Maha mantra

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna

 

I am from Bangalore, India. I was attracted towards Hare Krishna movement after

reading some of Srila Pabhupada's books many years ago (about 15 years). But I

became a regular visitor to Bangalore temple only since the last 3 months, after

I was preached upon by a senior devotee. I am presently working as a scientist

in Dept of Atomic Energy, India.

 

I have an inquiry about the status of Mahamantra. Tradition in South India is

chanting "Hare Rama.... Hare Krishna...". While searching the web I got this

piece of information from:

 

http://www.cs.uu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/religions/vaishnava/gaudiya-faq.html

 

"Why have Gaudiya Vaishnavas reversed the Sruti-mantra?

 

Actually, there are references to this mahaa-mantra in various places.It appears

in the Kali-santaraNopanishad as well as in various PuraaNas.Some represent it

as Hare Krishna, Hare Rama, others as Hare Rama,Hare Krishna. One story has it

that chanting of this mantra, as it appears in the Kali-santaraNa Upanishad:

 

Hare Raama Hare Raama Raama Raama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

 

caused some consternation amongst caste-conscious braahmaNas as

Gaudiyas were encouraging shuudras (laborers) and even Muslims tochant this

mantra. Teaching shruti to such persons is proscribed,so the mantra was reversed

to overcome such objections:

 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Raama Hare Raama Raama Raama Hare Hare

 

As the names Krishna and Raama are considered non-different fromthe Lord

Himself, there is no loss of the benefit of chanting these names in this

slightly altered form."

 

How far is the above account correct? I hope some of you can enlighten all of us

regarding this.

 

Thank you,

 

T.Harikrishnan