Patanjali Yoga Sutra — tajjapastadarthabhāvanam||1.28||तज्जपस्तदर्थभावनम्||
(This being considered a mono-syllabled sacred Mantra) should be repeated, understanding its meaning.
True worship to realize the Supreme Soul is through japa and meditation according to yogis.
असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः।
वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः॥गीता ६.३६॥
asaṁyatātmanā yogo duṣprāpa iti me matiḥ|
vaśyātmanā tu yatatā śakyo’vāptumupāyataḥ ॥Gītā 6.36॥
Bhagavān says, in His view, yoga is not achievable by people who have no control over the mind. But sādhaka with well-controlled senses and mind can achieve Yoga if observed in suitable ways.
The very act of repetition of a sacred word or Mantra and meditating on its meaning is called japa (in this case AUM) that helps the sādhaka to eliminate all thoughts in the mind and achieve blissful ekāgrata (Concentration) and lead him to eternal bliss. There is a practice of initiating a divine mantra by Guru to the disciples, which the latter should chant regularly. This is called Japa. Swāmi Vivekānanda says thoughts and words (utterances) are not different from each other. When a thought is expressed, it manifests as word (and the word is spoken). Otherway around is also true. When you chant a divine Mantra, you will have godly thoughts.
Japa could be in any of the following four ways:
- Vaikhari japa: Reciting a Mantra loudly.
- Upāṃśu japa: Repetition by moving only the lips (whispering).
- Mānasika japa: Reciting sacred words in one’s mind silently.
- Likhita japa: Writing a Mantra in a notebook.
