Chanting God's names will save the soul

The simplest, easiest and most effective remedy, advocated by saints and prescribed in the scriptures, to ensure that all the consequences of the mistakes and sins that we commit may be unintentionally and unknowingly - can be effaced, in the present age, where want of time is a major factor in resorting to the religious exercises is to chant the names of God.

Holy texts cite examples of how men despite misdeeds had escaped punishment by remembering God and uttering His names just once, at the time when they are about to die. It may not be possible for everyone to go through the rigid formula of observing severe austerities, conducting penance or undertaking deep study of texts or even visiting temples. To them, the advice is to utter God's name with faith and all his faults will be condoned.

This should not immediately make a happy-go-lucky person conclude that he can "enjoy" and lead a life of licentiousness and then seek to atone for all his sins by adopting this method. Whatever is easy need not be cheap. There is no guarantee that when he is in the throes of death, his mental faculties will be alert and he can call the Almighty. On the other hand, that is the crucial time when he may even be able to think or see, but may not be able to say one word. To recite God's name should hence arise out of one's constant practise in earlier days and one should have taken to the path of devotion.

God's names are not mere empty words, but contain the potency to clear all the dirt within. They are compared to the tiny matchsticks capable of incinerating a huge pile of rubbish kept accumulated. Also, in chanting, the names, should not be tested for their validity. No one will be foolish to analyse chemically the medicine that is purchased on the doctor's advice, to find out their ingredients. What the physician prescribes is taken with the hope that it will cure us.

The manner in which Draupadi was saved by her stirring appeal to "Govinda" is an example often cited to refer to the significance of chanting God's name. Likewise, Bhagavatham mentions the Ajamila episode to prove how God is merciful even to the worst sinner. In his discourse, Sri S. Jayarama Sarma said this pious man, who by a quirk of fate, fell a victim to lust, when about to breathe his last called his last child, named after the Lord, and even this act brought him a lease of life.
                                                                        February 12, 1985

Peace within, through renunciation

Where a man is compelled to walk on a road full of thorns, he uses footwear. Likewise when he is made to experience the trammels of the world, he can surmount any obstacle using God's names as a protective armous. Chanting is an easy process and the names exert a powerful influence on man and condition his mind. Peace within can be enjoyed through renunciation and purity. No one is asked to discard family ties and run away from homes seeking solitude. On the other hand, he should discharge his family obligations but while doing so, he should always remember God and dedicate the fruits of his action at His feet. He should remain detached. He can cultivate devotion by the recitation of Divine attributes, which serve to flush out the impurities in his mind. Even as the jackfruit is obtained only by peeling the outer skin by smearing oil on the palms, gradual detachment is possible by continuously chanting God's names. Man should avoid greed and treat lust and lucre with contempt. These are some of the teachings of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who was born 150 years ago and lived for nearly five decades. The Ramakrishna monastic order was established a century ago. He was one of the God-men. In preaching the gospel of God, Swami Ramakrishna asked men to entrust the burden of life at God's feet even as a traveler in a train keeps his luggage on the upper rack. He does not carry it on his head while the train is in motion.

In a lecture Sri. N. Giridhari Prasad said the saint went through a process of self-introspection, practised spiritual discipline and then started sermonising. He based his teachings on Vedic tenets. According to the saint, the world may be likened to water and the mind to milk; the latter, once mixed with the former, cannot be brought back to its original form. Its purity can be kept only in another state, that is if it is turned into butter and then placed in water, "Let the milk of your mind be churned into the Butter of Divine Love by means of religious practices done in solitude.
                                                                        January 10, 1987

Chanting the Nama brings peace

Caught in the trammels of worldly activities, even a sincere person, who is zealous of maintaining religious traditions, may find it difficult to perform the various spiritual exercises and observe the austerities. There is no need to feel depressed because Scriptures have provided an easy method of invoking divine bliss. It is to chant God's numerous names which spell out His auspicious attributes and boundless compassion towards humanity. The distressed and the enfeebled can get relief from grief and enjoy happiness by this simple process, the only condition being that they should have total faith in its efficacy.

If a person recites the holy names of God even unconsciously, his sins will dissolve like salt in water. The recitation can be done at all times, by all and in all places, with little or no expenses. The test of sincerity is that the body will be thrilled when the names are uttered and tears will stream down the eyes, the voice getting choked with emotion. There is spiritual power and potency in each name and it serves to realise the Lord.

The son of the great Saint Kabir once told his father that he cured a sick person, a devotee of God, of a dreadful disease by chanting "Ram, Ram". Instead of getting enthused over his son's achievement, Kabir chided him. People around were amazed and felt that Kabir might have become insane. Kabir told his son that he had not understood the sanctity of the Lord's name and that even by uttering "Ram" just once, the purpose would have been gained. Repeating it might mean reducing the name's greatness. Kabir then asked him to meet Tulsidas and Surdas.

