Initiation necessary for doing japa?

[gurio]

Namaste friends,

I have recently read that one ought not to do japa yoga without first having been initiated by a guru in the specific mantra to be chanted. What do you all make of this? I ask because I have been including japa in my morning sadhana and would like to continue but I do not yet have a personal guru. How much leeway is there for me to simply follow my heart?

Many thanks in advance,

[Jainarayan]

Namaste friends,

I have recently read that one ought not to do japa yoga without first having been initiated by a guru in the specific mantra to be chanted. What do you all make of this? I ask because I have been including japa in my morning sadhana and would like to continue but I do not yet have a personal guru. How much leeway is there for me to simply follow my heart?

Many thanks in advance,

Namaste...

You can do nama (name) japa without initiation. It is simply repeating a deity's name. There are many you can use, whichever deity you are devoted to. Here are just a few:

http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Nama_Mantras
http://www.rudraksham.com/sagunamantra2

[devotee]

Namaste,

Namaste...

You can do nama (name) japa without initiation. It is simply repeating a deity's name. There are many you can use, whichever deity you are devoted to. Here are just a few:

http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Nama_Mantras
http://www.rudraksham.com/sagunamantra2

Ditto !

OM

[gurio]

Namaste Jainarayan and Devotee,

Thank you for your prompt and helpful replies. I am much encouraged!

Peace and blessings to you both,