Hare Krishna Maha Mantra
The great mantra — sixteen names of the divine, sung with love.
Original
Transliteration
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare
Translation
O divine energy of the Lord, O Krishna, O Rama — please engage me in your loving service.
Quick answer
The Hare Krishna Maha Mantra is a sixteen-word Sanskrit mantra invoking the names of Krishna, Rama, and the divine feminine energy. It is chanted as the central bhakti practice of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.
- Tradition
- Hindu / Vedic
- Language
- Sanskrit
- Deity
- Krishna
- Best time
- Any time. Beloved as a group practice and as a personal daily japa.
- Best for
- Devotion, Joy, Kirtan
Meaning
Literal
A repeated invocation of the names of Krishna, Rama, and Hare (the divine energy).
Spiritual interpretation
The Hare Krishna Mahamantra is the central practice of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. Its aim is not intellectual understanding but the awakening of pure love — bhakti — through the sound of the divine names.
What this mantra is used for
How to chant
May be chanted, sung, or silently repeated. Often sung in kirtan with call-and-response, or chanted 108 times on a mala. A traditional daily practice is 16 rounds — 1,728 repetitions.
When to chant
Any time. Beloved as a group practice and as a personal daily japa.
Origin & context
The Kali-Santarana Upanishad names this as the mantra for the current age.
Related mantras
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Frequently asked questions
What does the Hare Krishna Mantra mean?+
It is a joyful invocation of Krishna, Rama, and Hare — the divine feminine energy — inviting the practitioner into loving service.
Can anyone chant this mantra?+
Yes. It is one of the most widely chanted mantras on earth and is open to everyone.