Japa
Japa is defined as “vidhanena mantroccaranam”, or the repeated utterance or recitation of mantra according to certain rules.(1) It is according to the Tantrasara of three kinds: Vacika or verbal japa, in which the mantra is audibly recited, the fifty matrkas being sounded nasally with bindu; Upamsu-japa, which is superior to the last kind, and in which the tongue and lips are moved, but no sound, or only a slight whisper, is heard; and, lastly, the highest form which is called manasa-japa, or mental utterance. In this there is neither sound nor movement of the external organs, but a repetition in the mind which is fixed on the meaning of the mantra. Read more »


