Japa
Japa, “repeated recitation of a mantra”
Grammar: masculine noun, from the root jap (to say softly, to repeat in a low voice): “the soft repetition”.
Meaning: the repeated recitation, aloud or under the breath, of a mantra, a stotra or the names of a devatā; a part of the daily duties and of pūjā.
In the scriptures: defining for the rākshasa king Sukeśī those from whom food must not be taken, the ṛshis call shaṇḍha the one who does not do bath, japa, sandhyāvandana and homa at the proper time, and mārjāra (the cat) those who do japa, tapas and yajña for show (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 15). The light of Sukeśī’s sky-city was so bright that at night people took it for day, went down into the rivers up to the neck, bathed and did japa (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 16).
The Vāmana Purāṇa uses the word in these places as well:
- Vāsudeva teaches the devas, after the abhisheka of Bhagavān Śiva, to do japa of the Śatarudrīya mantra with the pada-krama told in the Ṛgveda. When Śrī Hari shows them the liṅga on his heart-lotus, the devas do japa of the 108 names, pradakshiṇa and namaskāras (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 36).
- Pulastya Maharshi tells Nārada the account of Gajendra-mokshaṇa, by the japa, hearing or remembering of which bad dreams are destroyed (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 58).
- Prahlāda tells Bali: “For one who does not keep Vishṇu in mind always with supreme bhakti, what is the use of any amount of japa, any number of mantras, tapas for any length of time?” For a devotee of Janārdana, the one mantra “Oṃ Namo Nārāyaṇāya” accomplishes all (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 67).
- Rushaṅgu, nearing his end, had his sons carry him to Pṛthūdaka and said: “One who gives up the body while doing japa in the Pṛthūdaka tīrtha on the northern bank of the Sarasvatī surely attains deathlessness” (Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 18).
Related terms: Mantra · Homa · Sandhyāvandana · Śatarudrīya · Stotra · Tapas
Sources
- Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 15, 16, 36, 58, 67
- Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 18