Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
सगर्भादपि साहस्रं सध्यानो जप उच्यते । एषु पञ्चविधेष्वेकः कर्तव्यः शक्तितो जपः । अङ्गुल्या जपसंख्यानमेकमेवमुदाहृतम् । रेखयाष्टगुणं विद्यात्पुत्रजीवैर्दशाधिकम्
sagarbhādapi sāhasraṃ sadhyāno japa ucyate | eṣu pañcavidheṣvekaḥ kartavyaḥ śaktito japaḥ | aṅgulyā japasaṃkhyānamekamevamudāhṛtam | rekhayāṣṭaguṇaṃ vidyātputrajīvairdaśādhikam
Bahkan seribu ulangan yang dilakukan dengan penyerapan batin (mantra ‘dipegang’ di dalam) dikatakan sebagai japa yang disertai dhyāna (meditasi). Dalam lima jenis ini, satu hendaklah dilakukan menurut kemampuan. Cara mengira japa dijelaskan demikian: dengan jari ialah satu ukuran; dengan melakar garis difahami menjadi lapan kali ganda; dan dengan manik putrajīva ia menjadi sepuluh lebih daripada itu.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Links japa to dhyāna (inner absorption), presenting a practical ladder from external counting to contemplative union-oriented practice.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It ranks japa not merely by quantity but by inner absorption: repetition joined to dhyāna becomes spiritually potent, aligning the limited soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) through disciplined practice.
Meditative japa is a core limb of Saguna Shiva worship—often performed before the Linga—where the mantra and focused awareness make the mind fit for Shiva’s presence and grace, turning external ritual into inward communion.
Practice one of the five modes of japa according to capacity, and keep an accurate count—by fingers, by marking lines, or with a putrajīva mālā—while maintaining dhyāna alongside the mantra (such as the Panchakshara).