The Hare Krishna Maha Mantra — the "great mantra" — is chanted by millions of people around the world. It is simple enough for a child and deep enough for a lifetime of practice.
The words of the Maha Mantra
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare
The mantra has 16 words and 32 syllables. It contains three names of the Divine: Hare, Krishna and Rama.
What does it mean?
- Hare: a call to Hara — understood in the Vaishnava tradition as Shri Radha, the divine energy of the Lord.
- Krishna: "the all-attractive one".
- Rama: "the source of all joy" — referring to Shri Ram, and in some explanations also to Krishna and Balarama.
Put simply, the mantra is a heartfelt prayer: "O Lord, O divine energy, please engage me in your loving service."
Where does the mantra come from?
The mantra appears in the Kali-Santarana Upanishad, which presents the chanting of these sixteen names as a means of crossing the difficulties of the Kali Yuga. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spread its congregational chanting (sankirtan) in the 15th–16th centuries, and in the 20th century A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, carried it around the world.
How to chant on a mala
- Hold a tulsi mala in the right hand, starting at the bead next to the larger head bead.
- Chant the complete mantra once on each bead, moving the bead with your thumb.
- After 108 beads you complete one round; turn the mala and continue without crossing the head bead.
- Listen carefully to each word — clear hearing is considered the heart of good chanting.
What does "16 rounds" mean?
One round is one mala of 108 mantras. Initiated devotees in ISKCON commit to chanting 16 rounds every day, which takes most people around two hours. Beginners are usually encouraged to start with one to four rounds and increase gradually — a steady daily number is more valuable than an occasional burst.
For more on counting, read why a mala has 108 beads, or explore Radha Naam Jap and the joy of kirtan.
Frequently asked questions
What are the words of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra?
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.
What does "16 rounds" mean?
One round is one full mala of 108 mantras. Chanting 16 rounds daily is the commitment followed by initiated devotees in ISKCON; beginners usually start with one to four rounds.
How long does one round take?
For most people one round of the full Maha Mantra takes roughly 6–10 minutes, depending on speed and clarity.
Ready to start your practice?
Free mantra counter for your daily Naam Jap — rated 4.6★ on Google Play.
