavor. We are eternal, so there is no need to panic.
Determined: Never become discouraged. Always continue with determination knowing that success is ultimately guaranteed.
Important/Essential: Be conscious of the importance of this chanting process. Remember that it is essential to spiritual advancement.
Faithfully: We must cultivate our faith in the holy name, put our trust in it.
Please let me in: Ask Krishna to allow us to enter into the inner realizations of chanting the holy names.

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