हरि सर्वोत्तम । वायु जीवोत्तम | श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः
As we eagerly await the consecration (प्रतिश्ठापन) of Lord Rama’s idol in His birth place (जन्मस्थल) of Ayodhya, let us pray and project positive energy for this historical moment to unify people, not just in Bhaaratavarsha but around the world, inspiring all of us to do our best to lead a Dhaarmic and fruitful life – just as the Lord exemplified and illustrated in His glorious Avataara as Raama, the मर्याद पुरुषोत्तम, i.e. epitome of perfect human life.
We can do this by reciting Vishnu Sahasranama (VSN) and then chanting the divine name of Rama over and over. The VSN Phalashruti recounts part of an exchange from Uttara Kaanda of Padma Purana, wherein Godess Parvati asks her beloved Lord Shiva how can learned people easily recite the thousand names of Lord Vishnu daily. To this Lord Shiva responds how he himself does so:
श्री राम रामेति रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे । सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥
Saying the name Shri Rama, Rama, Rama (श्री राम रामेति रामेति), I rejoice in Rama (रमे रामे), O Parvati, one who pleases the mind (मनोरमे); Equivalent to 1000 names (सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं) is that name Rama (रामनाम), O Parvati, one with a beautiful face (वरानने).
Note that for this truly to have effect one must be “learned”, i.e. know and understand Shaastra-s, at least the Vishnu Sahasranama (VSN) to a basic level. After all one cannot use abbreviations without knowing the original phrase or word.
But how can a mere mortal be as learned as Lord Shiva?! To this, the Lord Himself says in Bhagavad Gita 2.40 that even a little bit of Dharma goes a long way for aspirants:
नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते । स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥ २।४० ॥
In this path (of disinterested action) there is no loss of attempt once made nor sin engendered by lapses; even a little of this (Dharma) protects from the great fear (of Samsāra).
So there is every reason to start in a small way and even with our limited knowledge we can be inspired to learn more by simply chanting Lord Rama’s name.
So let us chant the above powerful Rama Stotra, or at least chant “Jai Shree Raama” as many times as we can (100, 1000…) and pray for लोककल्याणम्, i.e. the welfare of the whole world.
आपदामपहर्तारम् दातारम् सर्व संपदाम् |
लोकाभिरामम् श्रीरामम् भूयो भूयो नमाम्यहम् ||
The Remover of (अपहर्तारम्) of obstacles (आपदाम्), the Giver (दातारम्) of all auspices and wealth (सर्व संपदाम्), the Most Beautiful in the world (लोकाभिरामम्), Lord Rama along with Shree(Seeta) (श्रीरामम्), again and again (भूयो भूयो), I bow to You (नमाम्यहम्).
/Raghunath Rao/ “Do your Best … and leave the Rest … “
(All mistakes mine – all credit to Gurus and Acharyas )
|| sarvaṁ śrī kṛṣṇārpanamastu ||
