Chanting on beads outside the bead bag

[Guest guest]

> > In addition to other duties, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the

> > system of chanting the holy name of the Lord a fixed number of times

> > daily, as confirmed in this verse (tomara dui hasta baddha nama-ganane).

> > Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to count on His fingers. While one hand was

> > engaged in chanting, the other hand kept the number of rounds.

 

> So it seems like in our sampradaya the beadbags were introduced after Lord

> Caitanya by the Gosvamis?

 

In HBV, it is prescribed that if you chant japa on beads they should be

covered like in a bead bag.

 

But the method of chanting on the fingers (anguli japam) is also prescribed

for those who don't have bead bag. So Lord Caitanya's counting his japa on

his fingers and the Goswamis chanting in bead bags, both are mentioned in

HBV which is quoting from different scriptures.

 

The verses describing anguli japam are as follows:

 

TATRA ANGULI JAPAM KURVAN SANGUSTHA ANGULIBHIR JAPET

ANGUSTHENA VINA KARMA KRTAM TAD APHALAM BHAVET

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/116 from SIVA AGAMA)

 

If one chants japa on the fingers, he should chant also using the thumb.

Chanting japa without using the thumb does not give any success.

 

KANISTHA ANAMIKA MADHYA CATURTHI TARJANI MATA

TISRO'NGULYAS TRIPARVAH SYUR MADHYAMA CA EKA PARVIKA

PARVA DVAYAM MADHYAMAYA JAPAKALE VIVARJAYET

EVAM MERUM VIJANIYAD BRAHMANA DUSITAM SVAYAM

ARABHYAN ANAMIKA MADHYAT PRADAKSINAM ANUKRAMAT

TARJANI MULA PARYANTAM KRAMAT DASASU PARVASU

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/117,118,119)

 

Chanting on the fingers, namely the ring finger, the middle finger or the

fourth finger are accepted for chanting japa. On these three fingers, there

are three parts to be used, and one part of the midfinger, all together ten,

to chant japa. This means that one should reject using the first two parts

of the midfinger to chant japa. Brahma has stated that the first two parts

of the midfinger are said to be the Meru or head of the beads, and he has

himself rejected to use it. One should start from the middle of the ring

finger and carry on in a clockwise until the pointing finger's root and thus

altogether they become ten. One should hold his fingers together and chant

japa.

 

ARABHYAN ANAMIKA MULAT PARIVARTET VAI KRAMAT

TARJANI MADHYA PARYANTAM JAPED DASASU PARVASU

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/122 from GAUTAMIYA TANTRA)

 

Beginning from the middle of the ring finger and continuing clockwise to the

root of the pointing finger and chanting japa in this way numbering ten.

 

Your servant,

Nayana-ranjana das

[Guest guest]

> > One should not ...

 

> >...the forbidden circumstances to chant japa....

>

> > While chanting japa, one should not ...

 

 

>Does all of it refer to chanting Hare Krsna? I've heard before that there is

>no fast and strict rules regarding chanting. How does it go together with

>all the above mentioned rules?

 

 

Excellent point! What happened to this process being about *bhakti*,

about what is in our hearts, and about developing our relationship

with Krsna while chanting? If I have to constantly worry about where

my hands and feet are, the position of the rest of my body, and even

about wearing shoes - how is that going to help me think of and

develop love for Krsna? It will just distract me and made me nervous.

 

Besides, this constant quoting of rules that Prabhupada himself

de-emphasized when he was teaching us (he certainly chanted japa both

while walking and wearing shoes) somehow implies that we know better

than him how to do this process. The way I understood it was that

Prabhupada knew both us and the tradition and that he set up a

process that was tailor made for us and that was perfect for our

particular circumstance. So why introduce all these other rules now?

Are those devotees who posted the rules implying that we don't need

Prabhupada's guidance any more in terms of how best to chant japa?

 

Ys,

Madhusudani dasi

[Guest guest]

> Besides, this constant quoting of rules that Prabhupada himself

> de-emphasized when he was teaching us (he certainly chanted japa both

> while walking and wearing shoes) somehow implies that we know better

> than him how to do this process.

 

I agree with this. Let's stick to what Srila Prabhupada taught us by his

example, and books, and not try to tighten the screws on different fronts,

which was not Srila Prabhupada's mood at all.

 

If we can get all devotees to cooperate and like each other, and follow the

4 regs, that by itself will be a great revolution.

[Guest guest]

Our rule is "kirtaniya sada hari". That means that we should always be

chanting anywhere and everywhere, in all circumstances.

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees,

 

I agree to what Mother Madhusudani and Vijaya Venugopal Prabhus are saying, on

the above subject. At the same time, I do not see anything wrong if some one

can follow bonafide rules and regulations on Japa, as long as one does not

feel proud that his chanting is better than others, who are not able to follow

these rules and regulations. Everybody's conditioning, duties, services,

time, place and circumstances are different.

 

Srila Rupa Goswami says that one must not reject anything that can be used in

Krishna's service. Then why must we reject some better rules and regulations

which are only going to improve our chanting / sadhana.

 

The focal point is of course preaching. Srila Prabhupada said that if some

one is unable to do Nirjala Ekadashi and simultaneously do his other duties of

preaching etc, it is better to do Ekadashi with non grain prasadam, and go out

and preach. But if some body can manage his preaching along with Nirjala

Ekadashi, then why not. Ofcourse he should not think, I am better than

others, that I am able to manage Nirjala Ekadashi and at the same time able to

do preaching work. Infact if someone can manage Nirjala Ekadashi, preaching

and social duties even without sleeping on the Ekadashi night and Dwadashi

afternoon, why not.

 

It is definitely good to know what is ideal, even though we fall short of the

ideal standards, by miles. That will only humble us, and at the same time

help us to strive for better standards.

 

Sometime back HH Bhakti Caru Swami has mentioned that one must strive *if

possible* to do Nirjala Ekadashi, without sleep, and ofcourse with out

compromising social duties and preaching activities.

 

Last few months, I have been doing all as Nirjala Ekadashis, and I am praying

to Krishna that I should not become proud about it. Previous year, I

experimented off and on doing Nirjala Ekadashi.

 

Similarly, I am inspired to follow the rules and regulations posted by Nayana

Ranjana Prabhu, on Japa. I seek the blessings of all Vaishnavas that I must

improve on my japa atleast by 1% in the next one year.

 

Maybe one way to avoid this lengthy discussions is, the devotee who posts

these ideal, rules and regulations, must also *humbly* post what is his

present standard, so that no one misunderstands him.

 

Seeking your blessings,

Your humble servant,

Bhadra Govinda Das(JPS)

Singapore.