Very soon his nescience was wiped out and he became a Jnani!

Nama Article 22nd December 2007

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Power of Divine Name

 

A classic example of this is Sarngdev who had a huge following of wealthy powerful men. He was a Siddha Purusha (one who has paranormal powers) who could even revive the dead. Thus, he was sought after by one and all and there was always a long line of the dead and their relatives at his doorstep!

 

Once Mukta Bai, the little sister of Saint Jnanadev, enquired about this long line of dead. On learning the reason the little one said to the relatives of the dead, "I can also revive them to life!" and chanted the Nama 'Vittala'! 'Vittala'! in each one's ear and the dead jumped back on 'its' feet and danced away singing the Nama 'Vittala'! 'Vittala'!

 

The belittled Sarngdev rode on a lion to accost Jnanadev whom he looked upon as his archenemy. Jnanadev who was poor and lived in a hut was repairing the broken wall of his hut. He saw Sarngdev ride arrogantly on a lion and only to teach him that 'Siddhis' were silly matters, sat on the wall and tapped it; and it moved up to Sarngdev! The astounded Sargndev fell at the feet of Jnanadev as he realized his own folly and the emptiness of all around him.

 

He sought knowledge from Jnanadev who blessed him with the Nama 'Vittala'! Sarngdev gave up his wealth, relatives and followers immediately and took to incessant chanting of the Name of Vittala into which Jnanadev had initiated him. Very soon his nescience was wiped out and he became a Jnani!  

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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

His mother, corrected him saying that, uttering Rama Nama once would do!

Nama Article 21st December 2007

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Sri Viswadhikendra Saraswati Swamigal (Athma Bodendral) one day called Sri Bhagavan Nama Bodendra Saraswati Swamigal and asked him to go out to the world and spread the greatness of the Divine Name of God. He said, 'the Vidwans are well learned and would question the statement that mere Divine Name can lead to liberation. You are to properly argue with them based on Shastras and establish the greatness of Bhagavan Nama."

 

He instructed his disciple to go to Puri Kshetra and meet a Mahan by the name Lakshmidhara Kavi in order to obtain the book "Bhagavan Nama Kaumudi" which dealt with the greatness of Bhagavan Nama. The Guru asked him to write Granthas based on this Text.

 

Adhering to his guru's words, Bodendra Saraswati set out to Puri. It was about midnight when he reached Lakshmidhara Kavi's home. Not willing to disturb the household at night, the ascetic rested in the pyol outside the house.

 

That night, a strange incident happened. A Brahmin accompanied by a woman, whose form and features does not resemble a Brahmin lady in those days, knocked the door of Sri Lakshmidhara Kavi. A young man came out of the house and enquired what they wanted. The visitor said that he had a doubt that he wanted clarified from Lakshmidhara Kavi. The young man said that he was Lakshmidhara Kavi 's son, Jagannatha Kavi. He said that his father was out of town. However he had taught him all the Shastras and that he could clarify the visitor's doubt. The Brahmin said, 'I hail from South India. I went on a pilgrimage to the north and when I returned, could not find my wife. She was abducted. It is just now that I found her. However, she does not have the form and features of a Brahmin anymore. I wanted to know if I could lead a family life with this lady again." Jagannatha Kavi immediately said, 'Tomorrow morning, take her to the pond adjoining the Jagannath Temple. Dip her in the pond chanting the "Rama" Nama thrice. When she emerges, she will be purified and you can lead family life with her again. His mother, who peeped from the house, corrected him saying that, uttering Rama Nama once would do!

 

Sri Bodendra was taken aback witnessing this incident. He immediately introduced himself to them and requested them for the book and studied it thoroughly.

 

The next morning, the whole city was gathered around the pond adjoining the temple. The Brahmin brought the lady and dipped her in the pond chanting the Taraka Mantra. To everyone's surprise, when the woman emerged out of water, she had shed her current form, and had exactly the same form and features when she lived with the Brahmin earlier, clearly illustrating the power of the Rama Nama. To prove that she had been purified by the Rama Nama, Sri Bodendra Swamigal asked her to cook the meals for the day, and he himself partook of it.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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

Performance of Nama kirtan during auspicious days will destroy these ten sinful errors

Nama Article 20th December 2007

 

Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Bhagavan Nama Bodendra Sarawathi Swamigal speaks of ten kinds of Nama 'apachara' (sinful error) that occur while Chanting the Divine Name. Chanting the Divine Name with these ten sinful errors will not yield the desired results. If these ten sinful errors have been stated for Chanting the Divine Name, some atonement must have also been prescribed. Is that not right? In this context Bhagavan Nama Bodendra Sarawathi Swamigal says, 'Nama kirtanam (Chanting the Divine Name) performed during 'punya kala' (auspicious time) will annihilate the ten Nama 'apacharas'.'

