Why Hare Krishna First?

Some gurus are in the habit of distorting mantras and are selling them to the public as authentic. The latter lap it up without even knowing that these mantras are distorted and have no scriptural basis. Some devotees may wonder whether "Hare Krishna" first or "Hare Rama first".

Here is the evidence from none other than an authentic vedic scripture:


In the Brahma Yamala, Lord Shiva tells His consort Mahadevi:

harim bina nasti kincat papani-starakam kalau tasmal-lokod-dharana-artham
hari-nama prakasayet sarvatra mucyate loko mahapapat kalau yuge
hare-krsna pada dvandvam krsneti ca pada-dvayam tatha
hare-pada-dvandvam hare-rama iti dvayam tad-ante ca mahadevi-
rama rama dvayam vadet hare hare tato
bru-yad harinama samud dharet mahamantram ca krsnasya sarva papa pranasakam


“He Mahadevi! Look! In Kali-yuga there is no easier way to eradicate sins than by sri-hari-nama. It is therefore essential to propagate sri hari-nama among the general populace. The people in Kaliyuga can be easily liberated from the greatest hell by performing sankirtana of this mahamantra."

"To chant the mahamantra, first chant Hare Krishna twice, then chant Krishna twice, then Hare twice. After that, chant Hare Rama twice, then Rama twice and again Hare twice. One should chant, articulate and perform sankirtana etc., of Sri Krishna’s mahamantra, which destroys all sins.”

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