Japam purifies the mind, and enables the aspirant to attain the knowledge of Truth

Nama Article 30th April 2013

 

Swami Papa Ramdas

 

Japam purifies the mind, and enables the aspirant to attain the knowledge of Truth

 

Please check these: Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

God takes the form of a Guru and appears to the devotee; teaches him the Truth; purifies the mind by his teachings and contact

 

Repeated chanting of the Name of Răma enhances prosperity! -- sweetens the tongue, too! it purifies all - from the common man to the scholar!

 

Repeating the name purifies the mind and banishes misfortune. Tulasidas says: I am able to live in the world peacefully by the power of the name

 

Of numerous people oppressed by Cold, fire protects those alone who approach the fire. Similarly, God purifies the heart and relieves the suffering of all who engage themselves in the pursuit of His Bhajan.

 

"From this very moment I am going to change my way of life," and began to do japa of Rama Nama incessantly.......The Lord's Name purifies us however sinful a life we might have led.

 

Irrespective of the intention with which one chants the Divine names, it purifies him.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

A Yogi who casts off his body with his thought fixed on Him through devotion and Chanting His Name with His tongue is rid of hankerings and released from bondage of actions.

Nama Article 29th April 2013

 

Srimad Bhagavatam 1:9:23

 

भक्त्यावेश्य मनो यस्मिन् वाचा यन्-नाम कीर्तयन्

त्यजन् कलेवरं योगी मुच्यते काम-कर्मभिः

 

A Yogi who casts off his body with his thought fixed on Him through devotion and Chanting His Name with His tongue is rid of hankerings and released from bondage of actions.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Such is the power of the Divine Name!

Nama Article 25th April 2013

 

Sri Swami Chidananda, disciple  of Sri Swami Sivananda

 

The Bavarian mystic, Jakob Bohme, said about the indescribable power of the Lord's Divine Name: "If you have sinned in your olden days—before taking to the spiritual life and dedicating yourself to chanting of the Lord's Name and these sins drive you to hell, then the power of the Lord's Name will enter into hell and break hell to pieces in order to liberate you." Such is the power of the Divine Name!

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Lord Krishna’s auspicious Name even once heard or uttered destroys all evils or inauspiciousness. This is Bhagavatha Dharma.

Nama Article 24th April 2013

 

Srimad Bhagavatam 10:90:47

 

यन्नामामङ्गलघ्नं श्रुतम् अथ गदितं यत्-कृतो गोत्र-धर्मः

 

Lord Krishna's auspicious Name even once heard or uttered destroys all evils or inauspiciousness. This Bhagavatha Dharma is founded and established by Lord Sri Krishna which protects the entire world.

 

Please check these: Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Those who chant the Mahamantra even once in this Kali Yuga are assured of 'Moksha' (liberation)

 

I have uttered the name of God; I have repeated the name of Rama or Hari. How can I be a sinner?' One must have faith in the glory of God's name

 

The Master had the faith of a child. He immediately pointed out, 'Then why is there dirt on my body?' Krishnakishore explained, 'The inner impurities go away and not the external dirt.'

 

The glory of the Divine Names cannot be understood by logic, reasoning or argument

 

If you utter the Divine Name of the Lord, it will eliminate all your sins without leaving any residue.

 

Any person who Chants the Name of Krishna even only once, no matter, whether said devoutly or disdainfully, would cross the ocean of life.

 

Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal extols the greatness of Chanting the Divine Name of Lord Shiva by quoting the below mentioned Sloka in Srimad Bhagavatha

 

Japa even once uttered has its own good effect, whether the individual is aware or not.

 

Lord Rama says, "I vouch safe security against all living beings to one who comes to me only once and seeks protection (from me), saying " Rama, I am yours", such is my vow"

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Since the Chanting of my Divine Names is so powerful, you need not worry about fate or interdictions, doing an activity or renouncing all activites, what has been learnt or what should be learnt. O Uddhava! surrender to Me alone.

Nama Article 23rd April 2013

 

Srimad Bhagavatam 11:12:14,15

 

तस्मात् त्वम् उद्धवोत्सृज्य चोदनां प्रतिचोदनाम्

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च श्रोतव्यं श्रुतम् एव च

माम् एकम् एव शरणम् आत्मानं सर्व-देहिनाम्

याहि सर्वात्म-भावेन मया स्या ह्य् अकुतो-भयः

 

Since the Chanting of my Divine Names is so powerful, you need not worry about fate or interdictions, doing an activity or renouncing all activities, what has been learnt or what should be learnt.

 

O Uddhava! surrender to Me alone, the self of all beings, with all your being; for with Me alone you can be free from fears from all quarters.

 

Please check these: Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Essence of Gita - मामेकं शरणं व्रज

 

The easiest way to surrender is to chant the Mahamantra. Continuously chant the Mahamantra and eventually, you will attain the state of surrender. – Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Saranagati-ceaseless chanting of the Name and self-surrender-indicate one and the same state – Swami Papa Ramdas

 

Chanting the Name is surrender; Chanting the Name is samadhi; Chanting the Name is prayer; There is no need to pray separately – Bhagawan Yogiramsurat Kumar

 

After such surrender the name of God is constantly with the man – Ramana Maharishi

 

Is it enough if I do not try to assimilate Rama's qualities but just surrender to Him?

 

Complete surrender is another name for jnana or liberation – Ramana Maharishi

 

திருமாலுக்கு அடிமை செய் - From Auvaiyar's Aaththichudi (Tamil: ஆத்திசூடி - ஒளவையார்)

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Almost always he was silent or chanting the Divine Names of Lord Narayana. Filled with the nectar of the Lord's Name he would at times dance, at times sing, at times shed profuse tears, at times cry out loudly

Nama Article 22nd April 2013

 

Today is aradhana of Sri Balakrishnananda swami

 

Source: Saint Sketch - Sri Swayamprakasananda Saraswati Swami - (Alangudi Periyavaa)

 

Sri Balakrishnananda swami appeared in his dream, imparted Sri Nrisimha Mantra to him and also gave him Srimad Bhagavatam. After this Sri Ramakrishna's Hari Bhakti [devotion to Lord Hari] reached its pinnacle. He began to remain in solitude doing Mantra japa and reading the Bhagavatam. Due to the Grace of Sri Balakrishnananda, Sri Ramakrishna earned deep love for Srimad Bhagavatam; and, through reading the Bhagavatam, earned deep Jnana.

 

Almost always he was silent or chanting the Divine Names of Lord Narayana. Filled with the nectar of the Lord's Name he would at times dance, at times sing, at times shed profuse tears, at times cry out loudly. Wherever the Lord's stories were recited he would go and listen to it. But this would push him into ecstacy and he would begin to sing, dance and cry. He would experience horripilation. He would cry out loudly, "Narayana! Narayana!" At times he would fall down in a swoon.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Unlike the other Veda Mantras, the Mahamantra has absolutely no rules and restrictions.

Nama Article 20th April 2013

 

Source: http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/questions.html

 

I hear that the Mahamantra is from the Kali Santarana Upanishad. Hence, is it okay to chant it anywhere without any conditions, or are there rules associated with chanting these? I am asking this because I have heard that Veda mantras have strict rules.

 

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

Unlike the other Veda Mantras, the Mahamantra has absolutely no rules and restrictions.

 

Please check these: Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Kali Santarana Upanishad comes to our rescue, stating which specific Nama has to be chanted for liberation, in this Age (Kali Yuga).

 

Any Divine Name is precious. According to Kali Santarana Upanishad, the 'Hare Rama..' Mahamantra is capable of giving deliverance in this Kali Yuga.

 

This particular Maha Mantra is prescribed in the Shastras and has been chanted, followed, preached and lived for by great Mahans like Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

 

It is the essence of all Vedas and scriptures and grants lasting peace by giving deliverance from all sufferings.

 

Utter the Divine names of Lord Hari. In the age of Kali there is no other way of deliverance.

 

What We Think We Become

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Only a pious devotee can acquire Prema Bhakthi through simple devotional acts like Chanting of the Divine Name of Shri Rama

Nama Article 19th April 2013

 

Wish you all Happy Rama Navami!

 

Source:

Vaishnava Samhita: "Shri Tulasidasa Charitam III" Book IX Chp 11 Shloka 20, 21, 22

 

तुलसीदास उवाच

रामनामजपेनापि तत्कथाश्रवणेन च ।

रामस्वरूपध्यानाच्च रामस्य गुणकीर्तनात् ॥

 

सख्येन रामभक्तानां रामपादाब्जपूजया ।

नित्यं श्रीरामदास्येन सर्वस्वात्मनिवेदनात् ॥

 

एवं नानाविधैरेव ललितैर्भक्तिसाधनैः ।

जायते परमा भक्तिः शुद्धचित्तस्य भूपते ॥

 

rAmanAmajapenApi tatkathAzravaNena ca

rAmasvarUpadhyAnAcca rAmasya guNakIrtanAt

 

sakhyena rAmabhaktAnAM rAmapAdAbjapUjayA

nityaM zrIrAmadAsyena sarvasvAtmanivedanAt

 

evaM nAnAvidhaireva lalitairbhaktisAdhanaiH

jAyate paramA bhaktiH zuddhacittasya bhUpate

 

Sant Tulasidas says to Akbar,

 

Oh King! Only a pious devotee can acquire Prema Bhakthi through simple devotional acts like Chanting of the Divine Name of Shri Rama, listening to the holy story of Shri Rama, meditating upon the divine form of Shri Rama, singing in praise of the noble qualities of Shri Rama, offering pooja to Shri Rama's holy feet, daily serving Shri Rama in many ways and surrendering to Shri Rama completely.

