But above these considerations, our sampradaya has given another, higher consideration. A deeper understanding will reveal that the Hare Krishna mantra is not at all concerned with Rama-lila. In the name of Rama within the Hare Krishna mantra, the Gaudiya–Vaisnavas will find Radha-ramana Rama. That means «Krishna, who gives pleasure (raman) to Srimati Radharani.» In our conception, the Hare Krishna mantra is wholesale Krishna consciousness, not Rama consciousness. Sri Chaitanya’s highest conception of things is always Svayam Bhagavan, Krishna-lila, Radha-Govinda-lila. That is the real purpose of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s advent and teachings. In that consideration, the Hare Krishna mantra does not mention the Rama-lila of Ayodhya at all. There is no connection with that in the highest conception of the Hare Krishna mantra.
And the inner conception of the mantra is responsible for our spiritual attainment. When one pronounces the name Rama, if he means Dasarathi Rama, his attraction will take him there, to Ayodhya; if he means Parasuram, he will be attracted to another place. And if Rama means Radha-ramana Rama , he will go to Goloka. The inner conception of the devotee will guide him to his destination.
My original name was Ramendra Chandra. When I was given initiation, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur gave me the name Ramendra Sundar. I asked him, «What is the meaning of Ramendra?» He told me, «In our consideration, Rama does not mean Dasarathi Rama or Lord Ramachandra, the son of King Dasaratha. It means Radha-ramana Rama — Krishna, the lover of Radharani.»
The name Hare may also mean different things according to one’s conception. That the meaning of the word Hare in the mantra is taken to mean Radharani is also determined according to the spiritual development or qualification (adhikar) of the chanter. When one is firmly established in conceiving of Radha-Krishna in the background of everything — when one finds Svayam-rupa, the original form of Godhead, underlying all sorts of conceptions of all things good — then only will he find that sort of meaning and nothing else.
For beginners, the word Hare in the Hare Krishna mantra can be conceived to mean Hari. That is one meaning. It may also mean Nrsimhadev. And just as Rama can mean Dasarathi Rama , Krishna may refer to different types of Krishna. There is also a Krishna in Vaikuntha, where the vaibhavas, or extensions of the Lord, number twenty-four. In Vaikuntha, first there is Narayan, and then four extensions: Vasudev, Sankarsan, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. Each of these four has five agents, making twenty-four in all. One of these is the Krishna of Vaikuntha. Then, there is the Krishna of Dvaraka and the Krishna of Mathura.
In this way, there are various conceptions of Krishna. But the highest conception of Krishna is Krishna in Vrndavan: Radha-Govinda. When one cannot remove himself from that plane, he will conceive of divinity only as Hari-Hara. He will see nothing else but Radha-Krishna. Those who are completely and perfectly installed in madhura-rasa — who have the highest kind of divine vision — cannot come down from that plane. If they do, it is only for the interest of Radha-Govinda. In that case, the devotee may go anywhere, but his real interest is under lock and key in Vrndavan. Only on behalf of the service of Radha-Govinda will a devotee leave Vrndavan.
For those who are followers of the Vrndavan line, Hare in the Hare Krishna mantra can only mean Hara: Srimati Radharani. Hara means «Radha, who can even snatch the attention of Krishna, Hari.» The word harana means «to steal». One who can steal the mind of He who is most expert in stealing — who can steal even the mind of Krishna — She is Hara. Stealing in its highest capacity is shown by Radharani. And Krishna means «He who is most attractive in the absolute sense.» They are both represented in the mantra.