2015 Japathon smashes all previous records in UTAH!!!!
2,214 GRAND TOTAL ROUNDS
3,825,792 Names of Krishna
100 Participants
kaler dosha–nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah
kirtanad eva krishnasya mukta–sangah param vrajet
"My dear King, although Kali–yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha–mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom. Srimad–Bhagavatam." 12.3.51
Uniting under Srila Prabupada’s mission, devotees chanted more than 3.8 million names of Krishna during Utah’s Annual Japathon on New Year’s Day by smashing down all historical records. Many people, who came to the temple first time, inspired by Japathon, picked–up beads and chanted the holy names.
Utah Krishna temples founder & president, H.G. Caru Prabhu said "the idea is to chant as many rounds of Japa mala as possible, even up to the point of chanting one mantra, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare for each and every person in the state of Utah, 2.7 million."
Srila Haridas Thaukur, who is also called as "Namacharya" used to chant 300,000 names of Krishna every day. Devotees from both temples, by walking in his footsteps, chanted 3.8 million names of Krishna starting from 03:00 AM in the morning till midnight.
Some of the top performers are as follows…
Salt Lake City – Syama Vihari Das 160, Draupadi Rani Devi Dasi 157, Snigdha Mishra & Family 128, Kapil Sharma 121, Vineeta Sharma 121 & Amrita Sundari Devi Dasi 90
Spanish Fork – Kanakabja 108, Nandarani 108, Caru 85, Vaibhavi Devi 71 & Mrdanga 64
One of our little Vaishnava heroes, Krishnam Goel, a 7 year old, has chanted 69120 names of God (40 rounds). It is amazing to see this young kid, sitting at one place from 11:00 AM in the morning till 06:00 PM in the night. This beautiful scene also reminded everyone of the temple’s focus on raising children in Krishna Consciousness. Divyam Goel, a 13 year old boy has chanted 38016 names of God (22 rounds) & Ishaan Sharma, a 9 year old boy, has chanted 34560 names of God (20 rounds).
“This place is totally surcharged today and I would like to get up from my seat and I feel like dancing while doing my Japa”, added by George Pratt, who is a regular visitor of Salt Lake City Krishna Temple.
“Today, I felt amazing energy in Temple and I was able to chant a round”, said by Praveena Rohaj, another regular visitor.
In reflection, this year’s Japathon gave all of us a deep appreciation for Srila Prabhupada for giving us the holy names out of his compassion. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to Lord Gauranga!! All glories to the holy names!!
Please click the following link for footage of this year’s Japathon chanting: