What will Lord's Name do?

Nama article - 27th April 2007

Excerpts from the discourse of Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

What will Lord's Name do?

There are arrows on which a mantra has been invoked ('prayoga'). And there are ordinary arrows, too. In Rãmayana we read that a 'Brahmãstra' was shot. We say that a Mantra was invoked on to an arrow and then the weapon was used. What is the difference between an ordinary weapon and the one on which a Mantra has been used? Whichever direction the victim may flee the weapon that bears the Mantra chases him and hits him. Whereas the ordinary arrow hits the victim only if he continued to stand still at the same place where the arrow was aimed at. Otherwise it would go up to the aimed spot and just fall down. The 'Mantra bearing' arrow chases him and does not rest till it hits the victim. Similarly, Nãma – Lord's Name - is like the arrow that bears the Mantra.

The day the Guru decides to initiate you into a Lord's Name ('Mantropadesa') it confirms that Lord has decided to take you Unto Himself. It is only because the Lord has decided to take you Unto Himself that you have received Guru Upadesa (initiation). What does this Lord's Name that is got through Guru Upadesa, do?

It starts chasing him! It chases him wherever he goes and does not rest until it takes him to the Lotus Feet of Lord.