Why Nama Kirtan?

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Dear members,

 

Our Swamiji's answer to the question posted in

Namadwaar by one of the devotee.

 

Sanathana Dharma is the oldest faith in the world.

The Vedas, which are the foundation of our Dharma and

is supposedly the intellect of the Lord Almighty

Himself, have all the wealth of knowledge to guide us

in leading a happy and prosperous life in this world

as well as beyond.

 

Srimad Bhagavad Gita, which is considered as a concise

extract of the Vedas and the Supreme advice of God to

mankind, speaks of four broad 'Yogas' (paths) to reach

Him - namely Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and

Raja Yoga. While all of these Yogas are equally

powerful in giving the same merit, each of them

enforces a specific way of life and expects the Sadhak

to abide by the rules and regulations laid down for

the Yoga.

 

Today, it is a busy world. We have no time to think

about God, religion and spirituality. Even if we do,

we do not have the time and inclination to carry out

the prescribed tasks for the path that we care to

adopt. Even if we do, the environment and society is

not conducive enough. Over and above this, we are

surmounted by pressures of work, family, children,

business, health, relatives and society. It seems

just next to impossible to allot time in our everyday

schedule for Sadhana. Sadly, there is no one to

blame! That is how Kali Yuga is!

 

The Sages, Rishis, Munis and Mahans have been people

of foresight. With boundless compassion, they have

pitied about our plight, long back --

 

prAyENaAlpAyusHa: sabhya kalAvasminyugE janA: |

mandA: sumandamathayO mandabhAgyAhyupadrutA: ||

 

In Kali Yuga, man will possess shorter lifespan,

qualities of laziness, weak mind and easily

susceptible to negative qualities and ills.

 

Thus, the modern day man needs an easier path --

something that can be accommodated in his busy life.

That path should be such, that it does not involve a

lot of rules and restrictions. it should not have

time-bound restrictions; it should not involve much

expenditure; it should be something which can be

easily followed – In short, it should be perfectly

relevant in the current day context, and absolutely

practical; and yet yield us to the same goal.

 

The Sages prescribe the solution, which is advocated

verily by the Vedas, and yet tailor made for our

times.

 

dhyAyan krutE yajan yajnaihi trEtAyAm dwAparE archayan

|

yadApnoti tadApnoti kalau sankIrtya kesavam ||

 

That supreme good which could be attained by the

performance of meditation in the Age of Kruta,

sacrifices in the Age of Treta and worship of the Lord

in the Age of Dwapara can verily be attained, in the

Age of Kali, by the mere chanting of the Divine Names

of the Lord!

 

Further, our scriptures go to say,

 

kalau kalmasHa chittAnAm pApadravyOpa jIvinAm |

vidhikriyA vihInAnAm gathir gOvinda kIrtanam ||

 

In this Age of Kali, where the mind is impure and the

living is earned through sinful means and where living

by prescribed rules is difficult, the only way to

liberation is singing the Holy Name of God!

 

Srimad Bhagavatam, in Ajamila charitra, explains that

while expiation for

 

sins fails to eradicate the ‘vasanas’ (lateral

impressions) that are the root cause for instigating a

person to commit unrighteous acts, chanting the Divine

Name uproots the very ‘vasanas’ that are the basis for

committing sins and leaves no alternative for the Lord

but to receive us into His wide open arms!

 

All the great Saints right from the Azhwars and the

Nayanmars to Thiagaraja Swami, Panduranga Bhaktas, Sri

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

have all shown that one CAN attain liberation through

mere chanting of the Divine Name. Even today we find

Sadhus who have attained the highest state through

mere chanting of the Divine Name. This is the glory of

'Nama Kirtan' -- An absolutely easy, simple path

suited to the Age of Kali. The chanting of Divine

Names is a free path. It has no ‘binding’ of rules and

regulations. Namasankirtan can be done by anybody,

anytime and anywhere. It involves no cost. It is a

path that requires no paraphernalia but leads one to

the very Lotus Feet of the Lord.

 

While mental repetition of the Divine Names leads to

the good of the individual, chanting the Divine Names

loudly purifies the singer the listener (the

scriptures say “Shrotrunapi punati cha”) and the very

place where the chanting is done.

---------------------

 

It is verily for this reason that Sri Sri Swamiji

advocates group chanting of a single Divine Name - The

Maha Mantra. Chanting a single Divine Name of the Lord

(‘eka Nama’) helps the chanter deepen his

concentration and also helps in sustaining the

chanting for long hours effortlessly.

 

We the Satsang members at Nama Dwaar inspired by Sri

Sri Swamiji's loving spiritual guidance, with

unwavering faith in the power of Nama Kirtan,

inextinguishable zest to spread Nama Kirtan for the

well being of the world at large and the ever growing

taste for singing the Lord's Divine Names, go from

place to place knocking at every door to securely fix

the Divine Name in the hearts of people, for, this is

the only way to world peace at large and liberation of

each and every individual, in this Age of Kali!

 

Regards

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

---------------------

 

If you have any questions or doubts concerning

Spirituality, Mental peace or problems in life or

about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:

http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php

 

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these

questions for you and suggests prayers.

---------------------For

more Namakirtan articles please visit

http://guruandnamakirtan.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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