What is Hare Krishna chant ?
Devotees of Krishna chant the Hare Krishna mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare – because the Vedas refer to it as the maha – mantra or ‘Great Mantra’. This sixteen-word mantra is especially recommended as the easiest method for self-realization in the present age. Krishna is a Sanskrit name of God meaning ‘all attractive’, and Rama is another name meaning ‘reservoir of pleasure’. The divine energy of God is addressed as Hare. Vedic knowledge teaches that since we are all constitutionally servants of God, the chanting of His names is not an artificial imposition on the mind but is as natural as a child calling for its mother. There are two ways to chant the maha mantra: group chanting (kirtan) and softly saying the mantra to oneself (japa). The latter is done by using a string of 108 wooden prayer beads to enhance concentration. In both methods there are no hard and fast rules, and anyone can chant with good results.
