meaning of Har-Har Mahadev : Glory of God's names

[Guest guest]

Namaste, Dhananjaya-ji and all

 

The rationale of reciting the glory of the Lord's name and the majesty of

His deeds is that the mind is always riddled with desire and hate, lust and

greed, and so is as unsteady as a sailboat in an ocean and as such, needs a

symbol, an Alambanam (prop) upon which the Lord can be superimposed for the

purpose of single-minded concentration. The Lord's name serves as this

symbol. Reciting God's names, repeating them in a certain rhythmic pattern,

recalling God's majesty and splendour, His immanence and transcendence, His

omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, His perfection -- these are the ways

in which one uses the Alambanam of God's names for turning the mind inward.

When man is at an elementary stage of spiritual evolution, as is the case

with most of us, the recitation and repetition of God's names has been held

to be the panacea for all the ills of this recurring cycle of birth and

death. Repeating the name of the Lord is a potent discipline for making

progress towards Final Release. The prop of God's names to turn the mind

inward is used in every religion. But in Hinduism, it is the central cord

that unmistakably vibrates throughout its vast tradition, literature and

culture. The eloquence with which this literature is extolled by Sage Narada

to VyAsa in a dramatic revelation about his own life must be enjoyed in the

original. (bhAgavatam I - Chapter 5) Only that literature is worthwhile,

says Narada (Sloka 11, ibid) which is replete with the transcendental

glories of the name, fame and miracles of the Infinite Supreme Lord. Only

such a literature will bring about a revolution in the impious ways of our

misdirected civilization. Even if that literature is imperfectly composed,

goes on Narada, it will be heard, sung and accepted by honest people all

over the world.

 

He is 'hara' because, 'har' is the root word for destruction. He carries

away or destroys the samsAra or the sins of man. He carries away the sins of

even evil-minded people. He is prepared to crucify himself for atonement of

man's sins. He is prepared to go through several years of life of penance in

a forest in order to show to mankind how living up to Truth and Promise is

most important.

 

He revels in the great knowledge of the Atman, ignoring all trifles; hence

he is 'mahA-deva', the Great Shining Glory.

 

He is victorious in acquiring the great treasure ('dhanaM') of spiritual

knowledge; hence he is 'dhanan-jaya' !

 

For more on this topic see

http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/1204.html

 

PraNAms to all advaitins.

profvk

 

 

 

 

For almost everything you wanted to know about Hindu philosophy, go to

http://www.geocities.com/profvk/

For an English translation of Kanchi Mahaswamigal's Discourses on Advaita

Sadhana go to

http://www.geocities.com/profvk/VK2/Advaita_Saadhanaa.html

[Guest guest]

Om Om V.Krishnamurthy ji,

I am really thankful to you. Now it is clear to me.

 

On 1/4/07, V. Krishnamurthy <profvk > wrote:

>

> Namaste, Dhananjaya-ji and all

>

> The rationale of reciting the glory of the Lord's name and the majesty of

> His deeds is that the mind is always riddled with desire and hate, lust

> and

> greed, and so is as unsteady as a sailboat in an ocean and as such, needs

> a

> symbol, an Alambanam (prop) upon which the Lord can be superimposed for

> the

> purpose of single-minded concentration. The Lord's name serves as this

> symbol. Reciting God's names, repeating them in a certain rhythmic

> pattern,

> recalling God's majesty and splendour, His immanence and transcendence,

> His

> omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, His perfection -- these are the

> ways

> in which one uses the Alambanam of God's names for turning the mind

> inward.

> When man is at an elementary stage of spiritual evolution, as is the case

> with most of us, the recitation and repetition of God's names has been

> held

> to be the panacea for all the ills of this recurring cycle of birth and

> death. Repeating the name of the Lord is a potent discipline for making

> progress towards Final Release. The prop of God's names to turn the mind

> inward is used in every religion. But in Hinduism, it is the central cord

> that unmistakably vibrates throughout its vast tradition, literature and

> culture. The eloquence with which this literature is extolled by Sage

> Narada

> to VyAsa in a dramatic revelation about his own life must be enjoyed in

> the

> original. (bhAgavatam I - Chapter 5) Only that literature is worthwhile,

> says Narada (Sloka 11, ibid) which is replete with the transcendental

> glories of the name, fame and miracles of the Infinite Supreme Lord. Only

> such a literature will bring about a revolution in the impious ways of our

> misdirected civilization. Even if that literature is imperfectly composed,

> goes on Narada, it will be heard, sung and accepted by honest people all

> over the world.

>

> He is 'hara' because, 'har' is the root word for destruction. He carries

> away or destroys the samsAra or the sins of man. He carries away the sins

> of

> even evil-minded people. He is prepared to crucify himself for atonement

> of

> man's sins. He is prepared to go through several years of life of penance

> in

> a forest in order to show to mankind how living up to Truth and Promise is

> most important.

>

> He revels in the great knowledge of the Atman, ignoring all trifles; hence

> he is 'mahA-deva', the Great Shining Glory.

>

> He is victorious in acquiring the great treasure ('dhanaM') of spiritual

> knowledge; hence he is 'dhanan-jaya' !

>

> For more on this topic see

> http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/1204.html

>

> PraNAms to all advaitins.

> profvk

>

> For almost everything you wanted to know about Hindu philosophy, go to

> http://www.geocities.com/profvk/

> For an English translation of Kanchi Mahaswamigal's Discourses on Advaita

> Sadhana go to

> http://www.geocities.com/profvk/VK2/Advaita_Saadhanaa.html

>

>

>