Ram Naam Lekhan: How to Write Ram's Name as Daily Practice

For centuries, devotees have written Ram’s name in notebooks, line after line, as an offering. The practice is called Ram naam lekhan or likhit jap. It is a quiet cousin of chanting, and for many people, writing holds attention in a way that speaking does not.

What it is

Ram naam lekhan means writing the name Ram (राम) again and again, with attention and devotion. The tradition appears in many parts of India, in Ayodhya and Varanasi especially, where temples receive notebooks and sometimes keep them in a collection. Some offer entire libraries of such books.

The practice is described as a form of japa: the name is repeated through the hand rather than the lips. It works together with chanting, which you can read about in our Ram naam jap guide.

Why people do it

• It steadies the mind. Writing is slower than speaking, so attention rests on each letter.
• It makes the name visible. Pages of the name fill with a sense of offering.
• It suits quiet places. You can write where chanting aloud would disturb.
• It leaves a record. A finished book is a tangible record of devotion.

What you need

• A new notebook or a dedicated Ram naam lekhan book (often with grid or ruled lines)
• A pen of one colour, chosen to your preference
• A clean, quiet place
• 10 to 20 minutes

Some devotees use red, saffron or gold ink; others use ordinary blue or black. Use what is available and keep it consistent.

How to practise

1. Wash hands and sit comfortably, ideally on the floor with the notebook on a low desk.
2. Begin with a short prayer or a bow to Ram, Sita and Hanuman.
3. Write the name: राम (Ram) or राम राम. Say it as you write.
4. Keep the letters neat. The aim is care, not calligraphy.
5. Count your lines. For instance, if each line holds 10 names, ten lines make 100.
6. Close the book respectfully at the end of the session.

How many to write

Practice	Count
Starter	27 or 54 per day
Standard	108 per day
Steady	1,000 per day
Book goal	1,00,000 or 1.25 lakh over months

Compare these with chanting counts. A 1.25 lakh goal over 40 days is about 3,125 a day; read setting a sankalp for ways to plan.

Combining writing and chanting

Many devotees do both:

• Morning: chant a mala with the Ram naam counter.
• Evening: write a page of Ram naam.

Your daily total for the counter and your written total can be kept separately, or you can add them together for your sankalp.

Rules and respect

Traditions around the book differ. Common customs include:

• Keep the notebook clean and stored above the floor.
• Don’t put it in a place of disrespect.
• Don’t write on days of illness if it would cause strain; chant silently instead.
• Offer the finished book at a Ram temple, or keep it at home in a place of reverence.

Follow local or family custom, and don’t worry about exact rules. The saints say the intention is what counts.

Is it for everyone?

Yes. Ram naam has no restriction on age, gender or background. Children enjoy writing the name too, and a family notebook, where each member adds a page, is a lovely tradition.

Ram, Hanuman and Tulsidas

Tulsidas praised the power of the name above even Ram himself in the Ramcharitmanas. Hanuman is the supreme devotee of the name. Read how to offer your practice to Hanuman as a companion.

Ready to begin? Open a notebook and write today’s first line, then open the counter for your first mala.