Chanting Japa
At the conclusion of Tulasi-arati, during the 1-1/2 to 2-hour period before Guru-puja begins, the devotees take time for chanting japa. By definition, 'japa' means personal chanting on beads and hearing the Holy Name. Since time immemorial, the devotees have preferred to chant japa in the early morning hours. Those who are able arise well before Mangala-arati and begin chanting their prescribed rounds, often finishing their rounds after Tulasi-arati.
Srila Prabhupada's program for chanting japa requires the devotees to chant sixteen rounds over the course of the day. With a little practice, you should be able to chant each round in approximately 8 minutes, allowing the full 16 rounds to be done in about two hours and fifteen minutes. If you're chanting at high speed, and a round takes only four minutes, you're probably pushing it. The standard that should regulate your japa speed is how clearly you are being able to articulate the Holy Name. One has to be careful not to fall into bad habits, like dropping, slurring or mumbling words. This is a very easy mistake to make, particularly when you're anxious about time. In the beginning, just try to pronounce the words as clearly as possible at a speed that will enable you to get your rounds done within an appropriate amount of time.
It's fine to break your rounds up over several periods during the day. While it is preferable to chant japa in the early morning, use your common sense to determine what works best for your circumstances. Regardless of the schedule you decide on, regularity and the right atmosphere are most important.
At the bottom of this page is a link to various explanations of the Maha-mantra, and most importantly, Srila Prabhupada's Purport to the Hare Krsna Maha-mantra. As Gaudiya Vaisnavas, our emphasis is on Sri Krsna and Lord Caitanya, so we focus on Krsna-lila and Caitanya-lila when chanting japa, particularly thinking of Lord Balarama (Nityananda) when chanting 'Rama'. Srila Prabhupada stated that others may think of Lord Ramacandra when chanting 'Rama', and that is non-different, but as Gaudiya Vaisnavas, we think of Balarama. Given the amazing pastimes of Krsna and Caitanya lila, we may remain engaged for a lifetime thinking of nothing else.
How loudly you chant is a personal choice. Srila Prabhupada encouraged the devotees to loudly chant the Holy Name during kirtana, but when you're chanting japa together with others in a temple room or elsewhere, you should not interfere with other people's chanting by being too loud with your own rounds.
"Chanting a mantra or hymn softly and slowly is called japa, and chanting the same mantra loudly is called kirtana. For example, uttering the maha-mantra (Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare) very softly, only for one's own hearing, is called japa. Chanting the same mantra loudly for being heard by all others is called kirtana. The maha-mantra can be used for japa and kirtana also. When japa is practiced it is for the personal benefit of the chanter, but when kirtana is performed it is for the benefit of all others who may hear. In the Padma Purana there is a statement: "For any person who is chanting the holy name either softly or loudly, the paths to liberation and even heavenly happiness are at once open."
Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 9
For those who find it difficult to sit and chant, walking and chanting is also acceptable. One has to be careful of not falling asleep, so try not to be too comfortable. Particularly in the early morning hours, you may find it hard to keep from nodding off. For that reason, some devotees prefer to go for 'japa walks'. You can go outside and chant as you circumambulate the temple or go for walks in the neighborhood. When 'japa walking', try not to become too distracted with visual experiences. Ideally, you should simply be hearing the Holy Name and thinking of Krsna in some way, shape or form when you're chanting His Holy Name. In many temples, the men circumambulate the front portion of the temple, by the altar, while the women circumambulate the rear half of the temple during the morning japa period.
Japa is a means by which one can try to control the mind. If the mind is wandering, one has to make a concerted effort to bring it back. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati was quoted as saying 'when you get up from bed, you beat your mind a hundred times with your shoe, and when you go to bed, you beat your mind a hundred times with a broomstick. Then you will be able to control your mind.' The mind can be particularly undisciplined in the morning, when it wants to plan out the day or think about solving various problems you'll be facing. One should also avoid talking to others during the morning japa period, even though there are likely to be others in the temple room or in the vicinity at home. Fight the temptation to chat, so you won't disturb your japa program, or another's.
By and large, japa is a personal matter. Whether a person is chanting their rounds or not is ultimately very subjective, and should not become a matter for public discussion. For instance, someone might say that they've chanted 16 rounds, but who is to know what the quality of those rounds was, or how many offenses may have been committed while chanting? Although Srila Prabhupada recommended that we chant 16 rounds each day, he also made clear that quality is ultimately more important than quantity. If one finds that they have to chant poor rounds in order to get their 16 rounds done, it's better for them to chant fewer rounds and do them nicely.
"These are different, nine processes. Sravanam kirtanam. Sravanam means hearing, and kirtanam means chanting, chanting. So by this process... Just like I chant and you hear, and you chant and I hear. Parasparam. Bodhayantah parasparam. This is the factual activities of devotion in devotional society. This bodhayantah parasparam: I chant, you hear, and you chant, I hear. So by this process, the transcendental name, the sound incarnation of the Supreme Lord, becomes manifest, manifest so that we can realize God simply by chanting and hearing. Simply by chanting and hearing that will be realized. Of course, there are some rules and regulations for chanting, but in the beginning we haven't got to observe those rules and regulation at the present. First of all let us have the taste for chanting; then we shall be little careful that the rules and regulations are followed."
Srila Prabhupada Lecture, 09-08-66, New York
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