Another method to destroy negative karma.

The little known wonders of Mantra practice as recommended by several
Saints of India.

“Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic. Japa will bestow good health to both mind and body.” -Mata Amritanandamayi or Amma

In India the continual repetition of a name of God or a prayer is well known as the practice of mantra or japa yoga. Paramahansa Yogananda also highlighted a branch of mantra science in the form of positive affirmations, understanding that the practical western mindset was appreciative of a proactive self-help approach to life. He was the first to write an extensive book on the subject, titled Scientific Healing Affirmations.

“This groundbreaking book reveals the hidden laws for harnessing the power of concentrated thought — not only for physical healing, but to overcome obstacles and create all-around success in our lives.

Long before the use of affirmations was embraced in mainstream settings as diverse as hospitals, recovery programs, sports arenas, and corporate suites, Paramahansa Yogananda understood and taught the deep spiritual principles that make this ancient scientific tool so powerfully effective.”

At the same time, Yogananda was fully aware of the benefits of devotional mantra as a way of attracting Divine grace.

“Be so drunk with the love of God that you will know nothing but God; and give that love to all.” -Paramahansa Yogananda

Brother Mokshananda was a monastic sannyasin disciple of Yogananda’s and below are some sections from a talk he gave on japa yoga, which is another name for the practice of mantra.

“One of the best-known ways of doing this, called Japa Yoga in India, is to take an affirmation, prayer, or devotional chant—or simply the name of God—and silently repeat it over and over again.

“Paramahansa Yogananda said: Every thought we think sets up a particular subtle vibration. When you mentally utter the word 'God,' and keep on repeating that thought within, it sets up a vibration that invokes the presence of God.

“As we persevere in the practice of the Presence, we become increasingly aware of God when we are outwardly active as well as when we are meditating. In nature, for instance, the advanced bhakti yogi enjoys not only the harmony and beauty expressed in flowers and sunsets and other natural wonders, but also experiences an awareness of the Divine Life and Intelligence and Love underlying all creation.

“Paramahansa Yogananda said: It is when you persistently, selflessly perform every action with love-inspired thoughts of God that He will come to you. Then you realize that you are the Ocean of Life, which has become the tiny wave of each life. This is the way of knowing the Lord through activity. When in every action you think of Him before you act, while you are performing the action, and after you have finished it, He will reveal Himself to you. You must work, but let God work through you; this is the best part of devotion. If you are constantly thinking that He is walking through your feet, working through your hands, accomplishing through your will, you will know Him.

 

Brother Mokshananda also said in another talk.

"There is another form of Bhakti Yoga that takes this attitude of faith and confidence a step further—the practice of affirmation. The difference between a prayer-demand and an affirmation is this: In prayer we ask for something and wait to see whether or not our request will be granted. In affirmation, we assert our conviction that what we need or desire has already come to pass. For instance, instead of praying to God, "Lord, help me to know that I am Thy child," affirm the truth that you are His child, and always have been.

"The law of affirmation is very scientific, for it is based on the unlimited power of thought. Everything in creation originated as an idea in the Divine Mind, and was condensed into material form by God's will. Being made in God's image, we too can apply this same law. If we take a statement of truth and revolve it in our consciousness with continuous will and deep conviction, eventually it gains enough force to manifest outwardly.

"First, choose an affirmation appropriate to your need—physical healing, prosperity, self-improvement, spiritual progress, or whatever else may be necessary in your life. [Affirmations for a variety of uses may be found in Scientific Healing Affirmations, Metaphysical Meditations, and the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons, all by Paramahansa Yogananda and published by Self-Realization Fellowship.] It should not be a long thought; just a sentence or two that clearly and vividly conveys the state you are striving to bring about.

(a) Begin your practice of affirmation by repeating that thought aloud for a period of time.

(b) Gradually let your repetition become softer and softer, until it becomes a whisper.

(c) Then go on repeating it mentally, with ever-increasing concentration, allowing it to sink deep within.

