What mantra(s) do you chant?

[Chakra]

Namaste,
Many Hindus chant mantras as part of their daily religious activities. I have always been interested in mantras, and the fact that each sect or sampradaya has their "main" mantra. Here are just a few questions I hope you guys can answer so that I can get a better understanding of which mantras are the most popular, and how many Hindus actually make mantra-chanting a big part of their religious lives.

1) What mantras do you chant?
2) What time of the day do you chant?
3) How many rounds (108 times) do you chant?
4) How much time does it take for you to finish chanting?

Personally, I chant the Vishnu Sahasranama once in the morning and once in the evening. Besides that, I also chant 10 rounds of "Om Namo Narayana"- 5 rounds in the morning and 5 rounds in the evening.

Thank you!

 

[StarryNightshade]

Well, I don't belong to a Sampradaya, nor have I ever chanted a round, but I find myself chanting throughout various times of the day. I don't even think about it. It just kinda comes naturally.

The most common mantras and songs I cant are Om Namah Shivaya, Jai Jagadambe Maa Durga, and the Hanuman Chalisa.

 

[Jainarayan]

I wish I could say I am consistent in doing japa, or that I've done it recently, but if I said that I'd be a liar. However, in the past when doing nama japa (which I should start again)...

1) What mantras do you chant?

om namo narayanaya, sometimes om namo bhagavate vasudevaya.

2) What time of the day do you chant?

Primarily it was in the evening, but it could be any other time.

3) How many rounds (108 times) do you chant?

Usually 1, sometimes 2.

4) How much time does it take for you to finish chanting?

I never really paid attention, but it depended on my rhythm, something I have never been able to establish. I tend to either drag it out or rush it.

However, I can say with honesty that when I listen to bhajans and mantras from my iPod, I will often get one stuck in my head and run with it for a long time, mentally chanting it. I know this is atypical (who me!? ), but it could be anyone's mantra, because:

akashath pathitham thoyam
yatha gatchathi sagaram
sarva deva namaskaram
keshavam prathi gatchathi

 

[Chakra]

I wish I could say I am consistent in doing japa, or that I've done it recently, but if I said that I'd be a liar. However, in the past when doing nama japa (which I should start again)...

1) What mantras do you chant?

om namo narayanaya, sometimes om namo bhagavate vasudevaya.

2) What time of the day do you chant?

Primarily it was in the evening, but it could be any other time.

3) How many rounds (108 times) do you chant?

Usually 1, sometimes 2.

4) How much time does it take for you to finish chanting?

I never really paid attention, but it depended on my rhythm, something I have never been able to establish. I tend to either drag it out or rush it.

However, I can say with honesty that when I listen to bhajans and mantras from my iPod, I will often get one stuck in my head and run with it for a long time, mentally chanting it. I know this is atypical (who me!? ), but it could be anyone's mantra, because:

akashath pathitham thoyam
yatha gatchathi sagaram
sarva deva namaskaram
keshavam prathi gatchathi

Jainarayana-ji, are you a Shri Vaishnava?
Regards

 

[Jainarayan]

No, not Sri Vaishnava. I'm like tofu... I absorb many flavors.

 

[Vinayaka]

1) What mantras do you chant?

One round per day, generally same time every day, more on special occasions or if I feel like it.

 

[Sb1995]

Did one round per day after I took a bath for a few weeks but eventually stopped. Used to chant "Om gam ganapathaya namaha"

 

[Chakra]

One round per day, generally same time every day, more on special occasions or if I feel like it.

Which mantra? Or are you not allowed to say?

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

I chant many mantras and one primary mantra. I chant using japa beads or my fingers to count 108 times for 1 round.

I chant minimum 1 round daily of the primary mantra (ONS) but often more. I also praise the sun each morning and sometimes evening. As said, I chant other mantras too.

I can complete one round of 108 very fast, I chant often while walking in the park etc..

I just timed one round and completed it in 2 minutes.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Vinayaka]

Which mantra? Or are you not allowed to say?

I'm a Saivite.

I also do daily puja so there are several in that, like the Ganapati Gayatri, and Ganesha Ashtotaram. But that's not really the same as concentrated japa.

 

[Aupmanyav]

1) What mantras do you chant?
2) What time of the day do you chant?
3) How many rounds (108 times) do you chant?
4) How much time does it take for you to finish chanting?

