| MANTRAS FOR
JAPA
Lord Ganapati:
Om Sri
Ganapataye Namah
Lord Shiva:
Om Namah
Shivaya (Panchakshara)
Maha-Mrityunjaya Mantra:
Om tryambakam
yajamahe
sugandhim pushtivardhanam
uurvarukamiva bandhanaan
mrityor mukshiya maamritaat.
Sri Devi:
Om Sri Durgayai Namah
Sri Kalika:
Om Sri Kalikayai Namah
Sri
Lakshmi:
Om Sri Maha-Lakshmyai Namah
Lord Hari:
Om Namo
Narayanaya (Ashtakshara)
Hari Om
Hari Om Tat Sat
Lord Krishna Maha-Mantra :
Hare Rama
Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Om Namo
Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Om Sri Krishnaya
Govindaya Gopijana Vallabhaya Namah
Om Sri Krishnaya
Namah
Sri Hanuman:
Om Sri
Hanumate Namah
Lord Rama:
Om Sri Ram Jaya
Ram Jaya Jaya Ram
Om Sri Ramaya
Namah
Sri Rama Rama
Rameti,
Rame Rame Manorame
Sahasranama Tattulyam Rama Nama Varanane
Om Sri
Sita-Ramachandradhyam Namah
Sri Ram
Sri Saraswathi:
Om Sri
Sarasvatyai Namah
Lord Subramanya, Kartikeya:
Om Sri
Saravanabhavaya Namah
Sharangati Mantra (for surrender):
Om Sri Ramah
Sharanam Mama
Om Sri Krishnah Sharanam Mama
Om Sri Sita-Ramah Sharanam Mama
Sharada:
Om Sri
Bala-Parameshvaryai Namah
Tripurasundari:
Om Sri
Tripura-Sundaryai Namah
Vedantic Formulae:
Om Soham
Om Tat Tvam
Asi
Om Aham
Brahma Asmi
PRACTICAL AIDS TO JAPA:
1. Select any
Mantra or Name of God, preferably that given to you by your
Guru, and repeat it from 108 to 1,080 times daily (one to
ten malas).
2. Always
keep your Guru-Mantra a secret. Never disclose it to anyone.
It is better to stick to one Mantra only. Take a bath or
wash your hands, feet, face and mouth before sitting for
Japa in the morning. At other times this is not absolutely
necessary. Do Japa whenever you have leisure, at the three
junctions of the day - morning, noon and evening - and
before going to bed.
3 The early
morning period (Brahmamuhurta) and dusk is the most
favourable time for Japa and meditation. This is when Sattva
(purity or steadiness) is predominant.
4. Face east
or north during the practice. This enhances the efficacy of
the Japa.
5. Sit on a
deer skin or rug. Spread a piece of cloth over it. This
conserves body-electricity. Sit in a separate meditation
room or in any suitable place, such as a temple, on a river
bank or under a banyan or peepul tree.
6. Maintain a
steady pose. Attain mastery of the posture. You must be able
to sit in Padmasana, Siddhasana or Sukhasana for three hours
at a strech. Recite some prayers before starting the Japa.
Reslove to complete a certain minimum number of malas before
leaving your seat.
7. A rosary
is a whip to goad the mind towards God. Use a rudraksha or
tulsi mala of 108 beads. Do not allow the mala to hang below
the navel. Keep the hand near the heart or the nose. The
mala must not be visible to you or to others. Cover it with
a towel or handkerchief, which must be clean and washed
daily. Use the middle finger and the thumb of the right to
roll the beads. The use of the index finger is prohibited.Do
not cross the meru while rolling the beads. Turn back when
you come to it.
8. Do mental
Japa for sometimes without a mala. When the mind wanders, do
the Japa aloud, or whisper the Mantra for some time and come
back to mental Japa again as soon as possible.
9. When you
repeat the Mantra, have the feeling or mental attitude that
the Lord is seated in your heart, that purity or Sattva is
flowing from the Lord into your mind, that the Mantra is
purifying your heart, destroying desires, cravings and evil
thoughts.
10. Do not do
the Japa in a hurried manner. Do it slowly with feeling,
one-pointedness of mind and single-minded devotion.
Pronounce the Mantra distinctly and without any mistakes.
Repeat it neither too slowly nor too fast. Increase the
speed only when the mind wanders. Be vigilant and alert
during Japa. Stand up when sleep tries to overpower you.
11. Try to
associate the Japa with the rhythm of the breath and
meditate in the form of your Deity. Keep a picture or idol
of the Deity in front of you. Think of the meaning of the
Mantra while repeating it. Regularity in Japa Sadhana is
most essential if success is to be achieved. Sit in the same
place and at the same time every day. Do not beg for any
worldly objects from God while doing Japa. Feel that your
heart is being purified and that the mind is becoming steady
by the power of the Mantra and the Grace of the Lord.
12. Observe
silence and avoid distractions, calls and engagements. It is
important not to leave the place at once after the Japa is
over and mix with everyone or plunge into worldly activity.
Sit very quietly for at least ten minutes, humming some
prayer, remembering the Lord and reflecting upon His
infinite love. Then, after devout prostration, leave the
place and commence your routine duties and activities. In
this way the spiritual vibrations will remain intact.
Continue the current of Japa mentally at all times, whatever
be the activity in which you are engaged. Carry on your
Sadhana with tenacity and perseverance, without a break.
Realize the glorious goal of life and enjoy supreme bliss. |
