What is Japa Yoga?
Repetition of any Mantra or the name of the Lord is called Japa. Japa yoga involves chanting a mantra to gain concentration and to purify the mind. The mantra is usually received from a Guru or Master during an initiation process. One can chant any mantra of one’s choice, but when received from a realized master, it becomes more powerful. A mantra can be chanted either audibly or mentally. One may use a mala (string of beads) made of beads/crystals to keep count of the mantra.
Japa Yoga in Scriptures
The importance and efficacy of chanting a mantra is described in various scriptures in the Smritis and the Puranas.
In the Bhagwad Gita, Shloka 25 of chapter 10, Lord Krishna says:
महर्षीणां भृगुरहं गिरामस्म्येकमक्षरम् |
यज्ञानां जपयज्ञोऽस्मि स्थावराणां हिमालय: || 25||
maharṣhīṇāṁ bhṛigur ahaṁ girām asmyekam akṣharam
yajñānāṁ japa-yajño ’smi sthāvarāṇāṁ himālayaḥ || 25||
Meaning: I am Bhrigu amongst the great seers and the transcendental Om amongst sounds. Amongst Yagna, know me to be Japa or the repetition of the Holy Name; amongst immovable things I am the Himalayas.
Yajña is the act of dedicating oneself to the Lord, to the Supreme. Here Lord Krishna says that chanting holy name of God is considered the best yajña, which is called Japa Yajña.
Our Scriptures explain that chanting God’s name is the easiest way to reach the God in this age of Kaliyuga. It can give one Ishta-Siddhis (power to achieve whatever one wants), Bhakti (devotion) and Mukti (liberation).
It is said in the Ramayana:
kalijuga kevala nāma ādhārā, sumiri sumiri nara utarahiṅ pārā (Ramayan)[v28]
“In the age of Kali, or iron age, Japa is the fastest and easiest way to God-realization.”
Practicing Japa alone can give eternal Peace, Bliss and Immortality. Japa yoga finally results in ultimate Samadhi or harmony with the Lord and oneself. Many yogis and rishis have attained salvation with the help of Japa Yoga.
How to Select a mantra?
To start Japa, you need to select a mantra.
Selection of a mantra is one’s own choice. Most spiritual seekers have special inclination towards a particular form of God. It can be Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Devi, Ganesa, Surya, Jesus, Allah, Buddha, Hanuman, etc. Select the mantra pertaining to your Ishta Devata (your beloved form of God). Such mantras will have the name of the Deity embedded in the mantra.
Sometimes the Guru or master selects a mantra for the disciple that suites him/her the best, according to their previous Samskaras (inner impressions from previous births).
Those who are not particularly attracted to any form of God, can select a formless mantra which usually consists of Om (Aum) and/or Bija Aksharas (One syllabled sacred sound vibrations). Seed letter mantras are single syllabled mantras which do not have a specific form or meaning, but can represent a powerful form of vibration or energy.
It is always advisable to receive the mantra from a spiritual master which makes it more potent.
How to Practice Japa Yoga?
Practice of Japa is simple in nature. For the practice of rituals and Yajnas, a number of rules are to be followed meticulously. However, in Japa yoga, there are no strict rules as such. Japa yoga or repetition of a sacred mantra of your choice, can be done anywhere and at any time.
How to Chant the mantra?
The mantra can be chanted audibly (called Vaikhari) or in a Whisper (just the lips moving; also called Upanshu) or mentally (called Manasic Japa).
One can use a Mala (string of beads) to count the number of mantras chanted. The Mala usually has 108 or 54 or 36 or 27 or 18 beads, along with an extra bigger bead called Meru or the Guru-bead. Roll the Mala using your fingers. Avoid using the index finger to roll the Mala. One can use the thumb or the middle finger to roll the beads. Do not cross the Guru-bead while rolling the mala. Turn the mala over and reverse the direction after reaching the Guru-bead.
The beads used in Malas are of different types. Devotees of Shiva and Shakti prefer using the Rudraksha bead, while followers of Vishnu prefer Tulsi (Basil) or Sandalwood beads. Various crystals are also used as beads. One can select the type of bead according to one’s choice.
Count can also be kept using a Japa-Counter, which is now-a-days available in many spiritual stores.
