Hare Hare Meaning

[ramjee]

What do the words Hare in Hare Rama Hare Krishna

Krushna Krushna Hare Hare

mean?

[Nrsinghadev]

Hare Krishna Ramjee,

 

On a basic level, 'Hare', as one of the three names uttered in the maha-mantra, is the vocative case of 'Hari', which is another name of Sri Krishna, meaning "He who takes away", or as the vocative the case of 'Hara', which stands for the pleasure potency or hladini-sakti of Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. That hladini-sakti is Srimati Radharani and, quoting from sruti-sastra:

 

 

"She (Radharani) is known as Hara (one who steals away), because She can captivate the mind of Sri Krishna. 'Hara' is addressed as 'Hare'. Vraja-raja-kumara, the son of the King of Vraja, is known as Krsna. Because the sound of His flute is so attractive to the cowherd damsels, they lose their natural shyness, sense of dharma, pride, composure and leave their households. Therefore, He is known as Krnsa. The extraordinary beauty of His form (rupa-lavanya) always surcharges the minds and senses of the cowherd damsels with ever-increasing bliss. For this reason He is glorified as Rama."

 

There are also countless meditative explanations given by the great acaryas coming in line from Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for this as well as the other Names as they appear in the maha-mantra, and as the Names of Supreme Lord are non-different from Supreme Lord, and since the Lord is infinite, so we must understand that the definitions and explanations of His Names are equally infinite, so this is but a tiny sample. In Brahmanda Purana we find the following statement for example:

 

 

Sri Bhagavan is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, the embodiment of eternity, knowledge and bliss. Because He is able to eradicate all ignorance, the term Hari (one who takes away) is an appropriate way to remember Him. It is only lotus-eyed Nanda-nandana, Sri Syamasundara, the bestower of bliss to the residents of Gokula, who is referred to as Krsna (the all-attractive one). Sri Krsna is the lila-vigraha (personification of pastimes) and the crest-jewel of all expertise and wisdom. Because He eternally enjoys conjugal pastimes with Srimati Radhika, He is also known as Rama (the enjoyer).

 

Should you desire to know more, I would refer you to the booklet called "Sri Hari-nama Maha-mantra," by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja, which is where the above quoted sections are coming from. It gives the reader a very clear definition of the Maha-mantra and all of its aspects. You can download the PDF for free on the official website, so it should be no trouble, although paying for the book will gain you sukrti I hope this has satisfied your query.

 

In service,

 

Haribol!