Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
जिह्वामात्रपरिस्पंदादीषदुच्चारितो ऽपि वा । अपरैरश्रुतः किंचिच्छ्रुतो वोपांशुरुच्यते । धिया यदक्षरश्रेण्या वर्णाद्वर्णं पदात्पदम् । शब्दार्थचिंतनं भूयः कथ्यते मानसो जपः
jihvāmātraparispaṃdādīṣaduccārito 'pi vā | aparairaśrutaḥ kiṃcicchruto vopāṃśurucyate | dhiyā yadakṣaraśreṇyā varṇādvarṇaṃ padātpadam | śabdārthaciṃtanaṃ bhūyaḥ kathyate mānaso japaḥ
仅以舌尖微动而略略发声，使他人不得闻、自己亦仅隐约自闻者，名为“优旁输”(upāṃśu，低声默诵)。若于心中依音节次第，逐字逐句反复随念，并观其声与义，则称为“摩那萨诵”(mānasa japa，意念持诵)。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Establishes inner discipline for mantra-japa; supports purification (śuddhi) and readiness for Śiva-anugraha.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It defines subtler and more inward forms of mantra repetition—upāṃśu and mānasa—showing that japa becomes spiritually deeper as it moves from outer sound to inner contemplation of both the mantra’s vibration and meaning, leading the devotee toward Shiva-realization.
In Linga-worship and Saguna devotion, japa supports pūjā by steadying attention on Shiva’s presence; mānasa japa especially internalizes the worship so that the Linga is honored outwardly while Shiva is remembered inwardly with meaning-filled awareness.
Practice upāṃśu japa by softly moving the tongue so others cannot hear, and progress to mānasa japa by repeating the mantra mentally—syllable by syllable—while contemplating its meaning; this is ideal alongside Rudrākṣa counting and daily Shiva-pūjā or Mahāśivarātri vrata.