Is there a prescribed method or suggestive environment to chant maha mantra.
I recently started chanting and making it a point to chant 16 rounds everyday but at times it ends up being 3/6/8 rounds. I usually sit in front of TV and start chanting. I do think its wrong practice. I did try google to find best practice method but couldnt find any.
Your suggestions would be very useful.
Hare Krishna.
Replies
my humble obeisances dear Devotees,
Dear Harini Priya Mataji, please could You tell me are You able to visit Temple for few days in a week?
If so then You can visit Mangala Aratis there, of course if Temple is close to Your place. Or You can attend Mangala Arati on line at http://mayapur.tv/
Then chant with Devotees. They chant it fully absorbed in the Holy Names only. No TV, no eating, no speaking...and it is better if we chant early in the mornings when no much passion, no other sounds...
and also please read books of Srila Prabhupada starting with Bhagavad Gita As It Is http://ebooks.iskcondesiretree.info/index.php?q=f&f=%2Fpdf%2F00...
Here also there are books in flash http://ebooks.iskcondesiretree.info/index.php?q=f&f=%2Fflash%2F...
Also please listen the lectures of HH Sachinandana Maharaj. He very nicely explains how to chant the Holy Names.
http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/index.php?q=f&f=%2F02_-_ISKC...
And also HH Niranjana Swami Maharaj gives very heart touching lectures of how to chant the Holy Names like a crying child for his mother.
http://audio.iskcondesiretree.info/index.php?q=f&f=%2F02_-_ISKC...
All the best and let Krishna give You more and more desire to progress towards Him!
Your servant,
Hare Krsna mataji:
The chanting of mahamantra begins with Panchatattva mantra
"Jaya Shri Krsna Chaitanya Prabhu Nityananda
Shri Advaita Gadadhara Srivasadhi Gaura Bhakta Vrinda"
Without chanting this guru mantra, the mahamantra is useless.
1. Chanting in front of a TV is absolutely wrong. You can chant in front of Tulasi Devi pot, which is practiced by maximum ISKCON devotees.
2. Commit yourself to just one round of chanting, there is no need to chant 16 rounds at this stage.
3. There is a Shiksha Program pattern to upgrade your chanting rounds gradually along with spiritual progress.
If you follow this for now, that will be more than enough.