Thursday, March 20, 2008

JAPA YOGA, BHAKTI YOGA

JAPA YOGA
Japa is the repetition of any Mantra or Name of the Lord. In this Iron Age, Japa is an easy way for God realisation. Tukaram,Prahlada, Valmiki, Dhruva and several others attained salvation by Japa alone. Sri Krishna says in the Gita, Yajnanam Japa Yajnosmi. “Among the Yajnas, I am Japa Yajna Yaga”.
There are three kinds of Japa, viz., verbal or loud Japa Vaikhari, semi-verbal Japa or humming (Upamsu), and mental Japa or silent repetition through mind (Manasic). Mental Japa is more powerful. It gives a reward ten thousand times more than loud Japa.
Japa must become habitual. It must be done with Sattvic or divine Bhava or feeling, purity, Prema and Sraddha. There is an indescribable power or sakti in the Names of God or Mantra. Every Name is filled with countless Saktis or Potencies.
BHAKTI YOGA
Practice of Japa removes the impurities of the mind, just as soap cleanses the cloth of its impurities. Be regular in your Japa. Japa destroys the sins and brings the devotee face to face with God.
The Name of God chanted correctly or incorrectly, knowingly or unknowingly, carefully or carelessly, with Bhava or without Bhava is sure to give the desired fruit. The Bhava will come by itself after sometime. Get up at 4 am and do the Japa for two hours. You will get the maximum benefits.
The glory of the Name of God cannot be established through reasoning and intellect. It can certainly be experienced or realized only through devotion, faith and constant repetition of the Name. Have reverence and faith for the name of God. Don’t argue.
Devoties of Lord Hari can repeat the Mantras ‘Hari Om’ or ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’. Devotees of Sri Rama can repeat ‘Sri Rama’, or ‘Sitaram’, or ‘Om Sri Ram, Jaya Ram, Jaya Jaya Ram’. Devotees of Sri Krishna can repeat ‘Om Namo Bhagavatee Vasudevaya’. Devotees of Lord Siva can repeat ‘Om Namah Sivaya’ .Perform twohundred Malas of Japa daily. Wear a Mala on your neck. Mala is a whip to goal the mind towards God. O man! Take refuge in the Name. Nama and Nami are inseparable. In this Iron Age, Japa is the easiest, quickest, safest and surest way to reach God and attain immortality and perennial joy. Glory to the Lord! Glory to His Name

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