Japa-mala

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It's only tangential to someone's question on how many beads are

required for the japa-mala, but I've collected a couple of references on

japa, which someone might find helpful. T.R. Sharma, in his Studies in

the Sectarian Upanisads, quotes the following statement (which I haven't

personally looked up) from the Mahabharata:

 

"I shall certainly perform japa; a man who engages himself in japa,

and he neither fully becomes busy in it nor completes it, such a man goes to

hell" (Mahbharata, Santiparva, 197.11).

 

This seems like a pretty strong statement, though we do know from Srila

Prabhupada's books that inattentive or irresolute chanting (like all the

the other offences outlined in Padma Purana) will cause us long-lasting

problems which will obstruct our realization of Krsna (vacya-svarupa) as

His transcendentally pure, holy name (vacaka-svarupa).

But Krsna will be very happy to reveal Himself to us of His own accord

as soon as we no longer offend Him (svayam eva sphuraty adah).

 

Lord Caitanya said that there are no hard and fast rules for

chanting Krsna's innumerable names, and He Himself used to keep count on

His fingers instead of with a japa-mala. There are other ways of doing so

as well. Still, as per the traditional standard, Srila Prabhupada taught

us to use a japa-mala, with 108 beads.

 

Japa is discussed at length in the Haribhaktivilasa, chapter 17

(or maybe it was 13--I don't remember which chapter just now).

 

Here are some simple slokas one can recite when chanting japa.

I've excerpted them as they appear the Sri Stava-kalpa-druma, an anthology

of Sanskrit prayers and verses compiled many years ago by one of Srila

Prabhupada's godbrothers, H.H. Bhaktisaranga Gosvami Maharaja.

 

 

Sri Nama-mala-grahana-mantra (upon taking one's beads):

 

tribhanga-bhangima-rupam

venu-randhra-karancitam

gopi-mandala-madhya-stham

sobhitam nanda-nandanam

 

"His form bent in three places, His hands bent over the holes

of His flute, the son of Nanda Maharaja stands resplendent amidst a circle

of gopis."

 

 

Sri Nama-mala-grahana-mantra (on taking the beads for the purpose of japa

[japarthe]):

 

avighnam kuru male tvam

harinama-japesu ca

sri radha-krsnayor dasyam

dehi male tu prarthaye

 

"O Mala, please destroy inauspiciousness in my chanting of the

holy name of Lord Hari and grant me the position of service to Radha and

Krsna. This is all I pray, O Mala."

 

 

nama cintamani-rupam

namaiva parama gatih

namnah parataram nasti

tasman nama upasmahe

 

"The Holy Name is a beautiful transcendental touchstone--it is the

supreme goal. There is nothing higher than the Holy Name. I therefore worship

the Holy Name."

 

 

Sri Nama-mala-samarpana-mantra (consecrating the mala); traditionally,

Vaishnavas first offer Krsna everything they use, including their neck beads,

japa beads, etc. I don't know that this is intended here though.

 

nama-yajno mahayajna

kalau kalmasa-nasanam

krsna-caitanya-prityarthe

nama-yajna-samarpanam

 

"The sacrifice of the name is the highest yajna, which destroys

the contamination of Kali-yuga. In order to please Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya

Mahaprabhu, I offer this sacrifice of the holy name."

 

 

Sri Nama-mala-sthapana-mantra (establishing the beads):

 

patita-pavana nama

nistaraya naradhamam

radha-krsna-svarupaya

caitanyaya namo namah

 

"The holy name is the saviour of the fallen. Oh, please deliver

this lowest of men. Obeisances again and again unto Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu, unto Sri Sri Radha-Krsna."

 

tvam male sarva-devanam

sarva-siddhi-prada mata

tena satyena me siddhim

dehi matar namo 'stu te

 

"O Mala, among all of the gods, you are considered the bestower of

all perfection. By dint of this fact, O Mother, please grant me perfection.

Obeisances unto you!"

 

 

Again, there are never any hard and fast rules for chanting japa,

but one has to appreciate the intensity of the pure desire that must

have inspired someone to pray like this even to his own japa beads. At

least that's something we can all emulate, or pray for.

 

One older disciple of Srila Prabhupada once told me that at his

initiation, Srila Prabhupada instructed him to finger the beads while

chanting "Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare," and to hold the

beads still between the thumb and middle finger while chanting "Hare Rama

Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare." Prabhupada said this would help him to

concentrate on Krsna.

 

Chant and be happy. Hare Krsna!

 

MDd