Repetition of the Lord’s name is really a meditation on Him

Nama Article 1st February 2009

 

Meaning

 

What is the use of knowledge whose mind does not dwell on Hari,

And whose tongue speaks of everything but Hari.

He is a pitiable person who takes birth as a human

And yet fails to seek the awareness of Unity.

How could that person find rest in the name of Hari?

Unless the Guru sweeps away the sense of duality,

 

How could he who has no knowledge relish the sweetness of chanting God's name?

Jnanadev says: Repetition of the Lord's name is really a meditation on Him;

By chanting Hari's name, All illusion is dissolved.

 

 

Transliteration

 

vishhNuviNe.n japa vyartha tyaache.n GYaana . raamakR^ishhNii.n mana naahii.n jyaache .. 1..

upajonii kara.nTaa neNe.n advaya vaaTaa . raamakR^ishhNii.n paiThaa kaisaa hoya .. 2..

dvaitaachii jhaaDaNii guruviNa GYaana . tyaa kai.nche.n kiirtana ghaDe naamii.n .. 3..

GYaanadeva mhaNe saguNa he.n dhyaana . naamapaaTha mauna prapa.nchaache.n .. 4..

 

Abhang

 

विष्णुविण जप व्यर्थ त्याचे ज्ञान ।

रामकृष्णी मन नाही ज्याचे ॥ १ ॥

उपजोनि करंटा नेणे अद्वैत वाटा ।

रामकृष्णी पैठा कैसेनि होय ॥ २ ॥

द्वैताची झाडणी गुरुविण ज्ञान ।

तया कैसे कीर्तन घडे नामी ॥ ३ ॥

ज्ञानदेव म्हणे सगुण हे ध्यान ।

नामपाठे मौन प्रपंचाचे ॥ ४ ॥

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

If one does many other things but does not chant Divine Name, then the efforts will not bear fruit; it is therefore essential to chant the Divine Name.

Nama Article 31st January 2009

 

Shri Brahma Chaitanya Maharaj Gondavalekar

 

Imagine that one goes to a railway station and describes the place he wishes to go, but cannot name the place; can he buy a ticket for the place?

 

On the other hand if one knows nothing about that place but knows only the name, then one may buy a ticket for that place.

 

Thus if one does many other things but does not chant Divine Name, then the efforts will not bear fruit; it is therefore essential to chant the Divine Name.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

While repeating the mantra the mind will be steady like a candle flame in a place protected from the wind.

Nama Article 29th January 2009

 

Holy Mother Sri Sri Sarada Devi

Even if the mind be not concentrated, do not give up the repetition of the mantra. Do your duty.

 

While repeating the mantra the mind will be steady like a candle flame in a place protected from the wind.

 

It is the wind alone that makes the flame flicker. In the same way, our fancies and desires make our mind rest less.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Name signifies something and it is not a mere fiction. God's name is effective. Repetition of the name is remembrance of what it signifies. Hence its merit.

Nama Article 28th January 2009

Source: Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi

Talk 526

People give some names to God and say that the name is sacred and that repetitions of the name bestow merit on the individual. Can it be true?

Sri Ramana Maharshi:

Why not? You bear a name to which you answer. But your body was not born with that name written on it, nor did it say to anyone that it bore such and such a name. And yet a name is given to you and you answer to that name, because you have identified yourself with the name. Therefore the name signifies something and it is not a mere fiction.

Similarly, God's name is effective. Repetition of the name is remembrance of what it signifies. Hence its merit.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

‘Grahana’ is the best time for japa, dhyãna, offerings, etc. The effect of any action - religious or spiritual or sinful, done during ‘grahana’ (eclipse) is vast.

Nama Article 27th January 2009

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

The fruit of a dharma varies according to time ('Kãla'), place ('desa') and person ('vyakti').

 

Suppose we read Srimad Bhãgavatam. It is good to read it every day. Our Shastras speak of great benefit arising out of reading Bhãgavatam. But when it is read on Krishna Jayanti the effect is far more ('anantamãna phalan'). This is 'kãla visesham', the speciality of time - That is the birthday of the Lord ('Avatãra kãlam'). Likewise Thiruppãvai can be chanted any day but if it is chanted in 'Mãrgazhi' the 'phalan' is vast. That is because it is the time of worship. It is the 'kãla' when Ãndãl sang Thiruppãvai. We desire meritorious acts (dharma). Charity ('dãna') brings good results. But when they are done at the time of 'grahana' (eclipse) the effect is great. 'Grahana' is the best time for japa, dhyãna, offerings, etc. The effect of any action - religious or spiritual or sinful, done during 'grahana' (eclipse) is vast.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Keep the Name of the Lord spinning in midst of all your activities. Have intense faith in God, and in His Name, know that they are not different.

