Source : Namghosha - The Oriental Gem

 

Krish hena shabda ito prithivi bāchaka bhaila

Na ānandata pravartaya

Duiro eka pada bhaile parama Brahma rupa Krishna

Nāma ānandaka mātra kaya (140)

 

Its meaning is : The word ‘Krish’ implies the earth and the word ‘Na’ implies bliss. When both these words are joined together, it comes to imply ‘Krishna’, the embodiment of the universal self Brahma. It also means the bliss derived from chanting the name of Ishwara.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan : 

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

Source : Namghosha - The Oriental Gem

 

Avyakta Ishwara Hari kimate pujibā tānka

Vyāpakata kibā visarjana

Etāvanta murti shunya kenamate chintibāhā

Rāma buli shuddha karā mana (8)

 

Its meaning is : Ishwara Hari is non-manifest so as to be worshipped. Any personification will be only deminution of Him. As this formless Ishwara is beyond perception, one should purify one’s mind by uttering the name ‘Rama’.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan : 

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

 Source : Namghosha - The Oriental Gem

The very first verse of Nām-Ghoshā is a marvellous composition, which contains almost the entire theoretical essence of Eka Sarana Nāma Dharma.

 

Muktita nispriha yito Sehi bhakataka namo

Rasamayee māgoho bhakati

Samasta mastaka mani nija bhakatara basya

Bhajo hena deva Yadupati (1)

 

Its meaning is : I pay obeisance to that devotee who is indifferent to salvation. I seek only the blissful devotion. I worship the Lord, the creator of all Yadu or the heroic ones and the cynosure of all beings, who is subservient to own devotees.

 

The second verse of Nām-Ghoshā is a practical way about how to achieve the goal outlined in the outset.

 

Yāra Rāma Krishna nāma nāwe bhava sindhu tari

Pāwe parama pada pāpee yata

Sadānanda sanātana henaya Krishnaka sadā

Upāshā karoho hridayata (2)

 

Its meaning is : I worship in my heart that lord Krishna, who is eternal and who is the embodiment of bliss, and whose names ‘Rama’ and ‘Krishna’ are means to redeem even the sinner from the mundane life of woes.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan : 

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

Source : Madhuramurali English Edition

Since Shri Shankaradeva preached pure devotion that was devoid of all the usual customs and ceremonies, during his time there were many who vehemently opposed his doctrine. They were so against Shri Shankaradeva that they convinced the Ahom king Suhunmung to take up their cause.

 

The king arranged for a debate between Shri Shankaradeva and all the opposing scholars from many places. Shri Shankaradeva brilliantly expounded the beauty of Bhagavata Dharama with all relevant scriptural quotes.

 

The opposing scholars were all dumbfounded. They could not defend their view and consequently lost the debate to Shri Shankaradeva. The king himself declared Shri Shankaradeva as victorious and his path as pure.

 

कृष्णर किंकर शंकर भणे |

बोला हरि हरि समस्त जने

The Servant of Lord Shri Krishna says, all people please chant the divine name of Hari

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan : 

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

Source : Madhuramurali English Edition

Sri Swamiji urges us to make best use of the time available. He says 'nalla samayam idhai nazhuva vidaadhe' Once, Sri Swamiji visited a patient enduring terminal stages of cancer. The ward in which he was admitted was full of patients in the end stages of life. Their days had been numbered and conveyed to them.

Sri Swamiji was moved to see them and prayed for each and everyone of them and spoke some sweet and reassuring words to them. They were all very devout and prayerful and held on to Sri Swamiji's words dearly.

As Sri Swamiji walked out, he recited this verse from Srimad Bhagavatam (2.1.4),

देहापत्य-कलत्रादिष्व् आत्म-सैन्येष्व् असत्स्व् अपि

तेषां प्रमत्तो निधनं पश्यन्न् अपि न पश्यति

dehApatyakalatrAdishu

AtmasainyEshvasatsvapi

tEshAm pramattO nidhanam

pashyannapi na pashyati

 

Sri Shuka tells King Parikshit, "Maddened by affection for those that are intimately connected with oneself, viz., one's body, progeny, wife and so on, unreal as they are, one fails to visualize their end, though actually witnessing it."

 

Reminded of this Sri Swamiji kept repeating the words 'pashyannapi na pashyati'. He said after a while, "Just as how Parikshit was blessed, at least the ones inside know that they have only these many days left. They have taken to prayer and they are spending time chanting Nama and in remembrance of God. While we, are living in blissful ignorance. We are shutting off ourselves from embracing the reality that our end is inevitable too. At least, they know they are going to live for a few more weeks. Life is so uncertain, that I do not know if I might have to leave earlier – a sudden, unannounced departure! Should I not chant nama, hold on to my Guru's teachings, and follow the path he has shown?"

 

The time to start is now

The place to start is here

The way to start is by Chanting and making others Chant!

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan : 

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

Source : Madhuramurali English Edition

 

Then he talks about our very life in the most candid manner! He says

 

जीवञ् छवो भागवताङ्घ्रि-रेणुं

न जातु मर्त्योऽभिलभेत यस् तु

 

One who does not take with reverence or bear on his head (न जातु मर्त्यो अभिलभेत यस् तु ) the holy dust from the feet of the bhagavatas or the great loving devotees of Lord Vishnu, is a living corpse (भागवताङ्घ्रि-रेणुं)!! We might live, but our existence must be fruitful. Or elsewe are mere dead bodies which breathe. One's purposeof life is achieved only by taking the dust from the feet of bhagavatas who are immersed in the thoughts of Bhagavan!

 

This reminds me of a quote of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar! He would say ‘You live when you think of God and you merely carry your lifeless body when you don't think of God!

 

We might be unable to think of God always, but we can humbly take the dust from the feet of Mahatmas who are immersed in God and make our lives worthwhile!

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan : 

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

Source : Madhuramurali English Edition

A Simple way - HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

shraddhAmrutakathAyAm mE shashvan madanukIrtanam |

parinishThA cha pUjAyAm stutibhi: stavanam mama ||

 

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavan tells Uddhava, “Listening earnestly to my nectarine stories that bestow immortality, oft repeating that which was listened to, continuously doing My kirtan, performing My worship sincerely, praising Me with stotras… develops prema bhakti towards Me. What is greater than this in the world?”

 

In Srimad Bhagavad Gita, while speaking to His dear Arjuna, Bhagavan says:

 

kshipram bhavati dharmAtmA shashvacchAntim nigacchati |

kauntEya pratijAnIhi na mE bhakta: praNashyati ||

 

“Even if one has practiced adharma for many years, due to the greatness of taking refuge in Me, he soon becomes a Dharmatma! He attains everlasting peace. O Son of Kunti, take the vow that My bhakta shall never fall!”

 

Bhagavan declares emphatically that His devotee shall never fall, even if he was unrighteous.

 

Hence, we need not worry or contemplate that we are still assailed by anger or desires, or that wave after wave of hurtful thoughts continue to wash over us. Let them all be. We shall continue to travel, without any confusion, in the path shown by Guru Maharaj by continuing to perform Nama sankirtanam, parayanam, and involving ourselves in kainkaryam. Bhagavan, who is an ocean of compassion, will Himself transform us into a devotee worthy of Him, and take us unto His fold. He will never let us down.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan : 

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