This is a rather long post - and for that I apologise. However it has helped so much with my japa. It is taken from Mahanidhi Swami's book, entitled 'The Art of Chanting Hare Krishna.' There are prayers for before, during and after japa (although honestly I've thought of the prayers during japa of more of a mood). It helps keep me focussed and makes my japa more meaningful. I hope it will inspire and help others with their japa.

BEFORE JAPA:
"The beauty of bhakti-yoga, unlike other yoga systems, is that all progress depends more or less on the mercy of Guru and Krsna. In other yoga paths, one attains success by his personal prowess, austerity and endeavor. On the bhakti-marga, however, attaining the goal oiprema does not depend on the mechanical system of hearing and chanting; it depends solely on Krsna's causeless mercy. Lord Gauranga says, guru-krsna-krpaya: by the mercy of guru and Krsna. When Sri Guru and Krsna are fully satisfied with one's sincere efforts, one may be blessed with divine wisdom and spiritual perfection. It is simply a question of mercy and nothing else. The path of devotion (bhakti-marga) depends completely on the mercy of the Lord. Therefore, one must seek the mercy-beg for it, hope for it and pray for it. Gaudiya Vaisnavas understand this principle, so they always pray to Sri Guru and the merciful Vaisnavas past and present for mercy, blessings and guidance. This especially applies to chanting the holy name for which we have little or no taste or attraction. Heartfelt prayers will draw the attention of Krsna and His devotees. By their causeless mercy one will attain the power to chant and the taste to sustain it.

ekaki amdra, nahi pay a bala, hari-nama-sahkirtane
tumi krpd kori', sraddha-bindu diyd, deho' krsna-nama-dhane

"On my own, I have absolutely no strength to chant the holy name ** Please, O Vaisnava Thakura! Be merciful by giving nd grant me the great treasure of the holy name of lord hari. Please, O vaisnava Thakur! Be merciful by giving me one drop faith, and grant me the great treasure of the holy name of krishna (saranagati)

One will quickly attain spiritual perfection by selflessly worshiping the six G's: Guru, Gosvamis, Gauranga, Giriraja and Gandharvika-Giridhari. Realizing this, Krsna dasa Kaviraja prayed to the six Gosvamis to remove all impediments to his writing of Caitanya-caritamrta. In the following purport, Srila Prabhupada describes how the six Gosvamis assist devotees by protecting them, destroying obstacles, and arranging for their service to Krsna."If a devotee seeks shelter at the lotus feet of the six Gosvamis, the merciful Gosvamis will certainly give the Lord's servitor all protection. It is not astonishing that impediments are placed before those who are spreading the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world. Nevertheless, if we adhere to the lotus feet of the six Gosvamis and pray for their mercy, all impediments will be annihilated, and the transcendental devotional desire to serve the Supreme Lord will be fulfilled." (Cc. Antya 1.3-4 p.) Devotees who understand the great power of the six Gosvamis will always pray for their mercy. Ours is the path of mercy, the path of grace, and there are no more merciful devotees than the six Gosvamis. May everyone receive the causeless mercy of the six Gosvamis, and go back home, back to Godhead. In order to chant without offenses, subdue impediments, and progress steadily on the path oiprema, acaryas advocate reciting the following prayer to the six Gosvamis ten times every morning before chanting japa:

sri-rupa sanatoria bhatta-raghundtha, sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasaraghundtha
ei chay gosdir kori carana vandan, jaha hoite bighna-nas abhistapuran

By the causeless mercy of the six Gosvamis-Sri Rupa, Sanatana, Raghunatha Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Raghunatha dasa and Gopala Bhatta-the obstacles to devotion can be removed, the service of Radha-Govinda Yugala can be attained, and all one's personal desires for Service can be fulfilled. (Nama-sankirtana, Narottama dasa Thakura)

One can also pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to remove anarthas and aparadhas from the heart. The auspicious and most merciful Lord Nrsirhha has unlimited power to purify the heart, destroy obstacles to devotion, and bestow attraction for chanting Hare Krsna. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura shows the relationship between Nrsimhadeva's mercy and Radha-Govindaprema:

In Navadvipa-dhama, at the abode of Lord Nrsirhha known as Nrsirmha Puri or Devapalli, I will roll on the ground in ecstatic love, begging for unalloyed love of Krsna. In my heart reside duplicity, insincerity, the desire for fame, and the six enemies: lust, anger, greed, envy, illusion and madness (kama, krodha, lobha, matsarya, moha, mada). I will pray at the feet of Lord Nrsimha, therefore, to purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Krsna. Weeping, I will beg at the lotus feet of Nrsimha that I may worship Radha-Govinda in Navadvipa, free from all obstacles. When will that Lord Hari, who strikes fear in fear personified, be pleased and bestow His mercy on me? Although this form of the Lord is terrible for the evil, He is exceedingly auspicious for the devotees headed by Prahlada. When will Nrsimhadeva become pleased to mercifully speak to me, a worthless fool, and remove my fears?

"Lord Nrsirhha will say, 'Dear child, stay here happily in Gaura-dhama. Worship Radha-Govinda and develop attraction for the holy name. By the mercy of My devotees all obstacles will be transcended. With a purified heart just worship Radha-Govinda-the abodes of sweet nectar After speaking in this way, when will Lord Nrsirhha joyfully place His feet upon my head? At that moment, by the Lord's mercy, I will exhibit symptoms of ecstatic love for Radha-Govinda, and roll on the ground before the door of His temple." (Navadvipa-bhava-taranga)

After praising Sri Guru, the Gosvamis and Lord Nrsirhha one should pray to Gaura-Nitai and the Panca-tattva for the ability to chant suddha-nama. Krsna dasa Kaviraja says the holy names Caitanya and Nityananda will quickly remove nama-aparadhas from faithful chanters:

caitanya-nitydnande nahi esaba vicara
natna laite prema dena, vahe asrudhara

"One will be cleansed of all offenses very quickly just by chanting the holy names of Caitanya and Nityananda with a little faith. Then as soon as one chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, he will attain prema and tears will flow from his eyes."(cc. Adi 8.31)Every night during the Kartika month, a kirtana party walks around Radha-kunda. With wompers, mrdangas and contagious enthusiasm they wildly sing, "Jai Caitanya! Nitai-Caitanya! Jai Caitanya-Nitaiii!" When one hears this kirtana, he instantly feels lighthearted and flushed with joy. Without thinking, one starts singing responsively. By the influence of Caitanya-Nitai, the maha-mantra soon pours out in waves of sweetness. All glories to the causeless mercy of Caitanya-Nitai!

sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nitydnanda sri-advaita
gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda.

"There are offenses to be considered in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but there are no such considerations in chanting the names of Gaura-Nityananda. Therefore, if one chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra but his life is still full of sinful activities, it will be very difficult for him to achieve the platform of loving service to the Lord. But if in spite of being an offender one chants the holy names of Gaura-Nityananda, he is very quickly freed from the interactions of his offenses." (ccAdi 8.31 p.) It is difficult to keep the rascal mind fixed on the sound of Krsna's holy name while chanting;'apa. And remembering Krsna's pastimes while chanting is even more difficult. Therefore, one may feel discouraged in his attempts to rise to the platform of pure chanting in the face of so many anarthas and aparadhas. Fortunately, however, one can call upon "five friends" for help in chanting. By receiving the causeless mercy of Lord Gauranga and His associates a blind chanter can see the Lord in the heart, a lame offender can scale a mountain of aparadhas, and a foul-mouthed fool can recite the honey sweet words of madhura-nama.

Reciting the following prayers before chanting japa will purify the mind, create a feeling of humility, and establish the mood of service (seva-bhava) in the heart. Meditate deeply on the meaning of these important prayers and try to memorize them. One can maintain the proper mood of humility during japa by remembering the meaning of these prayers while chanting Hare Krsna.

naharh vipro na ca nara-patir napi vaisyo na sudro
ndharh varni na ca grha-patir no vana-stho yatir va
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramdnanda-purnamrtabdher
gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor ddsa-dasdnudasah

I am a pure spirit soul. I am not a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha or sannyasa. I am nothing more than a servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopis. Krsna is an ocean of nectar and the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He always exists with brilliance, (cc. Madhya 13.80) I am by nature the eternal servant of Krsna. But because of my bad fortune, I have been inimical toward Krsna from time immemorial. Identifying with my body, I have been continuously wandering in the cycle of birth and death in the material world, suffering the burning three-fold miseries. As a result of some unimaginable good fortune I have attained the mercy of my spiritual master, and now I know that I am Krsna's eternal servant. I am an infinitesimal spiritual being completely apart from the gross and subtle body. I have obtained the good fortune of serving the lotus feet of Sri Guru. Under his order, I am following in his footsteps to serve the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Gandharvika-Giridhari [or the names of the your personal Deities],