 

Please check these: Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Repeated chanting of the Name of Răma enhances prosperity! -- sweetens the tongue, too! it purifies all - from the common man to the scholar!

 

Rama Nama is the very essence ('saram') of all Epics, Shastras and the Vedas

 

Wish you all Happy Rama Navami ! What's the shortest mantra of the Almighty? - "Rama"

 

Is it enough if I do not try to assimilate Rama's qualities but just surrender to Him?

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

It is the natural tendency of the eye to see external objects and be drawn to it. Similarly, it is the tendency of the mind to engage in such intellectual analysis.

Nama Article 17th April 2013

 

Source: http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/questions.html

 

Respected Swamiji, you are advising all to chant the Nama. However my mind always enjoys analyzing things rather than chant the Nama. Why is it so?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

It is the natural tendency of the eye to see external objects and be drawn to it. Similarly, it is the tendency of the mind to engage in such intellectual analysis. If we have to progress spiritual that urge should also be overcome.

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

By your japa and meditation [repetition of the Lord’s name], those who are close to you will also benefit through the helpful influence of your presence

Nama Article 16th April 2013

 

Source: Words of Sri Anandamayi Ma

 

Jagat (world) means ceaseless movement, and obviously there can be no rest in movement. How could there be peace in perpetual coming and going? Peace reigns where no coming exists and no going, no melting and no burning. Reverse your course, advance towards Him - then there will be hope of peace.

 

By your japa and meditation [repetition of the Lord's name], those who are close to you will also benefit through the helpful influence of your presence. In order to develop a taste for meditation you have to make a deliberate and sustained effort, just as children have to be made to sit and study, be it by persuasion or coercion. By taking medicine or having injections a patient may get well; even if you do not feel inclined to meditate, conquer your reluctance and make an attempt. The habit of countless lives is pulling you in the opposite direction and making it difficult for you - persevere in spite of it! By your tenacity you will gain strength and be moulded; that is to say, you will develop the capability to do sadhana. Make up your mind that however arduous the task, it will have to be accomplished. Recognition and fame last for a short time only, they do not accompany you when you leave this world. If your thought does not naturally turn towards the Eternal, fix it there by an effort of will.

 

Some severe blow of fate will drive you towards God. This will be but an expression of His Mercy; however painful, it is by such blows that one learns one's lesson.

 

Please check these: Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

When one is afflicted with sorrow, if he persists in prayers and not question the Lord as to why He is putting him into grief, when the difficult times pass, the Lord is pleased and rewards him with a special gift of His grace.

 

You should not only accept from the bottom of your heart the situation that the Lord keeps you in but also be grateful to Him for that because it is verily the Lord's blessing!

 

When there is true love, even adversities appear to be blessings

 

To forget God's Name is adversity; ever to think of His Name is prosperity.

 

At that stage you realise you do dhyana without any effort on your part, that dhyana is your real nature. Till then, effort is necessary

 

The common question that arises in everyone is 'What is essential to attain God – Grace or effort?'

 

In the other paths, you take some effort and then wait for God's grace. In Bhakti, you depend only on the grace of God and nothing else. That makes Bhakti an easier way to attain the end-state

 

To remain in the Holy Feet of the Guru as a 'nobody' (zero); to remain like a doll in his hand. This is the only effort that can be taken by us

 

Likewise, God takes hold of his devotee and removes all the hurdles in his/her way.

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

VibhishaNa (a devotee of Rama), was handed the kingdom, so Only chant this simple prayer, Hare Rama

Nama Article 12th April 2013

 

Sant Samartha Ramdas

 

दशग्रीव लंकापुरीं मस्त जाला |

अकस्मात गेला पुरीमाजि घाला ||

चिरंजीव दे राज्य बीभीषणा रे |

हरे राम हा मंत्र सोपा जपा रे ||

 

Inflated with pride was Ravana in Lanka,

Sudden was his departure,

VibhishaNa (a devotee of Rama), was handed the kingdom, so

Only chant this simple prayer, Hare Rama

 

Please check these: Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Vibhishana who held faith He was Rama! Ravana who did not He was Yama!

 

Hence, the vow "Whosoever takes refuge in me, I will not send him away", made him "Suvrata".

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare