| Weekly | Gaudya Vaishnavism | Authentic Meditation | Sacred Initiation | Guru | Life-Style | Purification | Dharma | Karma | Bhakti |
| Home | Philosophy | Vegetarianism | Reincarnation | Secrets | Vedic Literature | Ekadasi | Links | Contact Us | Donations |
| Scriptures About Writing Meditation |
| WRITING |
In the most pure and authentic Vaishnava Manual Shri Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa compiled by the great Acharya Shrila
Gopala Bhatta Goswami and commented on by the great Maha Bhagavata Shrila Sanatana Goswami, we find
the following description in Chapter 17:
atha japa-bhedah, tal-lakshanadi ca
"Now, we will describe the three diverse kinds of Mantra Japa Yoga or chanting on beads and their
characteristics."
The Narasimha Purana states:
narasimhe—
trividho japa-yajnah syat tasya bhedan nibodhata |
vacikas ca upamsus ca manasas ca tridha matah |
trayanam japa-yajnanam sreyan syad uttarottarah ||155||
"The Japa Yajna Yoga or the sacrifice of chanting softly on beads or fingers is basically of three kinds. The
differences in these three kinds of Japa can be elucidated as follows. The first kind of Mantra Japa is known as
Vachika (loud) Japa Yoga, second is called as Upanshu (murmuring) Japa Yoga and the third is known as
Manasa (mental) Japa Yoga."
yad ucca-nica-svaritaih spashta-sabdavad-aksharaih |
mantram uccarayed vyaktam japa-yajnah sa vacikah ||156||
"That Japa Yajna Yoga (sacrifice and yoga of chanting) which is performed by loudly and openly chanting the
Mantra with clear and distinct pronunciation of the Syllables and Names in the Mantra and which is accompanied
by the loud recitation of Mantra in a high or low or a melodious svarita tone is known as Vachika Japa Yoga."
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
ucca-nica-svaritaih uccena nicena tvaritena va udattanudatta-svarita-samjnaih svarair ity arthah | svarena
yuktaih spashta-sabdavadbhir aksharaih | ata eva vyaktam mantram uccarayed yat ||156||
"The Japa Yoga which is accompanied by loud, soft or melodious utterance of the mantra in udatta, anudatta or
svarita notes with a high pitched accent is known as Vacika Japa Yoga. Since this kind of Japa Yoga is performed
by the clear, loud, distinct (not slurred) pronunciation of the Mantra, therefore Vachika Japa has to be audibly
uttered and thus can be heard clearly."
sanair uccarayen mantram ishad aushthau pracalayet |
kincic chabdam svayam vidyad upamsuh sa japah smritah ||157||
"The second kind of Upamsu (murmuring) Japa Yoga is performed with the slow utterance and recitation of the
Mantra with a little movement or murmuring of one's two lips. Thus the sound vibration of the Mantra is very low
and can be only heard by oneself."
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
svayam eva vidyaj janiyat srinuyad ity arthah ||157||
"Thus Upanshu Japa Yoga means that the chanter himself or herself softly recites, hears and understands the
meaning of the Mantra.”
dhiya yad akshara-srenya varnad varnam padat padam |
sabdartha-cintanabhyasah sa ukto manaso japah ||158||
"Manasa Japa Yoga or Mental Japa Yoga means the repeated and intense practice of deep contemplation and
meditation on the meaning of each and every Syllable of the Mantra in one's heart as one slowly progresses
from one syllable or part of the Mantra to another while chanting it mentally."
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
varnad ekasmat kramenanya-varnam vyapya | evam padat padam vyapya | ittham sabdasya arthasya ca yac
cintanam anusandhanam tasya abhyasah punah punar avrittih ||158||
"Mental Japa Yoga means that one meditates with one pointed attention on each Syllable of the Mantra. When
the meaning of one syllable of the Mantra permeates the heart of the chanter during Mental Japa Yoga, then
the chanter should move on to concentrate on the meaning of the next syllable of the Mantra. Then the mind
should be focused on the divine meaning of a word of the Mantra and then one should go on to the next word
of the Mantra. In this way the constant drilling and training of the mind and the heart by Mental Japa Yoga to
repeatedly investigate, visualize and realize the transcendental meaning of each word of the Mantra through
the process of deep and profound contemplation, reflection, and meditation on the Mantra is the most powerful
form of Japa Yoga Meditation or Chanting."
