tantra · Kundalini Tantra, Swami Satyananda Saraswati (Bihar School of Yoga)
Ajapa Japa: The Unspoken Repetition of So-Ham
A practice of discovering that the breath itself already forms a natural mantra — So on the in-breath, Ham on the out-breath — then following that sound as it appears to travel along an imagined psychic passage between the navel and the throat.
The theory, briefly
Japa means repetition of a mantra; ajapa japa is repetition that requires no deliberate effort because the mantra is already happening on its own, carried by the natural breath. The text frames this as something to discover rather than impose: the sound of inhalation is heard as 'So' and the sound of exhalation as 'ham', so the breath's own rhythm continuously repeats 'So-ham' without the practitioner adding anything.
The practice has two layers. The first is simply witnessing the natural breath together with this So-ham sound, without controlling the breath and without being drawn into whatever thoughts or feelings arise. The second layer adds an imagined psychic passage running between the navel and the throat: on the in-breath, the 'breath' is felt to rise from navel to throat with the sound So; on the out-breath, it descends from throat to navel with the sound ham.
The text places this practice under anahata (heart) chakra awakening, noting it can be done at any time of day but recommends five to ten minutes as part of a morning or pre-sleep sadhana, continued for at least a month.
The practice
Following So-Ham Through the Psychic Passage
12–22 minutes · Siddhasana, siddha yoni asana, or any comfortable meditative posture
- 1Sit comfortably, close the eyes, and relax for a few minutes.
- 2Become aware of the natural breath entering and leaving the body without trying to control it — simply witness it.
- 3Notice: the sound of your in-breath is already 'So,' and your out-breath is already 'ham' — this isn't a mantra you're adding, it's one the breath is already making. You only have to discover it.
- 4Let awareness rest simultaneously on the natural breath and this So-ham sound, holding both together without losing either.
- 5When thoughts or feelings arise, don't lose awareness of the breath and mantra even for an instant — simply let the thoughts come and go as they will, without following them.
- 6Now add a second layer: imagine a passage running along the front of the body between the navel and the throat. On the in-breath, feel the breath rise along it from navel to throat, with the sound So.
- 7On the out-breath, feel that same passage's breath descend from throat back to navel, with the sound ham — completing the cycle So-ham-so-ham-so-ham.
- 8Continue following the breath through this passage with its sound for 10 to 15 minutes, staying fully relaxed throughout. This can be practiced at any time of day, though the text recommends 5 to 10 minutes daily — morning or just before sleep — continued for at least a month.
None stated in the source.
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