"If you continue this, not just for a few moments but for a long time in meditation and whenever you have a chance during the day, that affirmation becomesvery powerful. When you firmly plant a truth in the conscious mind through affirmation, it will take root in the subconscious and come back later to influence your thoughts and actions. And if you go even deeper with your repetition of that truth, continuously revolving it in your mind with devotion, concentration, and will power, it reaches the super conscious mind, and eventually manifests in one's meditation or at another time as a divine experience of healing or realization.

“Super conscious blessings are attended by great calmness—peace or joy or a profound sense of well being. They have a lasting effect; when you recall them to mind you immediately feel the same upliftment of consciousness that accompanied the original experience. Most important, a true response to prayer or affirmation brings some tangible positive change in your life — such as freedom from a bad habit, victory over illness, healing of a negative emotion or inharmonious relationship, greater love for God and desire for His presence. These transformations come through right practice of prayer, affirmation, and devotional chanting."

Swami Sri Yukteswar "Love is God," not merely as the noblest sentiment of a poet but as an aphorism of eternal truth. To whatever religious creed a man may belong and whatever be his position in society, if he properly cultivates this ruling principle naturally implanted in his heart, he is sure to be on the right path to save himself from wandering in this creation of Darkness, Maya."

Mata Amritanandamayi or Amma

“Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic. Japa will bestow good health to both mind and body.”

Amma says that “the purpose of mantra japa (chanting) is to lead us to the ultimate silence of the Self, from where all sounds and forms arise. Further, in the present age of materialism, chanting the mantra (japa), is the easiest way for us to obtain inner purification and concentration. Japa can be done at any time, anywhere without observing any rule regarding the purity of mind and body. Japa can be done while engaged in any task.

“Constantly repeating God's name will diminish the ego."

‘I am an important person; I hold a high position in society. How can I go to the temple and worship in the jostling crowd there? How will I bow down before the Lord? Isn't that demeaning?’ Thoughts like these arise from the ego. Be ready, always, anywhere, to repeat the Lord's name and to pay homage to the Lord and the guru. We don't gain anything from a certificate of greatness from society; what we need is a certificate from God. With constant effort, we will be able to repeat the mantra in our minds even while doing any type of job.

“Don't forget God for even a second”

If we lose our money while traveling, think how frantically we search for it! In the same way, if we are unable to do japa even for a brief moment, we should grieve: "Alas, Lord, I have lost so much time! " If there is such anguish, even the time we spend sleeping will not be wasted. Children, even if we lose a million dollars, we can recover it. If we lose one second, we cannot get it back. Every moment that we are not remembering God is lost to us. Chanting replaces other thoughts with that particular mantra. Just as saline water loses its salty taste by constantly adding fresh water, through constant repetition of a mantra, the number of thoughts can be reduced. In due course, all thoughts can be eliminated except one, that is God. Love will spring through japa if one has complete faith and intent to reach the goal. Mantra japa, done with the proper understanding of this principle will ultimately take us to the Source. At this point, the seeker realizes that the form he has been meditating on, as well as all other forms that exist within himself, are the manifestations of the Self.

" Write the mantra daily

It is a good practice to write at least one page of mantra daily. Many people get better concentration by writing than by chanting. Try also to inculcate in children the habit of chanting and neatly writing the mantra. This will help to improve their handwriting, too. The book in which the mantra is written should not be thrown around; it should be carefully kept in our meditation or shrine room."

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Sri Swami Sivananda

"Name (Nama) and the object (Rupa) signified by the Name are inseparable. Thought and word are inseparable. Whenever you think of the name of your son, his figure stands before your mental eye, and vice versa. Even so when you do Japa of Rama, Krishna or Christ, the picture of Rama, Krishna or Christ will come before your mind. Therefore Japa and Dhyana go together. They are inseparable.

"Do the Japa with feeling. Know the meaning of the Mantra. Feel God's presence in everything and everywhere. Draw closer and nearer to Him when you repeat the Japa. Think He is shining in the chambers of your heart. He is witnessing your repetition of the Mantra as He is the witness of your mind.

"The glory of the Name of God cannot be established through reasoning and intellect. It can be experienced or realized only through devotion, faith and constant repetition of the Name.

