Hare Krishna ... Sixteen Names Thirty-two Words

 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna 

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare 

Hare Rama Hare Rama 

Rama Rama Hare Hare

           Whenever we call somebody, we call his name, otherwise, no one will understand. That is, the person we call in the name has. This is my hands, my legs, my eyes, my hair, etc...... but where I am? & who I am? - no one can tell. We can't find ourselves until someone call us by our names. So that everyone has a name. Similarly, if we do not call God (Lord) in His name correctly of course in devotion, how will he understand? This is in the name Hare Krishna - He belongs or He has ever. 

History of Maha Mantra

            The Hare Krishna mantra (Maha-Mantra) is a Vaishnava mantra of 16 names 32 words described in the Koli-Santaran Upanishad (কলি সন্তরণ উপনিষদ), and which becomes important in the movement of devotion through the teaching of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (roughly around 1500 C.E.). The creator of this Mantra was Raghunath Bhattacharya (Bhatta), who is one of the six Goswamis. The Mantra is composed of the three Sanskrit names of the Supreme Being; "Hare," "Krishna," and "Ram". According to Gaudiya Vaishnava theology, one's basic consciousness and life's goal is pure love for God (Sree Krishna). Though Mahaprabhu always used to name -- 

Krishna Keshav Krishna Keshav Krishna Keshav Pahi Maam

Ram Raghav Ram Raghav Ram Raghav Raksha Maam.

Srila Prabhupada, Germany 1974

           After Mahaprabhu's disappearance, the Mantra became well-known outside India by Abhayacharanabinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada (1965) and his International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). The original Mantra in the Koli-Santaran Upanishad is -

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

        After the success of the ISCKON movement, it became the Maha Mantra for the devotees and the trend changed to put in the name of Krishna instead of Rama first.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

                                                                    Hare Rama Hare Rama

                                                                    Rama Rama Hare Hare

Meaning 
            The word 'Mantra' means transmitting or setting the mind free. The word "Hare" refers to God's divine feminine power. "Krishna" means all-attractive & "Rama" is an all-pleasure storage place. Whichever way we think, we gain in our way. This is the most important and interesting matter of devotion. Anyone as much as thought about Him (Lord), he should gain much more. The meaning of Maha-Mantra is like that. There are so many meanings behind it as the thought of various devotees. 

• The Mantra is first viewed in the Koli-Santaran Upanishad and in this Upanishad, Narada was instructed by Brahma: Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare (Name of Lord Narayan), these 16 names are destructive for the human-demon/evil effects of Kali.
• It is sometimes assumed that 'Rama' in 'Hare Rama' means 'Radharamana' or "Radha's beloved" (another name of Krishna). The most common interpretation is that Rama refers to Rama Ramayana, the former incarnation of Krishna. Rama can also be a shortened form of Balarama, the first extension of Krishna.
• It is also said in Narada Pancharatri that --Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare - These eight words contain all the Vedic works, Mantras and Gyan (knowledge). Narad Puran Slokas 38/126 says that the holy Harinaam Sankirtan (Chanting of Hare Krishna....) is the only way of salvation in this noisy, hypocritical Koli-age.

হরের নাম হরের নাম হরের নামৈব কেবলম 

কলৌ নাস্তেব্য নাস্তেব্য নাস্তেব্য গতিরন্যাথা.

(Harernaam Harernaam Harernaamaibo Kebalam

Kalou Nastyebya Nastyebya Nastyebya Gatiranyatha)

• There are eight Hare, four Krishna, four Rama in the name. This is very secretive to someone. Hare means 'take away'. Krishna means attraction. First Krishna - Sree Govinda, Second Krishna - Basudev, Third Krishna - Sree Jagannath, Fourth Krishna - Balabadra. In the same way, First Rama - Srimati Radha Rani, Second Rama - Goddess Laxmi, Third Rama - Devi Saraswati, Fourth Rama - Devi Subhadra. The secret theory is hidden in this Maha Mantra, real spiritual preceptors may be understood.

            Krishna and Krishna Naam is one and the same. Like Krishna Himself, Krishna Naam is also pure, holy, full, and free. The sacred Harinaam is the sound wave of the supernatural, the Word of Brahma - the love wealth of the Golakdham. It is not possible for the learned so-called scholars to understand the supernatural element of the Holy Harinaam by arguing dull logic.