In such a life, when we encounter misery, instead of wailing, if we cry out the name of the Lord..............He comes down to help us

Nama Article 3rd July 2008

 

Source: http://www.namadwaar.org/articles/powerofkirtan3.html

 

"A story in the Puranas goes thus—

 

An elephant named Gajendran was struck in the mouth of a crocodile as it went to drink water.  In spite of help from a thousand other elephants, it could not get relieved.  It was then that it called out to the Lord and He came down to help.

 

In Tiruvannamalai lived a Mahatma by name Yogiramsuratkumar.  He was then in Tirukkovilur where is located the 'Tapovanam' of Swami Gnanananda.   River Pennaiyar flows through this town.  Next to the river is the Samadhi of another Mahan called Ragottama Swami.  It was his Aradhana day and thousands of devotees were gathered there.

 

A little boy who went to take bath in the Pennaiyar river, got struck in between two huge rocks in the river.  The river was flooded and no one could save him.  Panicked, people rushed to Swami Gnanananda and surrendered unto him, requesting him to save the boy.

 

Saying that there was another powerful person carry out that task, Swami Gnanananda summoned Yogiramsuratkumar to save him.

 

Yogi went to the banks of the river, and swaying his hand-fan, uttered 'Sri Ram, Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram!' and behold! The rock broke into a thousand pieces!

 

Later, Yogi used to live under a peepul tree in Tiruvannamalai.  One night he was sleeping under the tree with other devotees.  At about midnight, suddenly Yogi arose saying, 'this beggar has an important job' and started walking as others followed him.  A mile or two away, there was a large farm land, and in the center was a huge well that irrigated the land. The well did not have walls, and a horse had fallen into it.

 

We need to save the horse, said Yogi.  Looking at the sheer size of the fallen horse, the people around said, 'Let us call the fire station'.

 

Yogi replied, 'If you can save the horse, go ahead.  Otherwise, leave it to this beggar.'

 

Puranas say that the elephant Gajendran who was in pain, cried out to the Lord and the Lord arrived from Vaikunta to save it.

 

Now, it was this horse, and no one knew how it cried out, and Yogi was there to save it!

 

Yogi went around the well twice and then, swaying his hand-fan, chanted, 'Om Sri Ram! Jai Ram! Jai Jai Ram!' and then, just as we watch it in a movie, the horse gently jumped out and ran away!

 

This is not a  built-up story! Even today, there are people who have witnessed this event.

 

People asked Yogi, 'Bhagavan! you are capable of doing such miracles!'

 

Yogi replied, 'No No! This beggar is not capable of doing any miracles. Only Ram Naam is doing miracles!'

 

In our life we enjoy or suffer depending on our 'paapa' and 'punya'.  The imprints of our past deeds ('prarabda') follow us.

 

No one's life is filled with just happiness or just sorrow.  Life is a mix of both happiness and sorrow.

 

In such a life, when we encounter misery, instead of wailing, if we cry out the name of the Lord, irrespective of the condition and situation, He comes down to help us.

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

The thoughts you create in your mind and the images you form in your daily life help you in making what you are or what you would become

Nama Article July 2nd 2008

 

Swami Sivananda

 

The thoughts you create in your mind and the images you form in your daily life help you in making what you are or what you would become. If you constantly think of Lord Krishna, you will become identical with the Lord. You will abide in Him forever. You will become one with the deity you meditate upon.

 

The repetition of the mantra removes the dirt of the mind such as lust, anger, greed, etc. Just as the mirror acquires the power of reflection when the dirt covering it is removed, even so the mind from which the impurities have been removed acquires the capacity to reflect the higher spiritual truth. Just as soap cleanses the cloth of its impurities, so also the mantra is a spiritual soap cleansing the mind. Just as fire cleanses gold of its impurities, so also mantra cleanses the mind of its impurities.

 

The recital of a mantra destroys your sins and brings everlasting peace, infinite bliss, prosperity and immortality. There is not the least doubt about this.

 

Japa checks the force of the thought-current moving towards objects. It forces the mind to move towards God, towards the attainment of eternal bliss.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

I want to know about your Bhakti Advaita Siddhanta

Nama Article 30th June 2008

 

Source: http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/questions29.html

 

Question:

 

I want to know about your Bhakti Advaita Siddhanta. Many mahatmas have shown different types of philosophies – Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Dvaitha and so on. Please explain them to us.

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

We know only Mahamantra. I think it is enough for you too.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

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

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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".

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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