When one believes in the grace of the Lord alone and totally surrenders to Him, he is liberated in the very same birth.

Nama Article 15th June 2013

 

Question : There is a sloka in 'Bhagavad Gita'

 

aneka janma samsiddhih

thatho yathi parangathim

 

Bhagavad Gita (6 : 45)

 

प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः |

अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ||

 

which means only after several births does one attain liberation."

 

Whereas, another sloka says

 

Thesham samudhartha mruthyu samsarasagarath

Bhavaami nachiraath, Partha, maiyaveshita chethasaam

 

Bhagavad Gita (12 : 6, 7)

 

ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्परः |

अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते ||

 

तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात् |

भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम् ||

 

Which means "one gets liberated from the cycle of birth and death in this very janma".

 

Are not these two slokas contradictory?

 

 

Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji :

 

No, they are not.

 

This has to be viewed in proper perspective. When one believes that liberation comes about only through 'sadhana' he has to go through several births before reaching his goal, whereas, when one believes in the grace of the Lord alone and totally surrenders to Him, he is liberated in the very same birth.

 

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

 

While speaking on Bhakti marga alone Lord Says.........

 

Likewise, it would suffice if we do not block the Grace that is being sent out.

 

God's grace always flows in abundance. It is upto you to be ready to receive it.

 

What is the secret of success?

 

It is up to you to choose the most apt means of transport given your current load of luggage and various other factors

 

The spirit of Devotion cultivated by the recitation of His Name is the best form of virtue and this alone has been declared to be the paramount duty that should be practiced in this world.

 

That love, can sprout only by his grace. His grace descends when we chant the Mahamantra.

 

The intention of continued chanting of the Divine names is to take one to the state of total selfless, unconditional LOVE

 

Everything in our life is predetermined. All we have to do is to turn and fix our mind on Him!

 

Having compassion of the Lord as the foundation, the one which has no rules, the one which can eradicate the force of Kali, Namakirtanam is the only resort. I think again and again about this with in Myself

  

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

There are no qualifications necessary to know ones own name, and the same is true for the knower of Gods knowledge that "I am God”.

Nama Article 14th June 2013

 

Source: Adishankar's Vivekachudamani

 

देवदत्तोहमो त्य् एतद् विज्ञानं निरपेक्षकम्

तद्वद् ब्रह्मविदोप्य् अस्य ब्रह्माहम् इति वेदनम्

 

There are no qualifications necessary to know ones own name, and the

same is true for the knower of Gods knowledge that "I am God".

 

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

 

Incapability is the qualification! You should realize that you are incapable (of treading any spiritual path). AND, THAT IS THE ONLY QUALIFICATION REQUIRED. Chant this Divine Maha Mantra that has been advocated by our Shãstras. It is the easiest way

 

They might hesitate and ask, 'Can I, who have committed innumerable grievous sins, utter the pure Name of the Lord?' Such people need not hesitate or feel shy on this ground; they CAN sing the Divine Name of the Lord boldly and cheerfully!"

 

Lord Hari never discriminates between the learned and unlearned; So, whom so ever repeat His name always, get liberated.

 

I then decided that, though a scholar by profession, I should always remain a humble, ignorant peasant at heart, and pray, like that villager

 

Panditji marveled at Lakshmi's devotion and accepted that her faith was more powerful than his empty learning. He sincerely blessed Lakshmi.

 

The learned pandits tried their hands in various sastras and tried to calculate the distance. Each one gave different answers. Then Peria dasar said "This is a simple answer! Its just at a calling distance !

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

It is no great difficult chore to chant the name of the Lord; There is no other superior means than repeating His names for ones upliftment;

Nama Article 13th June 2013

 

Haripath - Sant Gnyaneshwar

 

एक तत्त्व नाम दृढ धरी मना ।

हरिसी करुणा येईल तूझी ॥ १ ॥

ते नाम सोपे रे रामकृष्ण गोविंद ।

वाचेसी सद्‍गद्‍ जपे आधी ॥ २ ॥

नामापरते तत्त्व नाही रे अन्यथा ।

वाया आणिका पंथा जाशी झणी ॥ ३ ॥

ज्ञानदेवा मौन जपमाळ अंतरी ।

धरोनी श्रीहरि जपे सदा ॥ ४ ॥

 

O my mind, cherish the remembrance of Hari's name and hold on to His name firmly in your mind as the only Tatva;

And Hari showers His mercy on you.

It is no great difficult chore to chant the name of the Lord;

Therefore, please chant His name with a voice that is sweet with love.

There is no other superior means than repeating His names for ones upliftment;

So why should you wander on difficult paths, forsaking the sweet path of His name?

Jnanadev says: I keep silence, and keep turning the rosary of His name within;

Thus my japa is always going on

 

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

 

This is verily a standing example for the fact that faith in God also comes by only by His grace.

 

But if you have faith,even a stone image can talk to you. So I believe that faith is the greatest of all. This faith should be firm and unshakable.

 

Man feels that only the most difficult is the highest, the most difficult way is the best way. This is a very wrong notion

 

There is no other yoga, superior to Nama-kirtan. Kirtan is the ultimate way to attain the Supreme Being.

 

When there is a fine royal path (Chanting the Divine Name), why enter bylanes? - Saint Thayagaraja

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

King Yayaati wanted to make the whole kingdom as a heaven by making all people Chant the Divine Name of the Lord.

Nama Article 12th June 2013

 

Source: KleshaharNamamruta Stotram which is from Bhoomi khanda of Padma Purana

 

King Yayaati has made the Divine nectar, which is Chanting the Divine Name of the Lord, available to all the people for making their life happy, peaceful and prosperous. King Yayaati wanted to make the whole kingdom as a heaven by making all people Chant the Divine Name of the Lord.

 

The Divine Name Keshava removes all the troubles and sufferings of all the people and blesses them with the best of boons. The Divine Name is all blissful and parmartha tatva. The Divine Name of God Vishnu is just like a Amrut, that removes all contaminations, and it is propagated by King Yayaati for the benefit of all people.

 

श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे क्लेशहरनामामृतस्तोत्रम्

 

श्रीकेशवं क्लेशहरं वरेण्यम् आनन्दरूपं परमार्थमेव ।

नामामृतं दोषहरं तु राज्ञा आनीतमत्रैव पिबन्तु लोकाः ॥ 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

These people who opine so should then be greater than the Nãyanmãrs (the 63 prime devotees of Lord Siva), Ãzhwãrs (the 12 prime devotees of Lord Vishnu) and the great people who have given us the Shastras!

Nama Article 11th June 2013

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

" Nãma kirtan and Nãma japam' - 'performance of these two are not sadhanãs to attain God. Dhyana, yoga and severe penance have to be performed for the attainment of God,' is the opinion of many people. These people who opine so should then be greater than the Nãyanmãrs (the 63 prime devotees of Lord Siva), Ãzhwãrs (the 12 prime devotees of Lord Vishnu) and the great people who have given us the Shastras!

 

When we look into the 'pathikams' (praises on Lord Siva) of Nãyanmãrs we find that they speak of the glory of 'Siva Nãma' in several places. The whole of the 'pathikams' contains only the glory of 'Nãma'. Only songs in praises of the Lord, oozing and melting with love (for the Lord) are found in these 'pathikams'. In the case of Ãzhwãrs' 'pãsurams' (praises on Lord Vishnu) also we find that they speak only on the greatness of 'Bhagavãn Nãma' (the Name of the Lord). The need to sing the praises of Bhagavãn is also spoken in them. Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi who advocated Atma vichara (Self-enquiry) to all has in many places spoken on the glory of doing japa of 'Bhagavan Nãma'.

 

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

 

Let the one who cannot do Bhakti go out to do tapas!

 

What is there in this world that devotion to the Lord cannot do?

 

Man feels that only the most difficult is the highest, the most difficult way is the best way. This is a very wrong notion

 

That love, can sprout only by his grace. His grace descends when we chant the Mahamantra.

 

When can one earn Guru krupa? When God decides to bless a person, he receives Guru's grace. One has to be blessed with Bhakti; and that is blessed only by God/Guru.

 

Reciting the Divine Names of Lord Hari, one can overcome the most formidable delusion of mind.

 

There are many ways. But the simplest and the easiest way is by chanting the "Hare Rama.." Mahamantra.

 

They are for those who don't believe in simple prayers.

 

Bhagawan Nama Bodendra Saraswati Swamigal puts forth his findings in the following words, "Since it is so easy and simple, none takes to it!

 

Would it not amount to grave injustice if one shows a difficult path to the world?

 

God gives whatever is required (by His devotee), removes whatever is not needed, leads the devotee in the path suited to him/her; Since Bhagavãn takes utmost interest in the devotee's needs the latter will not earn/attain any 'siddhi'

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Path of Bhakthi has Smaranam(Constant remembrance of Lord), Shravanam(Constantly hearing about Lord) and Keerthanam(Singing the names and glories of the Lord) as its major foundations

Nama Article 10th June 2013

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

This world is under the control of God. God, in turn is under the control of Mantra(Divine name/word). Vedantis worship God in "Abheda Bhava"(considering themselves as one with God), while Bhaktas worship God in "Bheda Bhava"(considering themselves as separate from God).

 

We see that Bhakthi or devotion is best done with Lord Vishnu. Since the path of Bhakthi has Smaranam(Constant remembrance of Lord), Shravanam(Constantly hearing about Lord) and Keerthanam(Singing the names and glories of the Lord) as its major foundations, we require a deity who has beauty, who is easily approachable, who has an enjoyable legend of sports and deeds to capture our heart naturally. All this is fully manifested with SriHari. Hence the domain of bhakthi is dominated by Hari bhakthas.

 

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

 

I know that without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet

 

One should with single-minded devotion sing the Divine Names of Lord Shri Hari with whose mercy alone one obtains spiritual bliss.

 

Coming out of the pillar, Lord Nrisimha Swami calls Prahlad, "Come! My child! I will take you to Vaikuntam (Lord's abode)."

Prahlad says, "I am not selfish. I will not feel elated, 'Oh! Lord is calling me,' and follow you. Crores of people are slogging in 'samsara'. What is the way out ('gati') for all of them? I may come to your place along with all of them. I am not one to sit on your lap just because you have called me, and make merry. I will come only along with all (the others)."

 

You are asking us to do chanting during study time. How do you justify this? - Do chant the Divine Name and Lord will take care."

 

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Prahlada says that it is impossible for one to perform sins to the extent that cannot be destroyed by singing the God's Name.

 

One obtains love of God by constantly chanting His name and singing His glories

 

Prahlada obeyed him in all matters except when he was told not to utter Bhagavannaama (Lord's Name).

 

Let everyone be as he/she is. Why should they change? Let us transform ourselves.

 

Lord here assures that one who is an ordinary bhaktha and even one who does Bhakthi with out total faith will also not be destroyed.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

One should with single-minded devotion sing the Divine Names of Lord Shri Hari with whose mercy alone one obtains spiritual bliss.

Nama Article 9th June 2013

 

Vaishnava Samhita: Vol. I, Book 1 , Chapter 15. Shloka 4

 

Tasmat Sankeertanam Kuryad Ekanta Manasaa Hareh

Yasya Karunya Matrena Labhyate Paramam Sukham

 

One should with single-minded devotion sing the Divine Names of Lord

Shri Hari with whose mercy alone one obtains spiritual bliss.

 

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

 

I know that without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet

 

Coming out of the pillar, Lord Nrisimha Swami calls Prahlad, "Come! My child! I will take you to Vaikuntam (Lord's abode)."

Prahlad says, "I am not selfish. I will not feel elated, 'Oh! Lord is calling me,' and follow you. Crores of people are slogging in 'samsara'. What is the way out ('gati') for all of them? I may come to your place along with all of them. I am not one to sit on your lap just because you have called me, and make merry. I will come only along with all (the others)."

  

You are asking us to do chanting during study time. How do you justify this? - Do chant the Divine Name and Lord will take care."

 

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Prahlada says that it is impossible for one to perform sins to the extent that cannot be destroyed by singing the God's Name.

 

One obtains love of God by constantly chanting His name and singing His glories

 

Prahlada obeyed him in all matters except when he was told not to utter Bhagavannaama (Lord's Name).

 

Let everyone be as he/she is. Why should they change? Let us transform ourselves.

 

Lord here assures that one who is an ordinary bhaktha and even one who does Bhakthi with out total faith will also not be destroyed.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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