Mental attitude during Chanting of Mantra
Japa yoga is said to be more purifying than the other forms of yoga. But, Japa must be practiced with Divine Bhava (or spiritual attitude), followed by purity, Prema (Love for the form of God) and Sraddha (faith and concentration).
You need to have the feeling of love and devotion for your Ishta Devata (your Deity or form of God). Practice Japa Yoga with the feel that your Ishta Devata is really listening to you, he is looking at you with his merciful eyes, and that He with open hands is giving you Abhaya-Dana (the freedom from all fears) and giving you your desired object i.e., Moksha or Liberation.
Also, it is good to know the meaning of the Mantra that you are chanting. While chanting feel His presence everywhere and in everything. Believe that God is witnessing your chanting of the Mantra as He is the witness of your mind as well.
Once you start practicing with a mantra it is better to stick to it rather than changing it often.
Japa as a spiritual practice
When you take up Japa yoga as a spiritual practice, you have to have certain discipline and set some goals. Most practitioners chant about one to ten rounds of rosary per day. Each round is 108 or 54 depending on the kind of Mala that you use.
Some practitioners may want to take up the discipline of completing a Purascharana. One Purascharana is one lakh (hundred thousand) times repetition of the mantra. Depending on the number of malas chanted per day, one can complete a Purascharana in few weeks to few months. Completing a Purascharana gives great spiritual benefit to the seeker.
Further one can take up the practice of Akshara-Purascharana, that is, chanting the mantra for as many lakhs as the number of letters in the mantra. For eg: In the mantra “Om Namah Shivaya”, which is called Panchakshari or five-lettered mantra, an Akshara-Purascharana is five lakh repetitions of this mantra. Similarly, the Gayatri mantra has 24 letters. Hence Askhara-Purascharana of Gayatri Mantra would be 24 Lakh repetitions of the mantra. This may take months or years of practice depending on the size of the mantra and also on the number of malas chanted per day.
Ajapa Japa – Result of constant Chanting of Mantra
If you practice mantra chanting constantly, then the state of Ajapa-Japa comes. It is the most beautiful state where you do not require to chant Mantra or roll the beads for Japa, instead, the Mantra becomes one with your breath. And with every breath you would be able to hear the sound of Mantra. Your Mantra will begin to flow with your very breath!!
Benefits of Japa Yoga
Here are some of the major benefits of practicing Japa Yoga:
- Regular practice of Japa yoga forces the thought-currents of the mind to move towards God. The ultimate purpose of Japa Yoga is to have direct vision of the form of God and to attain eternal bliss. Prolonged and regular practice of Japa Yoga for some months or years channelize one’s mind and the brain towards liberation.
- Regular practice of Japa helps the divine qualities from the Lord to flow into your mind, just as oil flows from one vessel to another vessel.
- Japa yoga transforms the nature of the mind and fills it with Sattva or purity. Constant practice of Japa changes one’s mental substance from passion to purity, from Rajas to Sattva. It calms the mind and strengthens it simultaneously.
- One who practice Japa Yoga becomes introspective as, Japa allows one to eliminate all kinds of evil thoughts and inclinations. Constant chanting creates determination and austerity in the practitioner, thereby leading to God-realization.
- Constant Japa makes one’s mind purified, and strengthen the good Samskaras. “You become what you think.” This is the psychological law. While chanting Lord’s name one thinks of Him only or his image, which eventually bring positive changes in the mind.
- The act of repetition strengthens the good impressions in the mind. Gradually a tendency or habit is formed in the mind. While repetition of Mantra, person entertains thoughts of Divinity, and constant thinking and meditation make the person transformed actually into Divinity itself. His Bhava or nature is purified and divinized. The meditator and the meditated, the worshipper and the worshipped, the thinker and the thought, become one and the same, which is called Samadhi, the ultimate result of practicing Japa Yoga.
- Constant practice of Japa Yoga is a kind of tonic to the mind and body. Japa Yoga is actually food to the soul.
- Every word has a Shakti or energy pattern, whether positive or negative. Any word you repeat regularly will have certain impact on your mind. If you tend to think only negative, then definitely you become negative. Just imagine the power of Lord’s name, how much more powerful it will be and its impact on mind if chanted constantly. It is immense!!
- Japa can give health, wealth, strength and long life. Japa yoga cleanses all the impurities of mind and accelerates spiritual evolution.