Krishnam Vande Jagatgurum: 2011

Excerpts from Sri Ramakrishnar Movie - significance of namakeerthanam

Later when Girish of Bagbazar who was the most hated worst drinker came under influence of Sri Ramakrishnar, he could not get intoxicated anymore. He met Sri Ramakrishnar again and fell at his feet claiming to be a sinner (even there is not enough water in the Ganges to cleanse him!!!). Ramakrishnar says, "He who calls upon God even once, sin cannot pollute him. You are not a sinner, don't keep saying so or you will become one. Call upon the name of "Mother". Even a small spark can destroy a cotton mountain". Girish says "he is not used to calling "Mother" name and cannot do now. why cant you just liberate me?" Ramakrishnar asks "can you not call mother even once in a day?" Girish says "Most of the time I am not aware of my whereabouts. I have no idea of how time passes through the day. I dont think I will be able to keep the promise. Ramakrishnar says "Alright, cant do that. All right in that case, like a guardian who takes care of the welfare of the minor, you give me the power of attorney. I will pray to mother on your behalf. You can then rest assured that your guardian will take care of your affairs. Can you do that. Girish gives the power of attorney to Ramakrishnar but asks how he can spend his time. Ramakrishnar says "As you are doing now, eat drink and be merry. drinking is an external condition for you. Mother will end this desire in you whenever she wishes. You have so much faith. You don't have to worry, just carry on living as you are. Radhe Radhe

Srimad Bhagavatha Sapthaham - Sri M K Ramanujamji in Birmingham

This day of October 30th 2011 marked the beginning of the "Srimad Bhagavatha Sapthaham" with a scintillating discourse by Sri M K Ramanujamji, probably the first saptaham that has been happenning in the UK by the grace of HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamigal. The event was presided over by His Excellency Consul General of India, Sri C G Rao, other distinguished guests and VIPs from diffe...rent communities.

Sri M K Ramanujamji started with the chanting of the Dhyana Shloka of Srimad Bhagavatham with divine reverberations that put the whole atmosphere into transcendental silence. The devotees recited the

shlokas with great attention and all of us could feel that we were all about to enter into the abyss of timelessness with ancient wisdom brought into modern times right into the magnificient Hall of the Shree Geeta Bhavan, Birmigham UK. Just after the Dhyana Sloka, Sri Ramanujamji started to prepare us by unfolding the significance of the Srimad Bhagavatham. The devotees gathered were mentally taken to Brindavan from Birmingham.

The discourse began with the ABCs of - "What is discourse, why should one say something and and why should the others listen, what is listening and what is importance of mantra basically sound"

Sri M.K. Ramanujamji then started to enlighten us with the fundamentals of using our senses to try and understand Srimad Bhagavatham and how it came into being in the context of our scriptures and why the shlokas and mantras in Ancient Hindu scriptures were primarily meant to be heard. He narrated with down to earth practical examples which struck everyone with awe and wonder. Many of his examples were quoted to prepare us all in the journey of exploring the timeless wisdom and how we can best apply the same in our modern times. The nature of our puranas which are beyond time and space was explained in such a fantastic and simplistic way by Sri Ramanujamji and this has helped devotees to contemplate on the way to reach out to the divine within and around us.

Now you can hear the divine discourse in the enclosed Video links below:

As the discourse by Sri Ramanujamji continues every evening until the 5th of November (saturday), we request you all not to miss this golden opportunity.

Here is the YouTube Link of the playlist:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE0D4465C55ABB37A

Nama and Prana - by HH Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamigal

"The greatest of all wonders is that if the air that goes out of the body does not re-enter, the body becomes dead. Isn't it!" If one says the nAmam, the roopam of the bhagavan will come automatically to the mind. AzhwAr tells this in the first pAsuram and in the second pAsuram describes the archAvatAra tirumEni - "pachai mAmalai pOl mEni pavazhavaI kamala chengan", these words are so beautiful to say and so sweet to the tongue.

"The greatest of all wonders is that if the air that goes out of the body does not re-enter, the body becomes dead. Isn't it! Its the air which keeps going in and out of the body. How is it going? In vishnusahasranama there is a "vAyuvAhanAyaI namaHa”. " Lets say a man on a horse comes down to a village and sees a house. Thinking he wants to spend some time in this house and enjoy the greenery of the village, he will allow the horse to graze in the morning and tie it to the house in the evening and repeat this daily. He will stay like this until the day comes when he is ready to leave the house and go back the way he came. He will go the same way as he came. by mounting himself on the horse. Likewise the prAna is sitting on the body. Keeping the prAna as the vehicle the jeevan is living inside - vAyu vAhanan. Just as long as he decides to stay in this body, this prAna (like the horse mentioned in the above example) goes out to graze and comes back, goes out and comes back. When it thinks its sufficient, the vAyu goes out but does not come in but instead goes up and we then say the air has gone out from him.

Azhwar looks at the Lord Sri Ranganathar and says "AdhalAl piravi vAEndAEn arangamAnagarullanAE" - we should not think azhwar is telling himself, he is in fact telling us!!! If we are born, we should do namakeerthanam, serve the lord but not just sleeping, making jokes or thinking about his disease. Then what is the use of being born? If such a life then its not worth having it. Thus in our life during the younger days, middle age and in the old age, much of time is gone in sleep and azhwar tells us to be wary of it. Radhe Radhe