Guru and Namakirtan: It was Nandanaar who first propounded ‘Nama siddhanta’! He gathered the people in his neighborhood and pleaded with them to sing the Name of the Lord

Nama Article 24th June 2013

Deeply devoted to Lord Siva, the Divine Name of his favorite Lord constantly played on his tongue. How deep was Nandanaar's yearning for his Lord! Today, we speak of 'Nama Siddantha'. It was Nandanaar who first propounded 'Nama siddhanta'! He gathered the people in his neighborhood and pleaded with them to sing the Name of the Lord

He pleaded, "Chant Namah SivAya! Namah SivAya! Chant Umapathe! Chant SAmbasivAya!" The people of the slum objected and refused to chant the Name of Lord Siva while they had their own deities.

They said to him, "Nanda! Why do you insist on our chanting tongue twisting Names?" But Nandanaar was not to be bogged down by their disinterest and opposition. Amidst them lived a dumb girl who everyone called 'Oomacchhi' (dumb girl in Tamil language).

Nandanaar advised the people, "Say 'Oomacchi vA'!" (oh, the dumb! come!). So, they all called out to her, "Oomacchi vA! Oomacchi va!" and it sounded as 'Uma Ch(S)iva!' Nandanaar thus succeeded in making the Lord's Divine Name play on the tongue of those who could not even utter it! In this way all the people around began chanting the Name of the Lord.

Please check these: Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

"Even the dog eats food. But can it chant 'Bhagavan Nãma' - the Name of the Lord? ('Nãyum kooda soru thinnum Nãmam pãdumo?')

Mere chanting of the names of the Lord would not fetch you food.........but what really happened?

That is why it is said that don't live without chanting.

Kabir says: He on whose lips the Name of God is not there that mouth is a litter bin.

Therefore, just as we bathe, wear clothes, eat food, etc. whether our mind is involved in it or not, so too, should we do a certain amount of Năma japa, părayana, kirtana, vandanam every day

Food is the first need of Man. While Krishna has taken care of all worldly necessities why should one seek another deity's help? Sri Krishna whom you worship will bless you with all round welfare.

Those who Chant the Divine Names of Hari, Udupi Krishna blesses them with adequate food.

Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :