Mantra Japa or chanting of the
mantra is one of the easiest ways of increasing devotion to God. It is simple
and it involves no great costs or equipment. The mantra bestowed by the Guru is
chanted as per the instructions given and the blessings of the mantra
flow. In Bhagwad Gita, Bhagwan Yogeshwar
Sri Krishna says in the chapter Vibhuti
Yoga: ‘I am, among the Yogas, the Japa
Yoga.’
Draupadi, who married the
Panch Pandavas in Mahabharat is one of the Panch Maha Kanyas. She was Shakti
swarupa- form of Shakti- and it is recommended to remember her every morning to
get rid of sins. Such was her purity and
bhakti. Draupadi had deep spiritual love for Sri Krishna and it was
reciprocated in full by the Bhagwan. They were Bhakt and Bhagwan- devotee and
God. Draupadi’s love for Sri Krishna was
so strong that Sri Krishna became her personal saviour in all the troubles and
turbulences in her life.
Being a princess and then
later a Queen, Draupadi had immense responsibilities and duties. She and her
husbands were always targeted by their cousins, the Kauravas. Her family had to suffer through royal plots
for assassinations, defamation, dethroning and exile. Through all the political
turmoil and problems, Draupadi always held on to Sri Krishna in her mind and heart and did her work
throughout the day remembering him. And Sri Krishna too reciprocated by rushing
to her rescue every time there was a crisis.
Subadra, the sister of Sri
Krishna was jealous of Draupadi. She knew how much her brother loved Draupadi. Sri Krishna even called Draupadi his sister. She could not understand why Sri
Krishna loved Draupadi so much and what Draupadi had done to deserve such love
from Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna knew of this jealousy and he decided to teach Subadra a lesson. Once when Draupadi visited Sri Krishna, Sri Krishna asked Subadra to go to her room and help her dry her hair as she
had just washed her hair. Draupadi was famous for her long
thick gleaming tresses. Subadra went to Draupadi’s room where she found her
drying her just washed hair. Subadra picked up the comb to gently untangle the
knots. As she combed through the tresses, she could hear each hair on the head
of Draupadi chant: Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna ......... Subadra then realised what a great devotee
Draupadi was and how much Draupadi loved Sri Krishna and why her brother loved her
so much. And all the pettiness and jealousy from her mind vanished.
The SitaRam mantra is chanted
in two ways – sitting on asan or seat and while moving around doing ones daily
duties. Please chant the mantra while walking, talking, sitting, cooking,
bathing, eating, sleeping, waiting for appointments, while on computer, etc.
You can easily multi task with one part of your mind on the holy name. The
vibrations of the name will protect you and keep you connected to the Supreme
at all times. This is easily possible. It is just a matter of reminding
yourself now and then to chant the name till it becomes a habit and second
nature. If Draupadi, with all her responsibilities, duties and troubles, could
remember Sri Krishna at all times, then we can easily do so!
