Tell us something about Japa as a sadhana.What is the need of rituals called puja?
This is the simplest path to realize God. Almost all the Sages, Saints, Incarnations of God and Enlightened Masters have stressed the need for remembrance of God's Divine Name to connect to the personalized Impersonal Self.
Japa is the repetition of the Holy Name or Mantra. According to Hindu tradition and many other traditions of the world, the spiritual preceptor gives the mantra to the disciple and instructs him/her to chant the mantra. But even those who are not formally initiated by any adept teacher can chant the Divine Name that is dearest to his/her heart. But of course, if the initiation of the mantra comes from a Enlightened Master, it comes with its own power. It is essentially a discipline that purifies the mind and body. Adi Guru Lord Shiva Himself affirms that Japa confers Siddhi, or enlightenment and that there is no doubt about this truth. "Japat Siddhi, japat siddhi, japat siddhir ' na samshayah"
You need to relax your body first and then meditate upon your breath for a while to calm your restless mind and then do Japa of the mantra of your choice at least 108 times. You can gradually increase it to any number. The goal of this Practice is to do the Japa all the time. It is the safest path and fills the seeker with bliss and humility. As the practice becomes deeper and deeper the seeker starts to have visions of the Form of the mantra or realize the formless Presence. The seeker's body is divinized through the resonance of the innate sacred power of the mantra.
Our lives are full of rituals. Every repetitive act is a ritual in some sense. We can not live without rituals. But when we make that a prctice to worship the Divine, then that regular offering of our heart becomes a part of religious ritual. As such it is an act of "todim vastu Govindam, tuvyameva samarpayami" Oh! Govinda, all that Thou have given me, i offer the same unto You. It is worshipping the Ganges with the water of the Ganges. Essentially a process of daily cleansing of the self, through self offering to the Divine till a point comes when the worshipper feels the Presence of the Divine in everything and everywhere and every time.
It is a wonderful basis for a relationship with the Divine. As we do the japa or chanting the Divine Name with attention and devotion, and also find time for a regular ritual to worship the Divine with what little we can offer, peace descends over a period of time, and then God is not up there, but right here and now taking care of all that we need in life. Isn't it a wonderful feeling to be in the lap of the mother and mother taking care of the child?
Love and Light to our hearts,
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