Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

I am trying my best not to approach it as a job to be completed, but rather a quiet meditative period where I can call out to Krishna, I heard from a resident Vaisnava of Vrndavan in the disciplic line of Gadadhar Pandit that Japa Mala for a Gaudiya Vaisnava is the calling out to Krishna asking him to come, come. In India when you ask someone to come to you, you repeat it twice. As in the Maha Mantra all syllables are repeated twice. I am also trying to focus the mind on Krishnas pastimes and focus on clear distinct pronunciation rather than making it a chore.

I am finding this approach to be very attractive it has become a sublime period of the day where I can directly interact with Krishna via his name. Personally I prefer to be alone during this period and sat in front of my deities, it helps me to keep my mind focused on Krishna and on the sound vibration and maintain the mood of calling for Krishna.

I have also heard it said that if you meditate on Krishnas pastimes then one should also meditate on ones Guru to keep the proper mood of servant of the servant, meditate on serving your Guru then seeing your Guru pass that service onto his Guru and Krishna.

I wont rate it in numbers but if there is no limit to the nectar to be tasted in the holy name (Japa Mala) then it conversely means there is always room for improvement and for diving deeper into the nectar of the holy name.

In all of the disputes, dis-agreements & arguments that go on its easy to forget that everything is in Krishnas name (Maha Mantra) and Srila Prabhupada did a perfect job in delivering the message to the world and we all will remain permanently indebted to him.

I would be interested to hear how other devotees perform their Japa Mala as it is often never discussed.

I cannot seem to do japa sitting down, so end up walking up and down in the room chanting very poorly, trying to mediate on Radha Krishna but the mind drifts off on mundane thoughts ever so easily. Also I have heard that walking and chanting in front of the deities is not allowed, is that true?

Devotees circumambulate in the temple room, walk in a 360 degree circle and when they approach the deities they would do a mini turn so as not to turn their back to the deities.

In the Arcanadipika are listed all of the rules of behaviour while in the temple room, one of those rules is to not show your back to the deities.

One nice quote from a website: http://www.harekrsna.com/practice/sadhana/morning/japa/japa.htm

"Most importantly, dont starve your beads! Sri Tulasi-japa desires to be picked up and used liberally every day for the glorification of Lord Hari!"

Which means chanting on your Japa Mala beads is also doing service to Vrnda Devi, the one who controls all of Vrndavan. Oh my God the Gaudiya Vaisnavas have tricked us again, all the time they are tricking us into serving the eternal associates of the Lord. Soon you will be lost in the forest of Vrndavan and when you look back the material world will be nowhere to be seen. Who could believe that such a simple activity could connect you right into the heart of Vrndavan.