Nama and Mantra - HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamigal

Bhagavanama and mantra are different. Rama, krishna, narayana, govinda, gopala are the 1000 names of the bhagavan. There are no disciplines or control over saying these names. No times, formalities or procedures mentioned for saying these names. Namas can also be said in foreign lands and no restrictions imposed for that. Whenever, Wherever and Anybody can tell these names with freedom. Srimad bhagavatham tells us about the significance of such names and likewise the Vishnu dharnam. The tamil translation of the vishnu dharmam is the Tirumalai. As in Srimad Bhagavatham Ajamila attained liberation by saying "Narayana" likewise kshatra bandhu attained liberation by saying "Govinda". Just like Jyothida sastram there is a separate mantra sastram. Only if one has full knowledge of the mantra sastram which is a deep subject similar to the jyothida sastram can he be termed as a "sastri".  Puranas and all the knowledge gained by them are called "Pauranikas".  Those who chant bhagavanama all the time are called bhagavathas and not mantravadhis. Mantra sastram is separate. Let's take for example doctors who prescribe a high dosage will not use the medicines as a "matter-of-fact and will certainly use them only when required and with imposed restrictions. Even this medicine is preserved safely in cold storage as the potEncy of the medicine willl go down if kept otherwise and may yield disastrous results.  So even while giving the medicine we think twice.  Sometimes with careful thinking once or twice notwithstanding the side effects we still adnminister it.  But ordinary medicines we give as a matter-of-fact. Thus the mantras and namas differ.

Nama can be told in any manner. Even if one says wrongly "Narana" instead of Narayana but thinks of Narayana in is mind, Govinda he says "Goinda", Rama he says "Mara" but thinks of the respective gods, bhagavan always graces his bhaktha and immediatly grants his wishes.

nAcchiar tells in the tiruppAvai one should offer flowers in a certain way. Just before touching a flower we should not scratch our haIr nor pick up the flower that has fallen on our feet nor smell the flower before its offered to the bhagavan. That is to say that the flower should not be mixed with anything else and must be offered pure.  We should also chant nama whilst offering the flower. But the real lotus is in the heart, it should be filled with truth, be with ahimsa, be full of good gunas and one being full with all these meditating upon the perumal is the poomalai that nAcchiar really meant in the tiruppAvai. Radhe Radhe

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No Investment needed for Nama - HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamigal

But without the need for any initial investment there is a job for you, no intelligence is required for this job. if one were to search and find out and in order to satisfy the atma and the bhagavan as well, there is one which is the bhagavannamakeerthanam. For this you need not go to somebody and learn something special. No need to know brahmasutram, bhagavad gita, upanishad nothing. If you cannot sit for 1 hour, no need. You need not be selfless. Do you need Achara, anustAna, even if you dont have its ok. What is the eligibility required? Having no eligibility or ability is what is really required. But what the namakeertanam will do is, with this dhyAnam, yogam, karmAnustanam or vedantam whereever this will take one, there this nama will take you.

The greatness of this namakeerthanam being said is the sole purpose of Srimad Bhagavatham. Therefore the Srimad Bhagavatham again and again in various ways tells the greatness of the namakeerthanam. Thus in the story of Ajamila, in the end ajamila says Narayana. In the Tirumalai, kshathrabandhuvum parAngathi kandukondan is being said. Kshathrabandhu, leading a life with the cow, the person who was looking after the cow had the name of "Govinda" and whenever he was calling out to the cowherd, calling his name "Govinda", he attained liberation. This bhagavatham having returned to us, the gratitude is expressed to this great Sage Bhupadevar. Similarly these 4000 verses of Azhwargal which had disappeared, again we have the whole 4000 recovered and available to us even now. The pasuram, Tirumalai we are able to read and get anandam out of that even today. During the perumal processing, ghosti and the time of seva, these prabhandham we are able to offer, all these which have been restored to us by the great mahatma, Nadamunigazh and for Nadamuni to get all this, it was the azhwar (AramudhaAzhwar) in Kumbakonam - SARANGAPANI ENPERUMAN. Radhe Radhe

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