From the period of the Ãzhwãrs to ‘charitra kãla’ (historical period) to this day, several Mahans have come down to the earth and rendered us ‘parama upakãram’ (highest help). What help they have they rendered us? They have offered loads and loads of Nãmasankirtan.

Nama Article 8^th November 2014

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

"What is the essence of all the Shastras, the Brahma Sutra, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, etc. that I have offered (to the world)? Worship Narayana with Nãmasankirtan!" One cannot counter this if none other than Veda Vyasa has declared it.

 

This is the reason that we find several Mahans, incarnated in this Bharata desa, showing the path of Nãmasankirtan to us, by vouchsafing it to be one supported by the Shastrãs, the Dharma, as also adopted by Mahans.

 

The first three Ãzhwãrs were the first to perform Nãmasankirtan. Beginning from the Ãzhwãrs and later the Nãyanmãrs innumerable Mahans have incarnated. From the period of the Ãzhwãrs to 'charitra kãla' (historical period) to this day, several Mahans have come down to the earth and rendered us 'parama upakãram' (highest help). What help they have they rendered us? They have offered loads and loads of Nãmasankirtan. Have they not? They give us Bhagavan Nãma in heaps. Don't they? This is verily 'parama upakãram'! Only due to their deep compassion ('kripai'), thousands of them coming down one after another ('vãzhai adi vãzhai') in this Bharata desa, have offered such loads and loads of Bhagavan Nãma to all. Yet, considering the population ('jana samooham') on earth, any number of Mahans does not suffice. Any number of Mahans coming down is not adequate for the number of people on earth.

 

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

 

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

 

Though you love him or her always, the birthday of your dearest friend or relative is special to you. You celebrate it as an expression of your love towards him/her, do you not? When you shower your divine love and devotion to God, it is called Bhakti. Hence you celebrate days that are auspicious to that Divine Name and Form that you love the most.  

 

Guru's boundless grace is immeasurable, limitless and infinite.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Once you wake up you must perform Năma Sankîrtanam.

Nama Article 6^th November 2014

 

Today is Maha Raasa Poornima

 

The Ăzhwăr sings this, "Năvalam periyathîvinil văzhum nangaimîrgall, ido or arpudham kellîr". What is amazing? The Swamy here writes his commentary. We do not know if even the păsuram conveys this. One should observe the heart ('răsikyamăna hrdyam') of the Swamy that enjoys this. Which is the beauty/wonder here? Is it the music from the flute ('venu gănam') of Bhagavăn that is the wonder? Or, the 'mayil pîli' (peacock feather) that is worn by him on his head that is the wonder? Or, are the anklets on His Feet the wonder? Or, is His standing as 'Tribangi' the wonder? In the divine ocean of milk, the Lord bears the beauty of a crore Manmathas (the God of beauty/love), lotus like eyes, a perfectly chiseled nose, soft lips, ('kotimanmatha lăvanyan, nayanumum, champaka năsikamum, komalamăna adharamum'). Which amongst these is amazing? "Not all these", says the Swamy. "There are people sitting at home even while the Lord is playing 'răsam'! It is only this that is amazing to me!" So, 'ido or arpudham kellîr' - "Bhagavăn is playing 'răsam' yet some of you are at home without rushing to join Him!" So, with the desire that all should join the 'răsam' Periyăzhwăr called out to everyone. Then, will the daughter of Periyăzhwăr be anything less? So, she, too, calls everyone, "vaiyathu văzhvîrgăll, nămum nam păvaiku". What does she say here? It is the 'păvai' to be worshipped by us. She includes us also. When asked, "Whose house is this?" Some people will reply, 'Nam' meaning "Ours" i.e yours and mine. ('nam vîdu'). Come to our house ('nămmăthukku văngo'). So, it means she is including us, too. Some people say, "Come to my house." So, here what does she mean by saying 'the worship to be performed by us'? 'Nămum nam păvaikku'. She tells us also to take up the 'nonbu'. Even if one were not (living) during the period of 'păvai nonbu' one can do it mentally ('mănasîgama'). So, even if waking up early ('ushat kăl') in Mărgazhi month is a good tradition what is the practice followed by us? Swami Vivekananda explains excellently, "We always leave out what is important and take to that which is not of any 'săram' (importance)). What is the reason (for him saying so)? It is not enough if one wakes up early.

 

One should wake up early and perform Năma Sankîrtanam/Bhagavat ărădhana. One says, 'I woke up at 3'o clock in Mărgazhi.' But on waking up watching T.V. or reading the newspaper is of no use. Once you wake up so early you must worship Bhagavăn ('Bhagavat ărădhana'). Once you wake up you must perform Năma Sankîrtanam. Similarly, mere fasting on Vaikunta Ekădasi is of no use. Along with the fast one should meditate on Bhagavăn ('Bhagavat dhyăna'). Why is fast ('upavăsam') ordained for that day? If one goes on fast the mind becomes one-pointed. 'Upa văsam' means to be (live) near Bhagavăn. So, it is not enough if we take hold of just the literal meaning ('sthula') but one should understand the underlying meaning ('sukshma') also.

 

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

 

"Just as there is a mantra to earn money and a mantra for being cured of diseases, to attain 'Prema Bhakti' it will suffice if one would keep chanting 'Radhe! Radhe!' This mantra will certainly bestow 'Gopi bhăva' and 'Prema Bhakti' towards Sri Krishna."

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

So is not the Divine Name superior to even liberation?

Nama Article 5^th November 2014

 

Sri Sri Krishna Premi Swamigal

 

Lord Rama after His coronation offered gifts for all His subjects. He enquired Hanuman what he desired. Hanuman replied, "I want to live for many more yugas." The Lord asked, "Why don't you desire liberation?". Hanuman replied, "I desire to experience the joy of Chanting your Name. If I am liberated I cannot do that. So I asked for long life." The Lord too granted His desire.

 

So is not the Divine Name superior to even liberation?

 

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

 

Nama kirtan even after liberation

 

I don't want liberation; I want love of God!

 

And the person who enjoys Chanting the Divine Name and derives pleasure ('Aanandha') with the mere chanting/singing is likened to the King. Mahatmas are like the King.

 

Despite Shri Shankara being a staunch believer in the conception of the Formless Supreme Being.........

 

All I know is Ram Nam

 

Paramahamsas are immersed in the Chanting of Divine names of the Lord

 

Hanuman worked tirelessly for Rama. He also performed incessant Rama japa. We should also be like this.

 

At the same time performing activities without spiritual practices is meaningless. We should learn to be like Hanuman by balancing both types of activities.

Singing the glories of God with true love is superior even to the bliss of liberation.

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

Ramdas has told you practically everything he had to say. He has emphasised again and again the importance of taking the holy Name of God.

Nama Article 4^th November 2014

 

Swami Papa Ramdas

 

The Essence Of Ramdas' Message:

 

Ramdas has told you practically everything he had to say. He has emphasised again and again the importance of taking the holy Name of God. He can tell you that it is a key that opens the gate to the realm of perfect happiness, peace and freedom. He who has tuned his mind to the Name of God and is conscious of His presence within and everywhere about him, has achieved the goal of life.

 

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

 

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.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

It is God-madness that makes us remember Him constantly. For, if He possesses us, we cannot forget Him. Until then we must go on repeating His name.

Nama Article 3^rd November 2014

 

Swami Papa Ramdas

 

God-Madness Ensures Remembrance:

 

Ramdas was praying to God: "O God, make me stark mad of Thee". It is God-madness that makes us remember Him constantly. For, if He possesses us, we cannot forget Him. Until then we must go on repeating His name.

 

When Ramdas was in this state of madness, a friend said to him: "By repeating God's name you are running mad. You must give it up". But Ramdas replied: "No. He will repeat it so incessantly that he will make the very walls in this room vibrate with the Name." This was the determination which God gave him at that time. That is how God has made him what he is. By His grace alone Ramdas was made to enter this path, by His grace alone he was made to walk on it, and by His grace alone he reached the goal.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

The result was that God gave him Satsang, because in the company of saints it was easy to remember God.

Nama Article 2^nd November 2014

 

Swami Papa Ramdas

 

Remembrance Comes By Grace:

 

God's remembrance can come to our mind only through His grace. Otherwise, how can we remember Him? There are so many who are striving, but His grace has not come to them. They are like fish out of water, pining and pining for Him. When God's grace comes, the stream of remembrance flows into their mind continuously, and everything necessary is done to maintain the remembrance. The remembrance must be unbroken like a "Thaila Dhara", which means the flow of oil. When oil is poured from one vessel to another, you see it flows unbroken. The moment there is a break in the remembrance of God, at once the ego-sense takes possession of us and darkness sets in.

 

Ramdas was praying to God: "O God, keep your remembrance in my mind ceaselessly." The result was that God gave him Satsang, because in the company of saints it was easy to remember God. He also got such food as was conducive to keep him awake all night, because sleep depends mainly upon the food we take. God made him take only a very small quantity of food. Every minute Ramdas was in a state of fear lest he should forget Him any time. He ran into solitude for the purpose. Company of worldly-minded men was not conducive to remembrance of God.

 

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

 

Just like a cool shade which soothes someone who has walked a long distance under the sun, those beings who have been attacked by the sorrows of the world frequent such Mahãns

 

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

 

How does a Sadhu argues the case of ordinary persons with the Lord?

 

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.

 

To associate oneself in Satsang (being in the company of Holy persons) brings detachment towards worldly pursuits.

 

Satsang is the confluence of the Triveni* of the Lord, the Devotee and the Name.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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

We see in the Hindu scriptures the assurance given by God to the effect that he who wants to remain constantly in His remembrance, and strives to do it at all times, will be provided with all the means necessary for it by God

Nama Article 1^st November 2014

 

Swami Papa Ramdas

 

Discipline To Keep Up God-Remembrance:

 

If you do any Sadhana it must be to keep up God-remembrance continuously. Sadhana or discipline by itself cannot grant you anything. If it is done with a view to maintaining unbroken the stream of God-thought, so that no other thought can obtrude and create confusion in the mind, you will be alert always. Even this alertness can come only under certain conditions, and these conditions must be created by God for you.

 

We see in the Hindu scriptures the assurance given by God to the effect that he who wants to remain constantly in His remembrance, and strives to do it at all times, will be provided with all the means necessary for it, namely, the necessary company, environments and conditions favourable for His remembrance. He must be tremendously sincere. Then God provides everything necessary for this advancement.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

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