Sri Vishnu,
From this e-mail, I think that you and I are saying very much the samething, and apologize if I saw it differently in your original message. I would concur with you that contemplation upon the meaning of the mantra is most important, and not just its mere mechanical recitation. Perhaps this is why most a:cha:ryas would limit prescribing it as a formalized japam.
However, I do recall from my own readings and discussion with others that part of the sandhya vandanam practice does involve taking a few moments to contemplate on the thirumantram after formal recitation of the ga:yatri. I think that the reason that no specific number or count is specified would seem to indicate that this be a contemplation, and not some sort of formalized ritual for ritual's sake.
Ramanuja dasan Mohan
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