O Radha-Govinda! I will adorn my neck with the incomparably beautiful garland of Your holy names. Please make tears fall uncontrollably from my eyes. Please once and for all free me from illusion and submerge me repeatedly in the waves of the nectar ocean of Your holy names. Please protect me and give me unflinching devotion to Your lotus feet. I offer my continual obeisances Unto You. (paura Govindarcana Smarana Paddhati)
Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Only you have the power to conquer lust, hatred and all other vices. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Make me forget the dualities of material existence arising from this material body. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Help me to forget the material world and reveal to me the sweet splendor of the spiritual world. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Please take me to a secluded grove in Vrndavana wherein the fair and dark complexioned lovers are manifesting Their wonderful pastimes."(yadavana-mahimamrta, Sataka 7.40)

tvarh gopika vrsaraves tanayantike 'si
sevadhikarini guro nija-pdda-padme
dasyarh praddya kuru mam vraja-kanane sri-
rddhanghri-sevana-rase sukhiriim sukhdbdhau

O beloved spiritual master! You are always serving the lotus feet of the splendid gopika named Radha, the darling daughter of Vrsabhanu Maharaja. Please give me the qualification to serve your lotus feet, which are the abodes of pure devotional service. By your mercy I will attain the eternal service of Sri Radha in the beautiful groves of Vraja-dhama. While serving the lotus feet of Radha I will taste a variety of blissful mellows (seva-rasa), and thereby drown in an ocean Of joy. (Pancaratra Pradipa)

DURING JAPA:
In the Caitanya-caritamrta, Ramananda Raya states that the names of Radha-Krsna (yugala-nama), or the Hare Krsna mantra are the topmost objects of worship:

'updsyera madhye kon upasya pradhdna?'
srestha upasya—yugala 'radha-krsna' nama'

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, 'Among all worshipable objects, which is the chief?' Ramananda Raya replied, 'The chief worshipable object is the holy name of Radha-Krsna, the Hare Krsna mantra.' (cc. Madhya 8.256) In this regard, Sanat-kumara-samhita states that recitation of the following five prayers quickly awards one the direct service of Radha-Krsna. Since the Hare Kimamaha-mantra is ayugala-man-tra, non-different from Radha-Krsna, one can also offer these prayers to the maha-mantra. In this japa meditation technique, one should mentally repeat these prayers while simultaneously chanting japa.

1.0 Radha-Krsna, please rescue me from the ocean of birth and death. Please save me from the problems born of home, family and friends. Please break to pieces the fears of Your surrendered devotees.
2. O Radha-Krsna, today I place myself and everything I possess in this life or in the next at Your lotus feet.
3. O Radha-Krsna, I am an abode of all offenses. I have abandoned all spiritual duties. I have no shelter. O Radha-Krsna, O My Lords, please give me Your shelter.
4.0 master of Radha, I am Yours. O beloved of Lord Krsna, I am Youis. I offer my thoughts, words and deeds to both of You. You both are the goal of my life.
5.0 Radha-Krsna, You are like two great oceans of mercy. Please be merciful to me. I take shelter of You and surrender unto You. Although I am a sinner and an offender, please engage me in Your divine Service. (Sanat-kumara-samhita)

AFTER JAPA:
In a purport describing the nine forms of bhakti, Srila Prabhupada said, "One should chant the following two prayers composed in glorification of the holy name to become free from offenses at the lotus feet of the holy name: " (SB 7.5.23-24 p.)

nikhila-sruti-mauli-ratna-mala dyuti-riirajita-pada-parikajanta
ayi mukta-kulair upasyamanarh paritas tvath hari-ndma sarhsrayami

O Hari-nama! The tips of the toes of Your lotus feet are constantly being worshiped by the glowing radiance emanating from the string of gems known as the Upanisads, the crown jewels of all the Vedas. You are eternally adored by liberated souls such as Narada and Sukadeva. O Hari-nama! I take complete shelter of YOU. (Ndmastaka l)

nivrtta-tarsair upaglyamdndd bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-'bhiramat
ka uttamasloka-gundnuvdddt pumdn virajyeta vind pasughndt

Glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is performed in the parampara system; that is, it is conveyed from spiritual master to disciple. Such glorification is relished by those no longer interested in the false, temporary glorification of this cosmic manifestation. Descriptions of the Lord are the right medicine for the conditioned soul undergoing repeated birth and death. Therefore, who will cease hearing such glorification of the Lord except a butcher [animal killer], or one who is killing his own self? (SB 10.1.4)

The two prayers above and the others mentioned below can be chanted after completing sixteen rounds of Hare Krsnayopa. Chanting these prayers will refresh the mind and remove offenses from the heart.

aparadha-sahasrani, kriyante 'har-nisarh mayd.
ddso 'ham iti mam matvd, ksamasva madhusiidana.

Day and night, I make thousands of offenses. Oh Madhusiidana! Thinking of me as Your servant, kindly forgive them.

pratijha tava govinda, na me bhaktah pranasyati.
iti samsmrtya samsmrtya, prdndn sahdharayamy aharn

O Govinda, Your promise is that Your devotee will never perish.By remembering this over and over again, I am able to retain my life-airs.

sthitih seva gatir ydtrd, smrtis cintd stutir vacah.
bhuyat sarvatmana visno, madiyam tvayi cestitam.

O Lord Krsna! Let my normal condition be service. Let my movement be holy pilgrimage. Let my thought be remembrance of You. Let my words be glorification of You. O Krsna! May all the activities of my mind, body and soul be ever engaged in Your service. (Hari-bhakti-vilasa 4.3l) Although I am the lowest and You are the highest; although I am a fool and You are the greatest hilosopher; although I am wicked and You are the most saintly; and although I commit offenses when I think of You, still, O Radha-Govinda, the shadow of whose holy name delivers one from a host of sins, please be kind to this person who Sometimes Chants Your holy names. (Karpanya-panjika-stotra, Srila Rupa Gosvami)

Upon finishing sixteen rounds of japa, one should not immediately get up and run through the day. Sit quietly for at least five minutes. Close your eyes and fix the dazzling forms of Radha-Syama in your mind while reflecting upon Their infinite sweet love and compassion. You belong to Them and They belong to you. Offer a short personal prayer to Radha-Syama, your own Deity, or to Sri Nama Prabhu [sample below]. Afterwards, offer obeisances to Sri Nama Prabhu and your spiritual master, and then execute your prescribed duties."Oh most beautiful and merciful Radha-Syama! Please accept this offering of japa, which I tried my best to chant for Your plea¬sure. Please forgive me for all my offenses and inattention. Please engage me only in Your service, and teach me how to increase my attachment and love for You. Please protect me from maya. Please help me remember Your beautiful names, forms, and pastimes throughout the day."

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

This is a rather long post - and for that I apologise. However it has helped so much with my japa. It is taken from Mahanidhi Swami's book, entitled 'The Art of Chanting Hare Krishna.' There are prayers for before, during and after japa (although honestly I've thought of the prayers during japa of more of a mood). It helps keep me focussed and makes my japa more meaningful. I hope it will inspire and help others with their japa.

BEFORE JAPA:
"The beauty of bhakti-yoga, unlike other yoga systems, is that all progress depends more or less on the mercy of Guru and Krsna. In other yoga paths, one attains success by his personal prowess, austerity and endeavor. On the bhakti-marga, however, attaining the goal oiprema does not depend on the mechanical system of hearing and chanting; it depends solely on Krsna's causeless mercy. Lord Gauranga says, guru-krsna-krpaya: by the mercy of guru and Krsna. When Sri Guru and Krsna are fully satisfied with one's sincere efforts, one may be blessed with divine wisdom and spiritual perfection. It is simply a question of mercy and nothing else. The path of devotion (bhakti-marga) depends completely on the mercy of the Lord. Therefore, one must seek the mercy-beg for it, hope for it and pray for it. Gaudiya Vaisnavas understand this principle, so they always pray to Sri Guru and the merciful Vaisnavas past and present for mercy, blessings and guidance. This especially applies to chanting the holy name for which we have little or no taste or attraction. Heartfelt prayers will draw the attention of Krsna and His devotees. By their causeless mercy one will attain the power to chant and the taste to sustain it.

ekaki amdra, nahi pay a bala, hari-nama-sahkirtane
tumi krpd kori', sraddha-bindu diyd, deho' krsna-nama-dhane

"On my own, I have absolutely no strength to chant the holy name ** Please, O Vaisnava Thakura! Be merciful by giving nd grant me the great treasure of the holy name of lord hari. Please, O vaisnava Thakur! Be merciful by giving me one drop faith, and grant me the great treasure of the holy name of krishna (saranagati)