Repeat the Mantra verbally for sometime, in a whisper for sometime, and mentally for sometime. The minds wants variety. It gets disgusted with any monotonous practice. The mental repetition is very powerful. It is termed Manasika Japa. The verbal or loud repetition is called Vaikhari Japa. The loud Japa shuts out all worldly sounds. There is no break of Japa here. Repetition in a whisper or humming is termed Upamshu Japa. Even mechanical repetition of Japa without any Bhava has a great purifying effect on the heart or the mind. The feeling will come later on when the process of mental purification goes on.

When the mind wanders, do the Japa aloud, or whisper the Mantra for some time and come back to mental Japa again as soon as possible.

"Do not do the Japa in a hurried manner, like a contractor who tries to finish his work in a short time. Do it slowly with feeling, one-pointedness of mind and single-minded devotion.

"Continue the current of Japa mentally at all times, whatever be the activity in which you are engaged. Carry on your Sadhana with tenacity and perseverance, without a break. Realize the glorious goal of life and enjoy supreme bliss."

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Sri Ananda Moy Ma

"The fact that you are aware of your incapacity to concentrate on God’s name is His grace also. Even though not interested take the Name as medicine. This also will have a good result. You will improve. God’s name invariably bears fruit. This is why it is said, either get yourself admitted into the hospital , take the medicine prescribed by the doctor, regulate your diet , and your illness will be cured. Or use the doctor’s medicine and diet while remaining at home. That is to say either renounce everything and seek refuge solely in His name, or else, while remaining with your family, act according to your Guru’s instructions and live a regulated life. Thereby also you may hope to get rid of your disease. Whoever likes to take injections? Yet they are beneficial. Which child enjoys learning to read? All the same, by studying regularly with the assistance of one’s parents and teachers one becomes an educated person. This is so, where learning is concerned that serves worldly ends. Again , if you can acquire Brahmavidya, the knowledge of Reality, there is hope of recovering supreme wealth. What is supreme wealth? None but God Himself.

 

"No attempt is futile; everything serves a purpose. Suppose you are travelling somewhere by railway. In order to catch the train you will first go by boat from your village to Dacca, then descend from the boat with the help of a stick and get into a horse-carriage that will take you to the station. Although your aim is a journey by train, you cannot say that the boat, stick, horse-carriage and so forth are of no use. Similarly, you should understand that everything you do in order to realize God is helpful. Nothing at all is wasted. By whatever Name you may invoke Him, your effort will be crowned with success. The main thing is to cling to the Name of constancy.

 

"Just try to keep the kite of your mind tied to the string of the Divine Name. If it is fixed in this manner your thinking will some day or the other get under control. Although restlessness is the nature of the mind. Yet to become still is its dharma. To make it calm you will have to be centered in something. In order to find a job you look to some person or other for support, you go to a particular place. Similarly, in order to be liberated have recourse to the Name.

"At all times the repetition of the Lord’s Name should be kept up. Through the practice of the Name enjoyment, liberation, peace, all these will blossom forth. With firm faith, implicit confidence and devotion, casting away pride, adhere to the Name and you will see that all your work will be done; as it were, of itself. When this body was engaged in the play of sadhana, this kind of thing used to happen and this is why so much stress is laid on it. Do not take anything lightly in order to test God, for by doing this you will not advance towards Self-realization. Surrender your all to Him! Your burden , the burden of the world is ever carried by the One who sustains the universe – remember this!

"The performance of Japa has a beneficial result of its own. When a person practices japa and dedicates its fruit to God. The fruit can never be destroyed or lost. When the time is ripe God will return to the aspirant. When the sadhaka begins to notice that his desires and passions are growing weaker and weaker, he should understand that God is in this way bestowing upon him the fruit of his practice. This is why one does japa samarpana (offering one’s japa to one’s Ishta).

"Karma accumulated for ages and ages, sins and desires are wiped out by God’s sacred Name. Just as lighting a lamp illumines a cave that has been in darkness for centuries, even so the obscurity of numberless births is annihilated by the power of the Divine Name."

Many more quotes on Japa yoga can be found at the below URL.

http://www.anandamayi.org/books/Japa.pdf

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Ramana Maharshi

Question : Is there no benefit at all in doing japa with the mouth?

