05 The meaning of the name “Hare”

The Meaning Of The Name “Hare”

"Hare is the vocative form of "Hara," the supreme pleasure energy of the Lord:

The word Hara is the form of addressing the energy of the Lord, and the words Krsna and Rama are forms of addressing the Lord Himself. Both Krsna and Rama mean "the supreme pleasure,".and Hara is the supreme pleasure energy of the Lord, changed to Hare in the vocative. The supreme pleasure energy of the Lord helps us to reach the Lord.

– The Science of Self Realization


Hara is Krsna's internal potency, Srimati Radharani or Laksmi:

When we are chanting the maha−mantra, we are actually addressing God and His energy, Hara. Hara is Krsna's internal potency, Srimati Radharani. Thus the Vaisnavas worship Radha−Krsna, Laksmi−Narayana and Sita−Rama. In the beginning of the Hare Krsna maha−mantra we first address the internal energy of Krsna, Hare. Thus we say, "O Radharani! O Hare! O energy of the Lord!"

– Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahtti


The Hare Krsna mantra is first addressed to the spiritual energy of the Lord, which enlightens one:

Spiritual enlightenment is possible by the mercy of the spiritual energy of the Lord. The chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra is first addressed to the spiritual energy of the Lord, Hare. This spiritual energy acts when a living entity fully surrenders and accepts his position as an eternal servitor. When a person places himself at the disposal or order of the Supreme Lord, that is called sevonmukha; at that time the spiritual energy gradually reveals the Lord to him.

– Srimad Bhagavatam 4.9.6


A Vaisnava worships the energy of the Lord along with the Lord through chanting the maha−mantra:

Because Krsna and His energy appeared simultaneously, people have generally formed two groups−the saktas and the Vaisnavas−and sometimes there is rivalry between them. Essentially, those who are interested in material enjoyment are saktas, and those interested in spiritual salvation and attaining the spiritual kingdom are Vaisnavas. Because people are generally interested in material enjoyment, they are interested in worshiping Mayadevi, the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vaisnavas, however, are suddha−saktas, or pure bhaktas, because the Hare Krsna maha−mantra indicates worship of the Supreme Lord's energy, Hara. A Vaisnava prays to the energy of the Lord for the opportunity to serve the Lord along with His spiritual energy. Thus Vaisnavas all worship such Deities as Radha−Krsna, Sita−Rama, Laksmi−Narayana and Rukmini−Dvarakadhisa, whereas durga−saktas worship the material energy under different names.

– Srimad Bhagavatam 10.2.11−12


Author: ISKCON Desire Tree

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