Japa & kirtan are two indispensable practices on the path to Krishna consciousness. Japa and kirtan are services to God based on the chanting of His Holy Names. By these simple practices all the five senses – seeing, hearing, touching, smelling (incense & flowers), and seeing (chanting is generally enacted in front of a picture or deity form of the Lord) are engaged. When the senses are transcendentally engaged, the mind will focus. The Hare Krishna mantra is universally accepted by scripture as well as great saints and sages as the Maha Mantra, or the most effective means of deliverance. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Japa, as seen on the photo of Srila Prabhupada, is an individual rosary – like process of chanting softly on a strand of 108 japa beads, fingering each bead in succession. One circuit comprises one round of japa yoga.
Why Chant Hare Krishna?
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The following video, entltled “Japa Meditation” features the voice of Srila Prabhupada chanting japa. |
The video beneath features interviews with particpants 24 hour kirtan in New Vrndavan, the Hare Krishna community in West Virginia. |
Here is a 5 minutes excerpt of that 24 hour kirtan lead by Bada Hari Das. Visit our Utah Krishnas YouTube channel for more videos of kirtans around the world. Below the video are a number of audio kirtans available for download.