A-Z TIPS FOR CHANTING HARE KRISHNA MAHA MANTHRA!
Before reading this article, read this Post also:
MEANING OF GAYATHRI MANTHRA & HARE KRISHNA MAHA MANTHRA!
The Manthra proved to be able to purify any person of any stage:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
In a day's 24 hours, let us spend 7 hrs to sleep; 1 Hr to eat; 9 hrs for work; 5 hrs for any other important work you have! Can’t we spend 2 hrs for Chanting Krishna’s Name & Reading?
DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO CHANT?
Some say that they find it difficult to concentrate in Chanting & other saadhanas due to some situations. We have replied him there.
Nobody is 100% perfect! Don’t fight with situations/ negatives. Just practice Krishna bakthi sincerely. All the negatives/ barriers will disappear soon! Only Krishna bakthi remains!
Srimad Bhagawatham: 12.3.52:
"krte yad dhyayato visnum tretayam yajato makhaih dvapare paricaryayam kalau tad dhari-kirtanat"
MEANING: "Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Visnu (Dhyana), in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices (Homa) and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet (At temples) can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra"
While chanting, we should be careful in avoiding these offenses:
We should not be casual in chanting! Chanting means connecting to Krishna! So, We should be very careful in TEN OFFENCES while chanting Hare Krishna regularly:
1. Don’t blaspheme (speaking evil of) those devotees who have dedicated their life for propagating Holy Name Of Krishna!
2. Don’t consider the Names of Demigods to be equal to or independent of the Holy name of Krishna! We have seen many people treating all the Names demigods/ celestials & Krishna equally but it is an offence. (We can not equalize them with that of Krishna!)
3. Don’t disobey the orders of your Spritual master!
4. Don’t speaking evil of the Vedic Literature or literature in pursuance of Vedic version!
5. Don’t think that the Glories of Chanting Hare Krishna to be an imagination!
6. Don’t commit sinful activities on the strength of the Holy Name of Krishna! (ie, We should not take it granted that just because we chant the Holy name of Krishna regularly, we can continue to do sinful activities & then chant Hare Krishna to neutralize those new sins! Such dangerous mentality is very offensive)
7. To give some own interpretation to the holy name of the Lord!
8. Don’t instruct a faithless person about Glories of Holy Name of Krishna! (ie, you can tell any one to chant Hare Krishna! But, you should not tell them the transcendental potency of the Lord! As most sinful persons won’t appreciate transcendental glories of Krishna initially. In due course of time, they will start looking for knowing more about Krishna!)
9. Don’t consider Chanting Hare Krishna as one of the auspicious rituals offered in the Vedas for gains)!
10. Don’t Maintain incomplete faith in the chanting Hare Krishna & Material attachments even after so many instructions!
There are some local offenses also at the time of chanting! If you chant Hare Krishna without these major offences, it will be more effective & you will reach Krishna without fail!
If you get diversions while chanting, see/think the picture of Krishna or any of His forms in paper/mind while chanting, so that you can avoid thoughts on opposite sex, material things, worries, dreams, etc!
Try to wake up before 5 am, take bath or just clean your teeth and face & Chant as much rounds as possible preferably before Sunrise or atleast before 8AM! Start daily duties after chanting in the early morning & find the difference!
Krishna Sees only our CONSCIOUSNESS! Not the status!
The 'chanting rounds' that should NOT be included in the calculation of committed number of rounds are those rounds that were done while working, watching T.V, Computer, Mobile, eating, lying on bed or chatting with others!
You can chant Hare Krishna at any time without hesitation; However, If you had committed 8 rounds a day (108 times x 8), try to include only those rounds that were done as an exclusive assignment! Chanting can be done even in a house where a death has happened recently!
Ladies can chant even during monthly periods without using chanting tulasi mala and they can use fingers or counting machines to count! (without involving in deity/ picture worship & offering food to Krishna)!
If you feel itching in nose, ears, hairs or other body parts, stop chanting, make body comfortable & start chanting again! Don’t include stopped round in counting!
Don’t chant while taking bath or in toilets!
Don’t talk to others or put your eyes on any other media while chanting!
Chant in a peaceful atmosphere without TV, Radio, disturbing persons, disturbing thoughts, etc.
If any one calls you while chanting, stop chanting, go, attend, come back & continue chanting (Don’t include stopped round in counting)!
Don’t overload your stomach as you will feel sleepy & be affected by gastric/ acidic trouble!
‘JAPA’ means ‘Speak softly’. So, chant in very low voice that can be heard only by you! You can sing devotional songs loudly but don’t chant very loudly to disturb others!
More the sincerity, faster will be the spiritual advancement & going back to Krishna!
PRONOUNCE THE MANTHRA CLEARLY & DISTINCTLY WITH A FOCUSED MIND THAT IS NOT WANDERING WORLD-OVER!
SCRIPTURES SAY:
"WHEN YOU CHANT HARE KRISHNA MAHA MANTHRA, KRISHNA STARTS PERSONALLY DANCING ON YOUR TONGUE!"
SO, DON’T TAKE CHANTING AS JUST ANOTHER DUTY! ‘MAHA MANTHRA’ MEANS "GREAT SOUND THAT LIBERATES OUR MIND FROM IGNORANCE!"
A round (108 times) of chanting will take 6 to 8 minutes depending on the experience. Thus, if a person completes a round within 6 minutes, that means, he has (i) not concentrated on the letters of manthra or (ii) omitted some letters of manthra, or (iii) skips some beads (less than 108 times).
Quality of Chanting is important. We should avoid taking Chanting Beads to Bathroom or toilet."
Now, it is time for us to know the proper way of chanting. There are different methods to count the 108 times of chanting of Maha Manthra. One method is using the fingers. The difficulty in this method is we have to spare part of our attention to the counting of fingers! It reduces our concentration in chanting. Chanting can also be done using beads placed inside a bag. There are handy counting machines to count the number of chanting.
Each strand of JAPA BEADS contains 108 beads & one large bead (the head bead to know the starting/ closing point). Start chanting on a bead next to the head bead and gently roll it between the thumb & middle finger of your right hand as you chant the full Hare Krishna Manthra. Then move to the next bead & repeat the process.
In this way, chant on each of the 108 beads until you reach the head bead again. This is one round of Japa. Then, without chanting on the head bead, reverse the beads & start second round on the last bead you chanted on. This method not only helps to you fix your attention on the holy name, but it also helps you to count the no. of times you chant the manthra daily!"
Once you have fixed certain no. Of rounds of chanting daily, try to complete it every day without fail. When you feel you can chant more, increase the minimum no. of rounds you chant every day. But, don’t fall below that number. you can chant more than your fixed number, but you should maintain a set minimum each day".
The beads are sacred. Never allow it to touch ground or put it in an unclean place. To keep your beads clean, it is best to carry them in a special bead bag. (Both beads & bead bags are available in ISKCON temples worldwide). Since Krishna is all powerful & Merciful, he has kindly made it very easy for us to chant. HE HAS ALSO INVESTED HIS POWERS IN THEM.
Initiated devotees (those who have accepted a diksha guru) must chant a minimum of 16 rounds (16x108) daily! No relaxation! In case they miss any rounds of chanting on any day because of genuine r easons, you can compensate that by chanting those missed rounds the next day. However, new devotees may find this difficult. They can start from 2, 4, 8 & increase the number of rounds stage by stage".
However, decide the no. of rounds considering your background. Even if you chant two rounds, do it properly.
Don’t stick to it habitually. Develop a wish to increase the no. of rounds and do it! If you are free on a any day (Holiday), don’t hesitate to chant 16 rounds on that day. (Many wake up only after 9 am on holidays, half heartedly). If we are not ready to sacrifice even an hour for Krishna, it shows our ego. We are zero, if Krishna’s Mercy is not there!
I have said earlier about the ten offences against & while chanting! In spite of our care, we may commit 1 or 2 offences, as we are human! So, before starting the chanting, we have to pray our acharyas to forgive these offences! So, Before starting the chanting, tell the Manthras in the next post holding the Master bead on your fingers.
(1) Nama Ohm Vishnu Paadaaya Krishna Preshthaya Bhuthale
Srimathe Bakthivedantha Swamin Ithi Namine
Namaste Saraswathe Deve Gauravani pracharine
nirvisesha sunyavadi paschatya desa tarine
(2) Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu Nityananda
Sri Advaitha Gadhadhara Srivashadhi Gaura baktha vrindha.
After reciting these manthras before chanting, you can start chanting NON-STOP!
Before finishing this topic, I write what Sri Chaitanya Maha Prabhu said:
"Harer Nama Harer Nama Harer Namaiva Kevalam;
Kalau Nasty Eva Nasty Eva Nasty Eva Gathir Anyatha"
MEANING:
"IN THIS AGE OF KALI (OF QUARREL & ANXIETY), THERE IS (i) NO ALTERNATIVE, (ii) NO ALTERNATIVE , (iii) NO ALTERNATIVE (Says 3 times) FOR SPIRITUAL PROGRESS OTHER THAN CHANTING OF THE HOLY NAMES OF GOD!"
MEANING OF GAYATHRI MANTHRA & HARE KRISHNA MAHA MANTHRA!
The Manthra proved to be able to purify any person of any stage:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
In a day's 24 hours, let us spend 7 hrs to sleep; 1 Hr to eat; 9 hrs for work; 5 hrs for any other important work you have! Can’t we spend 2 hrs for Chanting Krishna’s Name & Reading?
DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO CHANT?
Some say that they find it difficult to concentrate in Chanting & other saadhanas due to some situations. We have replied him there.
Nobody is 100% perfect! Don’t fight with situations/ negatives. Just practice Krishna bakthi sincerely. All the negatives/ barriers will disappear soon! Only Krishna bakthi remains!
WHY HARE KRISHNA MAHA MANTHRA?
Srimad Bhagawatham: 12.3.52:
"krte yad dhyayato visnum tretayam yajato makhaih dvapare paricaryayam kalau tad dhari-kirtanat"
MEANING: "Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Visnu (Dhyana), in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices (Homa) and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet (At temples) can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra"
While chanting, we should be careful in avoiding these offenses:
TEN OFFENSES AGAINST CHANTING
We should not be casual in chanting! Chanting means connecting to Krishna! So, We should be very careful in TEN OFFENCES while chanting Hare Krishna regularly:
1. Don’t blaspheme (speaking evil of) those devotees who have dedicated their life for propagating Holy Name Of Krishna!
2. Don’t consider the Names of Demigods to be equal to or independent of the Holy name of Krishna! We have seen many people treating all the Names demigods/ celestials & Krishna equally but it is an offence. (We can not equalize them with that of Krishna!)
3. Don’t disobey the orders of your Spritual master!
4. Don’t speaking evil of the Vedic Literature or literature in pursuance of Vedic version!
5. Don’t think that the Glories of Chanting Hare Krishna to be an imagination!
6. Don’t commit sinful activities on the strength of the Holy Name of Krishna! (ie, We should not take it granted that just because we chant the Holy name of Krishna regularly, we can continue to do sinful activities & then chant Hare Krishna to neutralize those new sins! Such dangerous mentality is very offensive)
7. To give some own interpretation to the holy name of the Lord!
8. Don’t instruct a faithless person about Glories of Holy Name of Krishna! (ie, you can tell any one to chant Hare Krishna! But, you should not tell them the transcendental potency of the Lord! As most sinful persons won’t appreciate transcendental glories of Krishna initially. In due course of time, they will start looking for knowing more about Krishna!)
9. Don’t consider Chanting Hare Krishna as one of the auspicious rituals offered in the Vedas for gains)!
10. Don’t Maintain incomplete faith in the chanting Hare Krishna & Material attachments even after so many instructions!
There are some local offenses also at the time of chanting! If you chant Hare Krishna without these major offences, it will be more effective & you will reach Krishna without fail!
If you get diversions while chanting, see/think the picture of Krishna or any of His forms in paper/mind while chanting, so that you can avoid thoughts on opposite sex, material things, worries, dreams, etc!
Try to wake up before 5 am, take bath or just clean your teeth and face & Chant as much rounds as possible preferably before Sunrise or atleast before 8AM! Start daily duties after chanting in the early morning & find the difference!
Krishna Sees only our CONSCIOUSNESS! Not the status!
HOW TO CHANT HARE KRISHNA MAHA MANTHRA?
The 'chanting rounds' that should NOT be included in the calculation of committed number of rounds are those rounds that were done while working, watching T.V, Computer, Mobile, eating, lying on bed or chatting with others!
You can chant Hare Krishna at any time without hesitation; However, If you had committed 8 rounds a day (108 times x 8), try to include only those rounds that were done as an exclusive assignment! Chanting can be done even in a house where a death has happened recently!
Ladies can chant even during monthly periods without using chanting tulasi mala and they can use fingers or counting machines to count! (without involving in deity/ picture worship & offering food to Krishna)!
If you feel itching in nose, ears, hairs or other body parts, stop chanting, make body comfortable & start chanting again! Don’t include stopped round in counting!
Don’t chant while taking bath or in toilets!
Don’t talk to others or put your eyes on any other media while chanting!
Chant in a peaceful atmosphere without TV, Radio, disturbing persons, disturbing thoughts, etc.
If any one calls you while chanting, stop chanting, go, attend, come back & continue chanting (Don’t include stopped round in counting)!
Don’t overload your stomach as you will feel sleepy & be affected by gastric/ acidic trouble!
‘JAPA’ means ‘Speak softly’. So, chant in very low voice that can be heard only by you! You can sing devotional songs loudly but don’t chant very loudly to disturb others!
More the sincerity, faster will be the spiritual advancement & going back to Krishna!
