CHANTING VEDA MANTRAS
(MANTRA JAPA)
Japa is a training by which the ever-dancing rays
of the mind are compelled to behave in some order and rhythm, and bring out of
their co-operative effort, a single melody of repeated Mantra-Chanting. This
makes the mind extremely single-pointed. A mind seasoned with Japa is like
tinned food, which is ready for consumption after a few seconds of warming up on
the fire. A short period of meditation can take a Japa-conditioned mind to
unimaginable heights in an impossibly short time.
Again, love is not generated, where sufficient thought is not bestowed. The more one thinks of a thing, the more he gets attached to it. Thus, the Japa in a prayer-room performed in all intensity, and training oneself to repeat mentally His names constantly during the waking hours, are the sure ways of developing 'Bhakti'.
The Supreme Reality is experienced through meditation alone. But the boat to reach the goal. viz. meditation, is rigged with the practice of devotion through Japa. Japa is a very effective mental discipline for spiritual progress. In the Gita, Lord Krishna says: " I am, among the Yogas, the Japa yoga."
How must I start.
Have a special room for your prayers.
Keep a charming picture of your Ishta-Devata (Favourite Lord).
When you sit in front of the picture, the Lord's feet should be at your eyes level.
Spread a plain but firm seat - Aaasana - for your sitting.
Keep a 'Maala' of 108 beads.(String).
Close the door of the room.
Sit on the Aaasana, in any comfortable 'legs-folded-pose'.
Start chanting your selected Mantra, using maala beads.
Gaze at the Lord from head to toes and then from toes to head, repeatedly.
Visualize the Lord exactly as in the picture.
This visualization of the Lord should be done in your love-heart, on the right side of your physical heart This is the spiritual heart centre.
Feel, feel----- feel His presence.
Repeat the Mantra 108 times. When you reach the 'Meru', you have done one Maala.
Importance of Japa.
While chanting, between two succeeding naamas, you will be getting fraction of a second to breathe. During this short interval of time, your mind should not wander away to any other person, place or thing. This is the purpose of Japa and Meditation. As you are able to increase this time interval from one second to two seconds to three seconds and so on, without any wandering away of your mind, you are becoming more and more successful.
Start Today, Right Now- There is no moment more sacred or so auspicious than 'here and now'.
There are two classes of Mantras: Vedaantic and Puraanic.
Vedantic Mantras:
Gayatri .
Mrityunjaya .
Ganesha.
Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina.
Tat Tvamasi - That Thou Art.
Aham Brahmaasmi - I am Brahman.
Ayam Atma Brahma - This Self is Brahman.
Sivoham Sivoham - I am Siva-Auspiciousness.
Mrityunjaya - 108 Times
Gayatri - 108 Times.
Puraanic Mantras:
Om Namo Naaraayanaaya
Om Sri Raam Jaya Raam Yaya Jaya Raam .
Om Namah Sivaaya.
You can select any Mantra for chanting, according to your taste, faith and devotion.
Please remember that the Japa is spiritual, even though the room, aasana, beads etc. are physical.
Initially, you do Japa of only one Maala, that too only on a holiday. As you gain confidence, you can increase the maalas and days gradually. There is no use of doing anything just mechanically.
.
Again, love is not generated, where sufficient thought is not bestowed. The more one thinks of a thing, the more he gets attached to it. Thus, the Japa in a prayer-room performed in all intensity, and training oneself to repeat mentally His names constantly during the waking hours, are the sure ways of developing 'Bhakti'.
The Supreme Reality is experienced through meditation alone. But the boat to reach the goal. viz. meditation, is rigged with the practice of devotion through Japa. Japa is a very effective mental discipline for spiritual progress. In the Gita, Lord Krishna says: " I am, among the Yogas, the Japa yoga."
How must I start.
Have a special room for your prayers.
Keep a charming picture of your Ishta-Devata (Favourite Lord).
When you sit in front of the picture, the Lord's feet should be at your eyes level.
Spread a plain but firm seat - Aaasana - for your sitting.
Keep a 'Maala' of 108 beads.(String).
Close the door of the room.
Sit on the Aaasana, in any comfortable 'legs-folded-pose'.
Start chanting your selected Mantra, using maala beads.
Gaze at the Lord from head to toes and then from toes to head, repeatedly.
Visualize the Lord exactly as in the picture.
This visualization of the Lord should be done in your love-heart, on the right side of your physical heart This is the spiritual heart centre.
Feel, feel----- feel His presence.
Repeat the Mantra 108 times. When you reach the 'Meru', you have done one Maala.
Importance of Japa.
While chanting, between two succeeding naamas, you will be getting fraction of a second to breathe. During this short interval of time, your mind should not wander away to any other person, place or thing. This is the purpose of Japa and Meditation. As you are able to increase this time interval from one second to two seconds to three seconds and so on, without any wandering away of your mind, you are becoming more and more successful.
Start Today, Right Now- There is no moment more sacred or so auspicious than 'here and now'.
There are two classes of Mantras: Vedaantic and Puraanic.
Vedantic Mantras:
Gayatri .
Mrityunjaya .
Ganesha.
Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina.
Tat Tvamasi - That Thou Art.
Aham Brahmaasmi - I am Brahman.
Ayam Atma Brahma - This Self is Brahman.
Sivoham Sivoham - I am Siva-Auspiciousness.
Mrityunjaya - 108 Times
Gayatri - 108 Times.
Puraanic Mantras:
Om Namo Naaraayanaaya
Om Sri Raam Jaya Raam Yaya Jaya Raam .
Om Namah Sivaaya.
You can select any Mantra for chanting, according to your taste, faith and devotion.
Please remember that the Japa is spiritual, even though the room, aasana, beads etc. are physical.
Initially, you do Japa of only one Maala, that too only on a holiday. As you gain confidence, you can increase the maalas and days gradually. There is no use of doing anything just mechanically.
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