Japa Yoga is a form of Yoga which uses the transforming qualities of sound on all planes of creation. The primordial sound is here the Shabda or Pranava or Nada, which is also theme of several Upanishads like the Nada Bindu Upanishad.

The means of this Yoga are at first short Bija-Mantras, which are especially  in the Visuddha Chakra and also in other chakras. The mantra sastra deals about these mantras.

The tantric sadhanas developed a multitude of longer mantras and combinations of mantras  for repetition, also  with a mala or during meditations and contemplations. Such mantras are known as sahasranamavalis of deities (ishta devatas).

Well known mantras are 'Om namaha Shivaya' and 'Om Nama bhagavate(vasudevaya)' .

Mantras of Sri Vidya  often end with '..hrim' like ' ka-e-ī-la-hrīṁ ' . Here the Guru initiates his disciple into a mantra japa called  Pañchadaśī mantra or any other mantra of his choice.

== Nada Yoga ==

The highest form of Japa is the Nada-meditation as practiced in Nada-Yoga and in Yoganadas Kriya-Yoga. The goal is the union with the Shabda or Nada in Samadhi.

== Literature ==

• Sivananda : Practice of Japa - Yoga
• Sivananda : Japa - Yoga
• Krishnanada : Yoga meditation and Japa Sadhana
• Yogamag : NADA Yoga - Saraswati

== Weblinks ==

• Japa-Yoga with Japa- or Mantra - Meditation
• Sri Mahavarahi japa mantra
• A site with plenty of (also doubtful) mantras