For Vaishnavas, mantra and chanting function as a continuous thread running through the day, rather than as an isolated ritual. A central practice is japa, the deliberate repetition of sacred names and formulas on a string of beads, often in the quiet of the early morning. Many recite the Hare Krishna mahāmantra—“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”—in fixed numbers of rounds, each round comprising 108 repetitions. Others employ mantras such as “Om Namo Nārāyaṇāya,” “Om Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya,” or invocations of Rāma, Vishnu, or Nārāyaṇa, according to their lineage and personal inclination. This disciplined repetition is regarded as a core sādhana, shaping the mind toward constant remembrance of Vishnu and his avatars.

Alongside solitary japa, congregational chanting holds a prominent place. Kīrtana—call-and-response singing of divine names, often accompanied by instruments such as harmonium, drums, and cymbals—brings devotees together in temples, homes, and public spaces. Bhajans, more song-like compositions dedicated to Krishna, Rāma, or Vishnu, are sung individually or in small groups, frequently in the morning and evening. These shared practices cultivate a communal atmosphere of bhakti, where the sacred names are not only recited but also felt through melody, rhythm, and collective emotion.

Mantra recitation also permeates the more formal dimensions of worship. During pūjā and ārati, mantras and stotras are chanted while offering lamps, incense, and food, and names of Vishnu, Krishna, or Rāma are invoked before and after taking prasāda. Many devotees recite texts rich in divine names, such as the Vishnu Sahasranāma, the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, or the Rāmāyaṇa, often in a melodic, chant-like manner. In this way, scriptural recitation itself becomes an extension of nāma-bhakti, reinforcing the presence of the divine name in daily liturgy.

Beyond these structured settings, Vaishnavas frequently allow the name to accompany them through the ordinary rhythms of life. Short invocations such as “Hare Krishna,” “Jaya Śrī Rām,” or “Namo Nārāyaṇa” may be repeated softly while traveling, working, or performing household tasks, and are sometimes used as greetings among devotees. Morning and evening prayer periods (sandhyā) are often marked by additional chanting, and on holy days and festivals—such as Ekādaśī, Janmāṣṭamī, or Rāma Navamī—the quantity and intensity of kīrtana and japa are increased. Through this steady integration of mantra into both sacred and mundane activities, the remembrance of Vishnu is gradually carried from specific moments of worship into the entire span of daily life.