Sunday, April 27, 2008

Before and After chanting the Mahamantra

Nama Article 28th April 2008
 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

"I came to you Oh! Lord! With a heavy heart and empty hands!

Now, after chanting the Mahamantra,

My heart is light and hands are full with your gifts!"

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

Thursday, April 24, 2008

I then decided that, though a scholar by profession, I should always remain a humble, ignorant peasant at heart, and pray, like that villager

Nama Article 25th April 2008
 
On the eve of Consecration of our Sri Sundara Anjaneya Swamy at Bangalore we present an interesting incident which stresses the importance of Humility and Chanting the Divine Name.

For details see http://namadwaar.org/events/sundarahanuman.html

Our Hanuman was an epitome of Devotion and Humility and he achieved the impossible tasks like crossing the ocean and lifting of mountain just by the Power of Grace of Lord Rama obtained through Chanting His Divine Name.

Pundit and Peasant

Once during a visit to the Ashram in the 1940s I was sitting outside the Old Hall with many devotees, facing Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi who was reclining on a couch. A group of learned pundits were discussing certain passages from the Upanishads with great enthusiasm and profundity. All, including Bhagavan, appeared to be attentively listening to this interesting discussion when, all of a sudden, Bhagavan rose from his couch, walked thirty meters to the north, and stood before a villager who was standing there looking lowly with palms joined.

Immediately the discussion stopped and all eyes were turned to Bhagavan and the villager standing at a distance. They appeared to be conversing, but at such a distance no one could tell about what. Soon Bhagavan returned to his couch and the discussion resumed.

I was curious about this villager and why Bhagavan had gone out of his way to meet him. So, while the discussion continued I slipped away and caught up with him before he left the Ashram. I asked the villager what he and Bhagavan had talked about. He said that Bhagavan had asked him why he was standing there so far away. "I told Bhagavan, 'I am only an ignorant, poor villager. How am I to approach you who are God incarnate?'"

"What did the Maharshi say then?" I asked.

"He asked me my name, what village I was from, what work I did and how many children I had, etc."

"Did you ask Him anything?"

"I asked Him how I could be saved and how I could earn His blessings."

"What did He tell you?"

"He asked me if there was a temple in my village. I told him there was. He wanted to know the name of the deity of that temple. I told Him the name. He then said that I should go on repeating the name of that deity and I would receive all the blessings needed."

I came back to Bhagavan's presence and sat among the devotees listening to the learned discussion, in which I had now lost all interest, realizing that the simple humility and devotion of this peasant had evoked a far greater response from our Master than any amount of learning. I then decided that, though a scholar by profession, I should always remain a humble, ignorant peasant at heart, and pray, like that villager, for Bhagavan's grace and blessings.

- Professor K. Swaminathan

[Source: THE MAHARSHI: March/April 2002 Vol.12 - No. 2]
 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

Those who perform Nama Kirtan are my kith and kin - Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

Nama Article 24th April 2008

Source: http://namadwaar.org/home.html

Divya Desams are my abode,
Mahamantra is my lifeline,
Those who perform Nama Kirtan are my kith and kin,

Brindavan and Pandarpur are my most favourite retreats,
My wish is that everyone in this world becomes a Bhagavata,
The only boon I seek from the Almighty is that I be present wherever Nama Kirtan happens,

I am proud to have been born in India which has been the spiritual playground for God and various Mahans.

-Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji


Chant
the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Those who chant Rama's name become free from dirt

Nama Article 23rd April 2008
 

Source: The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

 

Once the Master went to hear a spiritual discourse and the speaker remarked: 'Those who chant Rama's name become free from dirt.'

 

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.'

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Know the great danger of that follows improper actions.......Chany only Hare Rama

Nama Article 22nd April 2008
 

Sant Samartha Ramdas

 

Meaning

 

Fie on drying up of the throat to recite the Vedas,

Beware of getting locked up in penance;

Know the great danger of that follows improper actions (in Karma Marga),

Only chant this simple prayer, Hare Rama…..

 

Transliteration

 

nako kMTha zoSUM bahUM vedapAThIM |

nako tUM pahuM sAdhanAce kapATIM ||

ghaDe karma khoTeM bahU to dagA re |

hare rAma hA maMtra sopA japA re ||

 

Rama Mantra Sloka

 

नको कंठ शोषूं बहूं वेदपाठीं

नको तूं पहुं साधनाचे कपाटीं

घडे कर्म खोटें बहू तो दगा रे

हरे राम हा मंत्र सोपा जपा रे

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

You are never so poor that you cannot do anything for others

Nama Article 21st April 2008
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

"You are never so poor that you cannot do anything for others. 

You can pray for them chanting the Mahamantra. 

Is there a better thing that you can do for others?"


பிறருக்கு ஒன்றும் செய்ய முடியாத அளவிற்கு, என்றுமே நீங்கள் ஒன்றும் ஏழையல்ல. பிறருக்காக பகவன் நாமத்தை சொல்லி நீங்கள் பிரார்த்தனை செய்யலாமே? இதை விட பெரியதாக, ஒருவர் பிறருக்கு என்ன கொடுத்து விட முடியும்?



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

Friday, April 18, 2008

Immediately that dumb boy gained divine knowledge and started dancing, singing the Divine Names, `Rama' and `Krishna'

Nama Article 18th April 2008
 
Source: Vaishnava Samhita
 

Once Shri Bodhendra Swamigal was going from village to village to bless the people with spiritual gains by initiating them into the continuous chanting of the Divine Names. Shri Bodhendra Swamigal was clad in saffron and was wearing a long oordvapundra tilak on his forehead. He had a calm and pleasant smile on his countenance, and was wearing a rosay of Tulasi beads, was holding the staff of a saint and was filled with compassion for all beings. He was chanting ceaselessly `Shri Rama, Rama, Rama….' with his eyes drenched with tears of spiritual joy. He was seen in a state of ecstasy, hairs standing on end. Seeing Shri Bodhendra Swamigal in this state, a beahmana paid his respects to him and humbly invited him to have a meal in his house. Shri Bhagavannama Bodhendra accepted the request of the large-hearted brahmana and went to his house. That blessed brahmana bathed the feet of the yati and offered him worship, with tears of joy drenching his face. That brahmana fed Bodhendra Swamigal with all earnestness and respect. While the sage was having his meal, he was sitting near him reciting the Upanishads.

 

In the meantime the five-year old dumb son of that brahmana sought various dishes by gestures. The compassionate yatishwara became very sad to see that dumb child and he shed tears of sympathy. `Alas! How will this child be able to do kirtan of the DivineNames of Shripati (the Lord of Devi Lakshmi), the Ocean of Mercy?

 

Is not the chanting of the Divine Names the only panacea for men in this Kaliyuga who engage in varied sinful activities? Oh! This dumb boy will not be able to sing the Divine Names of Shri Hari. How will he attain spiritual well-being here and now? Thus becoming sad, Shri Bodhendra Swamigal got up from his seat, washed his hand and went to the verandah of the house.

 

At that time, the brahmana prostrated himself before the Swamigal with ardent devotion and tried to console him, saying that all the beings of the world reap what they have sown in their previous births. After the ascetic left that place, without delay that dumb boy eagerly took the remnants of his prasad.

 

Immediately that boy gained divine knowledge and started dancing, singing the Divine Names, `Rama' and `Krishna' with abiding devotion.

 

Finding that young boy chanting the Divine Names thus, the brahmana was surprised and he became immensely happy. From that day, approaching the preceptor Shri Bodhendra, that boy rendered him all possible service with affection and became blessed with spiritual well-being.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Where can you go and hide ?

Nama Article 17th April 2008
 

"Today, when I ask you to chant the Divine Name, you may go and hide;

 

Where can you go and hide when Yama, the God of Death is at your doorstep?"

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Once you acquire faith, your work is done. There is nothing higher than faith

Nama Article 16th April 2008
 

The way -­ Faith

 

Source: The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

 

A Bhakta — Sir, is there no way out for such a worldly man?

 

Sri Ramakrishna — Certainly there is a way. Now and then one must seek the company of holy men and at times one should go to meditate upon God in solitude. And one should practise discrimination and pray to God: 'Grant me bhakti and faith.'

 

"Once you acquire faith, your work is done. There is nothing higher than faith.

 

(To Kedar) "You have heard of the power of faith! The Purana says that Ramachandra, the Perfect Brahman and Narayana, had to build a bridge to reach Lanka. But Hanuman by dint of his faith in the name of Rama jumped across the sea. He had no need for a bridge. (All laugh.)

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Why should we worry when Lord Rama is there?

Nama Article 15th April 2008
 

Meaning

 

Pallavi : O Lord Sri Rama, Why should we worry (when you are there)?

 

Anupallavi : O Prince of ayodhya! O Wish Tree of true devotees! O bestower Fortune!

 

Charanam : Holding in your hand the strings (of the puppets) of your grand drama, how harmoniously you make us - the puppets - dance without missing even a beat, to the appreciation of the whole universe! Aha! O Lord worshipped by this Tyagaraja and praised by Siva – Lord of Mountains!

 

Pallavi

mAkElarA vicAramu marug(a)nna

SrI rAmacandra

Anupallavi

sAkEta rAja kumAra

sad-bhakta mandAra SrI kara (mAkEla)

Charanam

jata gUrci nATaka sUtramunu

jagam(e)lla meccaga karamunan(i)Di

gati tappaka(y)ADincedavu sumI

nata tyAgarAja gir(I)Sa vinuta (mAkEla)

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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