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. l!ays "eep your Guru#Mantra a secret. Never disclose it to anyone.
$. It is better to stick to one Mantra only. See %ord &rishna in 'ama, Shiva,
(urga, Gayatri and in everyone.
). Get up at 4a.m. an o Ja!a "or t#o $o%rs. *he early morning period
+,rahmamuhurta- and dus" is the most favourable time for .apa and meditation.
*his is !hen Sattva +purity or steadiness- is predominant.
/. *a"e a bath or !ash your hands, feet, face and mouth before sitting for .apa in the
morning. t other times this is not absolutely necessary. (o .apa !henever you
have leisure, at the t$ree &%nctions o" t$e ay ' mornin() noon an e*enin( #
and be"ore (oin( to be.
0. +ace east or nort$ during the practice. *his enhances the efficacy of the .apa. Sit
on a eer skin or r%(. S!rea a !iece o" clot$ o*er it. T$is conser*es boy'
electricity. Sit in a se!arate meitation room or in any s%itable !lace) s%c$ as
a tem!le) on a ri*er bank or %ner a banyan or !ee!%l tree.
1. Maintain a steady pose. ttain mastery of the posture. 2ou must be able to sit in
3admasana, Siddhasana or Su"hasana for three hours at a strech.
8. Reslo*e to com!lete a certain minim%m n%mber o" malas be"ore lea*in( yo%r
seat.
4. Recite some !rayers be"ore startin( t$e Ja!a.
10. rosary is a !hip to goad the mind to!ards God. 5se a r%raks$a or t%lsi mala
of 108 beads.
11. (o not allo# t$e mala to $an( belo# t$e na*el. ,ee! t$e $an near t$e $eart
or t$e nose.
12. T$e mala m%st not be *isible to yo% or to ot$ers. Co*er it #it$ a to#el or
$ankerc$ie") #$ic$ m%st be clean an #as$e aily.
1$. -se t$e mile "in(er an t$e t$%mb o" t$e ri($t to roll t$e beas. *he use of
the inde6 finger is prohibited.
1). (o not cross the meru !hile rolling the beads. *urn bac" !hen you come to it.
1/. Sometimes do the .apa !ithout a mala. 5se a !atch.
10. (o mental .apa for a time. 7hen the mind !anders, do the .apa aloud, or !hisper
the Mantra for some time and come bac" to mental .apa again as soon as possible.
11. 7hen you repeat the Mantra, have the feeling or mental attitude that the %ord is
seated in your heart, that purity or Sattva is flo!ing from the %ord into your mind,
that the Mantra is purifying your heart, destroying desires, cravings and evil
thoughts.
18. (o not do the .apa in a hurried manner, li"e a contractor !ho tries to finish his
!or" in a short time. Do it slo#ly #it$ "eelin() one'!ointeness o" min an
sin(le'mine e*otion.
14. Prono%nce t$e Mantra istinctly an #it$o%t any mistakes. Re!eat it neit$er
too slo#ly nor too "ast. Increase t$e s!ee only #$en t$e min #aners.
20. ,e vigilant and alert during .apa. Stand up !hen sleep tries to overpo!er you.
./. Try to associate t$e Ja!a #it$ t$e r$yt$m o" t$e breat$ an meitate in t$e
"orm o" yo%r Deity. ,ee! a !ict%re or iol o" t$e Deity in "ront o" yo%. T$ink
o" t$e meanin( o" t$e Mantra #$ile re!eatin( it.
22. Re(%larity in Ja!a Sa$ana is most essential i" s%ccess is to be ac$ie*e. Sit
in the same place and at the same time every day.
2$. (o not beg for any !orldly ob8ects from God !hile doing .apa. 9eel that your
heart is being purified and that the mind is becoming steady by the po!er of the
Mantra and the Grace of the %ord.
2). :bserve silence and avoid distractions, calls and engagements.
2/. It is im!ortant not to lea*e t$e !lace at once a"ter t$e Ja!a is o*er an mi0
#it$ e*eryone or !l%n(e into #orlly acti*ity. Sit very ;uietly for at least ten
minutes, humming some prayer, remembering the %ord and reflecting upon <is
infinite love. *hen, after devout prostration, leave the place and commence your
routine duties and activities. =n this !ay the spiritual vibrations !ill remain intact.
20. >ontinue the current of .apa mentally at all times, !hatever be the activity in
!hich you are engaged. >arry on your Sadhana !ith tenacity and perseverance,
!ithout a brea". 'eali?e the glorious goal of life and en8oy supreme bliss.