Kamal (the boy) who went to Tulsidas was taken to a colony of leprosy patients where the Saint poured Ganges water into their mouths, uttering "Ram" only once. There was instant relief and all the cured joined in the prayers, in praise of God. When Kamal met Surdas, the latter led him to a corpse and uttered "Ram" once into its ear when the dead man rose, as if from a dream. Swami Vimalananda in a discourse also referred to dacoit Ratnakara becoming Valmiki, by virtue of his "initiation" with the "Rama" Mantra. The glory of God's names cannot be established through reasoning and intellect. It can be experienced, through devotion and a continuous repetition of the "Nama".
                                                                        February 5, 1988

Chanting Divine names, easy way to Salvation

One of the most distinguishing traits which every person should try to cultivate is to forget even the greatest help and most merciful deed that he might have done to others. At the same time, he should never forget even the smallest assistance that he has received. These ideals are indeed very difficult to practise, because invariably the tendency is to boast about even an insignificant help done to others. Sri Rama, God-incarnate, displayed the rare quality of magnifying others virtues. If someone had shown Him even an insignificant gesture of goodwill, He would go out of the way to glorify it and even blow it out of proportion.

It should be the aim of every man to do good to others always. Based on this arises the maxim – think no evil, do no evil and never conduct yourself in a way that makes others hate you. To uphold this, the mind should be kept pure. The mind functions like a camera lens, retaining whatever be the object on which it is focused. Scriptures point out to jealousy and ostentation as the roots of evil. To keep the mind steady, without being pulled in many directions, the mere closing of the eyes or retiring to a secluded spot may not serve the purpose. Our prayers to God and the love we show Him will make Him give us the powers to resist temptations.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba, in a discourse, said that even as a person who has money can purchase what he desires, a devoted person can adopt the easy method of chanting the Divine names and with the spiritual powers so secured, plead with God to show mercy. His names serve as wealth to "purchase" the Almighty. Hinduism is so broadbased that people see God in every creation, the reason why they worship basil (thulasi) plant, specially chosen trees, the cows and the idols. To lead a peaceful and virtuous life, one should never abuse others, as that is bound to recoil.

Another vital message that should be remembered is that our kith and kin can accompany us only up to the grave but God alone is our permanent companion and hence we should place our total faith in Him and seek His constant guidance. The example of Harischandra should remind us of the need to uphold the principles of righteous conduct. The killing by Sri Rama of Thataki indicates the need to subdue wicked propensities in us, of restoring life to Ahalya and seeing to her reunion with her sage, about the necessity to be polite and gentle and the embracing of Sri Sita to His fold, about God's close affinity with His devotees (rajas, tamas and sattva qualities). God's presence can be felt by our deep devotion and service to humanity.
                                                                        March 27, 1989

The power of Divine names

It is an admitted fact that no one is infallible. Born as a human being, one cannot avoid committing sins or mistakes or misdeeds – in some cases this may not however be deliberate. But as per Divine dispensation, the act will deserve punishment. Scriptures however say that expiatory measures can be adopted by the erring man whereby he can plead with God and express his regret that he had carried out the prohibited act without being aware of the, consequences and assure Him that he will not repeat the act, Gods response will be instantaneous.

A question is asked as what will happen if the penitent, after some time repeats, the sinful act. The propitiatory process of reciting the names of God will take care of even such a situation. The chanting makes the generator, from which the misdeeds originate, to stop totally.

The constant repetition of Divine names with faith and confidence of securing the pardon from the Divinity has been proclaimed as a universal remedy for the ills of man. One who suffers from troubles, who feels miserable, who has no strong foothold, who is afraid of this worldly existence, who is afflicted with terrible diseases, who suffers from psychic disorders like imaginary tension and delusion – all can take recourse to this easy method to win God's grace. Age, sex, status, time, method of expression and nature or magnitude of the sinful act will not matter.

One may not even be aware of the way to pronounce it properly or know the meaning, but one will be freed of the sins. God destroys all of them when He is remembered even by men of evil designs, Sri M.R. Nagasubramaniam said in a discourse.

This extremely simple process of seeking Divine intervention does not take cognizance of the intention of the individual. A leper who wished to commit suicide took a sip from a pitcher of nectar left in his hand by a stranger warning him that it contained poison, was cured of his illness. Even as a small match stick can reduce a hayrick to ashes, though the act might have been caused by a child, Divine names can save everyone even if uttered casually.
                                                                         July 11, 1990