To Indians the light and warmth of sun is a manifestation of the divine.

In Banaras the murmur of prayers steadily increases moment the sun ascends the horizon. The chanted prayers increase their intensity. To Indians the light and warmth of sun is a manifestation of the divine. Speaking the Vedic chants and seeing the sunrise are both important experiences of the divine in India. Sadhus or sanyasis, the holy men of banaras, clad in saffron loincloth chant Sanskrit verses of the Veda, keeping count of their repetition with prayer beads. A harmonious hymn of sound is raised to welcome the auspicious moment of rising of the sun. Numerous religious and spiritual traditions teach the practice of speaking the name of the divine ; not with the intent of helping people communicate information to others, but in order to help slow down the thought process and obtain inner peace.

In India, repeating the divine name is referred to as japa. This is often done using a string of 108 wooden beads called a japa mala, similar to a rosary. Each time a name, a mantra, is spoken, the thumb is moved past a bead. This practice may seem simple, but it's extremely powerful when done with devotion over time.

Japa helps to quiet the endless stream of thoughts flowing through our overactive minds, giving us the ability to step outside our problems and anxieties for a time. Repeating the name of the divine can help us to remain in the present moment. People who do japa regularly often find that their ability to cope with life’s vicissitudes increases, even during times of the day when they are not doing their practice. Most importantly, each time we speak the divine name with love, we take a step closer to the divine.

"Mental purity comes through constant chanting of the divine name. This is the simplest way. You are trying to cross the ocean of transmigration, the cycle of birth and death. The mantra is the oar of the boat; it is the instrument you use to cross the samsara of your restless mind, with its unending thought waves. The mantra can also be compared to a ladder that you climb to reach the heights of God realisation." ✨📿👁🕉🔱🐚🙏🇮🇳

Sankat Rahe Na Bhay, Sada Raho Nirbhay ~ Bum Bum Bhole!