One will quickly attain spiritual perfection by selflessly worshiping the six G's: Guru, Gosvamis, Gauranga, Giriraja and Gandharvika-Giridhari. Realizing this, Krsna dasa Kaviraja prayed to the six Gosvamis to remove all impediments to his writing of Caitanya-caritamrta. In the following purport, Srila Prabhupada describes how the six Gosvamis assist devotees by protecting them, destroying obstacles, and arranging for their service to Krsna."If a devotee seeks shelter at the lotus feet of the six Gosvamis, the merciful Gosvamis will certainly give the Lord's servitor all protection. It is not astonishing that impediments are placed before those who are spreading the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world. Nevertheless, if we adhere to the lotus feet of the six Gosvamis and pray for their mercy, all impediments will be annihilated, and the transcendental devotional desire to serve the Supreme Lord will be fulfilled." (Cc. Antya 1.3-4 p.) Devotees who understand the great power of the six Gosvamis will always pray for their mercy. Ours is the path of mercy, the path of grace, and there are no more merciful devotees than the six Gosvamis. May everyone receive the causeless mercy of the six Gosvamis, and go back home, back to Godhead. In order to chant without offenses, subdue impediments, and progress steadily on the path oiprema, acaryas advocate reciting the following prayer to the six Gosvamis ten times every morning before chanting japa:

sri-rupa sanatoria bhatta-raghundtha, sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasaraghundtha
ei chay gosdir kori carana vandan, jaha hoite bighna-nas abhistapuran

By the causeless mercy of the six Gosvamis-Sri Rupa, Sanatana, Raghunatha Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Raghunatha dasa and Gopala Bhatta-the obstacles to devotion can be removed, the service of Radha-Govinda Yugala can be attained, and all one's personal desires for Service can be fulfilled. (Nama-sankirtana, Narottama dasa Thakura)

One can also pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to remove anarthas and aparadhas from the heart. The auspicious and most merciful Lord Nrsirhha has unlimited power to purify the heart, destroy obstacles to devotion, and bestow attraction for chanting Hare Krsna. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura shows the relationship between Nrsimhadeva's mercy and Radha-Govindaprema:

In Navadvipa-dhama, at the abode of Lord Nrsirhha known as Nrsirmha Puri or Devapalli, I will roll on the ground in ecstatic love, begging for unalloyed love of Krsna. In my heart reside duplicity, insincerity, the desire for fame, and the six enemies: lust, anger, greed, envy, illusion and madness (kama, krodha, lobha, matsarya, moha, mada). I will pray at the feet of Lord Nrsimha, therefore, to purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Krsna. Weeping, I will beg at the lotus feet of Nrsimha that I may worship Radha-Govinda in Navadvipa, free from all obstacles. When will that Lord Hari, who strikes fear in fear personified, be pleased and bestow His mercy on me? Although this form of the Lord is terrible for the evil, He is exceedingly auspicious for the devotees headed by Prahlada. When will Nrsimhadeva become pleased to mercifully speak to me, a worthless fool, and remove my fears?

"Lord Nrsirhha will say, 'Dear child, stay here happily in Gaura-dhama. Worship Radha-Govinda and develop attraction for the holy name. By the mercy of My devotees all obstacles will be transcended. With a purified heart just worship Radha-Govinda-the abodes of sweet nectar After speaking in this way, when will Lord Nrsirhha joyfully place His feet upon my head? At that moment, by the Lord's mercy, I will exhibit symptoms of ecstatic love for Radha-Govinda, and roll on the ground before the door of His temple." (Navadvipa-bhava-taranga)

After praising Sri Guru, the Gosvamis and Lord Nrsirhha one should pray to Gaura-Nitai and the Panca-tattva for the ability to chant suddha-nama. Krsna dasa Kaviraja says the holy names Caitanya and Nityananda will quickly remove nama-aparadhas from faithful chanters:

caitanya-nitydnande nahi esaba vicara
natna laite prema dena, vahe asrudhara

"One will be cleansed of all offenses very quickly just by chanting the holy names of Caitanya and Nityananda with a little faith. Then as soon as one chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, he will attain prema and tears will flow from his eyes."(cc. Adi 8.31)Every night during the Kartika month, a kirtana party walks around Radha-kunda. With wompers, mrdangas and contagious enthusiasm they wildly sing, "Jai Caitanya! Nitai-Caitanya! Jai Caitanya-Nitaiii!" When one hears this kirtana, he instantly feels lighthearted and flushed with joy. Without thinking, one starts singing responsively. By the influence of Caitanya-Nitai, the maha-mantra soon pours out in waves of sweetness. All glories to the causeless mercy of Caitanya-Nitai!

sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nitydnanda sri-advaita
gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda.

"There are offenses to be considered in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but there are no such considerations in chanting the names of Gaura-Nityananda. Therefore, if one chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra but his life is still full of sinful activities, it will be very difficult for him to achieve the platform of loving service to the Lord. But if in spite of being an offender one chants the holy names of Gaura-Nityananda, he is very quickly freed from the interactions of his offenses." (ccAdi 8.31 p.) It is difficult to keep the rascal mind fixed on the sound of Krsna's holy name while chanting;'apa. And remembering Krsna's pastimes while chanting is even more difficult. Therefore, one may feel discouraged in his attempts to rise to the platform of pure chanting in the face of so many anarthas and aparadhas. Fortunately, however, one can call upon "five friends" for help in chanting. By receiving the causeless mercy of Lord Gauranga and His associates a blind chanter can see the Lord in the heart, a lame offender can scale a mountain of aparadhas, and a foul-mouthed fool can recite the honey sweet words of madhura-nama.

Reciting the following prayers before chanting japa will purify the mind, create a feeling of humility, and establish the mood of service (seva-bhava) in the heart. Meditate deeply on the meaning of these important prayers and try to memorize them. One can maintain the proper mood of humility during japa by remembering the meaning of these prayers while chanting Hare Krsna.

naharh vipro na ca nara-patir napi vaisyo na sudro
ndharh varni na ca grha-patir no vana-stho yatir va
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramdnanda-purnamrtabdher
gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor ddsa-dasdnudasah

I am a pure spirit soul. I am not a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha or sannyasa. I am nothing more than a servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopis. Krsna is an ocean of nectar and the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He always exists with brilliance, (cc. Madhya 13.80) I am by nature the eternal servant of Krsna. But because of my bad fortune, I have been inimical toward Krsna from time immemorial. Identifying with my body, I have been continuously wandering in the cycle of birth and death in the material world, suffering the burning three-fold miseries. As a result of some unimaginable good fortune I have attained the mercy of my spiritual master, and now I know that I am Krsna's eternal servant. I am an infinitesimal spiritual being completely apart from the gross and subtle body. I have obtained the good fortune of serving the lotus feet of Sri Guru. Under his order, I am following in his footsteps to serve the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Gandharvika-Giridhari [or the names of the your personal Deities],

O Radha-Govinda! I will adorn my neck with the incomparably beautiful garland of Your holy names. Please make tears fall uncontrollably from my eyes. Please once and for all free me from illusion and submerge me repeatedly in the waves of the nectar ocean of Your holy names. Please protect me and give me unflinching devotion to Your lotus feet. I offer my continual obeisances Unto You. (paura Govindarcana Smarana Paddhati)
Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Only you have the power to conquer lust, hatred and all other vices. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Make me forget the dualities of material existence arising from this material body. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Help me to forget the material world and reveal to me the sweet splendor of the spiritual world. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Please take me to a secluded grove in Vrndavana wherein the fair and dark complexioned lovers are manifesting Their wonderful pastimes."(yadavana-mahimamrta, Sataka 7.40)

tvarh gopika vrsaraves tanayantike 'si
sevadhikarini guro nija-pdda-padme
dasyarh praddya kuru mam vraja-kanane sri-
rddhanghri-sevana-rase sukhiriim sukhdbdhau

O beloved spiritual master! You are always serving the lotus feet of the splendid gopika named Radha, the darling daughter of Vrsabhanu Maharaja. Please give me the qualification to serve your lotus feet, which are the abodes of pure devotional service. By your mercy I will attain the eternal service of Sri Radha in the beautiful groves of Vraja-dhama. While serving the lotus feet of Radha I will taste a variety of blissful mellows (seva-rasa), and thereby drown in an ocean Of joy. (Pancaratra Pradipa)

DURING JAPA:
In the Caitanya-caritamrta, Ramananda Raya states that the names of Radha-Krsna (yugala-nama), or the Hare Krsna mantra are the topmost objects of worship:

'updsyera madhye kon upasya pradhdna?'
srestha upasya—yugala 'radha-krsna' nama'

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, 'Among all worshipable objects, which is the chief?' Ramananda Raya replied, 'The chief worshipable object is the holy name of Radha-Krsna, the Hare Krsna mantra.' (cc. Madhya 8.256) In this regard, Sanat-kumara-samhita states that recitation of the following five prayers quickly awards one the direct service of Radha-Krsna. Since the Hare Kimamaha-mantra is ayugala-man-tra, non-different from Radha-Krsna, one can also offer these prayers to the maha-mantra. In this japa meditation technique, one should mentally repeat these prayers while simultaneously chanting japa.

