Why do we chant on 108 beads?--26 Sept 2024 (C.E. 538)

Thought For the Day

The Ultimate Self Realization Course

"Godhead is light. Nescience is darkness. Where there is Godhead there is no nescience."

Krishna

Why Do We Chant on 108 Beads?

If you have wondered why, here is Srila Prabhupada's explanation given in a lecture on February 18, 1967 in San Francisco:

Sometimes the explanation is given that "Why we have got 108 beads?" "Because there are 108 Upaniṣads."
So chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa with 108 beads means that we are surpassing the study of 108 Upaniṣads. Another meaning is that there are 108 damsels who served Kṛṣṇa with all respect at Vṛndāvana. So that is also another explanation, 108.

Let us all take advantage of the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krishna japa mala every day.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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Questions and Answers

What are the 26 qualities of a devotee?

Answer

The 26 qualities of a devotee are listed as follows in the Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya Lila, Chapter 22, Texts 78–80:

kṛpālu, akṛta-droha, satya-sāra, sama
nidoṣa, vadānya, mṛdu, śuci, akiñcana
sarvopakāraka, śānta, kṛṣṇaika-śaraṇa
akāma, anīha, sthira, vijita-ṣaḍ-guṇa
mita-bhuk, apramatta, mānada, amānī
gambhīra, karuṇa, maitra, kavi, dakṣa, maunī

SYNONYMS
kṛpālu—merciful; akṛta-droha—not defiant; satya-sāra—thoroughly truthful; sama—equal; nidoṣa—faultless; vadānya—magnanimous; mṛdu—mild; śuci—clean; akiñcana—without material possessions; sarva-upakāraka—working for the welfare of everyone; śānta—peaceful; kṛṣṇa-eka-śaraṇa—exclusively surrendered to Kṛṣṇa; akāma—desireless; anīha—indifferent to material acquisitions; sthira—fixed; vijita-ṣaṭ-guṇa—completely controlling the six bad qualities (lust, anger, greed, etc.); mita-bhuk—eating only as much as required; apramatta—without inebriation; māna-da—respectful; amānī—without false prestige; gambhīra—grave; karuṇa—compassionate; maitra—a friend; kavi—a poet; dakṣa—expert; maunī—silent.

TRANSLATION
”Devotees are always merciful, humble, truthful, equal to all, faultless, magnanimous, mild and clean. They are without material possessions, and they perform welfare work for everyone. They are peaceful, surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and desireless. They are indifferent to material acquisitions and are fixed in devotional service. They completely control the six bad qualities—lust, anger, greed and so forth. They eat only as much as required, and they are not inebriated. They are respectful, grave, compassionate and without false prestige. They are friendly, poetic, expert and silent.

So, let us all struggling neophytes strive to develop these qualities. Even if we cannot develop them one by one, if we awaken our dormant Krishna consciousness they will all become manifest automatically.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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