Nama Sapthaham - Why is it 7 days and not 6 or 5 or 8 days? What is the validation for this? - Narada advises the rule of that Mantra Shastra - “Chant for 7 days.”

Nama Article 10th May 2009

 

With the Divine blessings of Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji - Akanda Mahamantra Kirtan will be done from 6 AM to 6 PM; at Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, Mylapore, Chennai, India for 7 days from May 11^th to May 17^th 2009. Srimad Bhagavatham Upanyasam from 6.30 PM to 8.30 PM by Sri Venkatesa Sarma.

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Why is it 7 days and not 6 or 5 or 8 days? What is the validation for this?

 

Sage Narada tells his disciple child Dhruva about the place called Madhuvanam near Vrindavan, on the banks of the Yamuna for doing tapas (to do penance and austerities).

 

पुण्यं मधुवनं यत्र सान्निध्यं नित्यदा हरेः

 

He also describes the form of the Lord and gives 'upadesa' of the very important Mantra - 'Dwãdasãkshari Mantra' that contains 12 letters.

 

Then Sage Narada advices him to repeat the Mantra for seven days ( "Sapta-rãrtam prapatan!' - "Chant for seven days!" - यं सप्तरात्रं प्रपठन् )

 

Thus, Narada advises the rule of that Mantra Shastra - "Chant for 7 days."

 

Since 7 days is a 'vidhi' (rule/regulation) for Mantras, we perform 'Nãma Saptãha Yajna' (Chanting Mahamntra for 7 days). Srimad Bhãgavatam is also performed as 'Saptãham' (reading for 7 days). There are 'sapta samudram' (7 oceans), 'sapta punya nadhi' (7 Holy rivers), 'sapta mokshapuri' (7 liberation bestowing Holy Cities). Our Religion speaks of the significance of 7.

-----------------------------

As ordained by our Master H H Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji devotees are performing this 'Nãma Saptãha Yajna' (Chanting Mahamantra for 7 days) for more than a decade now since late nineties.

 

Details of some of the previous 'Nãma Saptãha Yajna' (Chanting Mahamantra for 7 days):

• March 5, 2000 to March 11, 2000 at RR Sabha, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004.

• February 26, 2001 to March 4, 2001 at RR Sabha, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004.

• Sri Nidhi Kalyana Mantap, Nanganallur, Chennai, from 4th March to 10th March, 2004

• May 21, 2006 to May 27, 2006 – Simultanoeulsy in various 37 satsanghs at Ambasamudram; Ambur; Periyakulam; Thanjavur; Suchindram; Salem; Trichy; Kovvur; Mangalur; Tuticorin; Singaperumal Koil; Vellakovil; Madurai; Coimbatore; Gudiyatham; Peranampet; Pollachi; Kancheepuram; Pudupalayam; Alwarpet; Nanganallur; T Nagar; Foreshore Estate; Valasarawakkam; Jafferkhanpet; Ayanavaram; Virugambakkam; Chromepet; Pammal; Ambattur; Sivakasi; Bangalore; Kanyakumari; Govindapuram; Cheyyar; Sevvur; Maraimalai Nagar; Australia and California, USA.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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