In the Yajnavalkya Smriti, it is stated:
tatra ca yajnavalkyah—
upamsu-japa-yuktasya tasmac-chata-guno bhavet |
sahasro manasah prokto yasmad dhyana-samo hi sah ||159||
"Upanshu (murmuring) Japa Yoga as described above is one hundred times qualitatively more powerful than
Vachika (loud) Japa Yoga. Manasa (mental) Japa Yoga on the other hand is one thousand times more powerful
because Mental Japa Yoga is on the same platform of Meditation."
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
upamsu-japa-yuktasya japah sata-gunah syad vacikaj japac chata-guno bhaved ity arthah ||159||
"The above statement that Upanshu Japa Yoga is one hundred times more powerful means that it is one
hundred times more powerful than Vachika Japa Yoga."
In the Mantrarnava, it is stated that:
mantrarnave—
pasu-bhave sthita mantrah kevalam varna-rupinah |
saushumnadhvany uccaritah prabhutvam prapnuvanti hi ||160||
"Those who chant the Mantra while simply uttering the syllables but not meditating on their meaning, are
chanting the Mantra in animalistic consciousness. But the utterance of the Mantra with profound contemplation
on its meaning arising through the sushumna (subtle nerve channel) which runs from the base of the spine to
the crown of the head enables the chanter to attain mastery and perfection over the art of chanting if the
mercy of the Lord is there.”
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
saushumnye sushumnakhya-nadi-sambandhini adhvani cchidra-marge uccaritah santah |
prabhutvam samarthyam ||160||
"When someone performs Japa Yoga with the sound vibration of the Mantra passing through and arising from
the hole of the sushumna nadi (channel), then one becomes a sage and attains mastery and success in Japa
Yoga chanting if one has the mercy of the Lord."
na dosho manase japye sarva-dese’pi sarvada |
japa-nishtho dvija-sreshthah sarva-yajna-phalam labhet ||161||
"There can never be any fault or defect whatsoever in Manasa or Mental Japa Yoga, and thus it can be
performed in all places, at all times and in all circumstances. O best of the brahmanas! Thus that most fortunate
person, who is staunchly and irrevocably engaged in Japa Yoga always achieves the sublime fruits of performing
unlimited fire sacrifices at every moment."
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
ata eva manaso japah paramottama ity aha—na dosha iti | dvija-sreshtha iti tatratya-vipranam sambodhanam |
dvija-sreshtha ity eka-vacananta-patho’pi kvacit ||161||
"Thus Manasa or Mental Japa Yoga is Paramottama, which means Supermost form of Japa Mantra Yoga
Meditation, since it has no faults of any kind. Dvija-sreshtha is used in a singular tense in this verse to indicate
the best of the brahmanas who engaged in chanting Japa."
asucir va sucir vapi gacchams tishthan svapann api |
mantraika-sarano vidvan manasaiva sadabhyaset ||162||
"Thus one should incessantly practice the chanting of Mental Japa Yoga whether one is in a clean or unclean
condition, moving or stationary, and sleeping or awake. In this way, one who takes exclusive shelter of the
Mantra in all circumstances is a learned and self-realized soul."
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
mantraika-sarana ity anena purascaranadi-paras tu yathokta-desa-kaladav evabhyased ity abhipretam ||162||
"Thus it is understood that one should take full shelter of Mantra Japa Yoga, which is independent of preliminary
purificatory rites, the place, time etc."
kim canyatra—
manasah siddhi-kamais tu pushti-kamair upamsukah |
vaciko maranoccate prasasto japa iritah ||163||
In another scripture, it is stated: "If one desires siddhi or the supreme perfection of life, then one must engage
in Mental Japa Yoga. If one desires spiritual and material prosperity, then one must engage in Upamsu or
Murmuring Japa Yoga. And if one desires perfection at the time of death, then Vachika or Loud Japa is the most
suitable."
Vaishnava Tantre
japat sata gunam punyam rama nama pralekhane
In the Vaishnava Tantra it is stated: "Writing the Mantra with full concentration is one hundred times more
beneficial and powerful than Japa Yoga chanting because pralekhana (writing) forces the mind to deeply focus
on the syllables of the Mantra which are completely non-different from the Mantri (Lord) Himself and the process
of Mental Japa Meditation automatically takes place by this Writing Yoga."
TOP
Gopala Bhatta Goswami and commented on by the great Maha Bhagavata Shrila Sanatana Goswami, we find
the following description in Chapter 17:
atha japa-bhedah, tal-lakshanadi ca
"Now, we will describe the three diverse kinds of Mantra Japa Yoga or chanting on beads and their
characteristics."
The Narasimha Purana states:
narasimhe—
trividho japa-yajnah syat tasya bhedan nibodhata |
vacikas ca upamsus ca manasas ca tridha matah |
trayanam japa-yajnanam sreyan syad uttarottarah ||155||
"The Japa Yajna Yoga or the sacrifice of chanting softly on beads or fingers is basically of three kinds. The
differences in these three kinds of Japa can be elucidated as follows. The first kind of Mantra Japa is known as
Vachika (loud) Japa Yoga, second is called as Upanshu (murmuring) Japa Yoga and the third is known as
Manasa (mental) Japa Yoga."
yad ucca-nica-svaritaih spashta-sabdavad-aksharaih |
mantram uccarayed vyaktam japa-yajnah sa vacikah ||156||
"That Japa Yajna Yoga (sacrifice and yoga of chanting) which is performed by loudly and openly chanting the
Mantra with clear and distinct pronunciation of the Syllables and Names in the Mantra and which is accompanied
by the loud recitation of Mantra in a high or low or a melodious svarita tone is known as Vachika Japa Yoga."
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
ucca-nica-svaritaih uccena nicena tvaritena va udattanudatta-svarita-samjnaih svarair ity arthah | svarena
yuktaih spashta-sabdavadbhir aksharaih | ata eva vyaktam mantram uccarayed yat ||156||
"The Japa Yoga which is accompanied by loud, soft or melodious utterance of the mantra in udatta, anudatta or
svarita notes with a high pitched accent is known as Vacika Japa Yoga. Since this kind of Japa Yoga is performed
by the clear, loud, distinct (not slurred) pronunciation of the Mantra, therefore Vachika Japa has to be audibly
uttered and thus can be heard clearly."
sanair uccarayen mantram ishad aushthau pracalayet |
kincic chabdam svayam vidyad upamsuh sa japah smritah ||157||
"The second kind of Upamsu (murmuring) Japa Yoga is performed with the slow utterance and recitation of the
Mantra with a little movement or murmuring of one's two lips. Thus the sound vibration of the Mantra is very low
and can be only heard by oneself."
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
svayam eva vidyaj janiyat srinuyad ity arthah ||157||
"Thus Upanshu Japa Yoga means that the chanter himself or herself softly recites, hears and understands the
meaning of the Mantra.”
dhiya yad akshara-srenya varnad varnam padat padam |
sabdartha-cintanabhyasah sa ukto manaso japah ||158||
"Manasa Japa Yoga or Mental Japa Yoga means the repeated and intense practice of deep contemplation and
meditation on the meaning of each and every Syllable of the Mantra in one's heart as one slowly progresses
from one syllable or part of the Mantra to another while chanting it mentally."
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
varnad ekasmat kramenanya-varnam vyapya | evam padat padam vyapya | ittham sabdasya arthasya ca yac
cintanam anusandhanam tasya abhyasah punah punar avrittih ||158||
"Mental Japa Yoga means that one meditates with one pointed attention on each Syllable of the Mantra. When
the meaning of one syllable of the Mantra permeates the heart of the chanter during Mental Japa Yoga, then
the chanter should move on to concentrate on the meaning of the next syllable of the Mantra. Then the mind
should be focused on the divine meaning of a word of the Mantra and then one should go on to the next word
of the Mantra. In this way the constant drilling and training of the mind and the heart by Mental Japa Yoga to
repeatedly investigate, visualize and realize the transcendental meaning of each word of the Mantra through
the process of deep and profound contemplation, reflection, and meditation on the Mantra is the most powerful
form of Japa Yoga Meditation or Chanting."
In the Yajnavalkya Smriti, it is stated:
tatra ca yajnavalkyah—
upamsu-japa-yuktasya tasmac-chata-guno bhavet |
sahasro manasah prokto yasmad dhyana-samo hi sah ||159||
"Upanshu (murmuring) Japa Yoga as described above is one hundred times qualitatively more powerful than
Vachika (loud) Japa Yoga. Manasa (mental) Japa Yoga on the other hand is one thousand times more powerful
because Mental Japa Yoga is on the same platform of Meditation."
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
upamsu-japa-yuktasya japah sata-gunah syad vacikaj japac chata-guno bhaved ity arthah ||159||
"The above statement that Upanshu Japa Yoga is one hundred times more powerful means that it is one
hundred times more powerful than Vachika Japa Yoga."
In the Mantrarnava, it is stated that:
mantrarnave—
pasu-bhave sthita mantrah kevalam varna-rupinah |
saushumnadhvany uccaritah prabhutvam prapnuvanti hi ||160||
"Those who chant the Mantra while simply uttering the syllables but not meditating on their meaning, are
chanting the Mantra in animalistic consciousness. But the utterance of the Mantra with profound contemplation
on its meaning arising through the sushumna (subtle nerve channel) which runs from the base of the spine to
the crown of the head enables the chanter to attain mastery and perfection over the art of chanting if the
mercy of the Lord is there.”
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
saushumnye sushumnakhya-nadi-sambandhini adhvani cchidra-marge uccaritah santah |
prabhutvam samarthyam ||160||
"When someone performs Japa Yoga with the sound vibration of the Mantra passing through and arising from
the hole of the sushumna nadi (channel), then one becomes a sage and attains mastery and success in Japa
Yoga chanting if one has the mercy of the Lord."
na dosho manase japye sarva-dese’pi sarvada |
japa-nishtho dvija-sreshthah sarva-yajna-phalam labhet ||161||
"There can never be any fault or defect whatsoever in Manasa or Mental Japa Yoga, and thus it can be
performed in all places, at all times and in all circumstances. O best of the brahmanas! Thus that most fortunate
person, who is staunchly and irrevocably engaged in Japa Yoga always achieves the sublime fruits of performing
unlimited fire sacrifices at every moment."
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
ata eva manaso japah paramottama ity aha—na dosha iti | dvija-sreshtha iti tatratya-vipranam sambodhanam |
dvija-sreshtha ity eka-vacananta-patho’pi kvacit ||161||
"Thus Manasa or Mental Japa Yoga is Paramottama, which means Supermost form of Japa Mantra Yoga
Meditation, since it has no faults of any kind. Dvija-sreshtha is used in a singular tense in this verse to indicate
the best of the brahmanas who engaged in chanting Japa."
asucir va sucir vapi gacchams tishthan svapann api |
mantraika-sarano vidvan manasaiva sadabhyaset ||162||
"Thus one should incessantly practice the chanting of Mental Japa Yoga whether one is in a clean or unclean
condition, moving or stationary, and sleeping or awake. In this way, one who takes exclusive shelter of the
Mantra in all circumstances is a learned and self-realized soul."
Digdarshini tika (commentary) by Shrila Sanatana Goswami:
mantraika-sarana ity anena purascaranadi-paras tu yathokta-desa-kaladav evabhyased ity abhipretam ||162||
"Thus it is understood that one should take full shelter of Mantra Japa Yoga, which is independent of preliminary
purificatory rites, the place, time etc."
kim canyatra—
manasah siddhi-kamais tu pushti-kamair upamsukah |
vaciko maranoccate prasasto japa iritah ||163||
In another scripture, it is stated: "If one desires siddhi or the supreme perfection of life, then one must engage
in Mental Japa Yoga. If one desires spiritual and material prosperity, then one must engage in Upamsu or
Murmuring Japa Yoga. And if one desires perfection at the time of death, then Vachika or Loud Japa is the most
suitable."
Vaishnava Tantre
japat sata gunam punyam rama nama pralekhane
In the Vaishnava Tantra it is stated: "Writing the Mantra with full concentration is one hundred times more
beneficial and powerful than Japa Yoga chanting because pralekhana (writing) forces the mind to deeply focus
on the syllables of the Mantra which are completely non-different from the Mantri (Lord) Himself and the process
of Mental Japa Meditation automatically takes place by this Writing Yoga."
TOP
