Diya Prayer & mantra guide
Hare Krishna Maha Mantra: Meaning, Text, and Transliteration
The Hare Krishna Maha Mantra in its original script and transliteration, with the plain-English meaning and reflection from Diya's prayer library.
The short answer
The Hare Krishna Maha Mantra is a devotional chant calling on Krishna and Rama.
Diya's prayer library describes it as a chant made with love and remembrance, for when you want the heart to soften into devotion and joy. Its four lines appear below in the original script with transliteration, followed by the meaning Diya's library gives it.
Hare Krishna Maha Mantra text and transliteration
These are the four lines of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra as they appear in Diya's prayer library. For more, see Lord Krishna: Who He Is, With His Mantras and Prayers and Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murari Lyrics, With Meaning.
| Original | Transliteration |
|---|---|
| हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण | Hare Krishna Hare Krishna |
| कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे | Krishna Krishna Hare Hare |
| हरे राम हरे राम | Hare Rama Hare Rama |
| राम राम हरे हरे | Rama Rama Hare Hare |
In English (Diya prayer library): A devotional chant calling on Krishna and Rama with love and remembrance.
What the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra means: a reflection, not a translation
Diya's prayer library gives the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra a plain-English meaning and a short reflection:
Plain-English meaning (Diya prayer library): O Hare, O Krishna, O Rama—again and again, I call upon your sacred names.
Deeper reflection (Diya prayer library): The repeated names give us a way to keep turning toward the Lord. When our mind wanders, the next name offers another beginning. We can return gently and speak it with attention. Devotion can grow through these small returns, even when we find it hard to stay focused.
For another Krishna and Vishnu hymn, see Achyutam Keshavam lyrics.
Related reading
Questions people ask
What is the meaning of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra?
Diya's prayer library describes it as a devotional chant calling on Krishna and Rama with love and remembrance.
What does the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra say?
Its four lines are on this page in the original script with a transliteration from Diya's prayer library.
Can I chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra in Diya?
Yes. It is part of Diya's prayer library.
Research notes
Sources
Follow the reading behind this article through the references below. Each source represents its own author, institution, or tradition.
- Hare Krishna Maha Mantra (Diya prayer library)
DiyaPublished by Houdini Apps, LLC
- Hare Krishna Maha Mantra meaning and reflection (Diya prayer library)
DiyaPublished by Houdini Apps, LLC
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