Rules to Be Followed During Nama Japa

क्रमः

We will look at the meaning of the divya nama krama and also the rules to be followed while doing nama japa or if there are any rules at all.

ईदृश्या नित्यविभूत्या क्रमते स्फीतो भवति.

He expands himself perpetually with this kind of glory.

क्रमणात् क्रमहॆतुत्वात् क्रम एष उदाहृतः.

Krama means to flourish, to increase in prosperity. He is ever increasing in aiswarya and he is the reason behind increase in aiswarya. Hence Sri Hari is called kramaḥ.

Krama also means system, order. He is himself the system, the order. When you see anything systematic and orderly, you should appreciate his greatness because all the systems he has established. All systems function because of his grace.

Then what about stuff that is not systematic? He is working on them. See, the world is moving towards being systematic. Compared to what we had 100 years back, today we have many systems, especially IT-driven systems which are very systematic. Even 20 years back, if you wanted to book a train ticket, don’t you remember the hassles? Today IRCTC is there, transparent, systematic, corruption is gone. Who is doing all these? The Lord alone is establishing these systems.

So krama means the power behind all such systems, the power that puts all kinds of systems in place. Krama also means movement. Movement needs energy. He is the energy behind all movements, individual movements, wind, waves, planetary movements. He is the one providing energy for all of them to move.

It is always said that there are no rules or restrictions for taking the Lord’s name. Is this correct? Why are rules kept for rituals and mantra sadhana? To ensure purity of both body and mind, because a pure body and pure mind are more receptive. We consider the Lord as the purest of the pure. So to align with him we also should try to be pure; that way it would be better.

Many masters say that for nama japa or nama smarana, rules are not applicable. You can do nama japa without bothering about physical purity. Place and time do not matter. You can do nama japa even while you are travelling. Even menstruating women can do nama japa. There is no harm.

Does this have any pramana? Yes, Kali Santaranopanishad is the scripture that has given us –
हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे
हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे

In Kali Santaranopanishad, after Brahma reveals this mantra to Narada, Narada asks Brahma:
पुनर्नारदः पप्रच्छ, भगवन कोस्य विधिरिति

What is the vidhi to be followed while chanting this mantra? This is a natural question because nothing in the spiritual world would work if you don’t follow the vidhi provided, the procedure laid down, because the acharyas and sages take so many things into consideration which we may not understand when they lay down a procedure.

That means, let’s say – sandhyopasana, sandhya vandana. It is meant to be performed only at sandhya. What is sandhya? The junction of night and day, the junction of day and night. Time, kala, has three wives: day, night and sandhya. This is how we can visualize. So, where it is specified that this is the time this should be done, it will yield result only if you do it at that time. What should be done at sandhya kala should be done at sandhya kala only; otherwise you will not get any benefit out of it. There is no point doing sandhya vandana at eight or nine in the morning. In exceptional situations, suppose you have missed the specified time, then for that there is a prayaschitta arghya that is included in sandhya vandana. But that is for exceptional situations, not a daily norm.

But for nama japa, when Narada asked Brahma what is the vidhi, Brahma said:
स होवाच नास्य विधिरिति

There is no vidhi for this. There are no rules that you have to follow.

शिचिरशुचिर्वा पठन्ब्राह्मणः सलोकतां समीपतां सरूपतां सायुज्यतामेति

Clean or unclean, pure or impure, if you chant his divine names you can attain the four kinds of mukti – salokataa, being in his world, Vaikuntha; sameepata, being always near him, with him; saroopata, getting his form, looking exactly like him; saayujyata, merging into him.

The total number of chanting prescribed is three and a half crores. If you do this, every single sin that you may have committed in the past births which have become problems in your day-to-day life and obstacles in attaining his divine feet will be removed. What are these obstacles? Lack of faith, lack of focus, distractions while you are doing sadhana, health issues that prevent you from doing sadhana. These are there because of your own sins; your own sins are preventing you from attaining him.

The Lord is pure, absolutely pure. If you want to become one with him with impurities in you, you cannot do that. There is a potful of crystal-clear water; you want to add another cup to it. The water that you are adding should also be crystal clear, pure. It can’t be muddy and polluted. So, the Lord has to first make you pure; then only he will accept you into himself. The sadhana is for that, to make you pure, to wipe out all your karma, to make you crystal clear. This understanding should be there when you do nama japa, the sadhana that is nama japa.

Nothing else is required, no deeksha. If some cult is telling you that you have to take deeksha from them for doing nama japa, then it is wrong. Kali Santaranopanishad doesn’t say so. The whole basis of Hare Rama japa is Kali Santaranopanishad. It doesn’t say so. Brahma says: 'नास्य विधिरिति'. There is no such vidhi. What more proof do you want?

