In2-MeC

Helsinki, Finland
3 October 2004

A Visit with Dr. Igor Alexeev and Family
Dr. Alexeev, formerly of St. Petersberg, Russia, is a lecturer in the chemistry faculty of the Univerity of Turku. Myself, Tattvavada and Tapo Divyam Prabhus visited his home and family on the afternoon of Friday, 1 October, before we returned to Helsinki from Turku.

Sunday Feast Program, Helsinki

Hare Krsna Mahamantra
The meaning as explained by Gopala Guru Gosvami, disciple of Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami

The word hare :

hari harati papani dusta cittair api smrtah
anicchayapi samsprsto dahaty eva hi pavakah
vijnapya bhagavat tattvam cid ghanananda vigraham
haraty avidyam tat karyam ato harir iti smrtah

Just as the fire, on contacting an object, automatically burns it, so the name of Hari takes away ( harati ) or burns up all the sins of the people with materialistic hearts. It removes ( harati ) all ignorance and reveals the transcendental, blissful form of the Lord. Also, hari means that personality who attracts ( harati ) the minds of all the people in the universe when they hear stories of His transcendental qualities; or, He who attracts the minds of people by His beautiful youthful form. Hari in the grammatical form of address, the vocative, or calling out to a person, becomes hare .

The word hare has another meaning:

svarupa prema vatsalyair harer harati ya manah
hara sa kathyate sadbhih sri radha vrsabhanuja

Hara is Srimati Radhika, daughter of Vrsabhanu, who steals ( harati ) the mind of Hari, Krsna, by her unalloyed love. Hara , in the form of address, also becomes hare .

The word Krsna :

krsir bhu vacakah sabdo nas cananda svarupakah
tayor aikyam param brahma krsna ity abhidhiyate

The word krsna is composed of the root krsi meaning bhu , the shelter of all existence and the word na meaning nivriti or the form of supreme bliss. Combined they form the word krsna which signifies the param brahma , the Supreme Personality of Godhead with blissful form.

Krsna in the form of address remains as krsna .

The word Rama :

ramante yogino 'nante nityanande cidatmani
iti rama padenaiva param brahmadbhidhiyate

The param brahma is known as Rama because the yogis take pleasure ( ramante ) in meditating on His eternal, blissful form.

vaidagdhi sara sarvasva murti liladbhidevatam
sri radham ramayan nityam rama ity abhidhiyate

The Supreme Lord is called Rama because He carries out pastimes of pleasure with the most beautiful Sri Radha.

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Oh Radha, please attract my mind, and free me from this material world.

Oh Krsna, please attract my mind.

Oh Radha, attract my heart by showing your sweetness.

Oh Krsna, purify my mind by giving knowledge of how to perform worship of You through Your pure devotee.

Oh Krsna, give me steadiness to appreciate Your name, qualities and pastimes.

Oh Krsna, may I develop a taste for serving You.

Oh Radha, please make me qualified for your service.

Oh Radha, please instruct me on how I can serve you.

Oh Radha, let me hear of your intimate pastimes with your beloved.

Oh Rama (Krsna), let me hear of Your intimate pastimes with your beloved.

Oh Radha, reveal to me your pastimes with your beloved.

Oh Rama, reveal to me Your pastimes with Your beloved.

Oh Rama, engage me in remembering Your name, form, qualities and pastimes.

Oh Rama, please make me qualified for your service.

Oh Radha, be pleased with me.

Oh Radha, be pleased with me.

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