1.0 Radha-Krsna, please rescue me from the ocean of birth and death. Please save me from the problems born of home, family and friends. Please break to pieces the fears of Your surrendered devotees.
2. O Radha-Krsna, today I place myself and everything I possess in this life or in the next at Your lotus feet.
3. O Radha-Krsna, I am an abode of all offenses. I have abandoned all spiritual duties. I have no shelter. O Radha-Krsna, O My Lords, please give me Your shelter.
4.0 master of Radha, I am Yours. O beloved of Lord Krsna, I am Youis. I offer my thoughts, words and deeds to both of You. You both are the goal of my life.
5.0 Radha-Krsna, You are like two great oceans of mercy. Please be merciful to me. I take shelter of You and surrender unto You. Although I am a sinner and an offender, please engage me in Your divine Service. (Sanat-kumara-samhita)

AFTER JAPA:
In a purport describing the nine forms of bhakti, Srila Prabhupada said, "One should chant the following two prayers composed in glorification of the holy name to become free from offenses at the lotus feet of the holy name: " (SB 7.5.23-24 p.)

nikhila-sruti-mauli-ratna-mala dyuti-riirajita-pada-parikajanta
ayi mukta-kulair upasyamanarh paritas tvath hari-ndma sarhsrayami

O Hari-nama! The tips of the toes of Your lotus feet are constantly being worshiped by the glowing radiance emanating from the string of gems known as the Upanisads, the crown jewels of all the Vedas. You are eternally adored by liberated souls such as Narada and Sukadeva. O Hari-nama! I take complete shelter of YOU. (Ndmastaka l)

nivrtta-tarsair upaglyamdndd bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-'bhiramat
ka uttamasloka-gundnuvdddt pumdn virajyeta vind pasughndt

Glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is performed in the parampara system; that is, it is conveyed from spiritual master to disciple. Such glorification is relished by those no longer interested in the false, temporary glorification of this cosmic manifestation. Descriptions of the Lord are the right medicine for the conditioned soul undergoing repeated birth and death. Therefore, who will cease hearing such glorification of the Lord except a butcher [animal killer], or one who is killing his own self? (SB 10.1.4)

The two prayers above and the others mentioned below can be chanted after completing sixteen rounds of Hare Krsnayopa. Chanting these prayers will refresh the mind and remove offenses from the heart.

aparadha-sahasrani, kriyante 'har-nisarh mayd.
ddso 'ham iti mam matvd, ksamasva madhusiidana.

Day and night, I make thousands of offenses. Oh Madhusiidana! Thinking of me as Your servant, kindly forgive them.

pratijha tava govinda, na me bhaktah pranasyati.
iti samsmrtya samsmrtya, prdndn sahdharayamy aharn

O Govinda, Your promise is that Your devotee will never perish.By remembering this over and over again, I am able to retain my life-airs.

sthitih seva gatir ydtrd, smrtis cintd stutir vacah.
bhuyat sarvatmana visno, madiyam tvayi cestitam.

O Lord Krsna! Let my normal condition be service. Let my movement be holy pilgrimage. Let my thought be remembrance of You. Let my words be glorification of You. O Krsna! May all the activities of my mind, body and soul be ever engaged in Your service. (Hari-bhakti-vilasa 4.3l) Although I am the lowest and You are the highest; although I am a fool and You are the greatest hilosopher; although I am wicked and You are the most saintly; and although I commit offenses when I think of You, still, O Radha-Govinda, the shadow of whose holy name delivers one from a host of sins, please be kind to this person who Sometimes Chants Your holy names. (Karpanya-panjika-stotra, Srila Rupa Gosvami)

Upon finishing sixteen rounds of japa, one should not immediately get up and run through the day. Sit quietly for at least five minutes. Close your eyes and fix the dazzling forms of Radha-Syama in your mind while reflecting upon Their infinite sweet love and compassion. You belong to Them and They belong to you. Offer a short personal prayer to Radha-Syama, your own Deity, or to Sri Nama Prabhu [sample below]. Afterwards, offer obeisances to Sri Nama Prabhu and your spiritual master, and then execute your prescribed duties."Oh most beautiful and merciful Radha-Syama! Please accept this offering of japa, which I tried my best to chant for Your plea¬sure. Please forgive me for all my offenses and inattention. Please engage me only in Your service, and teach me how to increase my attachment and love for You. Please protect me from maya. Please help me remember Your beautiful names, forms, and pastimes throughout the day."

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

This is a rather long post - and for that I apologise. However it has helped so much with my japa. It is taken from Mahanidhi Swami's book, entitled 'The Art of Chanting Hare Krishna.' There are prayers for before, during and after japa (although honestly I've thought of the prayers during japa of more of a mood). It helps keep me focussed and makes my japa more meaningful. I hope it will inspire and help others with their japa.

BEFORE JAPA:
"The beauty of bhakti-yoga, unlike other yoga systems, is that all progress depends more or less on the mercy of Guru and Krsna. In other yoga paths, one attains success by his personal prowess, austerity and endeavor. On the bhakti-marga, however, attaining the goal oiprema does not depend on the mechanical system of hearing and chanting; it depends solely on Krsna's causeless mercy. Lord Gauranga says, guru-krsna-krpaya: by the mercy of guru and Krsna. When Sri Guru and Krsna are fully satisfied with one's sincere efforts, one may be blessed with divine wisdom and spiritual perfection. It is simply a question of mercy and nothing else. The path of devotion (bhakti-marga) depends completely on the mercy of the Lord. Therefore, one must seek the mercy-beg for it, hope for it and pray for it. Gaudiya Vaisnavas understand this principle, so they always pray to Sri Guru and the merciful Vaisnavas past and present for mercy, blessings and guidance. This especially applies to chanting the holy name for which we have little or no taste or attraction. Heartfelt prayers will draw the attention of Krsna and His devotees. By their causeless mercy one will attain the power to chant and the taste to sustain it.

ekaki amdra, nahi pay a bala, hari-nama-sahkirtane
tumi krpd kori', sraddha-bindu diyd, deho' krsna-nama-dhane

"On my own, I have absolutely no strength to chant the holy name ** Please, O Vaisnava Thakura! Be merciful by giving nd grant me the great treasure of the holy name of lord hari. Please, O vaisnava Thakur! Be merciful by giving me one drop faith, and grant me the great treasure of the holy name of krishna (saranagati)

One will quickly attain spiritual perfection by selflessly worshiping the six G's: Guru, Gosvamis, Gauranga, Giriraja and Gandharvika-Giridhari. Realizing this, Krsna dasa Kaviraja prayed to the six Gosvamis to remove all impediments to his writing of Caitanya-caritamrta. In the following purport, Srila Prabhupada describes how the six Gosvamis assist devotees by protecting them, destroying obstacles, and arranging for their service to Krsna."If a devotee seeks shelter at the lotus feet of the six Gosvamis, the merciful Gosvamis will certainly give the Lord's servitor all protection. It is not astonishing that impediments are placed before those who are spreading the Krsna consciousness movement all over the world. Nevertheless, if we adhere to the lotus feet of the six Gosvamis and pray for their mercy, all impediments will be annihilated, and the transcendental devotional desire to serve the Supreme Lord will be fulfilled." (Cc. Antya 1.3-4 p.) Devotees who understand the great power of the six Gosvamis will always pray for their mercy. Ours is the path of mercy, the path of grace, and there are no more merciful devotees than the six Gosvamis. May everyone receive the causeless mercy of the six Gosvamis, and go back home, back to Godhead. In order to chant without offenses, subdue impediments, and progress steadily on the path oiprema, acaryas advocate reciting the following prayer to the six Gosvamis ten times every morning before chanting japa:

sri-rupa sanatoria bhatta-raghundtha, sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasaraghundtha
ei chay gosdir kori carana vandan, jaha hoite bighna-nas abhistapuran

By the causeless mercy of the six Gosvamis-Sri Rupa, Sanatana, Raghunatha Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Raghunatha dasa and Gopala Bhatta-the obstacles to devotion can be removed, the service of Radha-Govinda Yugala can be attained, and all one's personal desires for Service can be fulfilled. (Nama-sankirtana, Narottama dasa Thakura)

One can also pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to remove anarthas and aparadhas from the heart. The auspicious and most merciful Lord Nrsirhha has unlimited power to purify the heart, destroy obstacles to devotion, and bestow attraction for chanting Hare Krsna. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura shows the relationship between Nrsimhadeva's mercy and Radha-Govindaprema:

In Navadvipa-dhama, at the abode of Lord Nrsirhha known as Nrsirmha Puri or Devapalli, I will roll on the ground in ecstatic love, begging for unalloyed love of Krsna. In my heart reside duplicity, insincerity, the desire for fame, and the six enemies: lust, anger, greed, envy, illusion and madness (kama, krodha, lobha, matsarya, moha, mada). I will pray at the feet of Lord Nrsimha, therefore, to purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Krsna. Weeping, I will beg at the lotus feet of Nrsimha that I may worship Radha-Govinda in Navadvipa, free from all obstacles. When will that Lord Hari, who strikes fear in fear personified, be pleased and bestow His mercy on me? Although this form of the Lord is terrible for the evil, He is exceedingly auspicious for the devotees headed by Prahlada. When will Nrsimhadeva become pleased to mercifully speak to me, a worthless fool, and remove my fears?

"Lord Nrsirhha will say, 'Dear child, stay here happily in Gaura-dhama. Worship Radha-Govinda and develop attraction for the holy name. By the mercy of My devotees all obstacles will be transcended. With a purified heart just worship Radha-Govinda-the abodes of sweet nectar After speaking in this way, when will Lord Nrsirhha joyfully place His feet upon my head? At that moment, by the Lord's mercy, I will exhibit symptoms of ecstatic love for Radha-Govinda, and roll on the ground before the door of His temple." (Navadvipa-bhava-taranga)

After praising Sri Guru, the Gosvamis and Lord Nrsirhha one should pray to Gaura-Nitai and the Panca-tattva for the ability to chant suddha-nama. Krsna dasa Kaviraja says the holy names Caitanya and Nityananda will quickly remove nama-aparadhas from faithful chanters:

caitanya-nitydnande nahi esaba vicara
natna laite prema dena, vahe asrudhara

"One will be cleansed of all offenses very quickly just by chanting the holy names of Caitanya and Nityananda with a little faith. Then as soon as one chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, he will attain prema and tears will flow from his eyes."(cc. Adi 8.31)Every night during the Kartika month, a kirtana party walks around Radha-kunda. With wompers, mrdangas and contagious enthusiasm they wildly sing, "Jai Caitanya! Nitai-Caitanya! Jai Caitanya-Nitaiii!" When one hears this kirtana, he instantly feels lighthearted and flushed with joy. Without thinking, one starts singing responsively. By the influence of Caitanya-Nitai, the maha-mantra soon pours out in waves of sweetness. All glories to the causeless mercy of Caitanya-Nitai!

sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nitydnanda sri-advaita
gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda.

"There are offenses to be considered in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but there are no such considerations in chanting the names of Gaura-Nityananda. Therefore, if one chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra but his life is still full of sinful activities, it will be very difficult for him to achieve the platform of loving service to the Lord. But if in spite of being an offender one chants the holy names of Gaura-Nityananda, he is very quickly freed from the interactions of his offenses." (ccAdi 8.31 p.) It is difficult to keep the rascal mind fixed on the sound of Krsna's holy name while chanting;'apa. And remembering Krsna's pastimes while chanting is even more difficult. Therefore, one may feel discouraged in his attempts to rise to the platform of pure chanting in the face of so many anarthas and aparadhas. Fortunately, however, one can call upon "five friends" for help in chanting. By receiving the causeless mercy of Lord Gauranga and His associates a blind chanter can see the Lord in the heart, a lame offender can scale a mountain of aparadhas, and a foul-mouthed fool can recite the honey sweet words of madhura-nama.

Reciting the following prayers before chanting japa will purify the mind, create a feeling of humility, and establish the mood of service (seva-bhava) in the heart. Meditate deeply on the meaning of these important prayers and try to memorize them. One can maintain the proper mood of humility during japa by remembering the meaning of these prayers while chanting Hare Krsna.

naharh vipro na ca nara-patir napi vaisyo na sudro
ndharh varni na ca grha-patir no vana-stho yatir va
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramdnanda-purnamrtabdher
gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor ddsa-dasdnudasah

I am a pure spirit soul. I am not a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha or sannyasa. I am nothing more than a servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Sri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopis. Krsna is an ocean of nectar and the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He always exists with brilliance, (cc. Madhya 13.80) I am by nature the eternal servant of Krsna. But because of my bad fortune, I have been inimical toward Krsna from time immemorial. Identifying with my body, I have been continuously wandering in the cycle of birth and death in the material world, suffering the burning three-fold miseries. As a result of some unimaginable good fortune I have attained the mercy of my spiritual master, and now I know that I am Krsna's eternal servant. I am an infinitesimal spiritual being completely apart from the gross and subtle body. I have obtained the good fortune of serving the lotus feet of Sri Guru. Under his order, I am following in his footsteps to serve the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Gandharvika-Giridhari [or the names of the your personal Deities],

O Radha-Govinda! I will adorn my neck with the incomparably beautiful garland of Your holy names. Please make tears fall uncontrollably from my eyes. Please once and for all free me from illusion and submerge me repeatedly in the waves of the nectar ocean of Your holy names. Please protect me and give me unflinching devotion to Your lotus feet. I offer my continual obeisances Unto You. (paura Govindarcana Smarana Paddhati)
Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Only you have the power to conquer lust, hatred and all other vices. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Make me forget the dualities of material existence arising from this material body. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Help me to forget the material world and reveal to me the sweet splendor of the spiritual world. Oh glorious holy name of Krsna! Please take me to a secluded grove in Vrndavana wherein the fair and dark complexioned lovers are manifesting Their wonderful pastimes."(yadavana-mahimamrta, Sataka 7.40)

tvarh gopika vrsaraves tanayantike 'si
sevadhikarini guro nija-pdda-padme
dasyarh praddya kuru mam vraja-kanane sri-
rddhanghri-sevana-rase sukhiriim sukhdbdhau

O beloved spiritual master! You are always serving the lotus feet of the splendid gopika named Radha, the darling daughter of Vrsabhanu Maharaja. Please give me the qualification to serve your lotus feet, which are the abodes of pure devotional service. By your mercy I will attain the eternal service of Sri Radha in the beautiful groves of Vraja-dhama. While serving the lotus feet of Radha I will taste a variety of blissful mellows (seva-rasa), and thereby drown in an ocean Of joy. (Pancaratra Pradipa)

DURING JAPA:
In the Caitanya-caritamrta, Ramananda Raya states that the names of Radha-Krsna (yugala-nama), or the Hare Krsna mantra are the topmost objects of worship:

'updsyera madhye kon upasya pradhdna?'
srestha upasya—yugala 'radha-krsna' nama'

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, 'Among all worshipable objects, which is the chief?' Ramananda Raya replied, 'The chief worshipable object is the holy name of Radha-Krsna, the Hare Krsna mantra.' (cc. Madhya 8.256) In this regard, Sanat-kumara-samhita states that recitation of the following five prayers quickly awards one the direct service of Radha-Krsna. Since the Hare Kimamaha-mantra is ayugala-man-tra, non-different from Radha-Krsna, one can also offer these prayers to the maha-mantra. In this japa meditation technique, one should mentally repeat these prayers while simultaneously chanting japa.

1.0 Radha-Krsna, please rescue me from the ocean of birth and death. Please save me from the problems born of home, family and friends. Please break to pieces the fears of Your surrendered devotees.
2. O Radha-Krsna, today I place myself and everything I possess in this life or in the next at Your lotus feet.
3. O Radha-Krsna, I am an abode of all offenses. I have abandoned all spiritual duties. I have no shelter. O Radha-Krsna, O My Lords, please give me Your shelter.
4.0 master of Radha, I am Yours. O beloved of Lord Krsna, I am Youis. I offer my thoughts, words and deeds to both of You. You both are the goal of my life.
5.0 Radha-Krsna, You are like two great oceans of mercy. Please be merciful to me. I take shelter of You and surrender unto You. Although I am a sinner and an offender, please engage me in Your divine Service. (Sanat-kumara-samhita)

AFTER JAPA:
In a purport describing the nine forms of bhakti, Srila Prabhupada said, "One should chant the following two prayers composed in glorification of the holy name to become free from offenses at the lotus feet of the holy name: " (SB 7.5.23-24 p.)

nikhila-sruti-mauli-ratna-mala dyuti-riirajita-pada-parikajanta
ayi mukta-kulair upasyamanarh paritas tvath hari-ndma sarhsrayami

O Hari-nama! The tips of the toes of Your lotus feet are constantly being worshiped by the glowing radiance emanating from the string of gems known as the Upanisads, the crown jewels of all the Vedas. You are eternally adored by liberated souls such as Narada and Sukadeva. O Hari-nama! I take complete shelter of YOU. (Ndmastaka l)

nivrtta-tarsair upaglyamdndd bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-'bhiramat
ka uttamasloka-gundnuvdddt pumdn virajyeta vind pasughndt

Glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is performed in the parampara system; that is, it is conveyed from spiritual master to disciple. Such glorification is relished by those no longer interested in the false, temporary glorification of this cosmic manifestation. Descriptions of the Lord are the right medicine for the conditioned soul undergoing repeated birth and death. Therefore, who will cease hearing such glorification of the Lord except a butcher [animal killer], or one who is killing his own self? (SB 10.1.4)

The two prayers above and the others mentioned below can be chanted after completing sixteen rounds of Hare Krsnayopa. Chanting these prayers will refresh the mind and remove offenses from the heart.

aparadha-sahasrani, kriyante 'har-nisarh mayd.
ddso 'ham iti mam matvd, ksamasva madhusiidana.

