Question: Why do we pray to Krishna, Hare, Ram, even Brahma when they are all Vishnu? Why not just pray to Vishnu?
Answer by Romapada Swami: Krishna is the source of everything, the original cause of all causes. Thus He is the Absolute, and source of all expansions and incarnations including Visnu. You will find this fact confirmed in many places, such as Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28, Brahma Samhita 5.1 & 5.48.
For the affairs of managing the material creation, Krishna expands as Mahavishnu who in turn expands as Garbhodaksayi Visnu, who is the source of Lord Brahma, who in turn appoints many demigods such as Indra, Candra, Ganesha etc, in charge of universal administration. However, Brahma is actually a living entity (“jiva tattva”), just like any one of us, specially and directly empowered by the Lord for the work of creation. Any qualified living entity can occupy the post of Brahma.
Specifically responsive to your question, Krishna is the Original Personality of Godhead, while Rama is one of the innumerable incarnation of that Original Personality. See Brahma Samhita 5.39. As mentioned above, it is understand that Krishna is the source of all avataras as concluded in Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 1.3.28).
The words `Krishna’ and `Rama’ both refer to one Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Absolute Truth is called Krishna because He is ‘all-attractive’. He is called “Rama” which means `the reservoir of all pleasure’. Essentially Krishna and Rama are not different persons.
Although the standard principles in scriptures are eternal, they recommend specific processes suitable to particular time, place and circumstances. It is stated in Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 12.3.52): “Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Vishnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet (worship of Deity in the temple) can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the holy names of Lord Hari.”
Nearly identical statements are found also in the Vishnu purana, Padma purana and Brihan Naradiya purana.
The Brihan-naradiya Purana 3.8.126 states:
harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
“In this age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name,
chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.”
The Hare Krishna Mahamantra is specifically mentioned in the Narada Pancaratra and Kali-Santarana Upanishad:
hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
ity sodasakam namnam kali kalmasa nasanam
natah parataropayah sarva vedeshu drishyate
“These sixteen words of the Hare Krishna mantra are especially meant for counteracting the sins of the age of Kali. To save oneself from the contamination of this age there is no alternative but to chant the Hare Krishna mantra. After searching through the entire Vedic literatures one cannot find a method of religion for this age so sublime as the chanting of Hare Krishna.” (Lord Brahma instructs Narada, Kali Santarana Upanishad 5-6)
For the above reasons, we focus our attention upon Krishna.