Ramana Maharshi: Who said there is no benefit? Such japa will be the means for chitta suddhi [purifying the mind]. As the japa is done repeatedly the effort ripens and sooner or later leads to the right path. Good or bad, whatever is done never goes to waste. Only the differences and the merits and demerits of each will have to be told, looking to the stage of development of the person concerned.

Question : Sri Bhagavan has said that the japa must be traced to its source. Is it not the mind that is meant?

 

Ramana Maharshi: All these are only the workings of the mind. Japa helps to fix the mind on a single thought. All other thoughts are first subordinated until they disappear. When it becomes mental it is called dhyana. Dhyana is your true nature. It is however called dhyana because it is made with effort. Effort is necessary so long as thoughts are promiscuous. Because you are with other thoughts, you call the continuity of a single thought meditation or dhyana. If that dhyana becomes effortless it will be found to be your real nature.

Question: How should I carry on japa?

Ramana Maharshi: One should not use the name of God mechanically and superficially without the feeling of devotion.

Question : So mechanical repetition is unproductive?

Ramana Maharshi: Acute diseases will not be cured merely by repeating the name of the medicine but only by drinking the medicine. Similarly, the bonds of birth and death will not cease merely by doing many repetitions of mahavakyas such as `I am Siva'. Instead of wandering about repeating `I am the supreme', abide as the supreme yourself. The misery of birth and death will not cease by vocally repeating countless times `I am that', but only by abiding as that.

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Swami Vivekananda

“Japa is repeating the Holy Name; through this the devotee rises to the Infinite. This boat of sacrifice and ceremonies is very frail, we need more than that to know Brahman, which alone is freedom. Liberty is nothing more than destruction of ignorance, and that can only go when we know Brahman. It is not necessary to go through all these ceremonials to reach the meaning of the Vedanta. Repeating Om is enough.”

"How to attain purity living this life? Shall we all go to the forest caves? What good would it do? If the mind is not under control, it is no use living in a cave because the same mind will bring all disturbances there. We will find twenty devils in the cave because all the devils are in mind. If the mind is under control we can have the cave anywhere, wherever we are.

"It is our own mental attitude, which makes the world what it is for us. Our thoughts make things beautiful, ourthoughts make things ugly. The whole world is in our own minds. Learn to see things in the proper light.

"Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea, let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success… if we were really want to be blessed, and make others blessed, we must go deeper.

"Good and evil thoughts are each a potent power and they fill the universe, as vibration continues, so thought remains in the form of thought until translated into action. For example, force is latent in the man’s arm until he strikes a blow, when he translates it into activity. We are the heirs of good and evil thought. If we make ourselves pure and the instruments of good thoughts, these will enter us. The good soul will not be receptive to evil thoughts.

"You have to grow from inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul."

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Swami Ramdas

"The root meaning of the word "Mantra" itself is that if remembrance is kept up, it will take you across the ocean of Samsara.

"For all people there is only one way of approach to God. They must have pure devotion to God and should perform good actions. Bhakti and Karma go together. For -you, to start with, repetition of: GOD's name is the way. Have God's name continuously on your tongue Lead a pure and truthful life. Be kind and. compassionate to those who are in distress. Read the Bhagavad Gita daily.

"The ego is hard to conquer. The whole of our struggle is to do away with it. Surrender is the only way. Our personal struggle goes for nothing. It is His grace that should make all things, easy for us. We fret, fume and grumble when our effort proves futile. Instead of this attitude, it would be well to humble ourselves to the dust and take His name and feel always that He is the sole doer. Verily, by His will alone all things happen. Take refuge in Him, make Him your all in all, surrender your entire being to Him, and He will reveal Himself within you and fill every fiber of your being with His radiance, peace and joy."

www.anandashram.org.

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Recitations of the Ramnam:

Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram.

 

In order to know God, we must often think of Him; and when we come to love Him, we shall then also think of Him often, for our heart will be with our treasure.

Quotes taken from Brother Lawrence's Practice of the Presence of God.

“We must do our business faithfully, without trouble or disquiet, recalling our mind to God mildly, and with tranquility, as often as we find it wandering from him.”

“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.”