Day and night, I make thousands of offenses. Oh Madhusiidana! Thinking of me as Your servant, kindly forgive them.

pratijha tava govinda, na me bhaktah pranasyati.
iti samsmrtya samsmrtya, prdndn sahdharayamy aharn

O Govinda, Your promise is that Your devotee will never perish.By remembering this over and over again, I am able to retain my life-airs.

sthitih seva gatir ydtrd, smrtis cintd stutir vacah.
bhuyat sarvatmana visno, madiyam tvayi cestitam.

O Lord Krsna! Let my normal condition be service. Let my movement be holy pilgrimage. Let my thought be remembrance of You. Let my words be glorification of You. O Krsna! May all the activities of my mind, body and soul be ever engaged in Your service. (Hari-bhakti-vilasa 4.3l) Although I am the lowest and You are the highest; although I am a fool and You are the greatest hilosopher; although I am wicked and You are the most saintly; and although I commit offenses when I think of You, still, O Radha-Govinda, the shadow of whose holy name delivers one from a host of sins, please be kind to this person who Sometimes Chants Your holy names. (Karpanya-panjika-stotra, Srila Rupa Gosvami)

Upon finishing sixteen rounds of japa, one should not immediately get up and run through the day. Sit quietly for at least five minutes. Close your eyes and fix the dazzling forms of Radha-Syama in your mind while reflecting upon Their infinite sweet love and compassion. You belong to Them and They belong to you. Offer a short personal prayer to Radha-Syama, your own Deity, or to Sri Nama Prabhu [sample below]. Afterwards, offer obeisances to Sri Nama Prabhu and your spiritual master, and then execute your prescribed duties."Oh most beautiful and merciful Radha-Syama! Please accept this offering of japa, which I tried my best to chant for Your plea¬sure. Please forgive me for all my offenses and inattention. Please engage me only in Your service, and teach me how to increase my attachment and love for You. Please protect me from maya. Please help me remember Your beautiful names, forms, and pastimes throughout the day."

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

I posted this on my blog seedofdevotion.blogspot.com but I wanted to share my experience with all of you.

"My name is Bhakti lata. Several months ago I took a Japa Retreat and a Japa Workshop, and I was deeply affected by them. I have had a deep crisis of faith in chanting the holy name since. I am not particularly qualified or even inspired in my own japa, but I wanted to share my experience with all of you and to somehow keep growing.

"Srila Prabhupada once said that 90% of our progress in Krishna Consciousness can be determined by our relationship with the holy name. Ninety percent.

"So this workshop is about looking closer."

During the KuliMela Festival, I co-hosted two Japa Workshops, with first Govinda (Alachua), and then Manu Dasa. All I can say is: to teach is to learn. I connected deeply with the holy name through conducting others in their experience.
On Friday morning, after conducting the first Workshop, I walked over to the bhajan kutir. I felt incandescent, glowing with knowledge and experience of the holy name. In this mood, I settled into a bhajan that Jahnavi (England) was leading. I found myself singing the holy name for the call as well as the response. I just didn't want to stop singing. For the first time in many, many months, I connected with the holy name.
The following morning, I conducted the Workshop with Manu. Although I facilitated the activities, his insight and experience guided the workshop. We ran out of time and the next workshop needed our space, but the flow of realizations had just begun! And so we moved out onto the lawn beneath the trees and continued to share for another 45 minutes.
I do not claim that I am particularly qualified to give a workshop on japa, or even inspired to chant japa. I have no taste for the holy name on my own, but the grace of the Vaishnavas keep me in the fire of realization and inspiration.

Viva la Revolución!

Priyavrata Das: All the volunteers from New Orleans have left the city and are now staying with us at the farm in Carriere. Once the storm hits, we will be the only ones with water in this area, so even some of the neighbors have moved onto our property in preparation.

PS I forgot to add how the scientists managed to discover the magnetic cows phenomena:

 From the original article:

“The scientists used Google Earth software to study the alignment of 8510 cows in 308 pastures around the world and 2974 red and roe deer in 241 locations in the Czech Republic.”

There’s just no privacy any more:

If there are bad teachers or children in a school, it doesn't mean we should stop going to school.

Similarly, if there are people who make trouble or do wrong in ISKCON, we should not leave it.

Krsna's pure devotee Srila Prabhupada wanted us to stay in ISKCON and strive to make it better and better.

by Hrishikesh das

After two years of paperwork, Malini, a four-year-old two-ton female Indian elephant from Mayapur, India, arrived in the United States during the autumn of 1985, and spent the winter in Myakka City, Florida. Kirtanananda said she was to be “the first of thirty elephants for New Vrindaban.” [i]

Tattva Das, Malini’s trainer (mahut), explained, “Malini is a very happy elephant, but when kirtan starts, a huge smile comes across her face and she flaps her ears back and forth and sways with the music. Sometimes when the kirtan really gets going, she rapidly flaps her ears individually in time with the kartals.” [ii]

On March 15, 1986, Malini arrived at New Vrindaban with much fanfare. [iii] About 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, the huge elephant trailer bearing Kasyapa, Tattva, other devotees, and the star of the show, Malini, New Vrindaban’s baby elephant, rolled into the temple parking lot. Members of the gurukula spotted the trailer, which looks more like a giant semi truck, as it lumbered down the road. The word spread like wildfire among the teachers and children. In seconds, ashram after ashram poured out of the ground floor of the Lodge, spontaneous kirtans broke out in every direction and key. Malini’s chauffeur sounded a few loud blasts on his horn to announce her arrival.

The crowd, now including many adults, cheered and ran towards the parking spot to welcome our new celebrity. Malini was greeted by Kuladri, to whom she offered a garland, obeisances, and fanned him with a chamara. Kasyapa, bright-faced and misty-eyed, fed her laddus. She seemed to be all smiles at her long awaited arrival in her new home.

Tattva Das, who studied advanced elephant care during a five-week training course at the San Diego Wildlife Animal Park, explained the purpose of New Vrindaban’s elephant program, “Most Americans think of elephants as some kind of animal-machine, carrying logs, hauling bricks, and so on. Our elephant program is being designed to educate people in general about the cultural role elephants have played throughout the centuries. In India, elephants are employed in huge processions and gala religious festivals. They’re decorated with beautiful jewels and golden ornaments, stylized quilts, and body paints. It’s an impressive and very beautiful sight. Malini can already offer her obeisances, dance in the temple, offer flower garlands, and wave a chamara—a yak tail whisk used in religious rituals.” [iv]

During the summers, Malini lived in a small barn across the street from the temple, and during the winters, at a small farm in Myakka City, Florida. Sumati Morarji, the elderly owner of the Scindia Steamship Company who gave A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami free passage to the United States on the Jaladhuta, agreed to ship New Vrindaban’s second elephant from India on one of her ships. [v]

During the summer of 1988, Malini won a trophy at a Moundsville parade competition in the category titled “best dressed.” Tattva explained, “Malini is not an ordinary elephant. She is classified as kumariband, a rare strain of Indian elephant which appears about once in every thousand elephants born in captivity. Kumaribands are considered the most beautiful and most adaptable for temple functions.” Tattva also spoke about Malini’s intelligence and sense of humor, “But Malini also lays claim to an uncanny sense of character judgment,” when he recalled with a smile the time she sprayed a trunk full of water on a visiting West Virginia senator. [vi]

(See a picture of Mallini here) ——————————————————————————–
[i] Kirtanananda Swami, quoted by Kasyapa Das, “New Vrindaban’s First Elephant: Malini,” Brijabasi Spirit, vol. 2, no. 2 (c. Spring 1986), 36.
[ii] Tattva Das, “Update Malini,” New Vrindaban News (February 17, 1986), 4.
[iii] “Malini Arrives,” New Vrindaban News (March 19, 1986), 2.
[iv] Tattva Das, quoted in “Krishna Devotees Bring Baby Elephant Into U.S.” New Vrindaban News (June 14, 1986), 4.
[v] “Stories from Bhaktipada’s Trip,” New Vrindaban News (March 19, 1986), 2.
[vi] Tattva Das, quoted by Tracy Roberts in “Happy Birthday, Malini!” Wheeling News-Register (May 5, 1987).

Kulasekhara das wrote: After being told by Srila Prabhupada to write songs in the English language, I have finally released my first CD on iTunes at age 57: Kula - "You Are Love".

Irishtimes.com: 800 people sat in the unexpected sunshine of St Stephen's Green in Dublin yesterday to witness the spectacle that was Rathayatra, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness' festival.

