One school of thought says that the mahā-mantra should be chanted in the following sequence:
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
This understanding is based on the following points:
- The Kali-santaraṇa Upaniṣad, published by Venkatesh Press, Mumbai, states that this mahā-mantra begins with the words hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare followed by hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare.
- In a book called Kalyāṇa from Gorakhpura, the mahā-mantra is written in the above mentioned sequence.
- Śrī Rāma appeared in Tretā-yuga. Later Śrī Kṛṣṇa appeared in Dvāpara-yuga. It is therefore logical to chant hare rāma first and then hare kṛṣṇa.
The above mentioned views are both illogical and unfounded:
- Earlier publications of the Kali-santaraṇa Upaniṣad by Venkatesh Press, Mumbai, clearly state that the mahā-mantra begins with hare kṛṣṇa and not with hare rāma. These earlier publications are still preserved in libraries in Calcutta and Jaipura.
- Kalyāṇa, published by Gītā Press, Gorakhpura, is not a bona fide proof with which to support the above perspective.
- That Tretā-yuga is followed by Dvāpara-yuga has no effect on the eternal mahā-mantra. The mahā-mantra is beyond all yugas and time.
This topic can only be understood by chanting the brahma mahā-mantra, the deliverer of all yugas. Reference to Śrī Bhagavān’s names in the different yugas can found in the Ananta-Saṃhitā:
nārāyaṇa parā muktiḥ nārāyaṇa parā gatiḥ
“Nārāyaṇa is declared the Supreme in all the Vedas. Nārāyaṇa is the supreme of all letters. Nārāyaṇa is the supreme liberation. Nārāyaṇa is the supreme path.”
kṛṣṇa keśava kaṃsāre hare vaikuṇṭha vāmana
“He Rāma! He Nārāyaṇa! He Ānanta! He Mukunda! He Madhusūdana! He Kṛṣṇa! He Keśava! He Kaṃsāre! He Hare! He Vaikuṇṭha! He Vāmana!”
gopāla govinda mukunda śaure
yajñeśa nārāyaṇa kṛṣṇa viṣṇo
nirāṣrayaṃ māṃ jagadīśa rakṣa
“Hare, Murāre, Madhu-Kaitabāre, Gopāla, Govinda, Mukunda, Śaure, Lord of all yajñas Nārāyaṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Viṣṇu! He Jagadīśa, please protect me! I have no other shelter.”
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
ṣoḍa-śaitāni nāmāni dvātrinśad varṇa kāni hi
kalau yuge mahā-mantraḥ sammato jīva tāraṇe
“Hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare hare rāma hare rāma
rāma rāma hare hare.This hari-nāma mahā-mantra consists of sixteen names and thirty-two syllables. In Kali-yuga this mantra can deliver all jīvas.”
Thus, in regard to the third point, it is evident that the brahma mahā-mantra (Kṛṣṇa’s name) was present as the deliverer even in Tretā-yuga, before the appearance of Kṛṣṇa in Dvāpara-yuga, with names such as Mukunda, Madhusūdana, Kṛṣṇa, Keśava and Kaṃsāri. Therefore, the advice and arguments given about the reversed sequence of the mahā-mantra are invalid. The ślokas of the Ananta-Saṃhitā clearly state that in the Upanṣads, such as the Kali-santaraṇa Upaniṣad, the mahā-mantra is written in the following sequence: hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare.
Nāradajī received the mahā-mantra in this sequence from his guru, Brahmājī, and this tradition is still practiced today in the Brahmā Mādhava Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Sampradāya. In other sampradāyas, however, this mahā-mantra does not descend through the guru paramparā, and therefore its secret and sequence are unknown to persons in those sampradāyas. It is no wonder that they reverse the sequence of the mahā-mantra and begin it with hare rāma. Other bona fide śāstras give evidence regarding the form of the mahā-mantra:
saṃśrāvyaiva tato dagdhān mantraṃ trai-lokya-mangalam
“Śrī Gurudeva should recite the sixteen word hare kṛṣṇa mantra to the disciple before initiating him into the gopāla mantra, which brings auspiciousness to the three worlds. To receive this gopāla mantra, the disciple must sit facing north and receive the mantra in his right ear.”
