Japa ( Sanskrit : जप ) is the meditative repetition of a mantra or a divine name. It is a practice found in Hinduism , Jainism , Sikhism , and Buddhism , with parallels found in other religions .
12-418: Japa is a spiritual discipline. Japa may also refer to: Japa Traditional Japa may be performed while sitting in a meditation posture , while performing other activities, or as part of formal worship in group settings. The mantra or name may be spoken softly, loud enough for the practitioner to hear it, or it may be recited silently within the practitioner's mind. The Sanskrit word japa
24-439: A divine power in a similar way to prayer. Many gurus and other spiritual teachers, and other religious leaders, especially Hindu and Buddhist, teach that these represent different names for the same transformed state of consciousness. However, this claim is not made about mantras that are not intended for spiritual growth and self-realization. After long use of a mantra that is intended to foster self-realization or intimacy with
36-607: A divine power, an individual may reach a state of ajapa japa , or lit. ' repetitionless repetition ' , wherein the mantra "repeats itself" in the mind. Similar states have been reached by adherents to other major faith traditions, using prayers from their own traditions. Some Catholic prayer forms that involve repetition, such as use of the Rosary or one of various chaplets , are similar to japa , such as Hesychasm in Eastern Christianity , although
48-628: Is derived from the root jap- , meaning "to utter in a low voice, repeat internally, mutter". It can be further defined as ja to destroy birth, death, and reincarnation and pa meaning to destroy ones sins. Monier-Williams states that the term appears in Vedic literature such as in the Aitareya Brahmana ( Rigveda ) and the Shatapatha Brahmana ( Yajurveda ). The term means muttering, whispering or murmuring passages from
60-403: Is not uncommon for people to wear japa beads around their neck, although some practitioners prefer to carry them in a bead-bag in order to keep them clean. Japa may be performed in varying degrees of loudness: Likhita japa is the writing of a mantra while, usually, reciting it aloud at the same time. Proponents say it is more effective than simply reciting the mantra aloud. Likhita japa
72-420: Is often written in a book dedicated to the purpose. Books intended for shorter mantras have a grid of rectangular cells with each cell holding one instance of the mantra. Practitioners may use different coloured ink to write in certain cells in order to make a decorative or symbolic pattern. Tibetan Buddhists include japa meditation as a large part of their religious practices. In Tibet, states Harvey Alper,
84-533: The many saints , such as the Chaplet of St Michael . Chaplets are "personal devotionals" and depending on the origins, each one of the chaplets may vary considerably. In the Roman Catholic Church , while the usual five-decade Dominican rosary is also considered to be a chaplet, the other chaplets often have fewer beads and decades than a traditional rosary and may use a different set of prayers. In
96-722: The practices are not identical because their aims differ. Mental methods of repeated short prayers, very similar to japa are also used in Christian traditions, most notably the practice of repeating the Jesus Prayer found in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Moreover, the goal of ajapa japa is quite similar to the Christian aim of "unceasing prayer". The practice of dhikr by Sufis is similar to japa . The two main Sikh scriptures open with sections, named after
108-543: The prayer wheels are instruments for japa . The practice of nembutsu in Pure Land Buddhism is analogous to japa . The stated aim, or goal of japa may vary greatly depending on the mantra involved and the religious philosophy of the practitioner. In both Buddhist and Hindu traditions mantras may be given to aspirants by their guru , after some form of initiation . The stated goal could be moksha , nirvana , bhakti , or simple personal communion with
120-415: The sage Patanjali (400 CE), Japa is not the repetition of word or phase but rather contemplation on the meaning of the mantra, this definition sometimes persists across different sources. In some forms of japa , the repetitions are counted using a string of beads known as a japamala . Many different types of materials are used for japa . The number of beads in the japamala is generally 108 . It
132-621: The scripture, or charms, or names of deity. Often it is the repetitive singing of a verse or mantra, sometimes counted with the help of a rosary which is called japamala . A related word, japana appears in Book 12 of the Mahabharata , where muttering prayers is described as a form of religious offering. The concept of japa is also found in early Buddhist texts, and is very common in Tibetan Buddhism literature. According to
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#1732793868219144-485: The term, and these are called Japji Sahib and Jaap Sahib . Popular Japa mantras General Chaplet (Prayer) A chaplet is a form of Christian prayer which uses prayer beads , and which is similar to but distinct from the Rosary . Some chaplets have a strong Marian element, others focus more directly on Jesus Christ and his Divine Attributes (the Divine Mercy Chaplet ), or one of
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