Murari Gupta das: Dear devotees, Today as I left the hospital where Sidavidya das is currently staying, it is quite evident that our dear brother is preparing to leave his body.

Abhijit Toley: Here is an article I recently wrote on my trip to Ahobilam, the place where Lord Narasimha displayed His pastimes of coming out of the ugra-stambha to kill Hiranyakashipu and help Prahlad.

Chaitanya Lila das: Speakers: Vana Bhata p., Mother Nirakula dd., Sruta deva p., Mother Kausha Rupa dd., Akruranatha P. Mother Mahaguna dd., Pusta Krishna p., Mother Jagarini dd., Satya deva p.

Agni Deva Dasa: After successfully operating Govinda’s for 20 plus years Agnideva dasa is retiring and selling his vegetarian restaurant in Santa Rosa , CA . This is an established business with a steady clientele.

Keyur: The highlights of the festival were on stage dance and drama by our temple devotees, maha abhishek of our Big Radha Madhava deities. Around 1500 guest visited the temple, took darshan of our thakurji, enjoyed the dance and drama presentations and relished Krsna Prasadam.

By Kurma Rupa Das

In this edition of 24 pages (2 MB) we present: 1. How the unseasonal three-month monsoon affected us and what we did about it. 2. A report on an accident at Davanala Kund. 3. CFC is starting to make house calls in Sundrakh and Raman Puri. 4. A report on three new arrivals. 5. And more...

By Giriraj Swami

When Srila Prabhupada’s puspa-samadhi opened in Mayapur, a godbrother commented to me that it was not in the Bengali style and suggested that it should have been built in the original, authentic, local style, to fit with the architecture of the other temples in the area.

By Deena Bandhu dasa

This year for the first time, the devotees organized a wonderful Vyasa Puja Celebration in the evening, inviting may leading citizens of Vrindavan to come and offer their homage to Srila Prabhupada on his appearance day.

By Deena Bandhu dasa

After greeting the the devotees with garlands, headed by our Prison Preaching incharge, Jankinath, the prisoners escorted the devotees with their own kirtan party to the stage set up in the large field in the middle of the jail.

Srila Gour Govinda Swami's dedication to the mission and instructions of his spiritual master was glorified by his god brothers, disciples and devotees in Mayapur. On Maharaja’s vyasapuja day, his video lecture was played in the temple hall. To listen to remembrances was a great inspiration to absorb ourselves in the service attitude. 'Instructions of his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada,are Gour Govinda Maharaja's life and soul.

read more

Pinnacle of the Janmastami festival is the Maha Abhisheka to Sri Sri Radha-Madhava. Packed temple hall, resounding kirtan, colourful flower shower, beautiful darshan of Sri Radha-Madhava during Abhisheka, vedic chanting - the entire evening was surcharged with ecstasy.Flower Abhisheka or shower of multicoloured flower petals was amazing. Many pilgrims from various places stayed overnight in the campus. Food for Life continously served kichari for pilgrims for two days.

read more

In a letter to Mandali Bhadra dated 25 May 1969, Srila Prabhupada
wrote: "But in everything we do devotion and sincerity are the real
things. There is a word in Sanskrit; bhava grahi Janardana:
This means the Lord accepts service in devotional emotion. If we are
sincere in offering something to the Lord in devotional love, He will
accept it. The procedure may not be very right, but the desire being

read more

Today I am going to work on getting my upstairs kitchen in working order. And part of that means putting up some inspirational devotional pictures. This morning I dug out this picture of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai from Towaco Temple. I took it 11 years ago on Balarama's Appearance Day.

Sri Sri Gaura Nitai are from Jaipur and have totally dreamy eyes and lips. Lord Nityananda is kind of looking upwards, like he is lost in thought of Lord Caitanya (or at least that's how I always took the expression). Sashi Bhushan was Their pujari at the time and although I am not quite sure what he is doing these days, then he was completely dedicated to offering Gaura Nitai his heart and soul.

Sashi did every service imaginable for Them, including sewing Their outfits and dressing Them. Gaura Nitai sometimes wore dhotis, but mostly They were dressed in the fullest dancing skirts and most flowing chaddars I have ever seen on Gaura Nitai deities. Often Gaura Nitai are dressed in a sort of static, frozen mood--their skirts arranged in what I call the pressed pata tradition--looking like They are wearing dried leaves. But Sri Sri Gaura Nitai in Towaco were always full of movement and life, embodying the bliss of the sankirtan movement.

For Balarama's Appearance Day, Sashi took an old outfit and altered it to make Them look more like Krishna and Balarama. My favorite detail was the topknots. Gaura Nitai without Their crowns or turbans is definitely a special darsan.

These were the first Deities I did service for, in the way of menial kitchen labor. Pot washing, floor mopping and vegetable cutting were my tasks. And Sashi's seva was the first and boldest example I had witnessed of a devotee exceeding normal human capacity to serve the Lord. Hopefully looking at this picture will keep me focused and inspired on all those late night pot washing sessions I have ahead of me.

If you're like me, standing in the middle of the kitchen at 2 in the morning wondering what you are going to cook your husband to take to lunch tomorrow, I've got just the thing for you.  Simply reach for a package of Sabjimata Spicy Italian Sausage. As a matter of fact, that's what I did 28 minutes ago.Here is my husband's work lunch for tomorrow, made lickety-split using Sabjimata Spicy Italian Sausage.  



All I did was heat some extra-virgin olive oil in a cast iron skillet, threw in some freshly grated ginger, paprika and hing and then cooked the broccoli, zucchini, celery and Sabjimata Spicy Italian Sausage on high heat before adding  leftover organic brown basmati rice which was sitting in the fridge without interest from any four members of our family. The entire process took less than 19 minutes.  There you have it.    A simple, quick, nutritious and affordable vegetarian meal cooked in the middle of the night, requiring little to no state of wakefullness.

Formula for success given by Shukadeva Goswami to Parikhsit Maharaja: A materialistic person could begin the spiritual life by meditating upon the universal form of the Lord. After becoming more elavted, one can meditate upon the Parmatma feature of the Lord, Who is situated within the heart. Then, ultimately, when the personal feature of the Lord is realized, one can begin to act on the platform of pure devotional service.

Canto - 1

September 1 2008

Magnetic bovines

We all know that Mother Earth, Bhumi-devi, takes the form of a cow.

 

Here’s an interesting angle on the relationship of the cow with the earth.

In an article on bbc.co.uk on August 26 it was reported that cows align themselves with the earth’s north-south magnetic fields while grazing and resting:

“While birds, turtles and salmon are known to use magnetic guidance to migrate,” the article says, ”cattle were not previously known to possess an inner compass.”

“Farmers had found that cattle stood perpendicular to the sun to heat up their bodies on cold, sunny days, or parallel to the wind during winter days with particularly strong winds, scientists said in a study,But the farmers’ wisdom and scientific studies had not provided answers to the common alignment of cattle during days with optimal weather, they said.“

Amazingly, this ubiquitous phenomenon does not seem to have been noticed by herdsmen, ranchers, or hunters,” said the study, co-written by Sabine Begall of Germany’s University of Duisburg-Essen. “Because wind and light conditions could be excluded as a common denominator determining the body axis orientation, magnetic alignment is the most parsimonious explanation,” said the study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.”

If we take it that the so-called ‘magnetic’ fields are actually the energy fields of mother Bhumi, its seems quite logical that cows would have this kind of natural alliance to their nurturer.

September 1 2008

For those who use IE ver. 7, the column formatting problems have now been fixed and you should be able to view this text normally now.

If anyone still has problems viewing this blog please let me know.

Your humble servant, Hari-sauri dasa

A couple of weeks ago Devamrita Swami was in Christchurch, New Zealand for Balarams appearance
Here's some footage of the Kirtan.

Tonite sales were slow but steady. Things seemed to be going nowhere, but by the end of the night my kebabs and cookies were gone and the sausage was nearing extinction. People at the Sunday program are all very supportive and encouraging. And although there are other things to do in life besides manning a jam table, I know that my experience moving into a new community would not be the same sans table. By setting up my table, I get to meet all kinds of folks--especially those interested in cooking. And, of course, those interested in eating.

3764 Watseka Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034

July 19 1970

My Dear Hayagriva,

Please accept my blessings. Since you have gone I have not heard from you, neither do I know whether the property is purchased. I have not heard anything from Kirtanananda also. So I am anxious to know whether the festival in New Vrindavana will take place.

It is already announced in the circular letter regarding the Constitution that the meeting will take place in New Vrndavana. I have also promised that. I shall go to New Vrndavana. So if everything is fixed up, then you can send me the traveling tickets.

Further, if I go to New Vrndavana I wish to go via Boston so that I may be able to see the temple and the press while going on the East side.

So kindly treat this as urgent and let me know your decision.

Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

1949 September 1 : "Sri Gita Mandir Trust: I am very glad to learn your program for preaching in the foreign countries is still under consideration. I beg to submit herewith my missionary views in respect of preaching Bhagavad-gita."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

1965 September 1 :
"Port Suez"
Jaladuta Diary :: 1965

1966 September 1 : "Mr. Gardiner wants to increase the rent to $71 odds. He came and got it signed by me before the trustees. I think it is not just."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1971 September 1 : "How was this shocking amount spent for travelling expenditure? We should simply accept the bare necessities. In our childhood with my father, I used to walk 10 miles to save a ticket of 5 paise on the tram car."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 September 1 : "I am glad that you have admitted about the GBC members not very appropriately discharging their duty. Now it is time to be very very careful so that people may not point out any black spot in the behavior of our society."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 September 1 : "So you should not remain for a moment without thinking how to improve and advance our society. As soon as there is some good point you can communicate with your colleagues and put it before me for my approval."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1974 September 1: "Regarding the allurements of money and women, Krsna will protect you. Krsna is always strong. It is only Krsna's grace. If you are fully engaged in Krsna's service - attraction of women will be a myth only."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 September 1: "They say from monkey the human beings have come but both the monkey and the human being are still existing. And nobody has seen a monkey giving birth to a human being. So we do not accept these theories."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 September 1: "You have taken seriously the publishing and distribution of my books, and that is the success of our mission. I wish to also thank you for your cooperation. Because of your cooperation, therefore it has been possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 September 1: "So you all cooperate. They translate, you print and distribute. What more do you want? This translation work is very important. It is not simply a matter of ABC's - but it requires spiritual realization."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

Bikram and me hanging out in Sydney.

I recently finished a Bikram 30-day challenge. That's where you do at least one 90 minute class per day for 30 days, doing Bikram's signature 26 posture set in a room heated to 37 degree celsius.

During that challenge I went down to Sydney and did a 12 hour seminar (9 am - 9 pm) with Bikram himself. Great guy - very entertaining, and very dedicated.

Physically and mentally I'm completely exhausted after the effort. I got a flu towards the end, and spent a torturous couple of days in Sydney in a freezing cold hotel room unable to sleep or eat. I lost a few kilos of weight, but got a lot of realization out of it.

I liked Bikram. He joked around and gave his audience "credit for 5% of being humans, no more than that". He also explained that the number one reason for divorce in the West is that "women don't know how to cook". No apologetic annotations here.

Here's a shot of me just after I finished the last class of the 30 days:

I went back to the studio for three days in a row at the end, and each day was "Day 29". Every time I would go back there would be some recalculation. It was like being in the movie "Ground Hog Day", where the lead character keeps waking up to the same day over and over again. I was pretty shattered each time, as I didn't really have the energy to complete the challenge. I'm still trying to recover now, a week later. Hopefully my energy levels will go back up to their pre-challenge levels. I really don't like being lethargic like this.

Anyway, as far as Hatha yoga goes - Bikram is the only way. :-)

Haribol!

I’ve got a real nice 18 volume Srimad Bhagavatam set for sale. All twelve cantos are here and all of them have dust jackets. Each volume has the previous owner’s name written in the inside cover, but other than that, they’re pretty perfect.

Shipping is going to be $40ish, but I’ll base it upon where you live (US shipping only, ok?). The box weighs around 50lbs and will ship via UPS from the 17837 zip code.

$200 and this is yours!

-

I’ve also got the 6 volume Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta by Satsvarupa das Goswami. These are the red ones without dust jackets. In pretty good condition. $40 w/ $12 shipping.

-

If you’re in Gita Nagari, Philly or New Vrndavana, I’ll deliver in Sept.

Prem Yogi just before we went out.

Here's me. I'm pretty fatigued at the moment - getting sick, going to Sydney, doing the Bikram challenge and fasting for Janmastami was just a little too much...

Param Vijayate Sri Krishna Sankirtanam!

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.1.11-12 - Familiarity breeds contempt.

Sri Hanuman, Sandhya, and Caru Das did a booth at the Provo Farmers Market for the first time. They sold literature, apparel, hand bags, essential oils, and did quite well. Sri Hanuman had brought a sound system from the temple, and on the grass behind their booth, sang solo kirtans and bhajans for a couple of hours, sometimes with guitar and sometimes with harmonium.

Desmond from Gibraltar asked:

"I recently purchased your DVD encyclopaedia of vegetarian cooking and I was surprised to see a recipe for vegetarian scrambled eggs using cow's milk curd that included salt. My question is this: How does this preparation handle the incompatible food combination of salt and dairy products? According to ayurvedic interpretations such as those published by Dr. Vasant Lad or Swami Sada Shiva Tirth, salt should not be added to milk."

My reply:

Greetings! Thanks for the question. I think perhaps you have misunderstood the salt/dairy restriction. Yes you are correct in quoting your ayurvedic sources that salt should never be added to milk. But the restriction does not apply to products made from milk. When milk is transformed into cheese, buttermilk, yogurt, etc, it changes its nature, and no longer has the same qualities as milk.

There are innumerable ayurveda-friendly recipes for panir/chenna cheese-based, buttermilk-based, and yogurt-based savoury dishes that all have salt or kala-namak (black salt) added. These include matar panir, palak panir, karhi-based dishes (yogurt and besan, turmeric, salt, chili etc) and even salted drinks like salty lassi and buttermilk preparations that are highly recommended, digestive and nutritious. Hope this clears any misunderstanding.

1969 August 30 : “Everyone should treat Godbrothers as Prabhu and nobody should try to claim any extra honor on account of an official position. Why he says his authority overrides yours. Everyone is working under my authority.”
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 June 17 : “This is parampara. I am simply an instrument in the hands of my Spiritual Master. I do not know how far I have got the capacity to carry His order, but I may say that I have a sincere desire to do it.”
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

The following is a Srimad Bhagavatam class given by Bhakti Charu Maharaja in August 2008 in Ujjain.
Recorded by Anshul Prabhu.

To download the lecture, right click the download link and choose either “Save link as” or “Save target as”

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.5.17 - Chapter 5: Vidura’s Talks with Maitreya

The following is a Srimad Bhagavatam class given by Bhakti Charu Maharaja in August 2008 in Ujjain. Recorded by Anshul Prabhu. To download the lecture, right click the download link and choose either ldquo;Save link asrdquo; or ldquo;Save target asrdquo; Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.5.17 - Chapter 5: Vidura's Talks with Maitreya

The following is a Srimad Bhagavatam class given by Bhakti Charu Maharaja in August 2008 in Ujjain.
Recorded by Anshul Prabhu.

To download the lecture, right click the download link and choose either “Save link as” or “Save target as”

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.5.16 - Chapter 5: Vidura’s Talks with Maitreya

Spelt croissant may be an oxymoron. After a few seconds of online research, I've learned that adding some gluten flour to the dough will aid in the flake factor. Or so they say, whoever "they" may be.

Beards and turbans

A question from Vamsi Vadana das:

August 29 2008

How come Prabhupada never wore a turban or kept a weeks face stubble, this was practiced by his Guru, on occasions? He tells on tape (5th Canto Dec 1976) the particular day of the month that devotee’s should shave when warning that “we are no longer being known as shaven headed.” In fact I remember Mukunda Maharaj at the manor (74) and he shaved his head every day. He must of got this from Prabhupada. In retrospect, recently in the world, the Shikh’s have been lumped in with the Pathan terrorists, both turbaned/bearded, and have been complaining. When you see Gaudiya Math they sometimes appear turbaned/bearded, and could easily be taken for muslims from society’s secular vision.

Answer:

Srila Prabhupada didn’t like beards. He liked his disciples to be clean and neat and to Srila Prabhupada, beards were scruffy and too much identified with the hippie generation and their attachments to long hair.

    

He also felt beards, or his disciples’ attachement to them, were another feature of maya. Hayagriva was our most famous bearded devotee but by Srila Prabhupada’s encouragement he gradually gave up his hairs and Srila Prabhupada was very pleased:

Letter to: Hayagriva — Vrindaban 29 August, 1967

“I am so glad to learn that you have sacrificed your long beard and hair. I have forgotten your mother’s address, or I would have informed her of your action, and I think she would have liked it very much. Anyway, you must have reduced your age considerably by sacrificing this “maya,” and now you must look like a very nice young gentleman.”  

 

(more…)

I have been up all nite preparing foods to sell at the Hare Krishna Sunday program tomorrow. Actually, I guess now it is today.  While I don't think anyone really calls it the "Sunday Love Feast" anymore, that was the the way this tradition was introduced in the US in the late sixties and early seventies.  But continuing in the tradition of the Hare Krishnas which came before me, I tried my darnedest to prepare these treats with a loving consciousness.

The influence of the age is so pervasive that even Krsna's own peers
suspected him 10. 57.41: "After the almighty Lord had shown the
Syamantaka jewel to His relatives, thus dispelling the false
accusations against Him, He returned it to Akrura."

PURPORT

read more