Practice
The japa mala
A japa mala is a string of 108 beads used to count the repetitions of a mantra. Japa means repeating softly; mālā means garland. For a Vaishnava it is the tool of their daily meditation.
What it is and what it is for
Chanting a mantra attentively is harder than it looks: the mind wanders. The beads bring it back. Each bead that passes between the fingers is one complete mantra, and touch, voice and hearing work together. They also let you know how much you have chanted without keeping count in your head.
What a Vaishnava japa mala looks like
- 108 beads strung on a thread, with a knot between each one.
- A head bead, larger, that closes the circle. It is called the Krishna bead. You do not chant on it or cross over it.
- Tulasī wood, the sacred basil, a plant very dear to Krishna. Neem malas are also made.
- A small cloth bag to keep it in and to chant with your hand inside. It has a hole through which the index finger pokes out.
- A counter: a cord with sixteen small beads tied to the bag, to keep track of your rounds.
The stone-and-tassel necklaces sold as decorative “malas”, and Buddhist malas, also have 108 beads, but they are used with other mantras and in other ways. Here we mean the one used by devotees of Krishna.
How to chant, step by step
- Hold it in your right hand. The bead rests on the middle finger and is moved with the thumb. The index finger does not touch the beads: that is why it comes out through the hole in the bag.
- Before you begin, recite the Pañca-tattva mantra once.
- Start on the first bead next to the head bead and chant the whole maha-mantra:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. - Move to the next bead and repeat. One mantra per bead.
- When you reach the head bead again, you have completed one round: 108 mantras. Do not cross it. Turn the mala around and continue in the opposite direction.
- Move one counter bead for each round you finish.
No beads to hand? You can chant right now with the digital japa mala: 108 beads on the screen and a round counter.
To chant attentively
- Pronounce every word and listen to it. The practice is hearing the name.
- Early is better. Before the day starts making demands, the mind is calmer.
- Sit up straight or walk slowly. Lying down, you fall asleep.
- Do it every day. One round daily is worth more than sixteen on a Sunday.
- Do not punish yourself for getting distracted. Come back to the sound, again and again. That is the practice.
How to look after it
The mala is treated with respect because it is used to chant the names of God. It is kept in its bag, not left on the floor or taken into the bathroom, and not worn as an ornament. If the thread breaks, it is restrung.
Frequently asked questions
Why 108 beads?
108 is a sacred number throughout India and the tradition gives several explanations. Vaishnavas recall that there are 108 principal Upaniṣads and 108 gopīs closest to Krishna in Vrindavan.
How long does it take to chant one round?
At first, about ten minutes. With practice, six to eight. Sixteen rounds take a little under two hours.
Can I use a japa mala without being initiated?
Yes. Anyone can chant the maha-mantra on beads. Temples usually have them and will show you how to use them.
What is the difference between the japa mala and the necklace devotees wear?
The thin necklace worn around the neck is called a kaṇṭhī-mālā. It is also made of tulasī, but it is not used for counting: it shows that the wearer has placed themselves under Krishna’s protection.