In śāstras such as the Brahma Yāmala, Lord Śiva describes the svarūpa (form) of the mahā-mantra:
tasmāl-lokod-dhārāṇa-ārthaṃ hari-nāma prakāśayet
sarvatra mucyate loko mahā-pāpāt kalau yuge
hare-kṛṣṇa-pada-dvandvaṃ kṛṣṇeti ca pada-dvayam
tathā hare-pada-dvandvaṃ hare-rāma iti dvayam
tad-ante ca mahā-devī rāma rāma dvayaṃ vadet
hare hare tato brūyād hari-nāma samud dharet
mahā-mantraṃ ca kṛṣṇasya sarvapāpa praṇāṣakamiti
“He Mahādevī! Look! In Kali-yuga there is no easier way to eradicate sins than by śrī hari-nāma. It is therefore essential to propagate śrī hari-nāma among the general populous. The people in Kaliyuga can be easily liberated from the greatest hell by performing saṅkīrtana of this mahā-mantra.To chant the mahā-mantra, first chant hare kṛṣṇa twice, then chant kṛṣṇa twice, then hare twice. After that, chant hare rāma twice, then rāma twice and again hare twice. One should chant, articulate and perform sankīrtana etc., of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s mahā-mantra, which destroys all sins.” This is described in these two stanzas.
hari nāmno mahāmāye kramaṅ vad sureśvari
“A bhakta prays, ‘He viśva bīja svarūpiṇī (seed of the whole universe)! Sureśvari (who is worshipable by the demigods)! Mahāmāyā! Māta! Please hear my prayer and explain to me the sequence of the mahā-mantra.’ ”
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
dvātriṃ śadakṣarāṇyeva kalau nāmāni sarvadam
etanmantraṃ suta śreṣṭha prathamaṃ śṛṇuyānnaraḥ
“O best among sons! The mahā-mantra for Kali-yuga bestows all perfection. This mahā-mantra, Śrī Kṛṣṇa nāma, is composed of sixteen names and thirty-two syllables: hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare. Therefore, a person who desires his own welfare should first hear this mahāmantra from his Gurudeva.”
In the same Rādhā Tantra, Tripurā Devī also suggests:
guru-deva-mukhācchrutā hari-nāma parā kṣaram
brāhmaṇa-ksatra-viṭ-śūdrāḥ ṣrutvā nām parā kṣaram
dīkṣāṃ kuryuḥ suta-śreṣṭha mahā-vidhyāsu-sundara
“O best among sons, you are conversant with the greatest jñāna. Look! If you hear the gopāla mantra from Śrī Gurudeva before hearing the hare kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, the results of the gopāla mantra will become void. Therefore, persons of all varṇas, such as brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas, first have to hear this mahā-mantra from Śrī Gurudeva before they accept initiation into the gopāla mantra.”
prajapan vaiṣṇavo nityaṃ rādhā-kṛṣṇa-sthalaṃ-labhet
“Any Vaiṣṇava who constantly chants the hare kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, which is endowed with sixteen names consisting of thirty-two syllables, will certainly attain the abode of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Kṛṣṇa in
In the Rādhā Hṛdya Khaṇḍa of the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Romaharṣaṇa Sūta prays to Śrī Veda Vyāsa as follows:
mantraṃ brahma-padaṃ siddhi karaṃ-tad-vad-no-vibho
“He Vibho! He Prabhu! Please instruct me in the brahma svarūpa nāma mantra of Śrī Hari which is the bestower of all perfections.”
In reply, Śrī Veda Vyāsa gives the following instruction:
sadhyaḥ pūtaḥ surāpo ‘pi sarva-siddhi-yuto bha
vet tad-ahaṃ te bhidhā-syāmi mahā-bhāgavato hamsi
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
iti ṣoḍaśakaṃ nāmnāṃ tri-kāla kalmaṣāp-aham
nātaḥ parataropāyaḥ sarva vedeṣu vidhyate
“O my son, I will certainly instruct you in that mahā-mantra, the acceptance of which a person in the bodily conception of life can be liberated and even a drunkard can quickly become purified and attain all perfection. I will instruct you because you are a mahābhāgavata and a suitable candidate. Just see! The sixteen word mahā-mantra, hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare, can destroy the sins of the three worlds. The four Vedas do not mention a method for achieving liberation from material bondage superior to the chanting of this mahā-mantra.”
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
soḍasautāni nāmāni dvātriṃ-śad varṇa-kāṇi hi
kalāu yuge mahā-mantraḥ sammato jīva-tāraṇe
utsṛa-jyaitan-mahā-mantraṃ ye tvanyat kalpitaṃ padam
mahā-nāmeti gāyanti te śāstra-guru-laṅi-ghanaḥ
”All śāstras agree that the hare kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, which is composed of sixteen names and thirty-two syllables, is the illustrious mantra to deliver the jīvas in Kali-yuga. Those who neglect this mahā-mantra and accept any other process, due to their own imagination or the imagination of others, are actually disobeying guru and śāstra. If someone asks, ‘Why is this sixteen word hare kṛṣṇa mantra the mahā-mantra?’ then the following answer is given. ‘Among all of Kṛṣṇa’s names‚ no name other than Hari can easily take away sins, great misfortune and ignorance. No name other than Kṛṣṇa can deliver prema. And no name other than Rāma can bestow liberation.’ This is why the mahā-mantra is composed of these three primary names. Secondly, these sixteen names are an invocation. Oṃ, namaḥ, klīṃ, svāhā, etc., are not required to make the mantra more potent. For this reason it is called the mahā-mantra.”
hare rāma tathā rāma tathā tāḍrak hare punaḥ
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
This means first chant hare kṛṣṇa twice, then kṛṣṇa twice, followed by hare twice. Then chant hare rāma twice, rāma twice and then hare twice. By this we get the mahā-mantra, hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare.
In the Yajur Vedīya, the Kali-santaraṇa Upaniṣad also describes the svarūpa and glories of the mahā-mantra in this way:
hariḥ auṃ. dvāparānte nārado brahmāṇaṃ jagām kathaṃ bhagavan! gāṃ paryaṭan kalim santare yam-iti. sahovāc brahmā sādhu pṛṣto-smi sarva-srūti-rahasyaṃ gopyaṃ tac-chraṇu yenakali-saṃsāraṃ tariṣyasi. bhagavat ādi-puruṣasya nārāyaṇasya nāmoc-cāraṇa-matreṇa nirdhūtkalir-bhavti. nāradah punaḥ papraccha. tannām kimiti? sa hovāc hiraṇya-garbhah, “hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare, hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare.” iti soḍaśakam nāmnām kali kalmaṣa nāśanam. nātaḥ parataropāyaḥ sarva vedeṣu dṛśyate. iti ṣoḍaśakalā-vṛtasya jīvasya āvaraṇa-vināśanam. tataḥ prakāśate para-brahma maghāpāye ravi-raṣim-maṇdalī-veti. punar-nāradaḥ papraccha. bhagavan! ko sya vidhi-riti? sa hovāc nāsya vidhi-riti. sarvadā śūcirśūcrvā paṭhan brahmaṇaḥ ślokatāṃ samī-patām saru-patāṃ sāyujyatāmeti.
“At the end of Dvārapa-yuga, Śrī Nārada went to Śrī Brahmā, and, after offering his obeisances inquired, ‘O Lord, how can I cross beyond the influence of this age of Kali while wandering on this earthly planet?’ “Brahmājī replied, ‘O son, you have asked an excellent question. Please hear the most confidential secret of the entire Vedas by which you can easily cross this world of Kali. By uttering the name of that ādi puruṣa who is Bhagavān Śrī Nārāyaṇa (Kṛṣṇa), the personality of Kali-yuga begins to tremble.’ “Nāradajī further inquired, ‘Which name of Śrī Bhagavān and what is its svarūpa?’”