But understanding why you are doing it helps. Every single chant that you do takes you one step closer to him. You have to take 3.5 crore steps to reach him. So don’t waste time. Do the nama japa whenever you want, wherever you want. But don’t do multitasking; that’s a waste. Sit in the middle of the market and do it, no problem, but not with two things or many things in mind. When you are chanting, your mind should be exclusively fixed in him. You can only count such number of chantings.

If you are chatting with a friend and doing chanting in between, intermittently, you can’t count that because your mind is not with the Lord. If you are sitting in a vehicle and chanting, your mind should not be wandering. If the vehicle stops at a traffic light, you should not be peeping out of the window and analyzing what you see around. That is not sadhana.

You can chant wherever and whenever you want provided you are sure that your mind is with him exclusively. If you are travelling, look at a photo of his, keep it in your hand, look at it and chant. That will protect you from distraction. You can do that; there is no problem. You can use such techniques to avoid distractions.

You can record the chant in your own voice, say 108 times. Listen to it using earphones. Chant along with it keeping your eyes closed. This will help you in preventing distractions. The Lord has made it so easy for us to attain him. Take advantage of all that.

• Why do systems and routines feel spiritually important?

  • Order mirrors Bhagavan’s krama. A small fixed slot for sahasranama daily trains mind and breath to align with that order. Calm mind, steadier day.

• If there are no strict rules for nama japa, what stops it from becoming casual and weak?

  • Intention is the rule. Sit, spine tall, one name per breath, eyes softened. Treat each repetition as a step toward Bhagavan. Quality beats fuss.

• How can chanting help when life feels chaotic and disorganized?

  • Start with 11 names facing one point in the room. Consistent direction cues the brain to expect focus. Within a week, tasks bunch neatly; clutter reduces.

• What do I do when my mind keeps scanning the phone or the street?

  • Use a visual anchor. Keep a photo of Sri Hari at eye level. Chant 12 slow names while looking softly at it. Visual lock cuts wandering by half.

• Can I chant while commuting without diluting the practice?

  • Yes. Keep it single-task. One name per exhale, gaze steady. Count only those rounds where attention does not split.

• How does nama japa touch physical health in a clear way?

  • Cadence improves breathing depth; longer exhales nudge the nervous system into rest mode. Sleep stabilizes, digestion settles, headaches reduce.

• My anger spikes in conversations. How do I insert japa there?

  • Pause one breath. Silently say ‘Narayana’ on the exhale. Only then reply. This delay drains heat and saves the relationship.

• Family resists formal rituals. How do I bring them in gently?

  • Make it small and warm. One lamp, five names together before dinner. No sermons. Let peace in the room be the teacher.

• What if pronunciation isn’t perfect?

  • Choose a short list of names you can say clearly. Slow is clean. Clean sound invites clean attention.

• Is group chanting better than solo?

  • Use both. Group builds momentum on weekends; solo deepens intimacy on weekdays. Two rails of the same track.

• How do I prevent chanting from turning mechanical?

  • Before you start, name one person or situation you place at Bhagavan’s feet. After you finish, sit in silence for 30 seconds. Heart in, heart out.

• I feel dull and heavy at the end of the day. Can chanting reset this?

  • Absolutely. Do 12 names standing, with gentle shoulder rolls. Movement plus mantra flushes the day’s residue.

• Can children participate meaningfully?

  • Yes. Give them one name for a week. Let them draw it on a card and lead the last three repetitions. Ownership creates joy.

• What is the minimum viable practice that still works?

  • Three names on waking, three at night. If everything fails, one slow ‘Govinda’ with a full exhale. Non-zero beats perfect.

• How do I use sahasranama for decision clarity?

  • Chant one mala of a chosen name, then write the decision in one line. If breath tightens, wait. If breath stays free, proceed.

• Travel breaks my routine. How do I hold the thread?

  • Carry a tiny mala or counter app. Fix a travel number like 27 names. Same count, any place. Thread stays unbroken.

• What if guilt about past mistakes blocks devotion?

  • Use the name as a purifier, not a prize. Each repetition is one step toward clean water. Keep stepping; the mud settles.

• How do I close a session so the effect lingers?

  • Whisper the last five names, palms on heart, one soft thank you. Then return to tasks without rush. Grace sticks when exits are gentle.

• What is a clear sign that practice is working?

  • Faster recovery from irritation, kinder words under pressure, steadier sleep, easier mornings. Inner order precedes outer outcomes.

• How do I scale up without burning out?

  • Fix a floor and a ceiling. Floor: never miss 3 names. Ceiling: extend on good days to 108. Discipline with kindness lasts.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi