Upanshu Japa
Every question on the site tagged Upanshu Japa, each answered from a timestamped source rather than a summary written from memory.
Chanting murmured at a volume audible only to oneself — used to keep a protective mantra secret when sharing a house with a suspected adversary.
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Hanuman Janjira, Vadavanala Stotra or Maha Bhairava kept secret through Upanshu Japa, with consecrated mustard scattered nightly
External remedies depend entirely on Mano-bala — engage in disciplined recitation of Hanuman Janjira, Hanuman Vadavanala Stotra, or Maha Bhairava worship, keep the practice secret via Upanshu Japa if sharing a house with an adversary, and scatter mantra-consecrated mustard seeds nightly as a protective barrier.
The Datta ekakshari as a guru mantra: never spoken aloud, never told
The speaker says that because this mantra is being held in the Guru form, its Japa is never done by pronouncing it aloud. The lips may move and it may be said very softly, but no one should be able to hear it. It is a guru mantra, so it is to be told to no one and never spoken — in the japa, and in the havan ahutis where only swaha is voiced.
How should a guru mantra be treated?
Whichever mantra is taken as the guru mantra — take the Panchakshari, take the mantra of Shambhu Shiva, by whatever vidhi-vidhan has been told — that mantra should never be uttered from the mouth; it should always be kept secret. The guru mantra is forever secret; even its japa is not to be done speaking aloud.
Why would the name Bhadrakali cause a commotion?
It is Bhagavati's name, not any such mantra — but on hearing the name Bhadrakali, a great commotion arises among the pret atmas, brother. As soon as you say Bhadrakali Kapalini, everyone will be frightened, wondering why this man is taking the name Kapalini. So do the path in a gentle voice; do the path comfortably, do not do it loudly. And secondly, people are coming to know of your sadhana and interfering in it, and quarrels are happening — which is not proper.
Should a Sabar mantra be chanted aloud, in Upanshu, or mentally during an eclipse?
A Sabar Mantra is never chanted loudly. No mantra of any kind should be audible to another person — it should remain a murmur inside the mouth.
How loudly should the Panchakshar mantra be recited in a temple?
You may absolutely perform the vidhan of Panchakshar mantra siddhi at night daily in a Shiva temple in the month of Savan, he says. And while doing japa the mantra must not be audible at all — everyone should keep this in mind. Nobody should come to know which mantra you are doing japa of. Do not do japa of mantras out loud; only the lips should move, murmuring a little, in the manner of upanshu japa. It is not to be done very loudly or at speed.
What should be kept in mind when doing japa in a rented house?
A listener asks about living in a rented house and doing mantra japa there when someone else comes in. The speaker answers: let no one come during the time of japa, let no one see you doing japa, maintain secrecy.
Why should bhajan, bhojan and bhog always be kept secret?
Asked how much japa or how many malas he does daily, so that listeners may also get motivation, the speaker says it depends, and asks why he should place before them how much he does and what he does. Bhajan, bhojan and bhog, he says, should always be kept secret. Along with these, your wealth, your mantra, your guru, and — put chiefly — the bride of your kul, whether your own wife or your daughter's bride, should all always be kept secret and not revealed.
Should the havan of a mantra be done aloud or mentally?
He calls it a very good question. Vipin ji, the mantra of which you do japa — as you do the japa, so should you do the havan. If you do japa by speaking, then do the havan by speaking. If you do it mentally, then mentally. Only the svaha is to be said aloud.
How loudly should the japa be spoken?
The japa is not to be done by speaking aloud. Speak only this much: the tongue alone should move, and you should be able to tell what you are uttering. That is all.
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