54 The Nectar of Instruction
Western countries cannot concentrate for long periods while
chanting on beads. Therefore the minimum number of
rounds is prescribed. However, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura used to say that unless one chants at least
sixty-four rounds of japa (one hundred thousand names), he
is considered fallen (patita). According to his calculation,
practically every one of us is fallen, but because we are try-
ing to serve the Supreme Lord with all seriousness and with-
out duplicity, we can expect the mercy of Lord Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, who is famous as patita-pavana, the deliverer
of the fallen. :

When Srila Satyaraja Khan, a great devotee of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, asked the Lord how a Vaisnava could
be recognized, the Lord replied:

prabhu kahe, — ‘“‘yanra mukhe suni eka-bara
krsna-ndma, sei piijya, —Srestha sabakara”’
“If one hears a person say even once the word ‘Krsna,’ that
person should be accepted as the best man out of the
common group.” (Cc. Madhya 15.106) Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu continued:
“ataeva yanra mukhe eka krsna-nadma
sei ta’ vaisnava, kariha tanhara sammana”’

“One who is interested in chanting the holy name of Krsna
or who by practice likes to chant Krsna’s names should be
accepted as a Vaisnava and offered respects as such, at least
within one’s mind.” (Cc. Madhya 15.111) One of our
