Hearing ('sravanam') yields the same moral merit (punya) as chanting the Maha Mantra

Nama Article 19th August 2008

 

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

 

I feel lazy to chant the Maha Mantra. So I play a Maha Mantra audio CD and keep listening to it. Is it as good as chanting?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

It has been said that hearing ('sravanam') yields the same punya (moral merit) as chanting the Maha Mantra.

 

That is the reason behind 'karna mantra' (chanting the Lord's Name in the ears in one's deathbed).

 

However, if you slowly practice chanting it, then in due course, you will taste the sweetness of the Maha Mantra in your tongue.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Four Vedas = Divine Name "Hari"

Nama Article 17th August 2008

 

Haryashtakam

 

The one who chants the Divine Name "Ha ri" consisting of two letters gets the benefit of chanting all the four Vedas.

Rigvedhapi Yajurveda Sama vedhopyadharvana

Adheenasthana yenoktham hari rithyakshara dwayam

ॠग्वेदोऽथ यजुर्वेदः सामवेदोऽप्यथर्वणः ।

अधीतस्तेन येनोक्तं हरिरित्यक्षर द्वयम् ॥

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

The Nation in which all the citizens sing the praise of the Lord and surrender all their actions to the Lord is known as 'Rama Rajya'

Nama Article 14th August 2008

 

Source: http://www.madhuramurali.org/mm/year2000/oct2000/oct00_qa.html

 

Though I decide to do 'japa' everyday, for a certain number of times, I am unable to meet the vow taken. What am I to do?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Normally, it is only the strong-willed who can fulfill the vow made. Always vow to do the 'japa' much higher - double or thrice - than the actual number that you aspire. Only then will you be able to meet atleast a little of it!

 

For example, all those who toiled for our Nation's independence did so with a single-minded effort. But once it had been attained we were at a loss to know what has to be done next. However, had the effort been towards the attainment of 'Rama Rajya' we would not have reached the goal till date and would have continued to work for it. Therefore, we should always keep our motive (goal) beyond reach!

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What is 'Rama Rajya?'

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

The Nation in which all the citizens sing the praise of the Lord and surrender all their actions to the Lord is known as 'Rama Rajya'.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

I have found, yes, I have found the wealth of the “Divine Name – Rama” the gem; My true guru gave me a priceless thing.

Nama Article 13th August 2008

 

Meerabai's Song	Translation
Payo ji maine Rama-ratana dhana payo	I have found, yes, I have found the wealth of the "Divine Name – Rama" the gem
Vastu amolika di mere sataguru kirpa kara apanayo, payo ji maine	My true guru gave me a priceless thing. With his grace, I accepted it.
Janama janama ki puji pai	I found the capital of my several births
jaga me sabhi khovayo payo ji maine	I have lost the whole rest of the world
Kharaca na khute, cora na lute	No one can spend it, no one can steal it
dina dina barhata savayo, payo ji maine	Day by day its accumulating as I chant
Sata ki nava khevatiya sataguru	On the boat of truth, the boatman was my true guru
bhava-sagara tara ayo, payo ji maine	I crossed the ocean of births and deaths
Mira ke Prabhu Ghiridhara Nagara, harasha harasha jasa gayo, payo ji maine	Mira's Lord is the Mountain-Holder, the suave lover, of whom I merrily, merrily sing

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Existence of God, Janma, papa, punya, life after death -- in all these matters, only the Shastras are to be considered the final verdict and not talent, intellect or your friend's argument

Nama Article 11th August 2008

 

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

My friend tells me that performing Nama Kirtan and Bhakti will only take one to another janma or the state where one will start getting into yogic discipline and the study of Vedanta could be undertaken which would eventually lead to liberation. Hence doing Nama Kirtan will only lead to the path of Vedanta Vichara and not grant Moksha.

I believe in prapatti and Nama Kirtan. Which is correct?

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji:

 

Existence of God, Janma, papa, punya, life after death -- in all these matters, only the Shastras are to be considered the final verdict and not talent, intellect or your friend's argument.

 

The Shastras clearly say that one can attain the highest state by Nama Kirtan alone. Any amount of other Sadhanas will not give liberation.

 

It is only by Bhagavan Sri Krishna's grace that it can be attained. One day He will be pleased with the Nama Kirtan and provide us with the highest state of bliss.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

As my chanting intensified, it lent me strength to do Dhyana and then, in its train, came Seva

Nama Article 10th August 2008

 

Mother Krishnabai

 

Papa (Swami Papa Ramdas) asked me to do Nama, Dhyana and Seva simultaneously. In the beginning, Papa asked me to concentrate only on chanting of the Name.

 

As my chanting intensified, it lent me strength to do Dhyana and then, in its train, came Seva.

 

Thus, Papa enabled me to do all the three together and it took me directly to Him.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Japa is the repetition of any mantra or name of the Lord. Mantra Yoga is an exact science. The sacred mantra or the divine name is a vital symbol of the supreme divinity directly revealed in the innermost depths of divine communion to the sages of Se

Nama Article 9th August 2008

 

Swami Sivananda

 

Japa is the repetition of any mantra or name of the Lord.

 

Mantra Yoga is an exact science. "Mananat trayate iti mantrah - by the manana (constant thinking or recollection) of which one is protected or is released from the round of births and deaths, is mantra." That is called mantra by the meditation (manana) on which the jiva or the individual soul attains freedom from sin, enjoyment in heaven and final liberation, and by the aid of which it attains in full the fourfold fruit (chaturvarga), i.e., dharma, artha, kama and moksha. A mantra is so called because it is achieved by the mental process. The first syllable of the word mantra comes from root 'man' meaning 'to think' and 'tra' from 'trai' meaning 'to protect' or 'free' from the bondage of samsara or the phenomenal world.

 

The mantra is a mass of radiant tejas or energy. Mantra awakens supernatural powers. A mantra is divinity. It is divine power or daiva sakti manifesting in a sound body. The mantra itself is devata (deity).

 

Sounds are vibrations. They give rise to definite forms. Each sound produces a form in the invisible world, and combinations of sound create complicated shapes. Thus repeated singing of the name of the Lord builds up gradually the form of the devata or the special manifestation of the deity whom you seek to worship, and this acts as a focus to concentrate the benign influence of the divine being, which radiating from the centre, penetrates the worshipper.

 

The repetition of the panchakshara mantra, 'Om Namah Sivaya' produces the form of Lord Siva. The repetition of 'Om Namo Narayanaya,' the ashtakshara mantra of Vishnu, produces the form of Vishnu.

 

There is the dictum of the Mimamsa philosophers that the gods do not exist apart from the mantras (Mantratmako devah). This really means that when a particular mantra appropriated to a particular god is properly recited, the vibrations so set up create in the higher planes a special form which that God en-souls for the time being.

 

The sacred mantra or the divine name is a vital symbol of the supreme divinity directly revealed in the innermost depths of divine communion to the sages of Self-realisation in the hoary Vedic and Upanishadic times.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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