The Power of Nama Japa
The Lord Himself has settled the nature of His worship for every age. Bhakti Marga is Kali Yuga's simplest and safest way for Realization of soul for all. Though the scriptures relate that there will be a decline in dharma in this Kali yuga, man can take heart from the fact that it is in this age that the method for Realizing God is easy. Chanting of His Holy name is the prescribed sadhana for the present age, which gives immense pleasure & peace to attain Moksha in one's life. Easy to adopt by anyone it does not have any restriction in the manner, time or place for its recitation. There are different methods in which the Divine names can be handled, Nama Japa, Nama Sankeertana, Bhajans and Recitation of Sthotras, being some of the popular methods followed according to one's preference.
"Nama Japa" means constantly chanting the name of one's beloved God or Guru with respect and devotion to invoke God's blessings and free one from material (worldly) attachments to move towards Spiritual Realization. The Holy name is the Divine medicine to save us from the chronic disease of worldliness. Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh had said that Namasmaran is the 'Namopathy', the best of all Naturopathy, Homeopathy and Allopathy medicines in curing the physical and mental ailments. He gave the gospel 'DIN' that means 'Do It Now.'
The power of Nama Japa is well known to all. In the epilogue to the great Vishnu Sahasra Nama, Parvathi asks Lord Shiva: How do the wise chant the thousand names in brief? And Lord Shiva responds with the well-known couplet "Sri Rama Rama Rameti, Rame Raame Manorame" Rama Nama, he says, is singularly equal to the thousand names. Scriptures say that the celestial Narada Muni once asked Srimannaryana "Which is your permanent abode?". To this Sri Vishnu replied "Naham Vasami Vaikunte,NahiYogi Hridaye,Yatra Mad Bhakta Gayanthe Tatra Thistami Narada !" which means "Oh Narada, I am not in Vaikunta, nor in the hearts of yogis, you will feel my presence where my devotees sing my name with love and affection".
Lord Sainath was very fond of Nama Smaran and Nama Sankeertan. He always uttered 'Allah Malik' and in His presence made others sing God's name continuously day and night for seven days. This is called Nama Sapthaha. In 1913 during the Sri Rama Navami Festival, Sai asked Radhakrishna Aayee to do Nama Sapthaha. Once He asked Shri Das Ganu Maharaj to do Nama Sapthaha and blessed him. Baba in His immortal Sri Sai Satcharitha stated thus " The simple remembrance of my name as 'Sai, Sai' will do away with sins of speech and hearing."(Chap 3) "If you always say 'Sai Sai' I shall take you over the seven seas, believe in these words and you will be certainly benefited."(Chap 13).
(Contributed by continued...)
When Arjuna asked Lord Krishna, "Oh Lord, how can I perceive when I am engaged in worldly activities?" To this Lord Krishna replied, "Oh Arjuna, you can always do my Namajapam by which you will remain in my pure consciousness". (Bhagvadgita). Meerabai turned ecstatic when she discovered the potency of Rama nama. It was like coming upon a treasure - " Payoji maine Ram ratan dhan paayo!" This treasure, she says, none can rob, it does not reduce if you draw from it, in fact, it grows at a compound rate! It is said "God Realization will not spring out of one's heart, if the seed of the name is not sown in the proper soil of a saintly and devoted heart, carefully sifted by the process of renunciation, watered by the tears of Love and Repentance and guarded always by good, moral character." - Sai Ananda.
The practice of chanting the Name of God is recommended by all religions. If one believes in God, he must necessarily believe the word of God as well. Listening to the glory of God (Sravanam) is also as important as chanting His names. It is important to coordinate thought with chant. If the mind wanders while lips utter the Name, the exercise is futile.
In Baba's words " Leave off all your cleverness and always remember Sai, Sai. If you did that all your shackles would be removed and you would be free."(Chap 10) Friends, constant remembrance of Sai is possible only through Nama Japa as there are no restrictions. Let us do the Japa feeling God's presence in everything and everywhere. Let us draw closer and nearer to Him while repeating His name. Let us think He is shining in the chambers of our heart and witnessing the repetition of the Mantra, as He is the witness of our mind!
(Contributed by Sai Eshwari)
Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM
dipika duggal
Topic: NAMA JAPA........ (Read 4826 times)