Efficacy of the Divine name

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Efficacy of the Divine name

 

28-10-1997 :: Pg: 24 :: Col: c

 

Cl: Religion

 

CHENNAI, Oct. 28.

 

The Vedas which declare that the Supreme Reality is birthless also relate in

the same vein that He assumes countless forms. How is one to understand

this apparent contradiction? This is not a scriptural inconsistency, but the

paradox arising due to expression in language the nature of the Almighty,

who is beyond the ken of the senses and the mind. Further, the

God-realised saints attest that it is due to His compassion that He incarnates

from time to time for the redemption of humanity.

 

He was accessible only to those who lived during the eras when He

incarnated and the knowledge we have now is on the basis of the Puranas

and the Itihasas. So what is the way open for humanity during other

periods? His names (Nama) have the same potency and glory and can be

chanted by all at any time. Though the Lord has innumerable names, the

Vishnu Sahasranama which contains a 1000 select names of the Supreme

Being, is in the nature of a hymn which can be chanted by all.

 

In his Harikatha, Kalyanapuram Sri R.Aravamudan said that the glory of the

Vishnu Sahasranama could be appreciated from the fact that it was recited

by Bhishma who was awaiting his end lying on the bed of arrows, before

Lord Krishna Himself, to Yudishtra who wanted clarification on dharma and

was written down by Sage Vyasa. Bhishma attests before commencing the

hymn, ``I am giving for the benefit of all , those names of His which are far-

famed, which are indicative of His attributes and which find a place in the

exalted hymns of the Rishis.''

 

Bhishma lay reflecting that all who had died in the battle beholding Lord

Krishna as he held the reins of the chariot of Arjuna had attained the

beautific state, whereas he was waiting for an auspicious moment to shed

his mortal coil. Intuiting what transpired in the mind of the grandsire, the

Lord rushed to his side and urged the Pandavas to join Him stating that this

was the most appropriate time to clarify whatever they wanted to on the

subject of dharma.

 

In the dialogue that ensued, the Vishnu Sahasranama was chanted in reply

to Yudishtra's query by Bhishma, ``In this universe who is the one Divinity

(at whose command all beings function)? What is the supreme status which

one should seek to attain? Who is that Divinity by praising whom and by

worshipping whom a man attains the good? Which according to you is that

highest form of Dharma capable of bestowing salvation and prosperity on

man? What is that by uttering or reciting which any living being can attain

freedom from the cycle of births and deaths?'' Thus was the efficacy and

glory of the Divine name made known to mankind.

 

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