Quick answer
Sava lakh jaap is 1,25,000 repetitions, which is 1,158 malas of 108. Finished in 40 days, that is 29 malas a day, about 3,132 repetitions, or roughly 2 hours 40 minutes a day at 3 seconds a mantra.
- Malas a day
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- Chants a day
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- Time a day
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- Days
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- Finishes on
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- Malas in all
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An estimate: real sittings run faster and slower. In Japo, a sankalpa is free: set the total and the end date once, and every bead you count adds to it. Get Japo.
How to use the calculator
- Choose the total count. Pick the number your sankalpa or anushthan is for, from 11,000 to one crore.
- Choose how to plan. Either the number of days you want to finish in, or the number of malas you can chant each day.
- Set your pace. Time yourself on one full mala, then divide the seconds by 108. A short name like Ram is quick; a long mantra like the Gayatri takes much longer.
- Read the plan. Malas a day, repetitions a day, time a day and the date you finish update as you change anything.
If your tradition counts 100 repetitions for each mala and treats the remaining beads as extra, set counts per mala to 100. The time a day still counts all 108 beads, because you still turn them.
Quick reference: malas a day
Whole malas a day, counting 108 to a mala.
| Total count | Malas in all | In 40 days | In 90 days | In 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11,000 | 102 | 3 a day | 2 a day | 1 a day |
| 1,00,000 | 926 | 24 a day | 11 a day | 3 a day |
| 1,25,000 (sava lakh) | 1,158 | 29 a day | 13 a day | 4 a day |
| 5,00,000 | 4,630 | 116 a day | 52 a day | 13 a day |
| 11,00,000 | 10,186 | 255 a day | 114 a day | 28 a day |
| 1,00,00,000 (1 crore) | 92,593 | 2,315 a day | 1,029 a day | 254 a day |
At 16 malas a day, the usual daily round for many Hare Krishna devotees, sava lakh takes 73 days and one crore about 15.9 years.
How the calculation works
The calculator divides the total by the repetitions in a mala to get the malas in all, then shares them over the days you chose, rounding up to whole malas, because a mala once started is finished. The time a day is the malas times 108 beads times your seconds per mantra. The finishing date counts the first day as day 1.
These are averages. Some days you will chant more and some less, and that is fine. What matters for a sankalpa is the total and the day you finish it by. To understand the terms, read what sava lakh jaap means and what an anushthan is.
Why plan before you begin
A vow made without arithmetic tends to break around day ten, when the real time a day becomes clear. Working it out first lets you choose an honest number: a smaller count finished is worth more to most people than a large one abandoned. If the daily time is too long, extend the days rather than rushing the mantra.
Frequently asked questions
How many malas is sava lakh jaap?
Sava lakh is 1,25,000. At 108 repetitions a mala, that is 1,158 malas, since 1,157 malas fall just short.
How many days does sava lakh jaap take?
It depends on how many malas you chant a day. At 11 malas a day it takes 106 days; at 29 malas a day, 40 days; at 108 malas a day, 11 days.
How long does one mala take?
Between about 2 and 10 minutes for most mantras. ISKCON's 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra, 1,728 repetitions, take about an hour and a half, which is a little under 6 minutes a mala. Time your own.
What if I miss a day?
Nothing is lost. Spread the missed malas over the days left, or extend the end date. Put your new numbers into this calculator to see the revised daily count.
Should I count 100 or 108 for each mala?
Follow your tradition or teacher. Many people count all 108; some count 100 and treat the extra 8 as an offering for mistakes. The calculator works either way.
Begin your next mala.
Japo is a japa counter that feels like the real thing. Pull a bead with your thumb, feel a soft tick, and pick up exactly where you stopped. Counting, history and goals are free.