Meaning of Each of the 16 Names in the Maha Mantra

Shripaada Jiva Gosvami reveals the meaning of each of the sixteen Names in the Hare Krishna Mahaamantra in his Mahaa-mantrartha Dipika in consecutive order as follows:

hare Krishna hare Krishna Krishna Krishna hare hare
hare Raama hare Raama Raama Raama hare hare

(1-Hare)

sarva-ceta-harah Krishnas tasya cittam haratyasau
vaidagdhi-sara-vistarair ato radha haraa mata

Krishna steals the minds of everyone, yet Radha steals even His mind by Her divine expertise. Thus She is known as Haraa.

(2-Krishna)

karsati sviyalavanya-murali-kala-nihsvanaih
sri radham mohana-gunalankrtah Krishna iryate

He forcibly attracts Sri Radha with the sweet sound of His flute, therefore that Lord of all enchanting qualities is known as Krishna.

(3-Hare)

sruyate niyate rase harina harineksana
ekakini rahah-kunje hareyam tena kathyate

It has been heard that during the rasa-lila, doe-eyed Radha was stolen away by Krishna to be alone with Him in a secret forest bower. She is therefore known as Haraa.

(4-Krishna)

anga-syamalima-stomaih syamalikrta-kancanah
ramate radhaya sardham krsno nigadyate

When Krishna sports with Radha, Her golden hue takes on the dark complexion of Krishna's skin. He is thus known as Krishna.

(5-Krishna)

krtvaranye sarah-srestham kantayanumatas-taya
akrsya sarva-tirthani taj-jnanat Krishna iryate

In order to please Sri Radha, Krishna manifested the most wonderful lake (Syama-kunda) in Vrndavana. He then called all the holy rivers to fill it. He is thus known as Krishna.

(6-Krishna)

krsyate radhaya premna yamuna-tata-kananam
lilaya lalitas-capi dhiraih Krishna udahrtah

By Her unsurpassed love, Radha charms He who performs wonderful lilas on the banks of the Yamuna. Therefore, those who are sober know Him as Krishna.

(7-Hare)

hrtavan gokule tisthann-aristam pusta-pungavam
sri haris tam rasad uccai rayatiti Haraa mata

While in Gokula, Sri Hari (Krishna) killed the demon known as Aristasura. During that time, Radha cried out to Him with great feeling and by doing so, She stole His mind. She is thus known as Haraa.

(8-Hare)

hyasphutam rayati priti-bharena hari-cestam
gayatiti mata dhirair Haraa rasa-vicaksanaih

Filled with ecstatic love, Radha sometimes sings the glories of Hari’s exploits quietly, and sometimes She sings them aloud. Those who are expert in the secrets of divine sentiments call Her Haraa.

(9-Hare)

rasavesa-parisrastam jahara muralim hareh
hareti kirtita devi vipine keli-lampata

Due to the intense love of Sri Radha, Sri Hari becomes so captivated that His flute falls from His hand. With the desire to enjoy in the forest bowers with Krishna, Radha steals His flute. That goddess is thus famous as Haraa.

(10-Raama)

govardhana-dari-kunje parirambha-vicaksanah
sri radham ramayamasa ramastena mato harih

Krishna, who is expert at embracing, sports with Radha in the forest groves or in the caves of Govardhana. Thus He is known as Raama.

(11-Hare)

hanti duhkhani bhaktanam rati saukhyani canvaham
Haraa devi nigadita maha-karunya-salini

That most merciful Radha destroys the miseries of Her devotees and gives them great happiness every day. Therefore that goddess is known as Haraa.

(12-Raama)

ramate bhajato cetah paramananda-varidhau
atreti kathito raamah syamasundara-vigrahah

The minds of the devotees are continuously drowned in an ocean of supreme joy by seeing the beautiful dark form of Krishna. Therefore He is known by the Name Raama.

(13-Raama)

ramayaty-acyutam premna nikunja-vana-mandire
raama nigadita radha raamo yutas taya punah

Radharani is known as Raama because She enjoys loving pastimes with Acyuta (Krishna) in a secret forest pavilion. Since He is always by Her side, He is known as Raama.

(14-Raama)

rodanair gokule davanalam asayati hyasau
visosayati tenokto ramo bhakta-sukhavahah

When the residents of Gokula were crying due to fear of the forest fire, Krishna immediately swallowed it and gave His devotees great joy. In this way, He is known as Raama.

(15-Hare)

nihantum asuran yato mathura-puram ity-asau
tadagamad-rahah-kamo yasyah sa’sau hareti ca

Sri Krishna went to Mathurapuri in order to destroy the demons. However, due to being captivated by the love of Radha, He later returned. Therefore She is known as Haraa.

(16-Hare)

agatya duhkha-harta yo sarvesam vraja-vasinam
sri radha-hari-carito harih sri nandanandanah

When the son of Maharaja Nanda returned to Vraja, He took away the suffering of all the Vrajavasis. By His wonderful exploits, He steals the heart of Sri Radha. Thus He is known as Hari.

Throughout his Maha-mantrartha Dipika, Sri Jiva Gosvami reveals the meaning of 'Hare' as Haraa until the final verse wherein he says that 'Hare' means Hari – He who has stolen the heart of Srimati Radharani. In the first verse Radha steals the mind of Krishna, and in the last verse Krishna steals the heart of Radha. Indeed, Radha wears a locket with a picture of Krishna around Her neck, and Krishna wears a locket with a picture of Radha around His neck. These Two have stolen each other’s hearts and minds, thus one might suspect that Sri Jiva is alluding to the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in his Maha-mantrartha Dipika as the combined form of both Radha and Krishna. In any case, according to Jiva Gosvami, the divine pastimes of Radha and Krishna are written throughout the maha-mantra.

Comment on this Post