The magic of mantrā is magnified or intensified as we chant, depending on your vision of expansion or withdrawal in each moment. Japa originates from the root meaning of jap - to say or utter in a low, quiet or inner voice.
As we move from chanting out loud in vaikhari japa, to whispered as upamsu japa and then silently repeated to the self as manasika japa, the force field of mantrā grows exponentially more powerful. From upamsu japa being 100 times more effective than vaikhari japa, manasika japa 1000 times more powerful than upamsu japa, to manasika japa being 100,000 times more magnetic than vaikhari japa!
Mantrā is fundamental to my daily sadhana and I follow the pattern of three with transitions through silence [see Aum]. This means I chant each mantrā three times aloud, three whispered and three internally before settling into silence either for meditation or transition.
Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt
[Rigveda 3.62.10]
Evoking earth, etheric realm and the heavens,
Let us bring our mind to dwell
In the radiance of the Divine Truth
May that Truth inspire our reflections
Oṃ tryámbakaṃ yajāmahe
sughandhíṃ puṣṭivardhánam
urvārukam iva bandhánān
mṛtyor mukṣīya māmṛtāt
[Rigveda 7.59]
We meditate on Siva, the 3-eyed one
Knower of past, present and future
Who permeates and nourishes all like a fragrance
As in due time the stem of cucumber weakens
And the gourd is freed from the vine
So release us from attachment to the material
And liberate us into the eternal
Om asato mā sadgamaya
tamaso mā jyotirgamaya
mṛtyor mā'mṛtaṃ gamaya
[Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.3.28]
From ignorance, lead me to truth
From darkness, lead me to light
From death, lead me to immortality
Oṁ shāntiḥ shāntiḥ shāntiḥ
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