The Hare Krishna Mantra is a sixteen word mantra that rose to importance after the 15th century. Although it’s roots are deeply founded in middle eastern tradition, there have been popular movements ever since its beginning that link it to the culture of the people at a certain time or place. One such link of the Hare Mantra is it’s link with the Hippie culture and what they have associated the mantra with.

The confusion began when popular films began using hippies in them and showed scenes where the hippies were reciting, or were involved in some way or another, with the hare Krishna mantra. This was a common confusion because the hippie culture was typically associated with a happy and joyous lifestyle, and that was the basic premise of the mantra. It was said that by repeating the god’s names in a certain order and with a particular frame of mind, one could elevate themselves to a state of elation and joy. For this reason, it was typical for hippies to be confused with those avid belivers in the power of the Hare Krishna Mantra.

The mantra also appears in popular culture references throughout history. Some examples of this include songs performed by John Lennon and the Beatles, where listeners can hear the mantra being recited, possibly invoking that desired state of elation. Other popular culture references include episodes of both Seinfeld and Scrubs, and even awards ceremonies that were televised.

The Hare Krishna Mantra is supposed to create a desired effect of elation in those who say it, and whether it is found in typical or peculiar places, the result should always be the same: joyous elation and peace.

The Hare Krishna is the commonly used name for the International Society of Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON, for short. This is a religious movement that came out of Hinduism. The movement was founded in New York in 1965 when Swami Prabhupada moved there from India. He and his followers moved to the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco in 1967. The movement spread rapidly. When the Beatle George Harrison expressed interest in the Hare Krishna movement it became even more popular. The movement came under criticism in the 1970′s and 1980′s from the anti-cult groups organizing at the time. Because of their unusual dress and practices such as chanting in public, they were mistrusted.

Hare Krishnas use the same scriptures and follow teachings and practices that are common in Hinduism. People are free to join ISKCON and then leave if they find it is not right for them. Most mainstream Hindus consider the Hare Krishnas to be an authentic sect within Hinduism.

There are approximately 250,000 devotees. Some are “congregational members” which means they live and work in a normal fashion, just attending temple for worship purposes. “Temple-based members” live in the temple and tend to lead a more ascetic lifestyle. Male members dress in saffron or white robes and shave their heads, while women wear bright saris.

Their main practices include avoiding drugs or alcohol, eating a vegetarian diet, practicing celibacy except for procreation within marriage, evangelism, and chanting. The chanting of mantras is the primary religious ritual.

The first Hare Krishna regulative principle is Daya (which means “mercy”), which implores the followers of Krishna to live in peace and harmony with their surroundings and their fellow creatures. An obvious result of this principal is that members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness do not eat meat, fish, or eggs. Their diets are strictly vegetarian, but that does not mean that they are boring and lacking in nutritions, or that Hare Krishna followers walk around feeling hungry all the time! Foods prepared in alignment with the principle of Daya are eye-catching, tasty, and nutritious.

The Hare Krishna menu is built around foods that are non-violent, nutritious, flavorful, and inexpensive. The basic ingredients of their dishes include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and milk products. These basic ingredients cooked into dishes with traditional Indian spices (remember what Columbus was hoping to find by sailing west to get to the east?) provide a diet that is nutritious, filling, and anything but monotonous and boring. It is a diet that respects the earth and all sentient beings on the earth, similar to the diet that has sustained many people for thousands of generations. Hare Krishna cooking is performed primarily as a gift to Lord Krishna, and secondarily to feed the people. Hare Krishna devotees believe that if everyone on earth ate with the principle of Daya in mind, the world would be a much more peaceful and prosperous place for people and all living creatures.

While strolling through a quiet neighborhood in my home town one day I came across some Hare Krishna followers. They were wearing robes and repeating some phrases. I was very interested in what they were doing and what they believed. The weather was very nice but I couldn’t tell what exactly they were doing. I continued my walk and came back around a little while later.

