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teacher. This mantra is considered to be both sacred, and vibrant with divine energy. It purifies the heart of the practitioner.
Lord Krishna describes this practice of japa as the greatest of all sacrifices:
In the sacrifices I am the japa yajna (sacrifice in form of reciting the sacred name). In the immoveable things I am the Himalaya
The Yoga Shastras declare that by the practice of japa the practitioner attains supernatural powers:
By japa one attains sidhi (divine powers).
Sant Tulsidas also says that those People who recite the name of God find that their suffering vanishes. If a person practices mānas japa with diligence he will acquire eight kinds of supernatural powers. The Brahmanda Purana says that japa is equal to millions of prayers. The Jabaldarshnopanishad includes japa as one of the essential vows. Saint Maharishi Mehi says that guru japa is the best of all japas. It is incomparable. He says that the practice of japa is peace-giving by its nature, and that it bestows wealth, right action (dharma), desires and liberation, all the four ends of life. The aspirant can think of the teacher as a wish-fulfilling tree, and recitation of the guru mantra as a great austerity. Through the practice of japa all desires are easily fulfilled.
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