India aptly responded to Pakistan’s terror attacks by launching a symbolic operation ‘Sindoor’. The very name speaks volumes about women’s dignity, protection, and the rich heritage of Indian culture.

Just as the Government launched Operation ‘Sindoor’, a devotee must undertake his or her own Operation ‘Sindoor’ every single day.

Japa is our Operation Sindoor—by which sin goes dur (far away).

Sin Cannot Stand Before the Holy Name

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam describes sins can be uprooted to what extent by chanting the holy names of the Lord:

“The chanting of the holy name of Lord Viṣṇu is the best process of atonement for a thief of gold or other valuables, for a drunkard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, for one who kills a brāhmaṇa, or for one who indulges in sex with the wife of his guru or another superior. It is also the best method of atonement for one who murders women, the king or his father, for one who slaughters cows, and for all other sinful men. Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Viṣṇu, such sinful persons may attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, who therefore considers, ‘Because this man has chanted My holy name, My duty is to give him protection.’” SB 6.2.9–10

Ajāmila chanted the name of Nārāyaṇa once—and that one utterance was enough to completely free him not only from all past sins but also from any sins he might commit in the future. Such is the mercy of the Lord’s name.

Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmī glorify the power of even a nāmābhāsa.

sabe eka doṣa tāra, haya pāpācāra

pāpa-rāśi dahe nāmābhāsei tomāra

“Jagāi and Mādhāi had only one fault—they were deeply addicted to sinful activities. However, even mountains of sin can be burned to ashes simply by a dim reflection of the holy name.”
CC Madhya 1.194
If the weapon is so powerful, how should our attack be?

It should be precise, measured, and persistent.

Precision Attacks

The government emphasized that their strikes were precise – targeting only the terrorist camps.

Similarly, a devotee’s attacks on maya must be sharp and focused. During japa, we must identify our enemy – distractions, apathy, mechanical chanting, and hurl spiritual missiles with full alertness.

What if we are asleep during japa? That’s like leaving the gates open for an enemy invasion.

What if we are distracted? That’s equivalent to handing over our territories—mind, intelligence, and ego—without resistance.

When we allow anarthas to take over, they begin controlling our inner faculties, making progress difficult. Precision in chanting means countering our weak points with focus.

Measured Attacks

The army’s response was also measured – not random or emotional.

Similarly, our chanting must be measured – both in quantity and in quality. Śrīla Prabhupāda once said, “My only fear is that our devotees are not afraid enough of maya.”

When we chant half-heartedly, it’s like fighting missiles with toy guns. How long can that last?

Maya’s weaponry is overwhelming. It includes our subtle desires, mental agitations, deep-rooted anarthas and much more.

The holy name is definitely more powerful than all of them combined. But, are we using it properly? A person unfamiliar with how to handle a gun can harm himself. Similarly, inattentive chanting leads not to purification, but bombardment of more anarthas!

Rūpa Gosvāmī says,
syāt kṛṣṇa-nāma-caritādi-sitāpy avidyā-

pittopatapta-rasanasya na rocikā nu

kintv ādarād anudinaṁ khalu saiva juṣṭā

svādvī kramād bhavati tad-gada-mūla-hantrī
“The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Kṛṣṇa are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of ignorance cannot taste anything sweet, it is remarkable that by carefully chanting these names every day, a natural relish awakens, and the disease is destroyed at the root.” NOI Text 7

So what are our measurable indicators?
Carefulness and Consistency in chanting

When these two boxes are checked, we can sleep peacefully at night, knowing our day’s battle was fought sincerely.

Persistent Attacks

Can one strike on the enemy win the war? Never.

We have served maya for lifetimes. She doesn’t give up easily. She comes back again and again in different ways and forms.

A devotee must be persistent—never giving up, and never backing down. If we drop our guard, she regains lost ground. But when we persist in chanting attentively day after day, maya is gradually defeated.

And even after victory, a devotee stays alert. Firing can happen anytime at the LOC of his consciousness!

And finally, when the devotee becomes fully purified, Kṛṣṇa Himself becomes the devotee’s protector. Maya then vanishes like a dream. Such a devotee can travel all over the whole world unaffected.

We have to become ‘Spiritual Warriors’ as HH Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja would say. Every single day, we must rise to fight – with faith, with focus and with determination.

Japa is not a ritual. It’s our Operation Sindoor. And with every bead, we push back darkness and welcome the light of Kṛṣṇa in our lives.