Japa

“Japa” means “chanting.” In spiritual context, the japa means “private chanting.” While one may chant nicely and loudly during temple kirtans or outside chanting, per tradition, one must chant the mahamantra privately. Chanting privately will help one develop personal love for Krsna. Not only Gaudiya Vaisnavas accept the notion of japa, but various Hindu groups, Buddhists, and Christians have their own renditions of chanting japa.

JAPA BEAD STRUCTURE:

In order to do this, a rosary set of one-hundred-nine beats is used. The beads, known as the mala (mālā), consist of one-hundred-eight beads known as the chanting beads. The remaining one bead, the head bead, is known as the Krsna bead.

HOW TO CHANT JAPA:

1)     One would place the loop of beads handing around the middle finger. The thumb will act as the counter. Place the thumb on the first bead adjacent to the Krsna bead.

2)     When beginning japa, one will chant the Panca Tattva mahamantra on the first bead.

3)     The thumb will push (or pull) the bead away from the head bead or the Krsna bead. For the remainder of the beads, until reaching the other end.

4)     Completion of the chanting on every bead, except for the Krsna bead, is known as a round. Complete the first round by chanting the Panca Tattva mahamantra.(jaya) sri-Krishna-Caitanya prabhu Nityananda
sri-Advaita Gadadhara Srivasadi-Gaura-bhakta-vrinda

5)     To do the next round, one may not cross the Krsna bead. Therefore, one may do the following.

a.      Change the direction. That is, if you were you pulling beads for the first round, then you push beads away for the second round.

b.     Flip the beads in such a way that you do not use your index finger and you continue chanting in the same direction. (i.e. flipping the orientation of the beads will allow one to keep the direction.. keep pulling beads towards, or pushing beads away).