Nama Article 25th January 2009

Swami Brahmananda (Direct Disciple of Sri Ramakrishna)

Japam-Japam-Japam! Even while you work practise Japam. Keep the Name of the Lord spinning in midst of all your activities. If you can do this, all the burning of the heart will be soothed.

Many sinners have become pure and free and divine by taking refuge in the Name of the God. Have intense faith in God, and in His Name, know that they are not different.

Source: 'Eternal Companion', Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, Pg  297.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Japa is more important than external form. It must be done until it becomes natural. When natural it is called Realisation.

Nama Article 23rd January 2009

 

Source: Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi

Dhyana may be external or internal or both. Japa is more important than external form. It must be done until it becomes natural. It starts with effort and is continued until it proceeds of itself.

When natural it is called Realisation.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

When a mantra is repeated, if one watches the Source from which the mantra sound is produced the mind is absorbed in That; that is tapas.

Nama Article 22nd January 2009

Sri Ramana Maharshi to Ganapati Muni

If one watches whence the notion 'I' arises, the mind is absorbed into That; that is tapas.

When a mantra is repeated, if one watches the Source from which the mantra sound is produced the mind is absorbed in That; that is tapas.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Just see the power of habit. By the law of habit man attains realization by continuous practice of Japa.

 

Nama Article 21st January 2009

 

Source: Teachings of The Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi

 

Just see the power of habit.

 

By the law of habit man attains realization by continuous practice of Japa. 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

If one does not chant the divine Name of the Lord, the Lord will not interfere with his life. If he does chant the Name of God continuously, the Lord makes his life favorable to him.

Nama Article 19th January 2009

 

If one does not chant the divine Name of the Lord, the Lord will not interfere with his life. If he does chant the Name of God continuously, the Lord makes his life favorable to him.

 

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

 

 

It is said that the past karmas get burnt by chanting the Lord's Name. Whatever happens in this birth is because of past karmas and is called 'prarabdha'. Does prarabdha change by regular chanting or merely prepares the ground for the prarabdha of next birth?

 

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

Everything in this world happens according to Prarabhda only. If one does not chant the divine Name of the Lord, the Lord will not interfere with his life. If he does chant the Name of God continuously, the Lord makes his life favorable to him.

 

For instance, if a person possesses qualities like wealth, power, beauty etc. by virtue of his prarabdha, then, by chanting the Nama, the Lord ensures that he does not get a 'head-weight'. If a person is already poor and leads a life in penury owning to his prarabdha, by chanting the Nama, the Lord keeps him away from bad thoughts and deeds like stealing, gambling, alcohol, suicide and so on.

 

If one's Bhakti is intense, the grace of the Lord has the power to change one's Prarabdha too. That, however, calls for strong devotion.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

God’s Name will work in him steadily and surely until all vasanas of his mind are destroyed. He who puts himself in His hands is never lost. Be sure of this.

Nama Article 17th January 2009

 

Swami Papa Ramdas

 

You should not get dispirited over your present condition. It takes time for the lower nature in you to be subdued so that divine nature may be made manifest. In the early stages of Sadhana, all the dirt and dross residing in the mind come up to the surface and for some time the Sadhaka is so much overpowered by lower passions that he comes to well nigh despair of achieving the spiritual goal.

 

But he should not be disheartened. God's Name will work in him steadily and surely until all vasanas of his mind are destroyed. When you do not get proper sleep in the nights, utilize the time for the repetition of Ram Nam instead of allowing yourself to be a prey to cares and worries.

 

Pray to God to lift you from your present miserable mental state and take you to His hallowed feet. Try to keep Ram Nam also during the day whenever you are free. Reduce reading, even religious books, to the minimum. Let your faith not shake in the all-loving and all-merciful nature of God.

 

He who puts himself in His hands is never lost. Be sure of this. May His grace ever pour on you and grant you immortal peace and joy.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Even one who has transgressed all the laws of morality and religion and indulges in all sorts of sinful acts is liberated without doubt through the utterance of Hari’s Name.

Nama Article 15th January 2009

VaisampAyana Samhita says:

Even one who has transgressed all the laws of morality and religion and indulges in all sorts of sinful acts is liberated without doubt through the utterance of Hari's Name.

Transliteration

sarvadharmabahirbhUtaH sarvapAparatastathA |

mucyate nAtra sandeho viSNornAmAnukIrtanAt ||

Verse

सर्वधर्मबहिर्भूतः सर्वपापरतस्तथा ।

मुच्यते नात्र सन्देहो विष्णोर्नामानुकीर्तनात् ॥

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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