Hari (Sanskrit: हरि) is among the primary epithets of Vishnu, the preserver deity in Hindu tradition. The name is generally interpreted to mean "the one who takes away," referring to the deity who is believed to remove the sins of devotees, dispel darkness and illusion, and clear obstacles to spiritual progress.
The epithet holds particular importance in Vaishnavism, the tradition centred on the worship of Vishnu and his avatars. Devotees use the name Hari in prayer, chant and devotional song, where it is invoked alongside other epithets of Vishnu such as Narayana and Govinda.
Hari appears as the 650th name of Vishnu in the Vishnu Sahasranama, the litany of a thousand names of Vishnu preserved within the Mahabharata. Its inclusion in this hymn underlines the significance attached to the name within Vaishnava theology and devotional practice.