Maha Mantra Dilemma

May 30, 2004

Prabhuji,

Out of the below given two versions which one should be used for chanting.

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

Traditionally its the first one which is accepted by most of the people in India and the world. But ISKCON uses the second. Personally i think both r same, as Srila Prabhupadji says that Rama and Krishna have the Same transcendental Vibrations. Am I right? Please advice, I am confused.

Hari bol

May 31, 2004

It was Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu himself who recommended chanting of the mantra in this way:

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

shambu · May 31, 2004

"One school of thought says that the maha-mantra should be chanted in the following sequence:

hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare

This understanding is based on the following points:

1) The Kali-santarana Upanisad, published by Venkatesh Press, Mumbai, states that this maha-mantra begins with the words Hare Rama etc. followed by Hare Krsna etc.

2) In a book called Kalyana from Gorakhpura, the maha-mantra is written in the above mentioned sequence.

3) Sri Rama appeared in Treta-yuga. Later Sri Krsna appeared in Dvapara-yuga. It is therefore logical to chant Hare Rama first and then Hare Krsna.

The above mentioned views are both illogical and unfounded:

1) Earlier publications of the Kali-santarana Upanisad by Venkatesh Press, Mumbai, clearly state that the maha-mantra begins with Hare Krsna and not with Hare Rama. These earlier publications are still preserved in libraries in Calcutta and Jaipura.

2) Kalyana, published by Gita Press, Gorakhpura, is not a bonafide proof with which to support the above perspective.

3) That Treta-yuga is followed by Dvapara-yuga has no effect on the eternal maha-mantra. The maha-mantra is beyond all yugas and time."

So far a quotation from "Sri Hari-Nama Maha-Mantra" chapter two, The Sequence of the Maha-Mantra, published by Gaudiya Vedanta Publications.

I would like to add that the word "Rama" in the maha-mantra is taken by Gaudiya Vaisnavas as an other name of Lord Krsna, not referring to Sri Ramacandra from Treta Yuga. Thus the third argument in regards to the sequence of different yugas is made valueless.

Also it is doubtful whether any importance is to be attached to the maha-mantra being mentioned in this or that way according to recent publications of ancient scriptures.

The best argument in favour of the maha-mantra to be starting with Hare Krsna instead of Hare Rama, is indeed that this is the way it was chanted and propagated by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the initiator of the Sankirtan movement, that later came to be known as the Hare Krsna movement in the Western counties and throughout the world.

In most Hindu-temples chanting of this mantra is also still prevalent but in the reversed order. Also their understanding of this mantra seems to be different, as well as the importance attached to it. As far as I know it is never used by them for japa-meditation, only as part of their public services and rituals.