 

“Lift up your heart to Him, sometimes even at your meals, and when you are in company; the least little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. You need not cry very loud; he is nearer to us than we are aware of.” -Neem Karoli Baba   "By taking the name of Ram, everything is accomplished. In this Kali Yuga."   Neem Karoli Baba encouraged the constant repetition of "Ram" in order to become closer to God, saying "By taking the name of Ram, everything is accomplished."

 

 

The mantra was often used by Mahatma Gandhi. "Ram Nam Satya Hai" (The name of Ram is truth) Ram is total truth as earth and universe is. As per Gita (9th chapter); even if we (the people of different religions/traditions) remember God (i.e. true self) by any name; we succeed in individual and universal blossoming.   The most basic mantra is Aum, which in Hinduism is known as the "pranava mantra," the source of all mantras.

Aum (OM)

Aum is a Sanskrit root word or seed-sound symbolizing the creative divine intelligence, which creates and sustains all things: It is also known as the cosmic vibratory intelligent word of God that sustains all the created universes.

 

Aum of the Vedas became the sacred word Hum of the Tibetans; Amin of the Moslems; and Amen of the Egyptians Greeks, Romans, Jews and Christians. The worlds great religions agree that all created things originate in the vibratory energy of Aum or Amen known as the Holy Ghost to the Christian faith. In the beginning was the word and the word was God…. All things were made by him (the word or Aum); (John1:1,3)

 

As a running motor produces sound so Aum testifies to the running of the cosmic motor that upholds all life and every particle of creation through vibratory energy. Quantum scientists have discovered that behind the atomic matrix of all matter is a moving wave of intelligent vibratory fields of energy.

 

As with a few other advanced teachers Paramahansa Yogananda who wrote the spiritual classic “The Autobiography of a Yogi” teaches a meditation technique whose correct practice can bring a direct experience of God as Aum...

When the aspirant’s consciousness is in the advanced stage of peace she/he can be receptive to the sound of the cosmic motor and they will also naturally feel deeply attuned to prayer and actual communion.

 

Great saints of different religions have testified to hearing this sound of the universe while in the blissful communion with the invisible divine power (the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost”-John14; 26)

 

Before the yogi can hear such an elevated astral sound in meditation on a regular basis a moral preparation of consciousness with its natural alert calmness is consideredessential.

 

 

And on a practical note….

For millennia in Asia, bead malas or necklaces have been used as a way to remind the mind to do the next mantra. The holding of the beads in ones hand acts as a simple reminder to the mind to not forget the next repetition. Beads however are inconvenient when driving, in social settings or even in bed. And it is for this reason that with the advent of modern technology the below tool is being recommended.

 

This instrument is excellent for devotional mantra, prosperity affirmations or for any of the other Positive affirmations. It can easily be used while the hand is in the pocket, and can be used discreetly in many settings.

 

Digital Mantra Counter

Focus your mind in the direction you want it to go

Positive affirmations can be used to help dissolve a bad habit, strengthen a good one, overcome depression or eliminate many a psychological weakness. Naturally they can also be used to strengthen one's already good tendencies. But just as intention filled thought and words have combined Vedic power, affirmations for abundance when done correctly can greatly attract the Grace of the Divine.

To fully understand this approach I also recommend reading the related section in Scientific Healing Affirmations by the renowned Yogi Master Paramahansa Yogananda who was the first author to detail this subject in published form in the West.

Just as seekers of truth have used bead malas or rosaries for millenniums many believe the new digital tool referenced below can help ensure reliable practice without distraction in a much quieter way (silently) that is in a much more simple and less conspicuous manner.

Get in a groove by repeating your positive affirmations for abundance without distraction by using this amazing digital silent counter. Set your goal of how many times you can affirm your prosperity truth and count them daily.

  There is a profound mind-hand connection when using the counter that greatly helps you stay focused on manifesting your affirmation. Rid yourself of poverty-consciousness and train your subconscious mind to attract wealth, opportunities, new initiatives, and appreciation.

  Every thought we think creates a particular subtle vibration. When we mentally utter the magnetic affirmation for prosperity without delusive assumptions, but based on principles of truth, and keep on repeating that thought within, it sets up a vibration that evokes that manifestation. Positive thinking and affirmations create subtle astral forces that come to our aid.

