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Originally Posted by alphamind
I read a quote from an ISKCON leader that Hare itself refers to Radharani. So not sure which is correct. ... I also hear Rama sounding like Ramo often
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The mantra is a play on words. The mantra, in my opinion, is calling on God and his energies in various ways. Hare can indeed refer to Rādhā/Rādhārāni. A name for her is Harā. In the vocative (calling or addressing) it becomes Hare.
As I mentioned the male Hari also becomes Hare in the vocative. Note the long a at the end of Harā, which is different than a name for Shiva, Hara. Because Sanskrit is so highly inflected, and there's a difference in pronunciation of vowels (long and short) and some consonants it is very flexible yet can be frighteningly ambiguous. It allows for plays on words and many meanings of one word or phrase. Context is extremely important in understanding what's being said or written.
As far as Ramo, the only thing I can think of is Ramau (au becomes o). But that is a dual inflection, basically "two Rāmas". Paired with Hari it becomes Harerāmau, like "O Vishnu and Rāma". I think this is a reach and it's probably just a pronunciation thing. In the recorded version from the Goddess of Fortune album Yamuna Devi Dasi, the singer often says Hare Krishana. There's no such inflection. So, yeah ...
maybe just pronunciation.
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