HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji gave Discourse from November 19 – November 25, 2018 during His visit to KSHT, Dallas TX USA.
Sankeertana Saptaham
The significance of chanting Rama’s name – Srirama Japam
Śrirāma rāma rāmēti ramē rāmē manōramē
Sahasranāma tattulyaṃ rāma-nāma varānanē
Lord Shiva has declared, ‘Through eternal chanting of Rama’s name, I derive endless bliss. Uttering the word ‘Rāma’ just once is equivalent of chanting thousand names of Vishnu!’ Through this statement, Lord Shiva extols the supremacy in the name ‘Rama’!
Chant the name ‘Rāma’ as frequently as possible, for, it will fill you with bliss. Your mind will be habituated to focus on Rama and devotion will surge in you. Observing the many auspicious omens in Nature at the time of the Lord’s incarnation, Maharishi Vasiṣṭha named the little infant ‘Rāma’, which means ‘He whose form fills the entire universe with bliss’. Even the utterance of the name fills the person with bliss.
This divine name ‘Rāma’ has been illumining in the hearts of devotees, saints and supremely knowledgeable jnanis, filling them with the ultimate, infinite bliss. For understanding this, who could be a better example than Maharishi Vālmiki himself? Previously, this saint was a notorious thug who waylaid travellers, looted them and harmed them needlessly. It so happened that one morning he was fortunate to be initiated into the ‘Rāma’ mantra by the seven great sages. Deeply influenced by their words, he began to endlessly meditate upon this name. Gradually wickedness in him vanished while virtuous tendencies began to overflow. As time went by, he transformed into a great sage. From Maharishi Nārada he learnt the life history of Lord Rama and with the explicit permission from Lord Brahma he composed the Rāmāyana thereby obtaining absolute blessedness.
In the recent past (19th century), Tyagaraja, the renowned devotee of Lord Rama, endlessly chanted Lord Rāma’s name and was blessed with the darshan (vision) of Lord Rama. While Maharishi Vālmiki narrated the life history of Rāma in 24,000 verses, saint Tyagaraja composed 24,000 songs glorifying the Lord! Kancharla Gopanna (who lived in 17th Century) also attained accomplishment in Rama-mantra. He built a temple for Lord Rama and obtained unending fame as ‘Bhakta Ramdas’. These are just a few of the innumerable devotees who attained completeness in life merely by the chanting of ‘Rāma’ mantra.
Rāmō vigrahavān dharmaḥ means when righteousness (dharma) takes on a form, it becomes Lord Rama! This very famous statement appears in almost every sacred text. Notably, it is often heard in conversations with the learned elders. Isn’t it strange that this profound statement was made not by any great saint but by a demon named Mārica?
Apprehensive of Śrirama and having understood His transcendence, demon Mārica abandoned evil ways and immersed himself in chanting Rāma’s name night and day. This is highlighted in Srimad-Ramayana, in the chapter that covers the conversation between demon Rāvana and Marica. Let us recollect this story.
When Śrirama offered His services in protecting the fire-sacrifices being conducted by Maharishi Viśwamitra, He was but a teenager. Even at that tender age, the arrow released by Him hit demon Mārica causing the latter to be thrown a hundred leagues into the ocean. Humiliation coupled with vengeance caused Mārica to hatch a plot to eliminate Śrirama.
Together with a couple of friends he arrived at Maharishi Viswamitra’s hermitage. The three now assumed forms of ferocious animals and swiftly pounced on the young Śrirama intending to pierce him fatally with their horns. The omniscient Lord saw through their assumed forms and releasing three razor-edged arrows fatally wounded his two friends. With utmost difficulty Mārica saved his skin.
From then on Mārica was plagued with fear of Srirama. The mere mention of His name had him trembling nervously. Abandoning wicked, demonic ways, he became a recluse. Taking up the path of Yoga he led a peaceful life engaged in penance and other austerities. His excessive fear of Śrirama caused him to see Rama everywhere. Every tree and every animal appeared like Rama to him. Thus, for years at a stretch Mārica eternally chanted Lord Rama’s name. He underwent such significant transformation that when Rāvana approached him for help in eliminating Rāma he repeatedly advised Rāvana against it. When his efforts to convince Rāvana failed, he concluded that meeting death in the hands of Śrirama was far more desirable than being killed by Rāvana and hence assuming the form of a golden deer he met his end in the hands of Śrirama. The unbelievable transformation undergone by Mārica is highlighted in his ultimate declaration- Rāmō vigrahavān dharmaḥ.
Death does not dare approach the person who eternally chants Rāma mantra. It implies that such a person will be freed from the shackles of re-birth and will be blessed with liberation.
Yatra yatra raghunātha keertanaṃ tatra tatra kŗtamastakānjaliṃ
Bhaṣpavāri paripoorṇalocanam mārutiṃ namata rākṣasāntakam
With a mind overflowing with devotion towards Śrirama, with eyes that are brimming with tears of happiness and with his hands held above his head in reverence, Lord Hanuman manifests in all those places where Lord Rāma’s name is being chanted fervently! This is declared in our sacred texts!
From this, it is evident that chanting Lord Rāma’s name is the easiest technique to please Lord Hanuman. Further, Hanuman also allows himself to be held in the sway of those who eternally chant Lord Rāma’s name. Gradually, Lord Śrirama will also come in their sway.
Lord Hanuman’s incarnation was solely for the well-being of the universe. Even in his sleep, He chants Lord Rāma’s name. Once, when he was engrossed in chanting Rāma’s name, Planet Saturn (Shani-deva) decided to catch him. Hanuman who came to know of this decided to obtain a boon from him instead and hence intensified his penance. Shani-deva waited patiently hoping to catch him at that moment when he would pause his penance, which never happened. Finally, Shani-deva had to admit defeat. Hanuman then said, ‘O Shani deva (Saturn)! Promise that you will never retain in your grip any living entity who is engrossed in chanting Lord Rāma’s name’.
As a result of this boon secured by Hanuman, anyone who chants Rama’s name is freed not only from the unpleasant planetary effects of Saturn, but also of all other planets. Furthermore, he is freed from untimely or accidental death, from worldly afflictions and bondages.
The great sage Sadāshiva Brahmendra sang- Pibare rāma rasam- which means, O tongue, drink in the nectarous essence called Rāma. Just as a lamp kept on the doorway illumines both within and outside the house, when the lamp called “Rama’s name” is lit in the cave of the heart, it dispels inner darkness known as spiritual ignorance and blesses with the illumination called Self-knowledge. This has been emphatically declared by Goswami Tulsidas, the great saint and poet.
Chant the name of Lord Rāma with mental, physical and verbal purity. The alphabet ‘Rā’ from the eight syllabled mantra (ashtākṣari) and the alphabet ‘Ma’ from the five-syllabled mantra (pancāksari) have merged to create the supremely powerful ‘Rāma’ mantra.
May the blessings of Lord Śrirama and the accomplishment attained due to chanting His name lead to emergence of compassion in your heart! May your hands be eternally engaged in serving others! May your behaviour and actions be aligned towards righteous path!