PRONOUNCE THE MANTHRA CLEARLY & DISTINCTLY WITH A FOCUSED MIND THAT IS NOT WANDERING WORLD-OVER!
SCRIPTURES SAY:
"WHEN YOU CHANT HARE KRISHNA MAHA MANTHRA, KRISHNA STARTS PERSONALLY DANCING ON YOUR TONGUE!"
SO, DON’T TAKE CHANTING AS JUST ANOTHER DUTY! ‘MAHA MANTHRA’ MEANS "GREAT SOUND THAT LIBERATES OUR MIND FROM IGNORANCE!"
A round (108 times) of chanting will take 6 to 8 minutes depending on the experience. Thus, if a person completes a round within 6 minutes, that means, he has (i) not concentrated on the letters of manthra or (ii) omitted some letters of manthra, or (iii) skips some beads (less than 108 times).
Quality of Chanting is important. We should avoid taking Chanting Beads to Bathroom or toilet."
Now, it is time for us to know the proper way of chanting. There are different methods to count the 108 times of chanting of Maha Manthra. One method is using the fingers. The difficulty in this method is we have to spare part of our attention to the counting of fingers! It reduces our concentration in chanting. Chanting can also be done using beads placed inside a bag. There are handy counting machines to count the number of chanting.
HOW TO USE CHANTING MALA?
Each strand of JAPA BEADS contains 108 beads & one large bead (the head bead to know the starting/ closing point). Start chanting on a bead next to the head bead and gently roll it between the thumb & middle finger of your right hand as you chant the full Hare Krishna Manthra. Then move to the next bead & repeat the process.
In this way, chant on each of the 108 beads until you reach the head bead again. This is one round of Japa. Then, without chanting on the head bead, reverse the beads & start second round on the last bead you chanted on. This method not only helps to you fix your attention on the holy name, but it also helps you to count the no. of times you chant the manthra daily!"
Once you have fixed certain no. Of rounds of chanting daily, try to complete it every day without fail. When you feel you can chant more, increase the minimum no. of rounds you chant every day. But, don’t fall below that number. you can chant more than your fixed number, but you should maintain a set minimum each day".
The beads are sacred. Never allow it to touch ground or put it in an unclean place. To keep your beads clean, it is best to carry them in a special bead bag. (Both beads & bead bags are available in ISKCON temples worldwide). Since Krishna is all powerful & Merciful, he has kindly made it very easy for us to chant. HE HAS ALSO INVESTED HIS POWERS IN THEM.
HOW MANY ROUNDS ARE RECOMMENDED?
Initiated devotees (those who have accepted a diksha guru) must chant a minimum of 16 rounds (16x108) daily! No relaxation! In case they miss any rounds of chanting on any day because of genuine r easons, you can compensate that by chanting those missed rounds the next day. However, new devotees may find this difficult. They can start from 2, 4, 8 & increase the number of rounds stage by stage".
However, decide the no. of rounds considering your background. Even if you chant two rounds, do it properly.
Don’t stick to it habitually. Develop a wish to increase the no. of rounds and do it! If you are free on a any day (Holiday), don’t hesitate to chant 16 rounds on that day. (Many wake up only after 9 am on holidays, half heartedly). If we are not ready to sacrifice even an hour for Krishna, it shows our ego. We are zero, if Krishna’s Mercy is not there!
I have said earlier about the ten offences against & while chanting! In spite of our care, we may commit 1 or 2 offences, as we are human! So, before starting the chanting, we have to pray our acharyas to forgive these offences! So, Before starting the chanting, tell the Manthras in the next post holding the Master bead on your fingers.
(1) Nama Ohm Vishnu Paadaaya Krishna Preshthaya Bhuthale
Srimathe Bakthivedantha Swamin Ithi Namine
Namaste Saraswathe Deve Gauravani pracharine
nirvisesha sunyavadi paschatya desa tarine
(2) Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu Nityananda
Sri Advaitha Gadhadhara Srivashadhi Gaura baktha vrindha.
After reciting these manthras before chanting, you can start chanting NON-STOP!
Before finishing this topic, I write what Sri Chaitanya Maha Prabhu said:
"Harer Nama Harer Nama Harer Namaiva Kevalam;
Kalau Nasty Eva Nasty Eva Nasty Eva Gathir Anyatha"
MEANING:
"IN THIS AGE OF KALI (OF QUARREL & ANXIETY), THERE IS (i) NO ALTERNATIVE, (ii) NO ALTERNATIVE , (iii) NO ALTERNATIVE (Says 3 times) FOR SPIRITUAL PROGRESS OTHER THAN CHANTING OF THE HOLY NAMES OF GOD!"
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