How to do Japa?

How to do Japa?

There are mainly four types of Japa – first Vaikhari, second Upanshu, third Pashyanti and fourth Para. Mental Japa is required for any Purashcharana. No mantra can be chanted in a completely mental way. For this, initially that mantra should be chanted in Vaikhari only. Vaikhari Japa means the mantra spoken loudly. Vaikhari Japa is related to the physical body of a human being, whereas Upanshu Japa (humming) is related to the lust body of a human being. Pashyanti i.e. Japa done without moving the tongue is related to the mental body of a human being. Japa done by rising above mental Japa is also another type of Japa. But its experience is only in the advanced stage, which pervades all the cells of a human being. Japa done with Para Vaani becomes inseparable from the blood and muscles and pervades all the cells of a human being.  Therefore, the breath of the Sadhak who chants through Para Vaani also pronounces the chant.

Generally, after chanting forty thousand times through Vaikhari, one becomes eligible for Upanshu chanting. Similarly, by chanting forty thousand times through Upanshu, one becomes eligible for Pashyanti chanting. By chanting forty thousand times through Pashyanti, one becomes eligible for Para Japa. If chanting is done without the required qualification, then the mind and speech get tired and the body starts feeling tired. If one feels enthusiastic after chanting, then understand that the qualification to chant has been attained. Therefore, the number of chants should not be increased at once. There is a lot of benefit in increasing the number of chants gradually. For this, Laghu Purashcharana, Madhyam Purashcharana and Mahapurashcharana have been given. Always do Laghu Purashcharana first, then Madhyam Purashcharana and finally Mahapurashcharana.  After several Mahapurascharanas, the Mantra that reaches Para pervades all the sheaths of the human body from the Annamaya Kosha to the Anandmaya Kosha.