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Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/07/12/stories/2002071200500800.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

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Religion

  

 

God redeems His devotee's word

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

JULY 12

 

.. The script0ures and sages have advocated the chanting of the divine names as

the easiest means for realising God because of their potency and also for the

reason that they can be handled by one and all. It can be recited alone or in

the form of a Mantra. Saints have out of compassion for the suffering mankind

strung together the divine names in the form of hymns, for easy chanting. Though

each name of God is sacred, some names have been singled out as superior for

certain reasons. The name "Rama" is one such name. The Ramayana describes how

this name was chosen for the Lord from among His countless names when He

incarnated as the son of Dasaratha. Tulasidasa has devoted as many as 60 Dohas

(couplets) in his Ramayana to highlight the glory of this name. The prime reason

for its efficacy as a means to liberation is due to it being both a name of the

Supreme Being and also a Mantra. It is hailed as the Taraka mantra capable of

cutting the Gordian knot of rebirths.

 

In her discourse, Srimathi Jaya Srinivasan said the Lord went to any length to

fulfil the word of His devotee. His incarnation as Narasimha by emerging from a

pillar to carry out Prahlada's declaration of His omnipresence is a fine

example. Likewise, Sage Narada obtained a boon from Lord Rama during His

manifestation that His name should surpass all the other divine names. This

incident is highlighted in the Ramacharitamanasa. When Narada saw Rama suffering

due to separation from Sita in the sylvan environs of Lake Pampa, he felt

greatly perturbed that the Lord was undergoing such hardships by submitting

Himself to his curse and made haste to His side. He sang His glory and Rama

hugged the divine sage with joy. After Narada was sure that Rama had got over

that spell of despondency he asked Him for a boon and the Lord agreed to grant

it without any hesitation.

 

Narada asked, "Even though my Lord has many names, each greater than the rest,

as the Vedas declare, let the name Rama surpass all other names in exterminating

the whole brood of sins even as a fowler kills an entire flock of birds. May the

name Rama shine as the moon and the other names as the stars in the cloudless

sky of Your devotee's heart during the full moon night of devotion to You."

Tulasidasa says that Rama nama can be recited in any manner and by anyone and

the reward is steadfast devotion to God even though the person may not have the

necessary requisites like dispassion, prayer and concentration of mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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