Information AboutJapa |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT JAPA | |
| hindu philosophical concepts | |
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In Hinduism, Japamaala (a garland of beads) is used. In Hinduism , Vaishnavas generally use the Japamaala of Tulsi beads. The Shaivites use that of Rudrakhsa beads. A Japamaala made out of neem,crystal is also used. The number of beads in Japamaala is generally 108 . The devotee may sit quitely in his/her prayer room in the morning after bath and in the evening and 'tells the beads'. With each repetition of the Lord's name, a bead is moved. Some people wear the Japamaala around their neck. Some keep it in the bags and perform the Japa with their hands hidden in the bag. This is to impress the idea that devotion to God is one's private affair, not to be exhibited. Japa can also be performed during routine work, outside of formal prayer or meditation. In fact many scriptures recommend constant remembrance of the Divine. The Mantra or the words repeated while performing Japa are mostly names of Ishta-daiva often prefixed with Bijakshara (holy sounds such as Om , Hrim, Krim etc. as per Tantra shastra) and ending with ''namah'' (I salute). In Tantra one is supposed to keep the mantra secret as it is sacred. The mantra is generally given by the Guru during initiation. The Gayatri Mantra is a famous mantra. Other famous mantras are " Om Namah Shivaya " or Panchakshari (salutations to Shiva ), "Om namo Narayanaya" (salutations to Narayana ) etc. Christians practice japa with mantras such as ''Hail Mary''. Some Tibetan Buddhists repeat " Om Mani Padme Hum ". Japa is often considered a form of devotional worship, invocation, supplication, praise, adoration, Meditation and direct, experiential Communion . Om is the basic vibration of the cosmic universe. Hence in Hinduism and Buddhism many mantras begin with "OM". FURTHER READING
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