Best practice for performing and counting japa

The content of this article is based on discussions with Shri Raghupathi Sir

Performing japa or namasmaran is supposed to be the best sadhana to focus mind on God.

Here is some information about methods of performing and counting japa.

The first method of japa is uttering name of god aloud. In this method though one is chanting the name of god, it does not fetch much benefit. The second method is chanting the name of god without making any noise though making movement of lips. This method fetches medium benefits. The best method of chanting is when the name is chanted in the mind itself. This method, they say, fetches us the best results of chanting. Essentially for best results mind should be completely focused on the name of god.

Like methods for performing japa, there are also methods of counting japa. First method is when one counts japa by finger. This method though helps count japa it does not fetch us much benefit. Second method is to count japa with beads of japamala (garland). This method fetches us medium benefits. The best method of counting is to count by touching upper part of thumb to selected joints on the fingers, in the sequence shown in picture below.

For example, if one wants to complete some japa (e.g. Gayatri mantra japa) 108 times, then by using above diagram, it will be 10 rounds of 10 plus one round of 8. For the first round start from 1 and end at 10, for second round start from 10 and end at 1 and for third round start from 1 and end at 10 and so on.