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Therefore, the nature of Īśvarapraṇidhāna also will differ amongst individuals, locations, cultures, etc. A form worshipper will adore the Īśvara in an idol and perform external worship with perfumes, incense, food, flowers, etc. There is an extremely popular worship method amongst Hindus called ṣoḍaśopacāra pūjā, meaning worship with 16 offerings.
External worship depends on availability of time, space, and ingredients. But these may not be available always. This has led to a Mental Worship where a worship is carried out mentally with eyes closed. In fact, this has proved more beneficial for many people.
The most common form of Īśvarapraṇidhāna, however, using sound in the form of mantra repetition, devotional singing, chanting of prayers, etc. This is because hearing is the most powerful sense in humans compared with sight, touch, taste, and smell. Music is universally loved. Music has all properties to make mind peaceful, focused, and happy. The ultimate form without doubt of this chanting is repeating the name of God. In Yoga, OM is considered the most powerful name of God. Chanting for Yoga is described in Adhiyoga Chapter 15.
Lastly, yogis devised a method of meditation by focusing mind on the image of God at one single location, preferably inside the human body itself. According to them, this focusing ultimately reveals the formless reality of Īśvara.
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