This is Upasana, which means sitting near God

Nama Article 28th June 2008

 

Swami Papa Ramdas:

 

How to realise our immortal divine nature ? For that we should approach God with Ananya Bhakti. Day and night our heart must pine for Him. What is the way to Ananya Bhakti? To intensify our love for God, we should have His Name constantly on our lips and His remembrance in our mind. This is Upasana, which means sitting near God. By chanting His Name, we become aware of His presence.

 

Tulsidas says, "As by a bridge we can go to both the banks of a river, even so by God's Name we can attain both the Saguna aspect of God and the Nirguna."

 

He who has found sweetness in God's Name and has it always on his tongue, soon becomes a Jivanmukta.

 

The terms Akhanda Namasmaran and Saranagati-ceaseless chanting of the Name and self-surrender-indicate one and the same state. Namasmaran is the basis of Bhakti.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Chanting of prayers even without knowing the meaning is a worthwhile act......we get the key of knowledge later, but the treasure will be already there

Nama Article 27th June 2008

 

Sri Chandrasekhara Saraswathi Swami [Maha Periyava] of Kaanchi Kaamakoti Peetam advises us that learning the chanting of prayers even without knowing the meaning is a worthwhile act, and can be compared to finding a box of treasure without the key.

 

As long as we have the box, we can open it whenever we get the key of knowledge later, but the treasure will be already there.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

The devotee is fixed in his vow as an eternal servant of the Lord

Nama Article 26^th June 2008

evam-vratah sva-priya-nama-kirtya jatanurago druta-citta uccaih

hasaty atho roditi rauti gayaty unmada-van nrtyati loka-bahyah

(Srimad Bhagavatam 11:2:40)

Evam-vratah. Vrata means vow. Our vow should be to Chant the Divine Name that we love.

The devotee is fixed in his vow as an eternal servant of the Lord, and he gradually becomes very much attached to a particular name and form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

As his heart melts with ecstatic love, he laughs very loudly or cries or shouts. Sometimes he sings and dances like a madman, for he is indifferent to public opinion

एवंव्रतः स्वप्रियनामकीर्त्या. जातानुरागो द्रुतचित्त उच्चैः ।

हसत्यथो रोदिति रौति गायत्युन्मादवन्न्रुत्यति लोकबाह्यः । ।

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

--------------------------------------------------------
If you have any questions or doubts concerning Spirituality, Mental peace or problems in life or about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:
http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these questions for you and suggests prayers.
------------------------------------------------------------
For more Namakirtan articles please visit http://guruandnamakirtan.blogspot.com/

Adishankara on Vishnu Sahasranama Bhashya

Nama Article 25th June 2008

One of the names of Bhagawan in Vishnusahasranama is “Suvratah “

Meaning: " He who takes Good Vows "

Adishankara gives in his explanation:

सक्रुदेव प्रपन्नाय तवास्मीति च याचते ।

अभयं सर्व भूतेभ्यो ददाम्येतद् व्रतं मम ॥

(Srimad Ramayana : 6.18.33)

sakrudeva prapannAya tavAsmIti ca yAcate |

abhayaM sarva bhUtebhyo dadAmyetad vrataM mama ||

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"

Vibhishana quarrelled with Ravana and came to Rama for refuge. Rama then consulted with Sugreeva whether he should accept him, as Vibhishana was from the enemy camp, and moreover, Ravana's brother.

Sugreeva expressed his opinion by saying that after all, he too is a kinsman of Ravana and so cannot be trusted. But then, Rama says, "So what if he is Ravana's brother? He has taken refuge in me. Whosoever takes refuge in me, him I will not send away."

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

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

What should be our vow then?

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

It will bestow all kinds of welfare, material and spiritual........

Nama Article 24th June 2007 

When we light fire in the oven for cooking food it not only cooks food but also throws light around. Does it not?

Likewise, even if we do chant the Divine Names for material gains it will change the course of the life of each individual. It will bestow all kinds of welfare, material and spiritual.

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

True love seeks nothing whereas a desire expects something in return

Nama Article 20th June 2008

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

"A siddha (Self realized person) has sung the following verse 'Aasaiai arumin! Aasaiai arumin! Eesanodu aayinum aasaiai arumin!' which means 'Renounce all desire! Renounce all desire, even if it be for God'. When looked at superfluously we may wonder, "how could a saint ask us to give up the desire for God?" But, when seen in the right perspective we will understand what the saint really means - "Give up even the desire for the Lord and just love Him."

 

True love seeks nothing whereas a desire expects something in return. And when we fail to get what we seek/expect then it might turn into hatred."

 

"It is easy for one to turn a blind eye towards God's creations and deny His very existence for reasons as trivial as failing in an examination. If only we would pause for a moment and look at the sky, we would find innumerable stars. Even if one of these were to fall on earth, this entire planet will be attenuated. The ocean does not cross the shore as if bound by some vow. And the earth never stops rotating. A self-centred, narrow-minded person who refuses to acknowledge the presence of God, the protector of the universe, in everything around, will never understand bhakthi."

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Kathaa sravanam (Listening to glories of Lord) and Nama kirtanam (Chanting the Divine Names) are the two foundation stones upon which bhakthi is built

Nama Article 19th June 2008

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Kathaa sravanam (Listening to glories of Lord) and Nama kirtanam (Chanting the Divine Names) are the two foundation stones upon which bhakthi is built. Only through kathaa sravanam can we know the glory of the Lord, his boundless grace as also the greatness of saints.

 

For example, the description of a music concert by an ardent lover of music instills interest in the listener. Similarly, only listening to glories of Lord sows the seed of bhakthi in one. The more we hear about God, the purer our mind becomes.

 

The cleansed mind develops Prema bhakthi, the highest order of Bhakthi, wherein the devotee experiences indescribable and boundless love for the Lord.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Fatalism gives rise to pessimism, but self-surrender brings about its opposite, optimism

Nama Article 18th June 2008

 

Swami Papa Ramdas

 

Give up despondency and dejection, Sri Ram, the Eternal Existence, Consciousness and Bliss, is within your heart. He is infinite power, light and peace. Be ever cheerful. There is nothing to worry about.

 

Fatalism gives rise to pessimism, but self-surrender brings about its opposite, optimism. Fatalism is false. We are in the hands of a most benevolent and merciful Being. ...

 

Cheer up! Cheer up! Be in tune with the Immortal Bliss that is within you and, is pervading everywhere. Love to you all there.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

One obtains love of God by constantly chanting His name and singing His glories

Nama Article 17th June 2008

 

Source: The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

 

The kathak recited the life of Prahlada from the Purana. Its substance was as follows: Hiranyakasipu, Prahlada's father, was king of the demons. He bore great malice toward God and put his own son through endless tortures for leading a religious life.

Afflicted by his father, Prahlada prayed to God, "O God, please give my father holy inclinations."

At these words the Master wept. He went into an ecstatic mood. Afterwards he began to talk to the devotees.

 

MASTER:

 

"Bhakti is the only essential thing. One obtains love of God by constantly chanting His name and singing His glories."

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

If you have all those, it is well and good. But do not even worry about all these things

Nama Article 16th June 2007

 

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

 

Question:

In doing Nama kirtan, people need to have appropriate attitude, commitment and trust in oneself. Do you agree and what are your thoughts?

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

If you have all those, it is well and good. But do not even worry about all these things.

 

Just chant the mahamantra, even if mechanically. Slowly the Nama will take control over you and guide you appropriately.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Spontaneity and innocence are stamped on all your actions

Nama Article 14th June 2008

 

Swami Papa Ramdas:

 

To take the name of God or of His incarnations does not become a futile discipline provided that at the very sound of the Name the divine attributes of God flash on your mind.

 

Now pure emotions rise in blissful waves from your heart, the very lustre of God reflects on your intellect, and spontaneity and innocence are stamped on all your actions.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

"the man without faith (is ruined and) comes back to this transmigratory cycle again and again" ...Bhagavad Gita

Nama Article 12th June 2008

Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati [Maha Periyava] of Kaanchi Kaamakoti Peetam

 

"samshayAtmA vinashyati" (Bhagavad Gita IV – 40) says the Lord -- 'He who doubts, goes to ruin'. And when He says this he adds the words *ashraddha-dAnascha*, meaning 'one who has no shraddhA'. In (Bhagavad Gita IX – 3), He says

 

*ashraddha-danAH purushhaaH nivartante mRtyu-samsAra-vartmani* --

 

'the man without faith (is ruined and) comes back to this transmigratory cycle again and again'. In fact he frightens us with a warning, at the same time very compassionately. It is not just a false warning; it will surely happen that way. We should not allow it to happen. We have to develop an unshakeable faith in the thought

 

'I have come to this Guru. Let him appear to others in whatever way they think. As far as I am concerned, God will not let me down; He will certainly grace me, through this Guru, with the Release that I seek'.

 

Of course it is true that one should resort to a guru only after thorough enquiries about him. But suppose you land yourself with a fake guru. Even then, if without losing faith in him, if you surrender to him, the All-knowing Lord will bless you with Enlightenment through that Guru, though he may not himself be a JnAni!

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

‘The Lord will never forsake us. The path shown by the shAstras and the Guru will never go unproductive’....Maha Periyava

Nama Article 11th June 2008

 

Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati [Maha Periyava] of Kaanchi Kaamakoti Peetam

 

Where there is a will there is a way. Efforts will not go waste. Keep going with all your efforts, persistently. Don't worry about the time it takes. In due time, you will see the signs of progress and will also reach the destination.

 

Faith is the fundamental requisite. That is what they mean by 'shraddhA.

 

'The Lord will never forsake us. The path shown by the shAstras and the Guru will never go unproductive'. It is that strong conviction that goes by the name of shraddhA.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

In the workplace I am not able to chant properly due to my work load............Please let me know a solution

Nama Article 9th June 2008

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

I want to chant the Maha Mantra always. In the workplace I am not able to chant properly due to my work load. Still I think about Krishna. Please let me know a solution by which I can chant the Maha Mantra always.

 

Sri Sri Swamiji:

 

Chant it during your off-office hours. In due course, the Lord will enable you to chant it in your mind and still carry on with your work.

You are indeed blessed to reminisce Krishna always. The lovable Lord Krishna will fill your heart with abundance of eternal pure love ('prema').

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

--------------------------------------------------------
If you have any questions or doubts concerning Spirituality, Mental peace or problems in life or about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:
http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these questions for you and suggests prayers.
------------------------------------------------------------
For more Namakirtan articles please visit http://guruandnamakirtan.blogspot.com/

Duties of a householder - Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Nama Article 6th June 2007

 

Devotee: Thakur, the scriptures say that a householder should do his duties properly. So where will time be there for God realization?

 

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa:

 

Yes, you are right – one has to do his duties properly. But the duties of a householder are – love towards all beings, service to devotees of the Lord and chanting of the holy names of the Lord.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Man can obtain control over all natural manifestations through the use of certain mantras or chants

Nama Article 5th June 2008

 

Source: Autobiography of a Yogi

 

The ancient rishis discovered these laws of sound alliance between nature and man. Because nature is an objectification of Aum, the Primal Sound or Vibratory Word, man can obtain control over all natural manifestations through the use of certain mantras or chants. Historical documents tell of the remarkable powers possessed by Miyan Tan Sen, sixteenth century court musician for Akbar the Great. Commanded by the Emperor to sing a night raga while the sun was overhead, Tan Sen intoned a mantra which instantly caused the whole palace precincts to become enveloped in darkness.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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