Guides for your practice

How many times should you chant Radha naam?

There is no single number that is right for everyone. What matters most is chanting regularly and with feeling. Many devotees start small and increase slowly.

A simple way to start

1. Begin with one mala of 108 a day, at the same time each day.
2. After a week or two, add a second sitting in the evening.
3. Build up to 4, 11 or 16 malas as it becomes natural.

Beyond counting

In his satsangs, Premanand Maharaj often encourages keeping Radha naam going through the whole day, not only during a counted sitting. The count is a support for building the habit.

Why does a mala have 108 beads?

108 is a sacred number in several Indian traditions, and each explains it in its own way.

Hindu

One traditional explanation is the 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions) multiplied by their 4 padas: 27 × 4 = 108.

Jain

The 108 beads of the navkarwali stand for the 108 virtues of the five supreme beings: Arihant 12, Siddha 8, Acharya 36, Upadhyaya 25 and Sadhu 27.

Sikh

A simrana is often 27 or 108 knots. Four rounds of 27 make 108. Gurbani puts the emphasis on sincere remembrance rather than on the count.

The meru bead

Most malas have one larger bead, the meru or sumeru. It is not crossed. At the end of a round, the mala is turned and you begin again. Smaller malas of 27 or 54 beads are also common, a quarter and a half of 108.

How to take a 1.25 lakh jap sankalp

A sankalp is a vow to complete a set number of jap in a set time. A traditional purashcharan is 1,25,000 repetitions of one mantra.

Steps

1. Choose the mantra. If you have a guru, ask which mantra and count suit you.
2. Choose the number of days. 40 days is common: 1,25,000 ÷ 40 = 3,125 a day, about 29 malas.
3. Make the sankalp. On the first day, state your intention, the mantra, the count and the days.
4. Keep a steady time and place. The same seat and time each day makes it easier.
5. Track every day. If you miss a day, add the jap you did on your mala later so your count stays true.
6. Complete it. Traditionally, a purashcharan ends with havan of one tenth of the count (dashamsh). Ask your guru or priest for the full method.

Counting on your fingers (kar mala)

Kar mala means counting on the hand. The thumb moves across the segments of the fingers, one segment for each repetition.

• Many traditions avoid using the index finger for counting.
• Methods differ between families and teachers, so follow the one you were taught.
• PrayerCount's pocket lock lets you count with your eyes closed when you don't have a mala.

Navkar jap during Paryushan

Paryushan is the most important time of the Jain year. Svetambara Jains observe 8 days, ending with Samvatsari. Digambara Jains observe Das Lakshan Parva for 10 days.

A simple plan

1. Choose a daily Navkar count, often a multiple of 9: for example 9 malas (972) a day.
2. Keep a 48-minute samayik with jap, if you can.
3. Join your sangh's group jap so everyone's count adds up together.
4. Close with Pratikraman, and Micchami Dukkadam to all living beings.

Waheguru simran: a daily guide

Simran is remembering Waheguru. It can be done anywhere, with or without a simrana.

Amrit vela

1. Wake in the early hours before dawn, wash, and sit somewhere quiet.
2. Recite your Nitnem banis.
3. Sit for Waheguru simran. Many practise swas giras: "Wahe" with the in-breath and "Guru" with the out-breath.
4. Close with Ardas.

Through the day

Keep simran going while you work and travel. A counter or simrana can help you notice when the mind wanders, but sincere remembrance matters more than the number.