HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA

KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE

HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA

RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE

The Hare Krishna Mantra ( or Maha mantra ) is a Transcendental

sound vibration that's purpose is to free the mind and help us to

uncover our true self, the Spirit Soul. (  jiva-atma )

The word mantra means mind-freeing, and maha means greatest.

So, the Maha mantra is considered to be the greatest mind-freeing.

It is composed of the names of God and is specifically recommended

for the age we live in. Incidentally, the language is called Sanskrit

and is the oldest language known to man.

During one of their "get away from it all" vacations, 

John Lennon and George Harrison sailed around the Greek Isles

 for days chanting the mantra and playing acoustic guitars.

They said once they got started they couldn't stop.

"If we stopped, it would seem like someone turned out a light."

In this page, I will attempt to point out different references to

Krishna Consciousness/Eastern Philosophy,

(some obvious, some not so obvious)

that appeared in the song lyrics and album covers of the

musical groups and artists we grew up with.

George Harrison

by Al Hirschfeld

Some of the earliest references I remembered were in the songs of The Beatles...

"Lay down all thought, surrender to the void, it is shining, it is shining..."

...from Tomorrow Never Knows (Lennon-McCartney)

These lyrics refer to the bright effulgence of the impersonal energy

of God, that yogis aspire to merge with to attain the state of

nothingness or void. Lennon was starting to become interested in

Eastern Philosophy as early as 1966's  Revolver LP.

"And the time will come when you see we're all one

and life flows on within you and without you."

...from Within You Without You (Harrison)

Written on a pedal harmonium at Klaus Voorman's

house in 1967, after George had gotten into meditation

and had already been taking sitar lessons from Ravi Shankar.

Appearing on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band LP,

it was not the first use of Indian instruments for The Beatles.

George had played sitar on Rubber Soul's "Norwegian Wood"

back in 1965.

"Elementary penguin, singing Hare Krishna,

boy you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allen Poe..."

...from I Am The Walrus (Lennon-McCartney)

I have no idea what this means, but apparently,

the singing of Hare Krishna had already caught on in the West.

From late 1967's Magical Mystery Tour LP.

"Without going out of my door, I can know all things on earth..

without looking out of my window, I can know the ways of heaven."

...from The Inner Light (Harrison)

The instruments were all Indian, all played by Indian musicians

and recorded at H.M.V. Studios in Bombay.

Taken from a poem in the "Tao Te Ching".

(Sacred scripture of Taoism written about 550 B.C. )

In February of 1968, by invitation of the Mahareshi Mahesh Yogi, The Beatles traveled to Rishikesh, India

for a spiritual retreat. It was here and during this time that they wrote all of the 30 songs that appeared on

"The White Album" as well as some of "Abbey Road".

George, Paul, John, Donovan & Patti Boyd (?)...

Donovan actually taught John a fingerpicking technique which he used to write songs like "Julia" and "Dear Prudence".

Here they are collaborating on "Mellow, Yellow Submarine" which, unfortunately was never finished or released...(just kidding)

A group photo taken in Rishikesh...

left to right: Patti Boyd Harrison, John, Mike Love of The Beach Boys (wearing the pith helmet),

the Maharishi (aka "Sexy Sadie"), George, Mia Farrow, Jim Gordon (?) , Donovan, Paul,

Jane Asher (Paul's girlfriend at the time), Cynthia Lennon

There is a saying..."There are teachers, and there are CHEATERS."

Depending on whether our desire to learn is either genuine or fake, we will be led to one or the other.

After The Beatles' brief association with the "Mahareshi" was over, George Harrison was fortunate enough

to be introduced to a true, bonafide and authorized guru (spiritual master) of the sacred teachings of ancient India.

His name was A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

George Harrison poses with the Krishna devotees on the roof of Apple.

Once George was introduced to the Maha mantra, he arranged for the Krishna devotees to record a single.

It went to #12 in the UK and stayed on the charts for 9 weeks.

They also recorded a full length album on Apple called "The Radha Krsna Temple".

One of the studio engineers involved was none other than Alan Parsons.
 

The foreword written by George Harrison for a book written by Swami Prabhupada

about the life and pastimes of Krishna entitled "Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead".

George also funded the printing of the book.

November 1970 saw the release of "My Sweet Lord", in which George

incorporated the chanting of the Maha mantra in this #1 hit single

that also appeared on the "All Things Must Pass" LP.

Click the OM symbol to go to a nice tribute to George Harrison on

Gary Wright's web site.

There are endless examples of references

to Krishna and Eastern Philosophy

in George's songs and album covers...

He also influenced many of the

prominent musicians he worked with

over the years. One of them was

Gary Wright - "Dream Weaver"