 

Let us say that knowingly or unknowingly you have committed the ten sinful errors. Those who do Nama kirtan perform them in auspicious time also. Performance of Nama kirtan during these auspicious days will destroy these ten sinful errors. It is Vaikunta Ekadasi today; it is a great 'punya kãla' (auspicious day).

 

There is no kirtan greater than the Maha Mantra ('Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!). So, instead of choosing some Sankirtan we shall all chant the Maha Mantra today.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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

SOUND AND IMAGE

Nama Article 19th December 2007

 

Swami Sivananda

 

SOUND AND IMAGE

 

Sounds are vibrations. They give rise to definite forms. Each sound produces a form in the indivisible world, and combinations of sound create complicated shapes. Repetition of a Mantra has a mysterious power of bringing about the manifestation of the Divinity, just as the splitting of an atom manifests the tremendous forces latent in it. 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 ensouls for the time being.

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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

Our ancient Sages and Rishis have glorified the Rama Nama

Nama Article 18th December 2007

 

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

Thus spake the Sages:

Our ancient Sages and Rishis have glorified the Rama Nama.

Rama Nama gets exactly the same importance in Saguna Upasana (worshipping the Absolute Truth as a Being with a form) as does the Pranava ('Om') Mantra in Nirguna Upasana (worshipping the Absolute Truth as formless).

Rishi Manu shows that the Rama Nama has links to all the other mantras that ever exist.

In Syavana Smriti (Syavana is the name of a rishi), Syavana says that the Rama Nama is the essence of all the Vedas, Shastras, Itihasas and Puranas.

Sage Vasishta meditated on the Rama Nama for quite a long time. Hence he wanted to name the Almighty with the same Mantra that he had chanted.  

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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

I will beat the drums by thundering your Divine Name and create tremors in all directions!

Nama Article 17th December 2007

 

As a great Tamil poet Sri Bharathiyar ranked with Ilanko, Thiruvalluvar and Kamban. His writings gave new life to the Tamil language - and to Tamil national consciousness. He involved himself actively in the Indian freedom struggle. His 125 ^th Birthday was celebrated all over the world on 11^th December 2007.

 

Mahakavi Bharathiyar was a great devotee of Lord Krishna and has enjoyed singing various songs by considering Krishna as his friend, Krishna as his mother, Krishna as his father, Krishna as his master, Krishna as his King, Krishna as his disciple, Krishna as his Guru, Krishna as his child and Krishna as his lover.

 

In a collection of songs where Mahakavi Bharathiyar has considered Krishna as his Lord prays as below:

 

Hey Krishna!   Relieve us all from the misery, disorders and slavery and grant us all the happiness!

 

I will follow the path ordered by you and hence sing your names and dance ecstatically with love my Lord!

 

I will follow the path ordered by you!

 

 

I will propagate the glories of your Divine Name in all slums by going around and spreading them!

 

I will beat the drums by thundering your Divine Name and create tremors in all directions!

 

Oh My Lord Krishna! I will thunder your name!  

 

Song in Tamil:

 

கண்ணன்- என் ஆண்டான்

 

துன்பமும் நோயும் மிடிமையுந் தீர்த்துச்
சுகமருளல் வேண்டும் ;
அன்புடன் நின் புகழ் பாடிக்குதித்து நின்
ஆணை வழி நடப்பபேன் ;
ஆண்டே!- ஆணை வழி நடப்பேன்.


சேரி முழுதும் பறையடித் தேயருட்
சீர்த்திகள் பாடிடுவேன் ;'
பேரிகை கொட்டித் திசைக ளதிரநின்
பெயர் முழக்கிடுவேன் .
ஆண்டே! பெயர் முழக்கிடுவேன்

 

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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

 

Chanting the ‘Nama’ (Name) is verily dhyana

Nama Article 16th December 2007

 

Swami Papa Ramdas

 

Chanting the 'Nama' (Name) is verily dhyana

 

The melody of 'Nama' spreads the glory of 'prema' (Love) in the place where 'Divya Nama' bhajan is performed and fills it with purity, peace and joy.

 

'Divya Nama' (the Divine Name) is absolute. Chanting the 'Nama' is verily dhyana.

 

The ecstasy experienced as a result of this is verily 'samadhi'. The Divine Name is verily Love, Light, Power and Joy!

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan  :

 

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