Intensity of Mantra Chanting & its Blessings- Draupadi

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!

Purity and Goodness

In the world today there are thousands of good people who do their best in the roles allotted to them in life: as son, daughter, wife, husband, worker, employer, social worker etc. Such people are termed as ‘good’ people. They are the pillars of the family and society. When such people wish to rise on the spiritual path they need to add a different set of rules to their daily lives. 

The understanding of the terms- ‘good person’ and ‘pure person’ in spirituality are different from worldly usage of terms - ‘good person’ and ‘pure person’. The term ‘good person’ is used a lot in our daily speech A person may be very good human being, a good mother, a good student, a good father, a good employee, a great social worker etc. He may do all his appointed duties very well and then some more. He may take care of poor and homeless and do service to mankind day and night. In spiritual terms, such a person is only ‘good’ but not ‘pure’. 

‘Purity’ in a person comes from chanting the Holy Name or Nama Japa or Mantra chanting. The purifying power of the Name should vibrate through every cell of the body. It should sear through the body, mind and emotions. This will purify the person in entirety. Dhyan with the mantra or holy name is also a very effective way of attaining purity. 

Do the namasmaran or chanting of the Ram Nam at all times of day and night. 

Start from being the good person you are and aim towards becoming a pure person.

Rama Nama Chanting

Chant the name of Ram at all times in your mind. It does not matter if the chanting is mechanical. Or you do it out of fear or respect of your Guru or God. Or that you chant the holy name knowingly and or unknowingly. The holy name always blesses. You will get peace. As you keep chanting, the power of the Holy name and its vibrations over take you. Sooner or later you will chant the name with feelings of love of God and surrender. That is the power of name of Ram.

Fragrance of the Ram Nam and the Rose Bush

The rose flower attracts us with its delicate beauty and fragrance. As we go near the flower we need to take care of the thorns.

There are no roses without thorns.

Our body is the rose bush – full of thorns. Kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (delusion), mada (pride) and matsarya (jealousy) rear up their ugly sharp heads and prick those who come near us.

The head with the sahasrar or the thousand petal flower/lotus is the rose. When the sahasrar flowers with bhakti and love of God, it is very attractive and fragrant. This prize is sought by man. Then no one minds the pricks of the thorns below for the thorns become blunt.

The lure of the beauty of the blossom and its rich fragrances which is bhakti and grace of God entices man. Man learns to handle his own negative qualities or the thorns in the right way for the desire of Grace and Love of God.

Systematic, disciplined and regular chanting of Ram Nam will bring forth the fragrances in one’s life. Always do the Ram Nam japa daily.

Tarak Mantra - Ram Nam

Ram Mantra is called the Tarak Mantra. Taraka in Sanskrit is a star. The star shines from heavens and traverses space to guide the traveller across the ocean or across vast empty lands where there are no landmarks. The taraka mantra is a shining light, a guide to help liberate oneself from the cycle of births and rebirths.

Crossing the Bhavasagar or the Ocean of Material Life is not easy. But it becomes effortless when one has a Siddha Guru and Guru Mantra. The Guru is the raft and the Mantra is the paddle which helps one glide through life effortlessly in the right direction and right way.

Always do the mantra japa of Ram nam/SitaRam