What is Japa? by Swami Sivananda

 What Is Japa?

Japa is the repetition of any Mantra or Name of the Lord. In this Kaliyuga, Japa is an easy way for God-realisation. Tukaram, Dhruva, Valmiki, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Narsi Mehta, Gauranga, Ramdas, Mira—all had attained salvation by uttering the name of God. Why not you also, my dear friends? Japa is an important Anga of Yoga.
Any Mantra is powerful. It is a mass of radiant energy. Japa is of three kinds:
(1) Vaikhari or verbal with Ucchara.
(2) Upamsu with humming sound.
(3) Manasika wherein the lips do not move. It is done with the mind and mind alone.
Upamsu brings fruits thousand times more than that of Vaikhari. Manasika brings fruits crores of times than Vaikhari.
Mind wants varieties, new sensations. It gets disgusted with monotony. Just as you want brinjal vegetable today, Lauki tomorrow and Parwal day after tomorrow, the mind wants varieties in Japa also; otherwise it becomes dull. It refuses to work.
Do Vaikhari for some time, then Upamsu for some time and then Manasika for some time. The repetition of a Mantra serves as a gate-keeper. When the mind runs away, the repetition of the Mantra will at once tell you that some other evil-intruding thoughts have entered the mind.

Benefits Of Japa

There is Mantra Sakti and Mantra Chaitanya in every Mantra. It changes the mental substance from passion to purity, from Rajas into Sattva. It calms, strengthens the mind. It makes the mind Antarmukha, introspective. It checks the outgoing tendencies of the mind. It eradicates all kinds of evil thoughts and inclinations. It destroys Vasanas and reduces the force of thought. Eventually it leads to the direct Darshan of God or Ishta Devata. Japa purifies the mind, induces Vairagya, destroys Vasanas and brings you face to face with God.

Instructions On Japa

Have Suddha, Sattvic Bhava when you repeat the Mantra. Repeat the Mantra at least 21,600 times daily, to correspond with the 21,600 Soham breaths.
You must do the Japa regularly. The shorter the Mantra the greater is the concentration. Of all the Mantras, Rama, Rama, Rama is the best. It is easy to repeat also. If you are tired of repeating the Mantra at one stroke, have three or more sittings; from morning 4 to 7, evening 4 to 5 and night 6 to 8.
Repeat the Mantra very quickly for some time and when you find that the mind is wandering much then repeat it slowly. The golden rule is to repeat the Mantra neither too slow nor too quick. Observe the happy medium.
Everyone of you should have a separate meditation room. Make a small enclosure in a corner of a room with screen and sit for Japa if you cannot manage to get a separate room. Do not allow anybody to frequent the place. Both morning and night sit there regularly for 10 minutes. Gradually increase the time as much as you can. This is very, very important.
In this Kali Yuga when rigid Hatha Yoga Kriyas are difficult to be performed owing to poor physique of people and when people do not possess sharp intellect and power of inflection and ratiocination, Japa and Kirtan are easy methods for Self-realisation. Ram Prasad of Bengal had Darshan of Mother Kali through Kirtan alone. “Na-aham vasami Vaikunthe yoginam hridaye na cha, mad bhakta yatra gayanti tatra tishthami Narada—I dwell not in Vaikuntha, nor in the hearts of Yogins; but I dwell there where my Bhaktas sing of Me, O Narada!”

Mantra For Japa

Select any one of the following Mantras. Repeat it with concentration from 10 to 50 Malas from 4 to 6 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. regularly, everyday.

Mantras	Deities
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah	—Ganapati
Om Namassivaya	—Lord Siva
Om Namo Narayanaya	—Lord Narayana
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya	—Lord Krishna
Om Kling Krishnaya Govindaya Gopijana Vallabhaya Svaha	—Lord Krishna
Om Sri Rama, Jaya Rama, Jaya Jaya Ram	—Lord Rama
Om Ram Ramaya Namah	—Lord Rama
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare	—Mahamantra

Jugal Mantra
1. Sita Ram
2. Radheshyam
3. Sri Sita Ramachandrabhyo Namah

Saranagati Mantra
1. Sri Rama Saranam Mama
2. Sri Sita Rama Saranam Mama
3. Sri Ramachandra Saranam Prapadye
4. Sri Krishna Saranam Mama

Continue to read:
Yoga in Daily Life by Swami Sivananda, Divine Life Society Publication.