Therefore, to embrace a Guru and attain liberation in that life is the mark of true gratitude.

Nama Article 31st Oct 2016

Some are family functions, some are religious functions, some are national functions, some are international functions – WHICH IS A UNIVERSAL FUNCTION – Birthday celebrations of a True Mahathma is a UNIVERSAL FUNCTION

 

31^st Oct 2016 - Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji's Jayanthi is celebrated by Global Organisation for Divinity and it has been communicated to various Namadwaars and GOD satsangs across the globe to do Annadhanam (serve free food) / give free dresses to people in Old age homes, orphanages, home for mentally / physically challenged care centers, home for destitute women on the occasion of Sri Swamiji's Jayanthi. Namadwaars and GOD satsangs are also adviced to conduct Akanda Nama kirtan for world peace, harmony and a prosperous life for one and all on this auspicious day.

HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

Generally, we are thankful to one who has done us a good turn. When we stand to gain due to another's help either financially, materially or physically we feel grateful to him. We revere this person who has helped us. If the help was a timely one, we feel moved. But this alone cannot be a sign of our gratitude.

For example, let us say that someone, through his hard earned money, helps us get admitted in a good school, offers us boarding and lodging, and meets all our needs. It is indeed right that we verbally and mentally thank him. But would this suffice? His intention in helping was for us to get educated. To actually pursue and do well in our studies is the right way of showing him our gratitude. Then he would also feel elated.

Likewise God has, in numerous ways, helped us in the world. What is the way to show our gratitude to Him who has given us good eyes? We may, for instance, enjoy seeing His divine forms in the temple; or, read the Bhagavatam. Well, there are several such ways!

Giving us a healthy body, a good life, intellect and holy association (satsang), God also gives us a precious Guru. Why? God bestows on us human birth and comforts in a janma(life) only so that we attain liberation; therefore, to embrace a Guru and attain liberation in that life is the mark of true gratitude.

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

The rarest of the rare is getting a Uttama Guru. When you have a Guru, you can peacefully rest.

How do we know that the Guru is pleased with us?

No one else pleases me the most than the ones who Chant Mahamantra!

When a disciple leads his life with the clear understanding that it is the Guru who is running his life - adverse or otherwise, completely emptying the mind of personal likes and dislikes, seeing everything as Guru's leela, attains realization

Guru's Word is the root of Mantra

God is for all. Each and everyone have the right to attain God. Bhagavan Nama japa is the universal way

'Gurohu anugrahenaiva puman puranah prasantaiye'

We would feel that there is none as rich as we are because we have got such a Guru Ratnam

Bhakti is all about showing gratitude.

It is the Guru who shows that way, and the gratitude shown to such a Guru is Guru Bhakti

How to show our gratitude to our Guru?

The only act a true devotee can do is to chant Nama to express the gratitude to the Guru for the grace showered on the devotee.

Chanting the Name of God continuously will invoke the grace of the Guru

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji about अनपेक्ष: in Bhagavat Gita 12:16

Nama Article 30^th Oct 2016

Source: Bhakthi Yogam by HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

अनपेक्ष: शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथ: ।

सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्त: स मे प्रिय: ।। (गीता 12:16)

HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji about अनपेक्ष:

"நிதி சால சுகமா ? ராமுனி சந்நிதி சேவா சுகமா ?" - ஸ்ரீ தியாகராஜ ஸ்வாமிகள்   

விடியற்காலை எழுந்து நீராடி, உன் சந்நிதியை சாணம் போட்டு துடைத்து, சின்னதாக ஒரு கோலம் போட்டு, விளக்கேற்றி, பாரிஜாத புஷ்பங்களை எல்லாம் எடுத்துக் கொண்டுவந்து ,பாலைக்காய்ச்சி, சந்நிதியை திறந்து, நிர்மால்யத்தை எடுத்து, சுப்ரபாதம் பாடி, "க்ஷீர ததி சோரா" என்று பால் கொடுத்து, அர்ச்சனை செய்து, ஒரு சஹஸ்ர ஆவர்த்தி காயத்ரி செய்து, யதா சக்தி ராம நாமம் சொல்லிவிட்டு, ராமாயண பாராயணம் செய்து, உஞ்சவிருத்தி எடுத்து கொண்டு வந்து பத்னியிடம் தந்து, பிரசாதம் தயார் செய்து, பூஜை செய்து, உனக்கு நிவேதனம் செய்துவிட்டு, அதிதிகளுக்கு போட்டுவிட்டு, மதியம் உட்கார்ந்து ராம நாம லேகனம் செய்து, சாயங்காலம் பாகவதர்களோடு ஆடிப் பாடிக்கொண்டு டோலோத்ஸவம் பண்ணும் சுகம் கோடீஸ்வரனுக்கும் வராது, ராஜாவுக்கும் வராது.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

தீபாவளி அன்றி தீபங்கள் ஏற்றி இறைவனை வழிபட்டு நாமும் நம் நாடும் வளம் பெற இறைவனை பிரார்த்திப்போம்

Nama Article 29^th Oct 2016

Happy Deepavali

மஹாரண்யம் ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீ முரளீதர ஸ்வாமிஜி :

தீபாவளி என்ற சொல்லுக்கு தீபங்களின் வரிசை என்று பொருள். இருள் விலகுவதற்கு தீபம் எவ்வளவு அவசியமோ, அவ்வளவு அவசியம் அறியாமை விலகுவதற்கு நாம் இறைவழிபாடு செய்வதும்.

தீபாவளி அன்றி தீபங்கள் ஏற்றி இறைவனை வழிபட்டு நாமும் நம் நாடும் வளம் பெற இறைவனை பிரார்த்திப்போம்.

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

Deepavali means 'deepam' - light - 'Ătma jyoti'

Special Deepavali message of His Holiness Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

Mahans sing that every single day is verily Deepavali for those who have taken refuge in Krishna

At first, I was the only Bhakta of Premika Varadan. Slowly some more became His Bhaktas. The number increased gradually. The term '16000 Bhaktas' means Bhaktas all over the world. '16' denotes whole ('sampoornam').

On the auspicious day of Deepavali when taking oil bath in warm water, during the early morning hours is considered as equivalent of dipping in the sacred waters of River Ganga

No one else pleases me the most than the ones who Chant Mahamantra!

It is the wish of our Guru Maharaj to spread this Bhagavatha Dharma, studded with such glories, through out the world.

Chintayare Sri Gurum - அகண்ட நாம ஸாம்ராஜ்ய ப்ரபும்

If you want something from someone, you have to make him happy. Only then you will receive what you want. Similarly, if you want God's grace,……..

The service that God entrusted upon my shoulders is to make the whole world sing the glory of His Divine Name! The service that God has entrusted upon your shoulders is to lend them to me! Blessings ! Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

Most of you are running the Divine Name Centres (Namadwaars / GOD Satsangs) in your Towns/Villages/Cities and go about knocking at each door seeking alms - alms of Divine Name chanting! Your efforts shall not go in vain. The Maha Mantra the only way for redemption in Kali Yuga and is going to reverberate in every nook and corner of the world!

I am aware of every effort – small or big that is being put forth towards Mahamantra kirtan and am deeply moved by your love for me and commitment towards Nama

I chant the Mahamantra always. I like to serve my Guru. I do serve Him mentally as I cannot go out any where. Will my service reach Him?

If each and everyone of you pledge to lead such a life, only this is the true celebration of the "Jayanthi Utsavam".

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

This leaves no doubts about the grace of God! That is what Bhagavan emphasizes when He says 'tEshAm aham samuddharthA'.

Nama Article 26^th Oct 2016

Source: Bhakti Yoga: Part 8

There are many such instances of devotees attaining moksha by the grace of the Guru. This leaves no doubts about the grace of God! That is what Bhagavan emphasizes when He says 'tEshAm aham samuddharthA'.

What sadhana can we do? Just as how we cannot fill water in a vessel that has many holes, any sadhana that we perform without controlling our sense organs, is futile. Bhagavan says if one does not live 'sanniyamya indhriya grAmam' by controlling senses, detaching from the world, having food by taking bhiksha, and developing complete dispassion, one should say, 'saadhana rahitham' and pray "Hey Krishna! I am not taking any efforts. I am repeatedly falling apart. It is You who has to protect me!" Bhakti is the only way!

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

Gopis are incessantly meditating on Lord Krishna 'chittham sukEna bavathaa apahrutham gruheshu' meaning that their hearts are easily stolen by Krishna

Nama Article 21st Oct 2016

Source: Bhakti Yoga: Part 7

Bhaktas do not hold onto anything other than the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan. They do not hold on to their bank balance, or their kith and kin, or any other forms of sadhana (spiritual practice), but are devoted only to Bhagavan, and take shelter only at His Holy Feet. Gopis are incessantly meditating on Lord Krishna 'chittham sukEna bavathaa apahrutham gruheshu' meaning that their hearts are easily stolen by Krishna.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

A bhakta should be like Hanuman. He should always be cheerful, with Nama persistently on His lips, and also engaged in kainkarya

Nama Article 20^th Oct 2016

Source: Bhakti Yoga: Part 6

In the sixth sloka, Bhagavan describes such bhaktas (devotees) who are incessantly meditating on the Lord, dedicating all that they do to Him.

ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्पराः।

अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते।।12.6।।

ye thu sarvAni karmAni mayi sanyasya mathparA: |

ananyenaiva yogena maam dhyaayantha upaasathe ||6||

A bhakta should be like Hanuman. He should always be cheerful, with Nama persistently on His lips, and also engaged in kainkarya (devotional service).

A true bhakta does anything and everything, only to please The Lord. One listens to a concert, watches movies, watches a cricket match all night, only because he enjoys doing it. Similarly a bhakta does not do bhakti for punya (merits) or expecting anything else. Be it Bhagavan's procession, or listening to His Divine Leelas, or singing kirtans, he does any devotional activity, for the sole purpose of the joy it gives him. He enjoys everything he does. He will only consider it his good fortune, and would not deem it as his punya.

Just as we begin to understand how to develop such bhakti, it is important to also know what could be the factors that hinder it. When one eagerly goes to Kasi for a holy dip in the Ganga, does he not remind himself to watch out for a slippery floor when he steps down? Likewise, it is essential to know what the obstacles in the path of bhakti are, before we tread on it.

ONLY WHEN ONE BUILDS SUCH A FENCE AROUND HIMSELF, CAN BHAKTI GROW IN HIM.

These are elaborated in the link Source: Bhakti Yoga: Part 6:

SELF-PRAISE

RIDICULING OTHERS

CRITICISING GOD

REVEALING EXPERIENCES

INDIFFERENCE TO SATSANGA

DISDAIN TO HOLY PRASAD

DISRESPECT

LYING

DISREGARDING THE WORDS OF THE GURU

MAN-WOMAN ASSOCIATION

MOCKERY

GREED FOR WEALTH

DEVOTION TO OTHER GODS

BAD COMPANY

CRITICISING OTHER GODS

LAZINESS

BEING CARRIED AWAY BY SUPERNATURAL POWERS

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

Bhagavan says, the ones who are forever in His thoughts, singing His glories, chanting His Divine Names, listening to His Divine Leelas are dearer to Him

Nama Article 19^th Sep 2016

Source: Bhakti Yoga: Part 5

We have to accept the fact that none of us have even the basic dispassion towards worldly life. We are expected to be dispassionate even towards basic needs like food, clothing and shelter. But we instead are craving for a luxurious life, we are unable to sleep without the fan switched on. When this is the state, we have to question ourselves, if we are fit to follow the path of jnana.

That is why, Bhagavan says it is simpler to follow saguna bhakti. This is because, it is possible for anybody to follow this path. This does not require any knowledge or intelligence. Srimad Bhagavatham says, one can safely close his eyes and run in the path of Nama Kirtan. This path is simple because it is dependent more on Bhagavan's grace, than on our human efforts. And since this is dependent on Bhagavan's grace, it is a stable and steady path too. As we follow this path, Bhagavan Himself blesses us with dispassion.

There are two types to everything. There are those who become poets after a lot of learning. But Kalidasa became a renowned poet just by Devi's grace. There are many who work hard to earn money. But there was a poor woman who attained wealth and prosperity by being blessed by Sri Adi Sankara. So there are things that we obtain by our efforts. While there are some things that are bestowed on us by Grace. What we earn by our own efforts, need not necessarily be with us forever. But that which is bestowed on us by God's Grace, will stay with us forever.

