Navarna Vidhi

Dear Friends,

I have a few questions and look forward to your thoughts.

What is the most effective method of doing japa? With a mala or with

hand or without both? With or without counting? With pranayam or

without? With visualization of the form of the deity or just focusing

on the sound of the mantra?

I am doing 20 malas of a mantra everyday and would love to hear about

your experiences on these questions.

Love

srini

Namaste Srini,Looking forward to hearing everyones thoughts on this!Thank you for bringing up the topic.Seems by what Swami says that our intentions and one pointed attention to any thing we do brings best results. It feels most affective to picture the result desired (the meaning of the mantra) when doing anything from puja to japa...this also keeps that attention on what is being done.And when doing a small amount such as you mentioned it should be easier to hold that one pointed attention. Where as doing 108 gives the mind time to wonder. Feel 20 said with intention & one pointed attention would bring better results that 108 with mind wondering. Even when we are reciting them to please the Gods/Goddess' and not to get something. That is the joy and pleasure of resiting for Them not to keep score for a kick back. Does that make since?Personal preference is not to count, but to do.Just seems more natural and less

like keeping score just enjoying, feeling the results and picturing the outcome(knowing the outcome) and being thankful for the honor and time doing them.With our without pranayam? Seems like it is just another good way to keep your attention one what you are doing and to relax you so you are able to enjoy being connected while doing what you are doing. Just my 2 centsWhat ever works for the individual to help them is great.Breathing not an option at this time so someone else could better comment on that probly.Love,Devisrini_sadhu <srini_sadhu wrote: Dear Friends, I have a few questions and look forward to your thoughts. What is the most effective method of doing japa? With a mala or with hand or without both? With or without counting? With pranayam or without? With visualization of the form of the deity or just focusing on the sound of the mantra? I am doing 20 malas of a mantra everyday and would love to hear about your experiences on these questions. Love srini Jai Maa,Devi

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Namaste Srini and all- and many thanks for being of service here!

" I have emailed your questions to Swamiji " ...

In India? This is a great and wonderful service, that Swamiji will

kindly take the time to answer emails while in India...

And that you, Srini, send them! I agree with Vish, Yes, there are

Great Beings, Masters, that walk this realm and we are so fortunate

to come in contact with them, and the spirit of Divine Wisdom, Love

and service to humanity that they embody in their living.

Pranams,

L

, " srini_sadhu " <srini_sadhu

wrote:

>

> Dear Shivakumar, Usha, Vish, Eric, Leela, Sankar,

>

> Thank you for your great discussion on the Navarna Viddhi.

>

> I have emailed your questions to Swamiji and will post His answers

> when I get them.

>

> Love,

> srini

>

Namaste Srini Devi,

I have never counted japa with the hand...?

I think the most effective method of doing japa is to use the mala,

the hand, the clicker to count, and to also do it not counting, to do

it with and without pranayam, focusing on the Divine Image or the

sound, or on the guru, keeping it up until the japa does you, and

then follow it beyond counting, breath, form and sound...

with warm regards,

L

, " srini_sadhu " <srini_sadhu

wrote:

>

> Dear Friends,

>

> I have a few questions and look forward to your thoughts.

>

> What is the most effective method of doing japa? With a mala or with

> hand or without both? With or without counting? With pranayam or

> without? With visualization of the form of the deity or just

focusing

> on the sound of the mantra?

>

> I am doing 20 malas of a mantra everyday and would love to hear

about

> your experiences on these questions.

>

> Love

> srini

>

Namaste Srini,With japa, I found that finger digits are good when you are on a bus or train and can't access your pocket for keeping count. I find it very difficult to count in my head and keep track and chant the mantra as the mantra puts me in a very different state. I like to enjoy this state and let the process be automatic as with a mala. I use a rudraksha mala because this resonates with me the most, but I started out with sandalwood, and have used mercury, bodhi and bone malas. Anything that counts well. I like to have the mala blessed if possible as this somehow deepens the connection to the practice. Also I have found that sitting down for japa is most potent and when you chant to chant rthymically increases the minds concentration, as Swamiji does when he practives navarna mantra for instance, inhales his mantra and then exhales chanting 9 navarna mantras and repeats that 12 times to make 108. I have found that method very intense. Furthermore, I have

found when you perform shambhavi mudra, and gaze between the eyebrows, sometimes you will see it golden coloured and pulsating, other times you will see the shyama colour behind that, just focus, and as the vrittis of the mind still, you will see the fire more clearly. You will start to see the fire of the ajna, and offering into it with Suvaha to the feet of Lord ArdhanarIshvaraha Siva/Sakti with devotion, each mantra, each breath as a pranayam, stills the mind in a very profound tranquility of neutrality beyond duality and is very blissful.Jai Maa, Jai Swamiji!Eric

