Sri Ramana Maharshi often spoke of this form of spiritual practice as very beneficial as well as a definite aid towards success in meditation. A clear example of this truth is given in Talks:

Devotee: Is it not possible to get a vision of God?

Maharshi: Yes. You see this and that. Why not see God? Only you must know what God is. All are seeing God always. But they do not know it. You find out what God is. People see, yet see not, because they know not God.

D.: Should I not go on with repetition of sacred syllables, (mantra
japa), e.g., Krishna or Rama’s name, when I worship images?

M.: Mental japa is very good. That helps meditation. Mind gets
identified with the repetition and then you get to know what
worship (puja) really is - the losing of one’s individuality in that
which is worshiped.