How many Japa rounds to chant?
Srila Prabhupada’s program for chanting japa requires the devotees to regularly chant sixteen rounds over the course of the day.
“Although Madhavendra Puri was not interested in eating and sleeping, his interest in chanting the maha-mantra was as acute as if he were an aspiring transcendentalist rather than a paramahamsa. This means that even in the paramahamsa stage, one cannot give up chanting. Haridasa Thakura and the Gosvamis were all engaged in chanting a fixed number of rounds; therefore chanting on beads is very important for everyone, even though one may become a paramahamsa. This chanting can be executed anywhere, either inside or outside the temple.”
– Caitanya-caritamrta, Madyam lila 4:125