     Positive affirmations embrace positive thinking to manifest great change in your life. They will dig a deeper groove of magnetism for success in your powerful mind and attract the manifestation for abundance each time you click the silent counter while doing your prosperity affirmation.

    Lack of wealth can be the result of a negative yet subtle poverty-consciousness not often perceived by the person. This in turn can create subtle magnetic forces of lack surrounding you. So create a shift and attract and tune in to the universal abundance that surrounds you.

“Thoughts are Things!” and pessimistic thoughts attract struggle and poverty. The digital affirmation counter when used with positive affirmations will melt away the opposing negative thoughts.

    We are dynamic magnets attracting what we mentally send out. You can heal your life and attract material abundance by repeating silently or out loud positive prosperity affirmations with deep feeling. We are the creators of our life. Our higher self, attuned to the creative laws, vibrates and attracts success. Just as Jesus said “Know ye not that ye are gods?” so we are the molders of our destinies.

    Practice your affirmation for prosperity first thing in the morning and at night as well as during the day if you can find time. It is very important to make your affirmations personal and in the present tense. You can use this affirmation below, but it is also good to make up your own that has meaning and resonance for your unique character.

 

I am love and prosperity.

I am love and prosperity.

My Divine Mother is love and all prosperity.

I am her Child. She is my Mother.

She wants to share with me

Her abundance and prosperity.

 

I am one with the Universal Spirit.

I am a child of the Universe.

The Great Spirit loves and wants to care for me.

I affirm my love for the Great Spirit and

Am deeply grateful for the gifts of prosperity she shares with me.

These gifts flow to me, flow to me. I love my Divine Mother as the she loves me. These gifts flow to me and keep flowing to me.

 

 

The next two affirmations for material wealth have been recommended by Paramahansa Yogananda who wrote the great spiritual classic “ “Autobiography of a Yogi”.

 

 

I know that God's power is limitless; and as I am made in His image, I, too, have the strength to overcome all obstacles.

I possess the creative power of Spirit. The Infinite Intelligence will guide me and solve every problem.

God is my own inexhaustible Divine Bank. I am always rich, for I have access to the Cosmic Storehouse.

I will go forth in perfect faith in the power of Omnipresent Good to bring me what I need at the time I need it.

The sunshine of divine prosperity has just burst through the dark sky of my limitations. I am God's child. What He has, I have.

 

O-----------------------O

All the wealth of this earth,
All the riches of the universe,
Belong to Thee, belong to Thee.
I am Thy child;
The wealth of earth and universe
Belongs to me, belongs to me,
Oh, belongs to me, and belongs to me.

I lived in thoughts of poverty
And wrongly fancied I was poor,
So I was poor.
Now I am home.
Thy consciousness hath made me wealthy, made me rich.
I am successful, I am rich;
Thou art my Treasure,
I am rich, I am rich.

Thou art everything, Thou art everything.
Thou art mine.
I have everything, I have everything;
I am wealthy, I am rich.
I have everything, I have everything;
I possess all and everything,
Even as Thou dost, even as Thou dost.
I possess everything, I possess everything.
Thou art my Wealth,
I have everything.

 

Anon,

Divine Mother you are the universe

I am your child. You hear me.

Shower me with your abundance.

 

The Prosperity Affirmation Counter View Details


The Prosperity Affirmation Counter View Details

Ernest Holmes: “The All-Knowing Mind knows what to do and how to do it. My affairs are managed by Law, and directed by Wisdom, and they cannot fail to prosper and expand.”

Louise Hay: “I am constantly increasing my conscious awareness of abundance, and this reflects in a constantly increasing income.”

Anonymous: “I place myself and all that concerns me, lovingly, in the hands of the Father.”

There are many excellent websites that go into detail on positive affirmations to attract wealth and security. Dive deeper into the subject if you are not sure you are doing your affirmations with the correct degree of positive determination.

In India the below given mantra is regarded as a wish fulfilling mantra, if done with total devotion.

Shree Ram Jai Ram kodand Ram