The Meaning of The Holy Name
It is an offense to interpret the meaning of the holy name according to one’s own conception. One should adopt the explanation given by Srīla Prabhupāda and the scriptures:
The Hare Krsna mahā-mantra consists of 32 syllables and three different names: Hare, Krsna and Rāma. “Krsna” means “the allattractive”. The syllable krs is the attractive aspect of the Lord and na is derived from the word ānanda, “spiritual bliss”. Thus the name of Krsna contains God’s most attractive and pleasant aspect. The Nirukti dictionary renders a further explanation: krs means either “to draw” or “the entire existence”, and na stands for “termination”. “Krsna”, therefore, also means “He who draws the conditioned souls to Him” and “He who finishes the material existence of birth and death.”
“Rāma” means “spiritual enjoyment”. It is a name of Srī Balarāma, but also of Śri Rāmacandra1 . In Hyderabad, two sannyāsīs2 of our movement discussed the question whether the name “Rāma” truly refers to the one or the other. Finally they asked Śrīla Prabhupāda for his siddhānta (conclusion). Śrīla Prabhupāda answered, “As to Vaisnava authorities, there is no difference between Balarāma and Rāmacandra, for both are God. Thus,
‘Rāma’ can mean Balarāma and Rāmacandra as well.”
“Hare” is the vocative case (addressing form) of “Hari”. This is another name of Krsna: “He who grants liberation”. The name “Hare”, however, also refers to another personality. When
Śukadeva Gosvāmī recited the Srīmad-Bhāgavatam, he avoided pronouncing this name: Rādhā, or Srīmatī Rādhārānī3. For, had the two syllables rā-dhā directly passed his lips, Sukadeva Gosvāmī would immediately have fallen into transcendental ecstasy. As soon as he spoke the name of Srīmatī Rādhārānī, the most excellent of all gopīs4, he became so overwhelmed by remembering er that he could not continue to speak. Therefore he only once mentioned the word ārādhitah, “a certain gopī who worships Krsna the best”. This is the only reference to Srīmatī Rādhārānī in the Srīmad-Bhāgavatan5. Sukadeva Gosvāmī never pronounced the name “Rādhā” itself, because otherwise he would have been unable to finish his advises to Mahārāja Parīksit in form of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Another name of Rādhārānī is Harā, and “Hare” is again the vocative case of this name. Thus, “Hare” refers either to Lord Hari or to Srimatī Rādhārānī.
Concluding, we can say that the mahā-mantra expresses the following prayer: “Oh energy of Krsna (Hare, Rādhe), oh Krsna, please engage me in Your devotional service.” Hare Krsna Hare Krsna means addressing Them, “O my Lord, O my Lord’s energy.” So when you address somebody, you want to ask for something. So if they reply, “Yes, why you are calling?” then we’re calling, “Please engage me in Your service.” This is the prayer.6
In this way, Śrīla Prabhupāda explained the meaning of the Hare Krsna mahā-mantra, and we should carefully avoid to concoct our own interpretation.
Notes:
1 Balarāma: the first expansion of Krsna; from Him all other expansions and incamations are generated. In Vrndāvana, He is the elder brother of Krsna.
Rāmacandra: the incarnation of Krsna in the treta-yuga (the second of the four ages). He exhibited all the qualities of a perfect king and is worshipped until today.
2 Sannyāsī: a person in the renounced order of life.
3 Rādhārānī: the eternal consort of Krsna. She is the embodiment of Krsna’s internal energy (hlādinī-śakti) and the topmost of all devotees of Krsna. Krsna is always worshipped together with Rādhārānī.
4 Gopī: a cowherd girl. Here the young daughters of the inhabitants of Vrndāvana are meant, who share the mellow of conjugal love (mādhurya-rasa) with Krsna. They are recognized by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as the topmost devotees of the Lord.
5 I n SB. 10.30.28; this śloka is quoted and explained in Cc. Madhya 8.100.
6 lecture from 2 / 1 2 / 7 4 in Bombay
