Rathajatra — Formula of Peace

These transcendental sound vibrations, by chanting:

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

are the most sublime method for reviving our Krishna consciousness. As spiritual souls, we are all originally Krishna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter from time immemorial, our consciousness is now polluted by the material atmosphere. The material atmosphere, in which we are now living, is called māyā, or illusion. Māyā means “that which is not.” What is this illusion? The illusion is that we are all trying to lord it over material nature, whereas actually we are under the grip of her stringent laws. When a servant artificially tries to imitate the all-powerful master, that is called illusion. We are trying to exploit the resources of material nature, but actually we are becoming more and more entangled in her complexities. Therefore, although we are engaged in a hard struggle to conquer nature, we are ever more dependent on her. This illusory struggle against material nature can at once be stopped by revival of our Krishna consciousness.

Krishna consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind; it is the original energy of the living entity. When we hear the transcendental vibration, this consciousness is revived. This process is recommended for this age by authorities. It is practically experienced that by chanting this mahā-mantra, or the Great Chant for Deliverance, one can at once feel a transcendental ecstasy coming from the spiritual stratum. When one is practically on the spiritual platform, surpassing the stages of senses, mind, and intelligence, one is situated on the transcendental platform. This chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare is enacted from the spiritual platform, and thus this sound vibration surpasses all lower strata of consciousness—namely sensual, mental, and intellectual. Therefore, there is no need of understanding the language of the mantra, nor is there any need of intellectual speculation or mental concoction for chanting this mahā-mantra. It springs automatically from the spiritual platform, and thus anyone can take part in the chanting and dance in ecstasy without any previous qualification.

We have seen this practically. Even a child can take part in the chanting, or even a dog can take part in it. Of course, for one who is too entangled in material life, it takes a little time to come to this standard, but even such a highly materialistic person is elevated to the spiritual platform very quickly. When the mantra is chanted by a pure devotee of the Lord in loving devotion, it has the greatest efficacy on hearers, and as such, this chanting should be heard from the lips of a pure devotee of the Lord, so that immediate effects can be achieved. As far as possible, chanting from the lips of nondevotees should be avoided. Milk touched by the lips of a serpent has poisonous effects.

The word Hare is the form of address to the energy of the Lord, called Harā, and the words Kṛṣṇa and Rāma are forms of address to the Lord Himself. Both Kṛṣṇa and Rāma mean “the supreme pleasure,” and Harā is the supreme pleasure energy of the Lord. In the vocative, Harā becomes Hare. The supreme pleasure energy of the Lord helps us to reach the Lord.

The material energy, called māyā, is also one of the multi-energies of the Lord. And we, the living entities, are also the marginal energy of the Lord. The living entities are described as superior to material energy. When the superior energy is in contact with the inferior energy, an incompatible situation arises; but when the superior marginal energy is in contact with the still higher superior energy, called Harā, the living entity is established in his natural, happy condition.

These three words, namely Hare, Kṛṣṇa, and Rāma, are the transcendental seeds of the mahā-mantra. The chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord and His internal energy Harā to give protection to the conditioned soul. This chanting is exactly like the genuine cry of a child for its mother. Mother Harā helps the devotee achieve the grace of the supreme father, Hari or Krishna, and the Lord reveals Himself to the devotee who chants this mantra sincerely.

Therefore no other alternative of spiritual realization is so effective in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy as the chanting of the mahā-mantra:

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

“O my dear Lord, O energy of the Lord, please engage me in Your service. I am now tired of this material service. Please engage me in Your service.”

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā

“In this age of Kali there is no other alternative, no other alternative, no other alternative for spiritual progress than the chanting of the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord Hari, Krishna.” [Brihan-naradiya Purana, 18.126]

This process of Hari kirtana is the chanting of the maha-mantra (the Great Chant for Deliverance):

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

In the Padma Purāṇa it is stated: “There is no difference between the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself. The holy name is as perfect as the Lord Himself: complete, pure, and eternal. The holy name is not a material sound vibration, it has no material contamination.” Padma Purāṇa. How to constantly chant the holy name of the Lord was mercifully described by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the third verse of His Śrī Śikśāṣṭaka: “One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.”