THE SCIENCE OF CHANTING THE HARE KRSNA MAHA-MANTRA

[Guest guest]

Dear Vraja Kumar Prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

>the figures are;

>3 lakhs a day = 192 rounds = 331776 names/day = 121,098,240 names/year

>to chant 1,000,000,000 (1 billion) names would, at that rate, take 8.258

>years, or around 8 years 3 months.

>if he chanted 1 billion names in 4 years, it would be approx double the

>above ie. 6 lakhs/day!

 

Many thanks for the figures.

 

I had said Bhaktisiddhanta Sarsvati chanted half a billion names in 4 years.

In 1905, at the age of 31, he began his great vow, of chanting 1 billion

names in about 9 years. He resided in a grass hut at the Yogapitha for four

years, and in February of 1909 he built a cottage near the Yogapitha at

Vrajapattana (town of Vraja) on the site of the house of Sri Chandrasekhara

Acarya, the uncle of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This place is considered to be

non-different from the banks of Radha-kunda. When the roof of his kutir was

broken, rather than take some time away from his chanting, he would simply

use an umbrella when it rained and go on chanting. He would take rest on the

ground, never using any pillows and constantly chant and study the

scriptures. Sometimes, he had to go to different places, but he continued

very strictly and completed his vows always.

 

Even Namacarya Haridasa Thakura was chanting 3 lakhs a day. To chant 192

rounds for such exalted souls it should normally about 18 to 21 hours. So

where is the time for another 192 rounds in same 24 hours. So 6 lakhs names

a day is technically not possible.

 

>personally i struggle with 1/4 lakh...

 

Bhaktivinode Thakura writes in Hari Naam Cintamani

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructs in Caitanya Bhagavat (Madhya-khanda

23.650):

 

iha japa giya sada kariya NIRBANDHA

iha haite sarva siddhi haibe sabara

 

The instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is specifically to chant the Hare

Krishna maha-mantra in multiples of NIRBANDHA. The words nirbandha needs

elaboration. The aspirant should chant the maha-mantra on Tulasi beads. Four

rounds on the mala make a granthi. By gradually increasing his chanting, the

sadhaka should aspire to chant 16 granthis or one lakh of names; in

particular this number is called as NIRBANDHA. If chanting is then even

furthur increased to three lakhs of names, the devotee will always be

immersed in the Lord's holy name.

 

So one NIRBANDHA stands for 64 rounds. That is the reason why BSST

prescribed chanting of a minimum of 64 rounds everyday, which is accordance

to the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Caitanya Bhagavat.

 

Since Srila Prabhupada introduced the chanting of a minimum of 16 rounds

everyday (the acarya preaches according to time, place & circumstances), he

gave an explanation about why he had done this in NOI, Text 5:

 

"The Krsna consciousness movement prescribes sixteen rounds daily

because people in the Western countries cannot concentrate for long

periods while chanting on beads. Therefore the minimum number of

rounds is prescribed. However, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati used to

say that unless one chants at least sixty-four rounds of japa (one hundred

thousand names), he is considered fallen (patita). According to his

calculation, practically every one of us is fallen, but because we are

trying to serve the Supreme Lord with all seriousness and

without duplicity, we can expect the mercy of Lord Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu, who is famous as patita-pavana, the deliverer of

the fallen."

 

So it is a concession made by Srila Prabhupada for the devotees who cannot

concentrate for long periods while chanting on beads. That is why he always

used to add the word 'minimum' before 16 rounds. So the devotees should know

when they are chanting a minimum of 16 rounds everyday and should aspire to

always chant extra rounds as and when they find any spare time from their

practical devotional service. Not that I will relieve myself of the burden

of the bead bag for the day as soon as I finish 16 rounds.

 

If you notice BSST is hardly seen in his pictures of carrying the bead bag

with him whereas Srila Prabhupada used to always have the bead bag around

his neck even when he was not chanting. One of the reasons which I can think

of for this is that Srila Prabhupada wanted to emphasize that since he has

prescribed a minimum of just 16 rounds does not mean that one has to

strictly restrict himself to that number and not chant more. Srila

Prabhupada regarding this point in TQK:

 

"This is a symptom of an advanced devotee. Nama-gane sada rucih:

such a devotee is never tired of chanting, singing, or dancing. The word

sada means “always,” and ruci means “taste.” A devotee always has a taste

for chanting Hare Krsna: “Oh, very nice. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna

Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” This is

taste. Of course, this taste takes time to awaken..."

 

So I am praying to lotus feet of the Vaisnavas that I can achieve this goal,

of awakening the taste for chanting Hare Krishna always. Then my life will

be successful.

 

Because only continuous chanting will help to keep Namaparadhas (the

greatest obstacles to Krsna-prema) at bay and help us to taste the pure

name. Srila Prabhupada on this in the purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam

7.5.23–24:

 

"There is no way to atone for any of these offenses. It is therefore

recommended that an offender at the feet of the holy name continue to

chant the holy name twenty-four hours a day. Constant chanting of the

holy name will make one free of offenses, and then he will

gradually be elevated to the transcendental platform on which he can

chant the pure holy name and thus become a lover of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead."

 

Again Srila Prabhupada in Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.24

 

 

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura quotes this verse from the Padma

Purana:

 

namaparadha-yuktanam

namany eva haranty agham

avisranti-prayuktani

tany evartha-karani ca

 

Even if in the beginning one chants the Hare Krsna mantra with

offenses, one will become free from such offenses by chanting again and

again. Papa-ksayas ca bhavati smaratam tam ahar-nisam: one becomes free

from all sinful reactions if one chants day and night, following the

recommendation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

 

Aspiring servant of all the Vaisnavas relishing the Holy Name,

Nayana-ranjana dasa br.