Ram Naam Jap: Meaning, Method and a Daily Practice Plan

There may be no name in India said more often than Ram. It greets the morning in villages (“Ram Ram!”), is written on the walls of homes, is chanted in temples for days without break, and is the last word many people say. And for centuries, devotees have built their whole spiritual life on this one short name.

This guide explains what Ram naam means, why the saints praise it so highly, and how to make it a steady part of your day.

The meaning of “Ram”

Ram comes from the Sanskrit root ram, to delight, to rest, to rejoice. One traditional explanation is ramante yogino yasmin: “He in whom the yogis delight.” Ram is the one in whom the heart finally rests.

Ram naam is also called the taraka mantra, the name that carries one across the ocean of birth and death. In Kashi, it is said that Shiva himself whispers Ram’s name into the ears of the dying.

Why Tulsidas called the name greater than Ram

In the opening of the Ramcharitmanas, Goswami Tulsidas sings at length about the glory of the name. He says the name is greater even than Ram himself: Ram in his incarnation saved a few people, while his name has saved countless people across the ages. He calls the two syllables Ra and Ma the two eyes of devotion, and the two letters that shine like the sun and the moon.

Most famously, he writes:

कलियुग केवल नाम अधारा । सुमिरि सुमिरि नर उतरहिं पारा ॥

In the age of Kali, the name alone is the support. By remembering it again and again, people cross over.

How to chant Ram naam

Choose your form

Ram naam can be chanted in several forms:

• Ram or Ram Ram: the simplest, ideal for high counts. Use the Ram naam counter.
• Sita Ram: the name of the Lord with the Mother. See the Sita Ram counter.
• Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram: the thirteen-syllable mantra of Samarth Ramdas. See the Shri Ram Jai Ram counter.

Choose one as your main practice. If you belong to a tradition, follow it.

Find a rhythm

For “Ram,” many people pair one name with each breath, or chant in a flowing “Ram Ram Ram” rhythm. For “Sita Ram” or the thirteen-syllable mantra, let the line find its natural beat, often three parts.

Remember who you are calling

Now and then, recall a moment from the Ramayana: Ram accepting Shabari’s berries, embracing Hanuman, or forgiving Vibhishan. Spiritual Marg’s article on life lessons from the Ramayana is a lovely companion for this.

How much Ram naam to chant

Because the name is so short, Ram naam is well suited to large daily counts:

Daily sankalp	Approx. time
1 mala (108)	2–3 minutes
1,008 names	12–18 minutes
3,125 names (1.25 lakh in 40 days)	40–60 minutes
11,000 names	2–3 hours, across the day

Start with what you can keep every day. See how many malas to chant a day for help choosing.

A 40-day Ram naam anushthan

A sava lakh (1.25 lakh) Ram naam anushthan is a classic undertaking, often begun on Ram Navami, during Navratri, or on any auspicious day.

1. Take a sankalp before Ram, Sita and Hanuman, stating the number and the period.
2. Set the daily target to 3,125 in the counter. That is about 29 malas.
3. Chant at a fixed time each morning, and complete the rest through the day.
4. Track the total. The counter’s lifetime total for Ram naam is your anushthan count.
5. Close the anushthan with thanks, a small offering, and if possible feeding someone in need.

Our guide to setting a jap sankalp covers the details.

Ram naam and Hanuman

Hanuman ji is the greatest devotee of Ram naam. It is said that wherever Ram’s name is chanted, Hanuman is present, listening with folded hands. Many devotees offer each mala of Ram naam to Hanuman, or begin their practice with the Hanuman Chalisa. Read about the meaning of the Hanuman Chalisa on Spiritual Marg, and try the Hanuman mantra counter.

Begin today

Open the Ram naam counter, set a sankalp of 108, and chant your first mala now. Two syllables, a few minutes, and the support the saints have trusted for centuries. Jai Siya Ram.