In Praise of Rama (from The Times of India)

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Today is Ram Navami.

JAI SRI RAM!

 

Keval

 

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THE SPEAKING TREE

In Praise of Rama, Maryada Purusha

P T SREERAM

 

[ FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2003 12:00:27 AM ]

 

Rama nama contains the power of all mantras. Just

uttering the syllable Ra can purge us of all sin. The

following syllable Ma ensures that expunged sins do

not return to plague us.

 

 

The Rama nama mantra stands for Supreme Reality.

Chanting Rama's name produces a rhythmic sound that

soothes and relaxes the mental and physical system.

Mental recitations are equally, if not more,

effective. 'Ra' is taken from the Astakshari Mantra Om

Namo Narayanaya and 'Ma', from Panchakshari Mantra,

Namah Shivaya. The word Rama stands for one who is

always present in the hearts of yogis and makes them

feel happy. Rama nama liberates from ego and desires.

If you are depressed, the mantra will lift your

spirits.

 

 

Adi Shankaracharya praised the Rama mantra and said

that Lord Shankara, knowing the sweetness of it,

initiated his beloved Parvati to it. He tells her:

Sree Rama Rama Ramethi Rame Raame Manorame Sahasranama

Tat Thul-yam Rama Nama Varanane meaning it is only

Rama nama which is equal to a thousand names of

Vishnu. This mantra can be chanted anywhere, anytime

and by anyone. Rama nama has the power of intercession

for the dead. The pall bearers repeat: Ram naam satya

hai (the name of Rama is absolute truth).

 

 

Tulsidas, Ramdas, Kabirdas and Mahatma Gandhi are

among those who thoroughly enjoyed the sweetness of

this mantra. Tulsidas said that if one repeats the

mantra unconsciously, he is taken from hell to

paradise. He said that he is as eager to repeat the

mantra as a Chataka bird is to drink rain drops, the

only source of its survival. Kabirdas believed that

the benefits of Rama nama cannot be destroyed or

robbed. Meera Bai repeated the name of Rama day in and

day out. According to her, it is like nectar in a gold

cup which none can resist. Purandaradasa and

Thyagaraja have immortalised the Rama nama in their

beautiful compositions. Thyagaraja, the saint-poet, is

said to have obtained the darshan of Rama with Sita,

Lakshman and Hanuman after having recited the Rama

nama 950 million times in 38 years on the advice of

his guru. It is even said that Rama nama is mightier

than Rama himself.

 

 

By chanting the Rama nama, a notorious bandit

Ratnakara got liberated of all his past sins and as

Val-miki, went on to author the Ramayana. The Ramayana

is not just a great epic; it is philosophy, history,

mythology and spirituality all rolled into one.

Valmiki describes Rama as having 16 great attributes —

Rama stood for truth, he was a believer of truth, he

was a good son and brother, he was an ideal king and

was a symbol of moral excellence.

 

 

A great king of the Ikshavaku dynasty, Rama is the

most popular and revered incarnation of Maha Vishnu.

Rama's coronation was organised by Sage Vasishta.

While tying the sacred thread (kankana) on Rama's

wrist, sage Vasishta was so mesmeri-sed by Rama's

personality that he is said to have missed the

auspicious moment. Some even attribute Rama's exile

and consequent troubles to this.

 

 

Sage Vishwamitra composed the Suprabhata in praise of

Kaushalya's good fortune in giving birth to an

illustrious child like Rama. The Valmiki Ramayana

contains 24,000 verses of seven khandas (chapters).

The number seven has special significance in the

Ramayana — Ra is the second consonant in the

ya-ra-la-va series in Sanskrit and Ma is fifth of the

pa-pha-ba-bha-ma series, adding up to seven. Rama is

the seventh incarnation of Vishnu. Rama and Ravana

fought for seven days.

 

 

Rama was born on the ninth day of first half (Shukla

Paksha) of Chaitra (first month of the Hindu

calendar). The day of his birth is celebrated as Rama Navami.

 

 

 

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