tribhanga-bhangima-rupam
venu-randhra-karancitam
gopi-mandala-madhya-stham
sobhitam nanda-nandanam
"His form bent in three places, His hands bent over the holes of His flute, the son of Nanda Maharaja stands resplendent amidst a circle of gopis."
Sri Nama-mala-grahana-mantra (on taking the beads for the purpose of japa [japarthe]):
avighnam kuru male tvam
harinama-japesu ca
sri radha-krsnayor dasyam
dehi male tu prarthaye
"O Mala, please destroy inauspiciousness in my chanting of the holy name of Lord Hari and grant me the position of service to Radha and Krsna. This is all I pray, O Mala."
nama cintamani-rupam
namaiva parama gatih
namnah parataram nasti
tasman nama upasmahe
"The Holy Name is a beautiful transcendental touchstone - it is the supreme goal. There is nothing higher than the Holy Name. I therefore worship the Holy Name."
Sri Nama-mala-samarpana-mantra (consecrating the mala); traditionally, Vaisnavas first offer Krsna everything they use, including their neck beads, japa beads, etc. I don't know that this is intended here though.
nama-yajno mahayajnah
kalau kalmasa-nasanam
krsna-caitanya-prityarthe
nama-yajna-samarpanam
"The sacrifice of the name is the highest yajna, which destroys the contamination of Kali-yuga. In order to please Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, I offer this sacrifice of the holy name."
Sri Nama-mala-sthapana-mantra (establishing the beads):
patita-pavana nama
nistaraya naradhamam
radha-krsna-svarupaya
caitanyaya namo namah
"The holy name is the savior of the fallen. Oh, please deliver this lowest of men. Obeisances again and again unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, unto Sri Sri Radha-Krsna."
tvam male sarva-devanam
sarva-siddhi-prada mata
tena satyena me siddhim
dehi matar namo 'stu te
"O Mala, among all of the gods, you are considered the bestower of all perfection. By dint of this fact, O Mother, please grant me perfection. Obeisances unto you!"
Again, there are never any hard and fast rules for chanting japa, but one has to appreciate the intensity of the pure desire that must have inspired someone to pray like this even to his own japa beads. At least that's something we can all emulate, or pray for.
One older disciple of Srila Prabhupada once told me that at his initiation Srila Prabhupada instructed him to finger the beads while chanting "Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare," and to hold the beads still between the thumb and middle finger while chanting "Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare." Srila Prabhupada told him this would help him to concentrate on Krsna.
Loss of taste for Japa
One might have committed many offenses to the holy name and thus the holy name does not grant one the taste that one desires. Further, one could be committing many sinful activities secretly which cause one to fall into the material whirlpool, although seemingly, out of some social or other reason, acting as a devotee to some degree. Further, one could have developed a critical and offensive mentality towards superior Vaisnavas, such as the Founder Acarya or one's own spiritual master, and thus started thinking foolishly which causes one to lose all taste for chanting. One could also have other material plans which one secretly wishes to fulfill as soon as one gets some opportunity (economically, politically, socially, or through circumstances) and this constant plan-making for material achievements makes one lose all taste for the holy name. One could have also made offenses against Vaisnavas by blasphemy or otherwise.
One has to find the cause and correct it. In any case, no one should stop chanting, no matter what. But if one does anyway, it is due to serious offenses.
108 beads in Japamala
In our japamala there are 108 beads. They represent the 108 principle gopis and manjaris in Radhika's group. So we are chanting, counting, praying, and remembering Sri Krsna-lila. In Goloka Vrndavana Sri Krsna is counting on the 108 beads of His mala and counting all the cows. They, like gopis, are also divided into 108 groups and have 8 different colors. When Sri Krsna is calling them on His flute they come to Him. Chanting the maha-mantra is calling Sri Sri Radha Govinda to come near. Each of the beads on our mala represents 108 qualities we are praying for to serve the Divine couple.
Number 108 has a special significance in Vedic culture. Apart from 108 main gopis there are famous lists of 108 names of Krsna, Visnu, Siva, Radha, Laksmi, Durga and many devas, 108 main Upanisads, etc. (more info) Japamala symbolizes eternal cycle of life. 109th bead stands for Vishnu, the Supreme Lord (or sometimes it is said Meru, mountain forming the axis of the universe). Japamala is usually made from sacred tulasi wood. Japa is a form of pranayama.
Traditional number of japa rounds chanted per day is 64. When Srila Prabhupada came to West, he saw that his disciples can't chant so much. Thus he decreased the number to 16. It was purely a practical consideration based on desa (place), kala (time) and patra (circumstances/person).
knr--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God
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