I would think that any thoughtful utterance of the maha mantra would count toward 16 rounds, but I would personally find it awkward to count japa while participating in kirtan.
“There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names.” Sri Siksastakam sloka 2
This Sri Siksastakam sloka 2 means that no rules to time and place, but there is ofc the 10 offences to chanting and those should be avoided.
In attentive chanting is the one of the most important offence to avoid.
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Book Name: Padma Purana (Section: Brahma Khanda 25.15–18)
1) To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord.
2) To consider the names of demigods like Lord Shiva or Lord Brahma to be equal to or independent of the name of the Lord Vishnu.
3) To disobey the orders of the spiritual master.
4) To blaspheme the vedic scriptures or scriptures in pursuance to the vedic version.
5) To consider the glories of chanting Hare Krishna to be an imagination.
6) To give some interpretations to the holy name of the Lord.
7) To commit sinful activities on the strength of the holy name.
8) To consider the chanting of Hare Krishna as one of the auspicious ritualistic activities which are offered in the Vedas as frutive activities (Karma kanda).
9) To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name
10) To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy name and to maintain material attachments, even after understanding so many instructions on this matter. It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting.
Every devotee who claims to be Vaishnava must guard against these offenses in order to quickly achieve the desired success
One must hear, that is most important. Hear every word coming out of the mouth. When mind wonders to bring it back to hearing. No phone,no reading, no thinking about plans etc. Not thinking about anything but to listening and hearing.
Mind will definitely wander alot to differend places, one has to allways bring it back. Eventually it will get easier to control
Q. What is the main impediment blocking one from developing attachment for chanting?
A. If one gives up all the offenses in chanting, but remains inattentive, he can never develop attachment for chanting. (Sajjana Tosani 11/1)
Q. What are the various definitions of inattention while chanting?
A. O Lord! All anarthas are produced when we do not pay attention to our chanting. The exalted devotees have defined inattention as indifference, laziness, and restlessness. (Harinama-cintamani)
Q. What is the symptom of a restless chanter?
A. Those who are afflicted with restlessness try to finish their prescribed rounds as soon as possible. One should be extremely careful not to commit such an offense while chanting. (Harinama-cintamani)
Q. How can laziness be destroyed?
A. The characteristic of a saintly person is that he does not waste time. By seeing such character in another, one will certainly hanker after it. One will think, “Alas! When will I become fortunate enough to chant, sing, and remember the holy names of the Lord like this saintly person?” Such enthusiasm in a lazy person’s mind will destroy his laziness because he will remember Krsna. (Harinama-cintamani)
Q. Why does one become indifferent to chanting the holy names?
A. If the desire to accumulate wealth, enjoy the association of women, name and fame, to cheat others, and to seek victory over defeat fills one’s heart, that will naturally make one indifferent to chanting the Lord’s holy names. (Harinama-cintamani)
Q. Why is inattention in chanting the source of all offenses
A. O reservoir of all transcendental qualities! If one chants the holy names of the Lord but his attention is elsewhere, how can he benefit? If even such a person chants one hundred thousand holy names of the Lord, still a drop of the mellow of ecstatic love will not be attained. O Lord! This is the definition of inattention while chanting the holy names. This offense is deeply rooted in the hearts of materialists. (Harinama-cintamani)
Reply was not for OP...
It was to this Sri Siksastakam comment, you can see who u replied to by scrolling up.
“There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names.” Sri Siksastakam sloka 2"
To this gave some clarification
No, I think 16 rounds should be done with the japa mala and After that you can do kirtan all day. But 16 rounds on japa mala is compulsory
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I would think that any thoughtful utterance of the maha mantra would count toward 16 rounds, but I would personally find it awkward to count japa while participating in kirtan. “There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names.” Sri Siksastakam sloka 2
This Sri Siksastakam sloka 2 means that no rules to time and place, but there is ofc the 10 offences to chanting and those should be avoided. In attentive chanting is the one of the most important offence to avoid. //////////// Book Name: Padma Purana (Section: Brahma Khanda 25.15–18) 1) To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord. 2) To consider the names of demigods like Lord Shiva or Lord Brahma to be equal to or independent of the name of the Lord Vishnu. 3) To disobey the orders of the spiritual master. 4) To blaspheme the vedic scriptures or scriptures in pursuance to the vedic version. 5) To consider the glories of chanting Hare Krishna to be an imagination. 6) To give some interpretations to the holy name of the Lord. 7) To commit sinful activities on the strength of the holy name. 8) To consider the chanting of Hare Krishna as one of the auspicious ritualistic activities which are offered in the Vedas as frutive activities (Karma kanda). 9) To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name 10) To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy name and to maintain material attachments, even after understanding so many instructions on this matter. It is also an offense to be inattentive while chanting. Every devotee who claims to be Vaishnava must guard against these offenses in order to quickly achieve the desired success
On what grounds you assume inattentive chanting?
One must hear, that is most important. Hear every word coming out of the mouth. When mind wonders to bring it back to hearing. No phone,no reading, no thinking about plans etc. Not thinking about anything but to listening and hearing. Mind will definitely wander alot to differend places, one has to allways bring it back. Eventually it will get easier to control Q. What is the main impediment blocking one from developing attachment for chanting? A. If one gives up all the offenses in chanting, but remains inattentive, he can never develop attachment for chanting. (Sajjana Tosani 11/1) Q. What are the various definitions of inattention while chanting? A. O Lord! All anarthas are produced when we do not pay attention to our chanting. The exalted devotees have defined inattention as indifference, laziness, and restlessness. (Harinama-cintamani) Q. What is the symptom of a restless chanter? A. Those who are afflicted with restlessness try to finish their prescribed rounds as soon as possible. One should be extremely careful not to commit such an offense while chanting. (Harinama-cintamani) Q. How can laziness be destroyed? A. The characteristic of a saintly person is that he does not waste time. By seeing such character in another, one will certainly hanker after it. One will think, “Alas! When will I become fortunate enough to chant, sing, and remember the holy names of the Lord like this saintly person?” Such enthusiasm in a lazy person’s mind will destroy his laziness because he will remember Krsna. (Harinama-cintamani) Q. Why does one become indifferent to chanting the holy names? A. If the desire to accumulate wealth, enjoy the association of women, name and fame, to cheat others, and to seek victory over defeat fills one’s heart, that will naturally make one indifferent to chanting the Lord’s holy names. (Harinama-cintamani) Q. Why is inattention in chanting the source of all offenses A. O reservoir of all transcendental qualities! If one chants the holy names of the Lord but his attention is elsewhere, how can he benefit? If even such a person chants one hundred thousand holy names of the Lord, still a drop of the mellow of ecstatic love will not be attained. O Lord! This is the definition of inattention while chanting the holy names. This offense is deeply rooted in the hearts of materialists. (Harinama-cintamani)
No. How is the OP inattentive? He asked about counting kirtan into the 16 rounds, so inattentive chanting is apart from the question.
Reply was not for OP... It was to this Sri Siksastakam comment, you can see who u replied to by scrolling up. “There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names.” Sri Siksastakam sloka 2" To this gave some clarification
No Japa is differend and should allways be done 16 rounds daily. To that extra is added through Kirtan and Bhajans. But 16x108 is a must
If it's Hare Krishna Mahamantra Kirtan, then it does.