Question about Japa?

Question

How important is it to repeat the mantra or name a set number of times? Does one have to count the number of times? Or can they just say it as much as they feel like?

Answer 1

JAPA is a spiritual discipline involving the meditative repetition of a mantra or name of God. The mantra or name may be spoken softly, enough for the practitioner to hear it, or it may be spoken purely within the recitor's mind. Japa may be performed whilst sitting in a meditation posture, while performing other activities, or as part of formal worship in group settings. The practice of repetitive prayer is present in varied forms within most religions in the world, although the Dharmic Religions generally give more emphasis to it as a specific discipline.

The aim, or goal of japa varies greatly depending on the mantra involved and the religious philosophy of the practitioner. In both Buddhist and Hindu traditions mantras may be given to aspirants by their guru, after some form of initiation. The goal could be moksha, nirvana, bhakti, or simple personal communion with God in a similar way to prayer.

A Japa mala or mala or a rosary is with a set of prayer beads is used in India and Tibet, commonly made from 108 beads. It is used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or name/s of a particular deity,

Mantras are often repeated hundreds or even thousands of times. The mala is used so that one can think about the meaning of the mantra as it is chanted rather than thinking about counting the repetitions. One mantra is usually said for every bead, turning the thumb clockwise around each bead. When arriving at the head bead, one turns the mala around and then goes back in the same direction. This makes using the mala easier as the beads will not be so tight on the string when you use them.-

Answer 2

When a Vedic mantra is chanted within the mouth so that only the chanter can hear, the chanting is called japa. But when such mantras are chanted loudly, it is called kirtana. The Vedic hymn Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare can be chanted both softly to oneself or loudly; therefore it is called the maha-mantra, or the great hymn.
http://vedabase.net/sb/3/14/32/en1

Japa

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 Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, 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."
http://vedabase.net/nod/9/en1

Srila Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON who broadcasted the japa of Hare Krishna Mahamantra all over the world, has
told regarding the chanting a specific number of times;
The reason for the Japa beads is so that you can keep track of how many times you are chanting Hare Krishna mantra daily. It should be chanted a steady amount of times regularly. We chant at least 16 times around the string of 108 beads daily (one full mantra on each bead). This keeps us strong in spiritual consciousness.

He, following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, also said one should constantly chant the holy names of Krishna, but since one could not chant constantly a regulation is given so that one can fix up one's mind at least a specific number. Otherwise in principle, there is no hard and fast rule for chanting the holy names of Krishna.

Answer 3

Wiki states there are 108 beads. I really can't help - sorry.

Answer 4

its japan stupid