“In reply Brahmājī said, ‘Hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare. In this way this mahā-mantra, which is composed of sixteen names, can completely destroy all the sins of Kali-yuga. A superior sādhana does not appear in the entire Vedas. The mahā-mantra is covered by sixteen qualities, which means that it can destroy the five gross elements (pañca bhuta) and the eleven senses which cover the jīva. Parabrahma then manifests before the jīva, just as the sun’s rays shine brightly after a covering of cloud is removed.’ “Nāradajī then asked, ‘Oh Lord, what are the rules and regulations for chanting this mahā-mantra?’ “Brahmājī said, ‘There are no rules and regulations for chanting this mahā-mantra. One can chant in a pure or an impure state. Moreover, by clearly pronouncing this mahā-mantra, one can attain brahma (salokya, samīpya, sarūpya and sāyujya). Not only that, one can attain kṛṣṇa-prema, the fifth goal of human life (pañca puruṣārtha).’ ”
sarva-pāpa-praśamanaṃ sarva-durvāsanā analam
catur-varga-paradaṃ saumyaṃ bhaktidaṃ prema-pūrvakam
durbuddhi-haraṇaṃ śuddha-sattva-buddhi-pradāyakam
sarva-arādhyaṃ sarva-sevyaṃ sarveṣām kāma-pūrakam
sarva-adhikār-samyuktam sarva-lokaika-bāndhavam
sarva-akarsaṇa-samyuktaṃ duṣṭa-byādhi-vināśanam
dīkṣā-vidhi-vihīnaṃ ca kāla-ākāla-vivarjitam
vāṇ-mātreṇārcitaṃ bāhma-pūja-avidhyan-apekṣakam
jihvā-sparśan-mātreṇa sarveṣām phala-dāyakam
deśa-kālā-niyamitaṃ sarva-vādisusammatam
“This mahā-mantra is endowed with thirty-two syllables and can destroy all sins. Just as fire destroys, this mahā-mantra can destroy all evil habits and bestow dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa. Its beautiful form (svarūpa) is capable of stealing all of one’s foolish, ignorant mentality, and it is the giver of śuddha sattvika intelligence. It bestows the symptoms of prema-bhakti. It is worshipable and is worthy of being served by all. Śrī nāma fulfills everyone’s desires. All are qualified to serve this mahā-mantra, meaning all are qualified to perform saṅkīrtana of the mahā-mantra. This mahā-mantra is the personal well-wisher of everyone and is endowed with the potency to attract all. It is the destroyer of all afflictions. It does not consider the rules of dīkṣā, and is not restricted by time. The mahā-mantra is worshipped just by saying it. No external paraphernalia is required. It is capable of giving results simply by its contact with the tongue, without considering the rules pertaining to time, place and circumstance.”
The Pipplāda branch of the Athārva Veda states:
sa eve mūlam-mantraṃ japati haririti kṛṣṇa iti rāma iti
“That mahā-mantra, which is composed of the name, form, etc., of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the origin of all avatāras‚ is making everyone joyful. He Himself, in the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, is clearly chanting the hare kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, the source of all mantras.”
The following śloka explains the result of performing kīrtana of the mahā-mantra:
śobhanānitāni nityaṃ japanti dhīrāste vai māyām-atita-ranti nānye
paramaṃ mantraṃ parama-rahasyaṃ nityamāvartayanti
“The mahā-mantra is most confidential and can only be understood through bhakti. Eight of its sixteen charming words are hare kṛṣṇa and the other eight, hare rāma. Therefore, only those intelligent persons who constantly chant these names will be liberated from māyā—and not others. That is why intelligent persons always chant, perform kīrtana of and remember the mahā-mantra.”
In the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa (Northern Division, Chapter 6) Pipplāda mentions that Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja once prayed to Kratu Muni, “O Lord, if you want to favour me, then please donate to me the names of Hari.” At that moment the saintly Kratu Muni gave him the sixteen name mahā-mantra. Therefore, an intelligent person should constantly perform saṅkīrtana of this mahāmantra: nāma saṅkīrtanaṃ tasmāt sadā kāryaṃ vipaścitā.