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Namaste,Srinivasan and others,Thanks for your question. The following are my thought on Japa:I have a mind that is hyper active and oftentimes my body tend to follow suit. I therefore found japa sadhana most suitable. It keeps some of the organs of action and organs of senses occupied ( My tongue and hand and a cirtain extent, mind, and are engaged). I found that I needed a target to keep myself motivated and focussed. So I keep a count. In the absence of a targetted number of malas, I found that my mind wandered off and japa came to a halt. At such times I would stop japa far various reasons - mainly because it was time to go someplace elseI chose the "purascharana" as a target. ( For those who are not aware - have an eight syllable mantra. A purascharana consists of 100,000 repetitions of each syllable. This makes 800,000 repetitions of the mantra. To this we add 10% more for Homa chants

and another 10% of the homa chants for tarpana. A final 10% of the tarpana chants is to be added for Anna Dana (poor feeding).The Puraschara calculation is therefore as follows:8 Syllables X 100,000 = 800,000add: 10% of 800,000 for Homa Chants = 80,000add:10% of 80,000 for tarpana = 8,000add:10% of

8,000 for Anna Dana = 800Total: = 888,800Many monks forllow this method of Mantra Yoga Sadhana. It keeps one focussed).What happens after purascharana? I gather that each tradition has its customs. I was advised to complete as many Purascharanas as posible.I count beads for every mala completed - similar to Devi's clicker. I try to complete the daily quota of

malas. Now this may appear mechanical to some, but this is my take on this - there would indeed be dry spells of chant but that is OK because "Self" knows that the overall purpose of sadhana is Love/ Bhakti. (if the dry spells continue for too long,we would need to make corrections in our attitude or change the regimen). Sooner or later devotion will make a subtle come back. I have been advised to keep my open while chanting. I keep my Ishta Devatas picture in front to draw inspiration. A japa mala keeps my mind alert and focussed. It keeps me grounded in reality and prevents me from falling into some kind of funny stupor like situation (not samadhi). Finally a japa mala brings my mind back to focus when I hit the meru bead.Every once is a while a sense of peace decends and the chant flows like I have no control over my mouth. During these times, its like I driving when there is no other traffic,on level highway and in the fast lane. It feels

good.Thanks to you all for your attention.Jai Maa, Jai Sri Swamijisrini_sadhu <srini_sadhu wrote: Dear Friends, I have a few questions and look forward to your thoughts. What is the most effective method of doing japa? With a mala or with hand or without both? With or without counting? With pranayam or without? With visualization of the form of the deity or just focusing on the sound of the mantra? I am doing 20 malas of a mantra everyday and would love to hear about your

experiences on these questions. Love srini

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Namaste Srini,

Japa is the constant repitition of a mantra. With a mala or with hands

we can keep track of how many times we repeat the mantra both are as

effective as the degree of attention we pay to the sound of the mantra.

In Kasyyapa Sutra, Beloved Mother says that " we should make japa ananta,

which means mantra without count, the recitation of the mantra without

recitation, the eternal, infinite ajapa which is the sound of God. "

In offering mantra with pranayama we breathe in and out the power, the

love of God. This action brings one at peace with self and the

surroundings. The mantra and the diety are One so the focus can be on

the mantra or the diety.

Many thanks for the questions.

Jai Maa Jai Swamiji

, " srini_sadhu " <srini_sadhu

wrote:

>

> Dear Friends,

>

> I have a few questions and look forward to your thoughts.

>

> What is the most effective method of doing japa? With a mala or with

> hand or without both? With or without counting? With pranayam or

> without? With visualization of the form of the deity or just focusing

> on the sound of the mantra?

>

> I am doing 20 malas of a mantra everyday and would love to hear about

> your experiences on these questions.

>

> Love

> srini

>

I do a couple of malas daily with my mental upachara Puja. Then I

meditate on the sound of the Mantra for some time.

Other than this I chant the mantra whenever I can. I chant the japa

while walking, earlier when working in the office, on waking up,

before going to bed. Any place, any time.

The Mantra is part of myself and the idea is that it should be

running in my mind all the time.

The mantra is MAA and by chanting it all the time I remember MAA

constantly.

Jai MAA !!!

,

" kaliananda_saraswati " <kaliananda_saraswati wrote:

>

>

> Namaste Srini,

>

> Japa is the constant repitition of a mantra. With a mala or with

hands

> we can keep track of how many times we repeat the mantra both are as

> effective as the degree of attention we pay to the sound of the

mantra.

> In Kasyyapa Sutra, Beloved Mother says that " we should make japa

ananta,

> which means mantra without count, the recitation of the mantra

without

> recitation, the eternal, infinite ajapa which is the sound of God. "

> In offering mantra with pranayama we breathe in and out the power,

the

> love of God. This action brings one at peace with self and the

> surroundings. The mantra and the diety are One so the focus can be

on

> the mantra or the diety.

>

> Many thanks for the questions.

>

> Jai Maa Jai Swamiji

>

>

> , " srini_sadhu " <srini_sadhu@>

> wrote:

> >

> > Dear Friends,

> >

> > I have a few questions and look forward to your thoughts.

> >

> > What is the most effective method of doing japa? With a mala or

with

> > hand or without both? With or without counting? With pranayam or

> > without? With visualization of the form of the deity or just

focusing

> > on the sound of the mantra?

> >

> > I am doing 20 malas of a mantra everyday and would love to hear

about

> > your experiences on these questions.

> >

> > Love

> > srini

> >

>