This week’s satsangh was on Chapter 12. Sarojaji gave us an excellent insight on several devotees of the Lord and brought out the various types of devotion. One powerful means of devotion that Sarojaji talked about was the value of nama smarana of the Lord.
Nama smarana simply means remembering and calling out the name of the Lord.
The Ramayana contains the story of Sabari who lived in the Ashram of a sage called Matanga. Sabari was uneducated and Matanga muni initiated her to chant the Rama Nama. Rama nama contains the power of all mantras. When we open our mouth to say the syllable ‘Ra’ all the sins leave through our mouths. The following syllable ‘Ma’ closes it shut and ensures that expelled sins do not return to plague us.
Sabari knew nothing about devotion and she curiously asked the Muni when she should chant. Matanga muni replies that she should chant at all times. She asked how she should chant and the Muni replies that she should chant with utmost faith that as soon as she chants, Rama will appear.
Sabari immediately started chanting the lord’s name and kept thinking every day that Rama will appear before her. Rama does appear – after about 12 years, however, in all this time, the faith that Sabari had did not dwindle even a bit. She offered fruits that were tasted by her to the Lord and the Lord extends his hands and accepts. Earlier, in the Vamana avatar, the lord extends his arms for a handfull of earth and then conquers the entire universe. Later in the Krishna Avatar as well, the Lord extends his hands and takes butter from his devotees. Here, Rama took the half bitten fruits of Sabari and gave her liberation! Such was the power of her nama smarana.
In the Krishna Avatar as well, Draupadi was such a favorite devotee of the Lord that even his wives Rukmini and Sathyabama were jealous of her. Once they wanted to know what was so special about her that the Lord was always available to her. They went to check and at that time, Draupadi had just had her bath and her long tresses were flowing. She was undoing the knots in her hair and when they went near, even every bristle of hair was murmuring the name of the Lord. No wonder, her cry for help to the Lord at Duryodhana’s court, was immediately answered by him. It is also believed that the Pandavas were always protected by the Lord only by the power of panchali (draupadi)
The beauty of nama smarana is that it does not require a great intellect or Vedic knowledge to engage in this type of devotion. It can be done easily and at any time. It can be as japa or as bhajan and surely gives peace of mind to a true devotee.
Please feel free to add what I have missed. If you want to contribute a Satsang Takeaway for publication, please send by Email or post to the comment box.
Indeed namasmarana is important in these times. The correct way described by Tulsidasaji is ‘Mana krama vachana dhyana – remembering, uttering and concentrating upon God and continuing further it ‘janama janama ke dukh BISERAVAI not MEETAVAI. Astu.
Dear Sowmyaji,
The summary of Sarojaji’s discourse is indeed very well written.
The secret of Naamsmarana is also well explained in Bhagavadgeeta Chapter 8, Shloka 13, where the Lord himself says that having closed all the doors of the senses and firmly holding the mind in the cavity of the heart, then fixing the life-breath in the head, and thus remaining steadfast in Yogic concentration on God, he who leaves the body and depart uttering the one Indestructible Brahma ‘OM” and dwelling on me in My absolute aspect reaches the supreme goal.
Lord further says in Shloka 14 that whoever always and constantly remembers (i.e. Naamsmarana) him with the undivided mind to that Yogi ever absorbed in him he is easily attainable
Lord can be very easily remembered by reciting ‘OM” along with our heart-beats.
Pranams to Bahrain Satsangh Members,
Sri Sainath of Shirdi Lord Incarnated said in Kali Age it is enough if one Chants the Name of The Lord from the heart,where Lord God Dwells, to free oneself from this Worldly existence……
No other proof is required…. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishan Hare Hare………… ISKCON Mantra changed the lives of so many……
Thanks to Sis Sarojaji for bringing up this to the forum
once again
Vijayaraghavan- Dubai
Namasmarana is like a parachute while falling from a dangerous height. It is a like a ship to cross the ocean of sharks, like a torch to seek the path in a dark dense forest and a rudder to a ship caught in a storm.
It practically translates to when particularly stuck by one/all of the 6 evil emotions of Kama,krodha,lobha,moha,mada,matsaryas during your daily life, chanting the lord’s name to your self, will see you through the situation smoothly with little or no damage to your character.
It saves one from falling to the depravity of 6 inner foes who are more dangerous than the embodied enemies we are usually wary of !
Though Nirantara Nama smarana is always recommended, remembering and sincerely chanting Lord’s name particularly during time of moral vulenarabilities will bounce you back with right choice.
Trust me, This is practical experience. Try this, and tell me if you dont attest its efficacy!