I come across mantras when I read your (and other members') posts. Mind registers. Feel nice. Or when my 2 1/2 year old grandson chants "Jai Hanuman gyan guna sagar, jai kapisha tihun lok ujagar ..". He is very fond of Hanuman videos. We have three types on my book marks - Child Hanuman, Grown up Hanuman, and Old Hanuman (Baccha Hanuman, Bade Hanuman and Buddha Hanuman, i.e., with white body hair).

 

[Maya3]

I chant the Gayatri, and the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra mostly. Sometimes Om Namah Shivaya also, and guru and Shanti mantra
But I don´t chant that often. My tradition recommends this before and after meditation...
but I don´t do it that often.

Maya

 

[Jainarayan]

I chant many mantras and one primary mantra. I chant using japa beads or my fingers to count 108 times for 1 round.

I chant minimum 1 round daily of the primary mantra (ONS) but often more. I also praise the sun each morning and sometimes evening. As said, I chant other mantras too.

I can complete one round of 108 very fast, I chant often while walking in the park etc..

I just timed one round and completed it in 2 minutes.

Om Namah Sivaya

I'm quoting ShivaFan's post because of the subject, but anyone please free to answer.

This is interesting and timely, because I was going to ask/mention about chanting multiple mantras for various purposes. For example, which I won't detail too much, I am struggling with some issues that I believe are under the province of Sri Dhanvantari, the Divine Physician incarnation of Sri Vishnu, and some obstacles that I believe Sri Ganesha can help with. I've seen it written in places that mantras can be used for special purposes. For gosh sakes I've even seen some recommended for having a boy.

To that end I am thinking of using om sri dhanvantaraye namaha and om sri ganeshaya namaha, or om gam ganapataye namaha, unless gam is a bija and not for uninitiated. I don't know if it's necessary to use a mala unless I want to commit to a certain number of rounds as a vow. I would use my tulsi mala for Sri Dhanvantari, but I don't know what mala I'd use for Sri Ganesha (rudraksha?). Or is there a "multi-purpose" mala when praying to different deities?

Btw, does anyone feel that the speed of the chanting has any bearing on its effectiveness? That is, does blasting through a round make it seem like "OK, let me get this over with"? Or is the speed less important than the concentration? I realize more and more everyday how ignorant I really am.

 

[Vinayaka]

My personal belief is that it's far better to do one mantra correctly than several mantras ineffectively.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I am struggling with some issues that I believe are under the province of Sri Dhanvantari, the Divine Physician incarnation of Sri Vishnu, and some obstacles that I believe Sri Ganesha can help with.

Btw, does anyone feel that the speed of the chanting has any bearing on its effectiveness? That is, does blasting through a round make it seem like "OK, let me get this over with"? Or is the speed less important than the concentration? I realize more and more everyday how ignorant I really am.

You can request any God or Goddess for what you want. They can redirect the request to the particular God or Goddess with their recommendations. It is never a problem in Hinduism.

Don't rush through the chants. It is not a race. Savor the chant, understand what the chant is saying.

 

[Jainarayan]

You can request any God or Goddess for what you want. They can redirect the request to the particular God or Goddess with their recommendations. It is never a problem in Hinduism.

Thanks... I realize and keep in mind "Just as all raindrops falling from the sky find their way to the ocean, so all prayers to all devas go to Keshava". Ultimately it is he who helps. But it's the henotheist in me coming out.

Don't rush through the chants. It is not a race. Savor the chant, understand what the chant is saying.

I always kind of thought that... meaning and intention rather than words. I saw a YT video of Srila Prabhupada chanting the Maha Mantra so fast I could barely make out the words.

 

[Chakra]

Thanks... I realize and keep in mind "Just as all raindrops falling from the sky find their way to the ocean, so all prayers to all devas go to Keshava". Ultimately it is he who helps. But it's the henotheist in me coming out.



I always kind of thought that... meaning and intention rather than words. I saw a YT video of Srila Prabhupada chanting the Maha Mantra so fast I could barely make out the words.

Dear sir,
The ISKCON members chant the Hare Krishna mantra for 16 rounds...I'm sure SP chanted way more than that. Even though they go fast, they make it up for A LOT of mantras.

But yes, take your time with the words. Fix your mind on the God and listen to the sound of the mantra. This is very effective.
Regards

 

[Aupmanyav]

BTW, I am a lazy person. Anything in hurry goes against my grain.

 

[Vinayaka]

BTW, I am a lazy person. Anything in hurry goes against my grain.

The easiest way to do many rounds is to tape yourself once, and then just hit 'play' once a day.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Yes, I want to record the way I chanted mantras at the time I was meditating. It might help someone.