How to chant on beads and what beads!

[Paramananda das]

 just shared this with a disciple in India and thought you may like it also as I mentioned it to you, it is about properly chanting:  

 

YASTU BHAGAVATO BHUTVA NA GRHANATI GANITRIKAM  ASURI TASYA DIKSA TU NA SA DHARMAYA VIDYATE  GANITRIKAM GRAHITVA YO MANTRAM CINTAYET BUDHAH  JANMANTARA SAHASRANI CINTITO’HANCA TENA VAI   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/70,71 VARAHA PURANA)   After becoming a devotee or engaging in the devotional service to the Supreme Lord, one who does not accept a japa mala, his initiation is said to be demoniac. This kind of initiation is not very beneficial for religious principles. One who chants on the beads properly, I (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) think of this intelligent person for thousands of years.   ASTOTTARA SATAIH PURVA PANCASADBHIS TU MADHYAMA  KANYASI PANCA VINSATYA PARIMANAM VIDHIYATE   (HARI BHAKI VILASA 17/73 VARAHA PURANA)   The beads which have 108 seeds are said to be of he topmost quality. The beads which have 50 seeds are said to be of medium quality. The beads which have 20 seeds are said to be of the lowest quality.   TULASI KASTHA GHATITAIR MANIBHIR JAPA MALIKA  SARVA KARMANI SARVESAM IPSITARTHA PHALA PRADA   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/112 NARADA PANCATATRA)   One should understand that beads made out of Tulasi wood seeds is said to be fulfilling all kinds of desires in every activity or function.   TULASI SAMBHAVA YA TU SA MOKSAM TANUTE’CIRAT   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/113 GAUTAMIYA TANTRA)   The mala which is made out of Tulasi wood seeds is said to be certainly rewarding liberation.   ANAMA MADHYAM AKRAMYA JAPAM KURYAT TU MANASAM  MADHYAMA MADHYAM AKRAMYA JAPAM KURYAD UPANSUKAM  TARJANIM TU SAMAKRAMYA JAPAM NAIVA TU KARAYET  EKAIKA MANIM ANGUSTHENA AKARSAN PRAJAPEN MANUM  MERAU TU LANGHITE DEVI NA MANTRA PHALA BHAG BHAVET   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/114,115 SIVAGAMA)   Keeping the beads on the mid of ones ring finger, one should chant in murmering sound, one should not keep beads on the pointing finger and chant japa. Chanting japa with the pointing finger has been rejected. One by one, putting the beads inwards and chanting japa is recommended. Oh dear wife, one should not jump over the head of japa beads. Otherwise he will not get the results of his chanting.   TATRA ANGULI JAPAM KURVAN SANGUSTHA ANGULIBHIR JAPET  ANGUSTHENA VINA KARMA KRTAM TAD APHALAM BHAVET   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/116 SIVA AGAMA)   If one chants japa on the fingers, he should chant also using the thumb. Chanting japa without using the thumb does not give any success.   KANISTHA ANAMIKA MADHYA CATURTHI TARJANI MATA  TISRO’NGULYAS TRIPARVAH SYUR MADHYAMA CA EKA PARVIKA  PARVA DVAYAM MADHYAMAYA JAPAKALE VIVARJAYET  EVAM MERUM VIJANIYAD BRAHMANA DUSITAM SVAYAM  ARABHYAN ANAMIKA MADHYAT PRADAKSINAM ANUKRAMAT  TARJANI MULA PARYANTAM KRAMAT DASASU PARVASU   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/117,118,119)   Chanting on the fingers, namely the ring finger, the middle finger or the forth finger are accepted for chanting japa. On these three fingers, there are three parts to be used, and one part of the midfinger, all together ten, to chant japa. This means that one should reject using the first two parts of the mid finger and chant japa. Brahma has stated that the first two parts of the midfinger is said to be the meru or head of the beads, and he has rejected, himself to use it. One should start from the middle of the ring finger and carry on in a clockwise until the pointing finger’s root and thus altogether they become ten. ONe should hold his fingers together and chant japa. ARABHYAN ANAMIKA MULAT PARIVARTET VAI KRAMAT  TARJANI MADHYA PARYANTAM JAPED DASASU PARVASU   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/122 GAUTAMIYA)   Beginning from the middle of the ring finger and continuing clockwise to the root of the pointing finger and chanting japa in this way numbering ten.   NA SPRASED VAMA HASTENA KARA BRASTAM NA KARAYET   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/124 GAUTAMIYA)   One should not touch his beads with the left hand nor make them fall from the hand.   APAVITRA KARO NAGNAH SIRASI PRAVRTO’PI VA  PRALAPAN VA JAPED YAVAT TAVAN NISPHALAM UCYATE   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/132 VYASA SMRATI)   Chanting japa becomes fruitless if somebody chants in an impure condition with dirty hands or with out a seat, or in nude condition, or with a covered head, or while talking during japa. Therefore one should chant japa carefully.   VADANNA GACCHANNA SVAPANNA ANYAT KIMAPI SANSMARAN  NA KSUT JRAMBHANA HIKKADI VIKALIKRTA MANASAH  MANTRA SIDDHIM AVPNOTI TASMAD YATNA PARO BHAVET   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/133 NARADA PANCARATRA)   While talking, walking, sleeping or thinking about some object, hungry, while stretching the body, while having hicups, while mentally disturbed, in such condition, if someone chants japa, he does not receive the perfection of chanting. Therefore one should endeavor to give up all of these functions to chant properly.   ANGULI AGRESU YAJJAPTA YAJJAPTAM MERU LANGHANE ASANKHYATAN CA YAJJAPTAM TAT SARVAM NISPHALAM BHAVET   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/135 VYASA SMRITI)   One who chants japa holding the beads on the tip of the fingers, or who jumps over the head bead or who chants japa without counting how much he has chanted, then that japa is said to be fruitless.   ADAVITRA KARO’SUDDHAH PRALAPAN NA JAPET KVACIT   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/137 MANTRARNAVA)   One should not hold japa beads or chant with dirty hands and one should not in an unclean condition or while talking with others.   ANASANAH SAYANO VA GACCHANN UTTHITA EVA VA  RATHYAYAMA SIVE STHANE NA JAPET TIMIRA ANTARE  UPANAD GUDHA PADO VA YANA SAYYAGATAS TATHA  PRASARYA NA JAPET PADAVA UTKATASANA EVA VA   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/139, 140 MANTRARANA)   Sitting without a seat, while lying down sleeping, while walking, while standing, while on a path or in impure places such a crematoriums or in dark areas are the forbidden to chant japa. Wearing shoes, climbing on a carrier in the sleeping condition, spreading two legs, on an impure asana, one should not chant japa.   NA PADA PADAM AKRAMYA NA CAIVA HI TATHA KARAU  NA CA ASAMA AHITA MANA NACA SANSAYANO JAPET  NA KAMPAYET SIRO GRIVAM DANTAN NAIVA PRAKASAYET   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/142 YAJNA VALKYA SAMHITA)   While chanting japa, one should not let ones leg climb another leg and arm climb upon another arm, in an unsteady mind, in a doubtful condition, one should not chant japa. While chanting, one should not shake his neck or head, one should not show ones teeth to others while chanting.   YAKSA RAKSASA BHUTANI SIDDHA VIDYADHARA GANAH  HARANTI PRASABHAM YASMAT TASMAD GUPTAM SAMACARET   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/144 YAJNA VALKYA SAMHITA)   If one chants japa while keeping his japa beads outside of his bead bag, then his japa is forcibly stolen by semidemigods, demons, ghosts, perfected living entities from Siddhaloka and Vidyadharas, the dancers in the heavenly planets. Therefore one should not keep his beads outside of his bead bag.   YADI VA YAMA LOPAH SYAT JAPA ADISU KATHANCANA  VYAHARED VAISNAVAM MANTRAM SMARED VA VISNUM AVYAYAM   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/148 TRAILOKYA SAMMOHANA TANTRA)   If somehow, due to certain circumstances, somebody breaks the stated rules to chanting, then he should chant a Visnu mantra or remember the imperishable personality of Godhead Sri Visnu.   TRIVIDHO JAPA YAJNAH SYAT TASYA BHEDAN NIVODHATA  VACIKAS CA UPANSUS CA MANASAS CA TRIDHA MATAH  TRAYANAM JAPA YAJNANAM SREYAN SYAD UTTAROTTARAH   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/155 NRSINGHA PURANA)   Japa yajna is of three kinds. Please listen. Chanting with a sound vibration, chanting with a murmuring condition and chanting within the mind. These three kinds of chanting are respectively one better than the other [chanting in the mind is best].   YADUCCHA NICA SVARITAIH SPASTA SAVDAVD AKSARAIH  MANTRAM UCCHARAYED VYAKTAM JAPA YAJNA SA VACIKAH  SANAIR UCCHARAYEN MANTRAM ISAD OSTHAU PRACALAYET  KINCIT SAVDAM SVAYAM VIDYAD UPANSUH SA JAPAH SMRATAH   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/156, 157 NRSINGHA PURANA)   Chanting japa is of three kinds, higher class, lower class and svarita class which is melodiously chanting clearly where every word can be heard by others. That is called vacika. Any japa mantra chanted in murmuring sound, where his two lips move very minutely, and one can only hear a few words out of it, that chanting is called upansu.   Srila Sanatana Gosvami, in his Digdharsanitika, writes that one who is chanting japa melodiocly, with high and low sounds, in a swinging condition, it is called svarita where others can hear every sound vibration clearly. Therefore, it is said that one should chant openly. But better is to chant japa insuch a way that one can hear it by himself only.   UPANSU JAPA YUKTASYA TASMAT SATA GUNO BHAVET  SAHASRO MANASAH PROKTO YASMAD DHYANA SAMO HI SAH   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/159 YAJNA VALKYA)   One hundred times better than chanting japa in clear or loud condition is to chant japa in mumuring condition where one can hear by himself. One thousand times better, still, is chanting within ones mind, because chanting within the mind is equal to meditating on the Supreme Lord.   Srila Sanatana Gosvami, clarifies this situation in his Digdharsanitika, stating that chanting within the mind is one hundred times better than chanting in murmuring condition which is one hundred times better than chanting with the sound vibration.  NADOSO MANASE JAPE SARVA DESE’PI SARVADA  JAPA NISTHO DVIJA SRESTHAH SARVA YAJNA PHALAM LABHET  ASUCIR VA SUCIR VAPI GACCHAN TISTHAN SVAPANNAPI  MANTRAIVA SARANO VIDVAN MANASAIVA SADA ABHYASET   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/161, 162 MANTRARANA)   Oh best of the brahmanas, in all conditions and always,one should chant japa in ones mind because it has no faults. Therefore, anyone who is engaged in chanting japa, gets the results of performing all kinds of sacrifices. Whatever conditon he may be, whether purified or unpurified condition, walking condition or still (standing or sitting) condition, sleeping condition, one should take shelter at the feet of chanting japa alone and chant japa within ones mind.   Srila Sanatana Gosvami remarks regarding chanting japa within ones mind, that because chanting japa within ones mind has no faults, therefore one should chant japa within his mind which is the best of all. Here the best of brahmanas refers to those who chant japa. In all conditions, one should take shelter in chanting japa without considering the time, place and circumstances. This is the understanding here.   JAPENA DEVATA NITYAM STUYAMANA PRASIDATI  PRASANNA VIPULAN BHOGAN DADYAM MUKTIS CA SASVATIM   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/166 PADMANABHIYA)   If japa is chanted regularly to please the Supreme Lord then the Supreme Lord being please will increase his spiritual advancement and give him the eternal liberation.  Srila Sanatana Gosvami says in his Digdharsanitika that eternal liberation means achieving the eternal abode of the Supreme Lord, Vaikunthadhama.   ATAH KURYAD JAPAM NITYAM SAKTYA NIYATA SANKHYAYA   (HARI BHAKTI VILASA 17/199 NARADA PANCARATRA)   One should chant regularly, according to ones capacity, an fixed number of rounds every day. Srila Sanatana Gosvami says in his Digdharsanitika, that according to ones capacity, one should regularly chant a fixed number of rounds each day and account the number each day. “One should not chant less or more japa day after day”. When the fixed number of rounds are completed one should finish chanting japa and engage in other service   This is  tecnical but the science of beads and how to chant, all from the Puranas, compiled by the great devotee Sanatana Goswami in the 1500 century Namaste Paramananda das