I saw they were no longer chanting, but talking with each other so I finally walked up to them. I greeted one lady and started asking her what their beliefs were. I told her how beautiful her sari was and that I was just curious as to what holiday it was or what they were celebrating. She told me it was not a holiday celebration but they were only meeting in the park to worship. I felt like I was being nosey, but I told her I heard them chanting and I was just curious what it was about. She was very open and explained her beliefs to me. She told me the types of foods they could eat and the rules they were supposed to follow. I think the Hare Krishna rules and beliefs are a way to live a healthy life. They are not supposed to use drugs, they believe you should keep yourself pure. I do enjoy eating meat, but only certain kinds. Having control, patience, and discipline is important. One thing I found out from my stroll through the park is that these people were not much different from me.

There are hundreds of thousands of believers in the teachings of the Hare Krishna belief system and they believe that success in enlightenment comes through self control. This self control takes a great deal of patience as well as the will to do so even with the temptation of foods such as meats, fish or eggs and other bad habits such as sexual deviation, intoxication of any type and gambling. These teachings of self control are said to help the soul become more successful and fulfill a much better life through the teachings. The mantra that the practitioners of Hare Krishna chant to themselves or while others hear is a 16 word Vaishnava that is simply the holy god’s names in a repeated sequence.

The words to the mantra emanate a special transcending vibration which hits every part of the soul including the sensual, mental and intellectual portions as well. It provides a consciousness to feel and love god in all of the forms that it could exist in. The mantra can be said by anyone because it hits these special conditions directly from the spiritual platform. The teachings are available to anyone that wishes to fall into the ideals of Hare Krishna way of life and can be followed by anyone, no matter what their previous background was. The only requirements for those who wish to join the Hare Krishna’s is to follow the teachings and stray away from the temptations that make themselves present each and every day.

With the nature and understanding of the Hare Krishna, that when chanting it you are developing the love ecstasy for the Krishna.

The unadulterated loves for the Krishna, within the hearts of the living entities for eternity, in a dormant state. While chanting and hearing purify the hearts, all the living entity will be naturally awoken. The ones with the original Krishna has their consciousness awaken immediately during these chants and hearings. The person’s heart will be cleansed from all the materials that has contamination, once they chant the holy names of a Supreme Personality of the Godheads. Within the Brihanaradiya Purana it states that with that age of the Kali Yuga, some people are slower within the self-realizations and all the disturbed materials of anxiety; therefore, it is recommended that for the person to chant and hear the holy Lord’s names.

Chanting the Hare Krishna is very easy; however, it should be performed in a proper manner to encounter the greatest results. When a person goes to chant they should be loud enough so that a person near by could distinctly hear every single syllable. During the chanting a person should solely concentrate their mind to hear the mahamantra. This lifetime mandtra meditation should help to cleanse a person that has lust desires that have accumulated within their hearts. It seems very difficult to keep your mind from wandering away, but just like everything else practice will only make you perfect. The best times to perform this chant is during the early morning.

The Hare Krishna movement is a Hindu Vaishnava religious organization. It was founded in 1966 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in New York City. The basic principles of Hare Krishna are centered around traditional Hindu scriptures, which are believed by followers to be over five thousand year. One important feature of Hare Krishna is that its ideals are non-sectarian.

Followers of Hare Krishna use four regulative principles as the basis for their spiritual life. These four regulative principles are: no eating of meat, fish or eggs, no illicit sex, no gambling and no intoxication. The fourth regulative principle (no intoxication) includes alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and other recreational drugs. The four regulative principles are based in relation the four legs of dharma. Those four legs are as follows: Daya (which symbolizes Mercy), Tapas (which symbolizes Self-Control or Austerity), Satyam (which symbolizes Truthfulness) and Saucam (which symbolizes Cleanliness of the Body and Mind).

Another important aspect of Hare Krishna is the Maha Mantra. In fact, because the movement is officially known as “International Society for Krishna Consciousness,” the nickname of Hare Krishna actually came from the Maha Mantra. The Maha Mantra is sung by followers, or can also be chanted quietly while they hold Japa mala, which are similar to the rosary beads that are well known within the Catholic faith. The Maha Mantra goes as follow:

“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare”

According to recent statistics, there are several hundred thousand people around the world who regularly worship at the more than two hundred and twenty-five Hare Krishna centres that can be found all over the globe.