Tuesday, September 09, 2008

The meaning of Hari - by Gopal-Guru Gosvami


By chanting the name Hari, all sins are harati (destroyed). Just as fire burns even when one touches it accidentally, so if a person accidentally chants the name of hari, then all his sins are burned up. This name reveals the Lord's real form, with all his bliss and knowledge, and thus destroys ignorance and its effects. This is the meaning of the word Hari.

Or, the word Hari can mean He who takes away (harati) the three miseries of material existence from all living entities.

Or, Hari can mean He who attracts (harati) the minds of all living entities when they hear about His transcendental qualities from a guru.

Or, Hari can mean He who attracts the minds of all avatars and all people by His sweetness and beauty, which is greater than that of millions of cupids. The word hari becomes hare in the vocative case (the form of address).

Or, according to the Brahma-samhita, the person who attracts the Lord's mind by Her ideal love, Radha, is called Hara. In the vocative case, Hara becomes Hare.

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