Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna
Pronunciation
/ˌhɑːreɪ ˈkrɪʃnə/
Syllable Breakdown:
Ha-re:
/h/: Voiceless glottal fricative
/ɑː/: Open back unrounded vowel
/r/: Alveolar approximant
/eɪ/: Diphthong, starting with a mid-front unrounded vowel and gliding towards a close-mid front unrounded vowel
Krish-na:
/k/: Voiceless velar stop
/r/: Alveolar approximant
/ɪ/: Near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/ʃ/: Voiceless postalveolar fricative
/n/: Alveolar nasal
/ə/: Schwa, a mid-central unrounded vowel
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: Hare Krishna
Plural Noun: Hare Krishnas
Adjective: Hare Krishna (e.g., "a Hare Krishna follower")
Verb: The term is not typically used as a verb in standard English.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A name for the Supreme Being in a tradition of Hinduism, particularly a form of the god Vishnu. This name is often used in a call-and-response chant.
Synonyms: Vishnu, Krishna, God (in the context of this tradition)
Antonyms: (None directly applicable, as it's a proper name)
A common term for a follower of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a religious movement based on Vaishnavism.
Synonyms: Devotee, follower, bhakta, Vaishnava
Antonyms: Atheist, unbeliever, non-believer
The mantra or chant itself, which consists of the names "Hare," "Krishna," and "Rama." This chant is a central practice of the ISKCON movement.
Synonyms: Mantra, chant
Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
Adjective
Relating to or characteristic of the Hare Krishna movement or its followers.
Synonyms: Devotional, spiritual, religious, Vaishnava
Antonyms: Secular, worldly, non-religious
Examples of Use
Books and Publications
"I used to be silly with money, but with Hare Krishna I've learned self-control..." (The Guardian, January 2020)
The 1974 book Betrayal of the Spirit by Nori Muster details her experiences within the Hare Krishna movement.
In the book Karma Cola, author Gita Mehta recounts her observations of the Hare Krishna movement's rise in popularity in the West during the 1970s.
A 2023 book by Angela R. Burt titled "Hare Krishna in the Twenty-First Century" examines the movement's changing relationship with mainstream society and its modern challenges. (Cambridge University Press, 2023)
Newspapers and Online Media
"The Hare Krishnas are a well-known Hindu group that came to America in the 1960s with a mission to spread the teachings of bhakti-yoga." (The New York Times, August 1996)
An article about religious freedom in Russia mentioned that a court case was centered around whether a Hindu book revered by Hare Krishna devotees was legal. (BBC News, December 2011)
A journalist for the UK newspaper The Guardian wrote an article in April 2019 chronicling his experience of living with the Hare Krishnas for a night and a day. (The Guardian, April 2019)
A news report in the late 1990s described a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed against the movement by former members alleging child abuse in its schools.
Entertainment and Popular Culture
George Harrison, a member of The Beatles, was a devoted follower of the Hare Krishna movement and included the mantra in the backing vocals of his 1970 song "My Sweet Lord."
In the 1980 movie Airplane!, a character is seen selling flowers to passengers at an airport and is widely considered to be a parody of a Hare Krishna devotee.
The band Kula Shaker, known for their psychedelic rock, often incorporates Sanskrit chants and references to Hare Krishna theology in their songs, particularly in their 1996 hit "Govinda."
The movie Hair (1979) depicts a group of Hare Krishna followers dancing and chanting at a "be-in."
General Public Discourse
The term Hare Krishna is often used in public to refer to the practice of chanting, especially the public call-and-response chanting, or kirtan.
For many years, it was common to see Hare Krishna devotees in their distinctive saffron robes chanting, dancing, and selling books in public spaces like airports and city streets.
The phrase "Have you tried Hare Krishna?" was used as a running gag in the 1979 film The Muppet Movie to humorously suggest a religious alternative for characters who were lost or in a state of confusion.
In conversations about new religious movements or "cults" in the 1970s and 80s, Hare Krishna was frequently brought up as a prominent example, often in the context of discussions about brainwashing and deprogramming.
10 Famous Quotes Using Hare Krishna
"No matter how much money you've got, it doesn't necessarily make you happy. You have to find your happiness with the problems you have, not worry too much about them, and chant Hare Krishna." (George Harrison)
"Hallelujah and Hare Krishna are quite the same thing." (George Harrison)
"I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, and I would walk the seven miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it." (Steve Jobs, Stanford University commencement address, June 2005)
"John and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary, Tommy Smothers, Bobby Dylan, Tommy Cooper, Derek Taylor, Norman Mailer, Allen Ginsberg, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna... All we are saying is give peace a chance." (John Lennon, "Give Peace a Chance" lyrics, 1969)
"When we hear the transcendental vibration, this consciousness is revived... This chanting of 'Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare' is directly enacted from the spiritual platform." (A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
"I hope to get out of this place by the Lord Sri Krishna's grace. My salvation from the material world." (George Harrison, "Living in the Material World" lyrics, 1973)
"I looked down and shouted 'Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna.'" (George Harrison, describing an intruder's attack on him in his home, as quoted in The Guardian, November 2000)
"Chanting Hare Krishna can make a person a better Christian." (George Harrison)
"This is a movement to save the soul of mankind from the greatest calamity that has ever befallen it. My mission is to preach the gospel of Hare Krishna." (A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
"The chanting of the Holy Names is so powerful that it's just like a bell that you ring, and when you ring that bell, it brings the Lord's attention to you, it brings the Lord's mercy to you." (Radhanath Swami, who wrote the book The Journey Home)
Etymology
The phrase "Hare Krishna" comes from Sanskrit, an ancient language of India. It's not a single word but a two-part name that's part of a longer mantra.
"Hare" is a call to a divine energy. It's often understood as a way of addressing Radha, who is considered Krishna's divine consort and a manifestation of the Supreme feminine energy. Think of it as a respectful and loving way to get her attention, like saying "O Radha!"
"Krishna" is a name for a principal deity in Hinduism. The name literally means "all-attractive," and he is worshipped as the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, which the Hare Krishna movement belongs to.
The full mantra is "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare." "Rama" is another name for God, often associated with a different incarnation of Vishnu. The whole chant is a form of prayer and meditation, meant to connect the chanter with these divine figures.
The use of "Hare Krishna" as a term for a religious movement and its followers is much more recent. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was founded in New York City in 1966 by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He brought this ancient tradition to the West, and since the chant was central to the movement, the followers and the movement itself quickly became known by the name of the mantra.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Hare Krishna
Chant Hare Krishna: A common phrase referring to the practice of reciting the Hare Krishna mantra.
A Hare Krishna moment: An original phrase used to describe an unexpected or profound spiritual awakening, often involving a shift in perspective.
To join the Hare Krishnas: An idiom referring to the act of becoming a follower or member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
Hare Krishna guru: A term referring to a spiritual teacher or leader within the movement.
Hare Krishna temple: The name given to the places of worship or community centers for followers of the movement.
The Hare Krishna vibe: An original phrase describing the peaceful, spiritual, and often communal atmosphere associated with the movement's events or followers.
To go full Hare Krishna: An idiom for adopting a lifestyle of extreme asceticism or spiritual devotion, often in a humorous or exaggerated context.
Hare Krishna feast: A common phrase referring to the vegetarian meals, often served for free, at temples and events.
Hare Krishna consciousness: A term referring to the state of mind or spiritual awareness that followers of the movement seek to achieve through their practices.
Hare Krishna book distributor: A common phrase for a follower who sells or gives away books about the movement in public places.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of Hare Krishna from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
