For mantra shravana, no initiation is required.🔗

Listening to a mantra or playing a mantra recitation tape creates powerful positive vibrations and cleanses both outer and inner spaces. Mantra japa is more effective when you have been initiated into the mantra by a qualified Guru.

If the mantra is the name of the Guru or a favourite deity, it is known as nama (name) japa.

Japa is of four types: baahya or vachika japa (chanting aloud or audibly), upamshu japa (whispering to oneself), manasa japa (chanting in the mind) and ajapa japa (the chanting that goes on continuously inside us, whether we are conscious of it or not). When the japa is written down instead of being chanted, it is known as l*ikhita japa.*

Japa is usually performed in cycles of auspicious numbers (in multiples of three), the most popular number being 108. You will see that japa malas (rosaries made of sandalwood or rudraksha beads) will usually have 108 beads plus a meru bead (a larger sized bead than the rest).

Japa is performed by rolling one bead on the rosary for every repetition of the mantra. When you are performing japa, always start with the bead just after the meru. Roll the mala between the thumb and third finger of the right hand only, using your thumb to roll the beads.

After completing 108 repetitions of the mantra, if you wish to continue japa, you must turn the mala around without crossing the meru, and repeat the process. This helps in counting the number of cycles completed. As far as possible, don't stop your japa in the middle of a cycle.