Hari Nama: The Transformative Power of Naming Loss

In bhakti practice, hari nama (the repetition of the divine name) is central—the act of naming Krishna, calling out to the beloved, is itself transformative and healing. Mirabai's devotional songs often begin with direct address, calling to Krishna by name. For those grieving, hari nama offers a practice of naming: speaking the name of the person or thing we've lost, not once but repeatedly, making that loss real and present rather than abstract. This naming is simultaneously a grief practice and a creative one. When we name our loss—in writing, in conversation, in song—we externalize it and honor it. The act of naming makes the invisible visible and gives weight to what we've lost. In creative work, this becomes powerful: a poem that names the deceased, a song that calls out to what's gone, a piece of art that centers the actual person or thing we're grieving. Hari Nama teaches that naming is not indulgent; it is a sacred, necessary act.