We will attain wisdom and dispassion even as we follow the path of bhakti. But that will come to us, by the Grace of Bhagavan, and hence they will steadily be in us. If we obtain it by our efforts, it might slip away from us, as in the case of Jadabharata. It is Bhagavan who has cast this web of maya (illusion) on us. 'mama maayaa dhurathyayaa', 'my maya is invincible', says Bhagavan. Hence, it is He who has to eradicate that maya. If we prostrate at His Lotus Feet, saying 'Krishna! Please remove your maya', he will bless us compassionately.

Therefore, Bhagavan says, the ones who are forever in His thoughts, singing His glories, chanting His Divine Names, listening to His Divine Leelas are dearer to Him that those who follow the path of nirguna upasana.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

He says, it goes without saying that those that see God in every creation will certainly attain Him, 'jnaani thu aathmaiva me matham'.

Nama Article 13^th Sep 2016

Source: Bhakti Yoga: Part 4

Bhagavan says, 'Those that perform such nirguna bhakti, too, attain Him indeed! Such great souls forever have goodwill for all life forms.' Sant Namdev would forego food and sleep, and will be lost in Nama Kirtan at the banks of Chandrabagha River. One day, when his wife brought him roti and sugar to eat, he asked her to place it aside and leave. A dog that came that side grabbed the roti and walked away. Sant Namdev, immediately chased the dog, saying 'Panduranga! How would you eat the bland roti without sugar? Stop! Stop!' And there! The dog vanished and he had the Divine Vision of Lord Panduranga in its place. This is an example of the compassion of Mahans towards all life forms.

In a similar incident, when Sant Eknath was carrying the Holy Water from River Ganga on his journey back from Kasi, he saw a donkey that was about to die from thirst. The other pilgrims walked away without concern. Sant Eknath gave holy water meant for samaradhana (ritual done on completion of a pilgrimage), to the donkey. He had a Divine Vision of Lord Panduranga Himself, in that very place.

The sufferings faced by life forms leave Mahans in deep agony. This is what Bhagavan refers to as 'sarva bhootha hithe rathah'. He says, it goes without saying that those that see God in every creation will certainly attain Him, 'jnaani thu aathmaiva me matham'.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

Nama Article 10^th Sep 2016

Source: Bhakti Yoga: Part 3

What is satsanga? Where the stories of Bhagavan's Divine Leelas are recited and heard, where there is incessant Nama Kirtan, where it is reiterated that the only objective of life is to attain God, that virtuous, divine association, is satsanga. It is only by such association, can we attain spiritual progress. What is spiritual progress? Getting visions of a light, or experiencing some scenes, is not spiritual progress. One progresses spiritually when his longing to attain God intensifies multifold.

One who does saguna upasana, tends to Bhagavan lovingly thinking 'Oh my! Bhagavan must be hungry now', 'It is time to give Him a bath', 'It is too late, and I have to put Him to sleep'. Such a devotee develops a motherly love to Bhagavan and takes care of Him as his own.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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

Just as how it is impossible for us to obey if someone instructs us not to breathe, devotees like Meera and Prahlad found it impossible to stop doing bhakti in spite of being subjected to many troubles

Nama Article 9^th Sep 2016

Source: Bhakti Yoga: Part 2

Now, some would tend to think, 'Does that mean no effort is required from my side? Will the Lord bless me with such bhakti even if I don't perform any japa (chanting) or dhyana (meditation)?'. The very desire to perform sadhana (spiritual practice) is due to the Lord's Grace. The Lord's Grace and our spiritual practice happen at the same time. When our spiritual practice reaches its maximum strength and intensity, the Lord pulls us toward Him. At this point it is not our effort, but completely His Grace that takes us to Him.

Just as how it is impossible for us to obey if someone instructs us not to breathe, devotees like Meera and Prahlad found it impossible to stop doing bhakti in spite of being subjected to many troubles. The Lord says, it is such devotees behind whom the Lord keeps walking. It is not to purify the devotee. The Lord says, He walks behind such devotees, so that the dust from their feet will touch Him, and He will get purified.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

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