#262 The Transformative power of the sacred word ‘Rama’
In our religious Indian culture, a person who constantly repeats the name of Bhagavan would be looked upon as a devotee. If the person keeps repeating His name the whole day, then that person is perhaps called a tapasvi,
But, when a person repeats the name of any given person the whole day, then, we would politely say that the person needs help. Therefore, there is a difference in our attitude towards these two persons.
Nāma is the name and nāmi̇̄ is the one, who has the name. If the name happens to be a time-bound person with limitations, then repeating his/her name will become a mere obsession and will not be beneficial in any manner.
Repeating the name of a rich person and talking about his glories all the time, just because he has a lot of power and influence, will not be beneficial in any way. There is no benefit in repeating the name of a time bound person.
But when a person repeats the name of Parameśvara, the Lord, there is bound to be a benefit, there is a purpose in it.
Bhagavan Krishna teaches us that among all the forms of worship, I am the worship of Japa, repetition of the sacred names of Bhagavan.
Yajnanam Japayajnosmi
The word Rama comes from the root ram which has the meaning of playing, reveling, being joyful. The one in whom people discover joy is Rama – ramante yasmin iti ramah.
The word Rama was there long before Lord Rama came. By extension, then your child, your work, your home, yourself all that you delight in, are Rama for you.
When we chant ‘Rama’, we invoke his presence, his blessings and his qualities. If Dharma had to take a form it would be Rama- Dharma vigrahvaan Rama – A manifestation of Dharma, the universal values that contribute to peace, welfare, happiness and growth for all.
Despite being an Avatara, Sri Rama’s life was not an easy life. It seemed like moving from one crisis to another.
From being asked to fight some Asura-s as a teenager which was life threatening,
To spending 14 difficult years in a forest despite being the rightful heir to the throne
To not being able to perform the last rites for his own father,
To being away from his loving, devoted wife because she was kidnapped,
To building the bridge because there was no other way to Lanka,
To developing an army where there was none,
To waging a battle with a formidable opponent like Ravana,
To facing some words of doubt from one of the subjects about Sita Devi’s purity.
To..
And yet, the kinds of crises that Shree Rama faced did NOT define him.
What defined him was his living and abiding by Dharma – the universal framework of values and principles that have stood the test of time.
Every crisis, every role was an opportunity to live out the principles of justice, compassion, love, support, devotion to parents, love for his subjects, fairness and so on.
Through the opening verses of the Ramayana, we see and revel in his glory. Enjoy — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcvWAyC6rnQ
Bhagavan Shri Rama’s life shows us that what we DO in a crisis shapes us as people.
What we DO during and after the crisis will shape our lives, our societies and our nations.
Language has the unique ability to shape reality, evoke emotions, and even transform lives. Among the many words which carry profound spiritual significance, the word ‘Rama’ has a sacred resonance and encapsulates stories, teachings, and spiritual experiences.
We hear about the transformative power of the word ‘Rama,’ drawing inspiration from the lives of Valmiki, Swami Samarth Ramdas, and others who became saints through the divine blessing of this sacred word.
Rishi Valmiki
When Ratnakara was a few years old, he wandered into a forest and got lost. The young boy was found by a hunter who adopted and raised him. Under his foster father’s guidance, Ratnakara also grew up to become an accomplished hunter.
When Ratnakara reached marriageable age, he was married to a girl from the hunter’s family. With time, Ratnakara’s family also increased in number and he became a father to many children. The expansion of his family meant it became difficult for hunter Ratnakara to make ends meet. As a result, out of desperation, he took to robbery and began looting travelers who passed by his area.
One day, Rishi Narada was passing by the forest where Ratnakara lived. Sensing a good opportunity, Ratnakara attacked Narada intending to rob him. However, Narada remained unfazed. This surprised Ratnakara, who was used to the sight of people cowering in fear at the very mention of his name. Narada questioned Ratnakara as to why he was committing the paapa of robbing others. And, Ratnakara replied, “To feed my family.”
To this, Narada said, “Ratnakara, go and ask your family if they will also share the paapa you are committing to take care of them.”
Ratnakara returned to his family and asked his parents and wife if they were willing to share his paapa. All said No. No one was ready or willing to share the burden of Ratnakara’s paapa. Heartbroken at his family’s response, Ratnakara returned to Narada and asked him the way out. To which Narada asked him to chant the name Rama. But, no matter how much Ratnakara tried, he couldn’t pronounce Rama. So, Narada asked Ratnakara to pronounce ‘Rama’ backward as ‘Mara’.
Ratnakara began his Tapasya by chanting as Narada had instructed him to. He became so absorbed in the name that days passed into months and years. Ants covered his body with mud to build their nest. And, when Lord Brahma appeared to bless him, he saw Ratnakara covered by the anthill or ‘Valmika’ and gave him the name Valmiki.
Such was the transformative power of the nama, ‘Rama’ that Rishi Valmiki was then entrusted with the work of writing the Ramayana that continues to transform the lives of millions across generations.
Bhagavan Shiva appeared in Rishi Buddhakashika ‘s dream and revealed the Sri Ramaraksha Stotram, the meaning and chant which we have covered in episode 219. Sri Ramaraksha is the protection and power given by Bhagavan Sri Rama to us.
Within it is included the mantra,
श्री राम राम रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे ।
सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥
By meditating on “Rama Rama Rama” (the Name of Rama), my Mind gets absorbed in Rama. The Name of Rama is as Great as the Thousand Names of God
(Vishnu Sahasranama-stotra, Uttara-khanda, Padma Purana 72.335).
In the Ramayana, when the vaanaras, monkey like humanoids, were building the bridge to Lanka, the rocks kept sinking to the ocean floor. Hanuman simply said, just chant the sacred name of Rama and the rocks will not sink. Sure enough, the vaanaras did so, the rocks floated in the water and thus Rama setu was built.
Goswami Tulsidas, considered to be an incarnation of Rishi Valmiki said that the name of Rama was mightier than Rama himself. He had darshan of Sri Rama due to his devotion.
He would say that whether you remember Rama in a pleasant or unpleasant mood, Rama will bless you. Much like the seeds in the field whether thrown rightly or wrongly still sprout beautifully.
Swami Samartha Ramdas
Centuries later, the transformative power of ‘Rama’ found resonance in the life of Swami Samarth Ramdas, a 17th-century saint and spiritual teacher.
Samartha Ramdas was the rajaguru (spiritual advisor) of Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj, one of the greatest kings of India.
Samartha Ramdas was born in 1608 on Ram Navami day as Narayan, in Jalna district, Maharashtra. His father died when Narayan was around seven years of age, which made him withdrawn and engrossed in thoughts about God.
A few centuries ago both boys and girls were married in their preteens or even teens. On the day of his wedding when he was 12 years, the commencement of the religious rituals began with the customary utterance of “Shubh Mangal Saavdhaan” (meaning An auspicious event is to take place. Everyone please be alert. Intended to announce the commencement of ceremonies for an auspicious marriage, it also serves to get the bride and groom to be alert about the upcoming responsibilities of married life. It is said that Narayan fled his own wedding upon hearing the word ‘Saavdhan’.
Just twelve years old at the time, he spent twelve years as a sadhu at Taakli in complete devotion to Lord Rama. He would stand in the river from dawn to noon, chanting “Shri Rama Jai Rama Jai Jai Rama”, the sacred Rama taraka mantra.
During this period, he adhered to a rigorous daily routine and devoted most of his time to japa and exercise. As per legend, he once blessed a widow lady of a long married life, without knowing that her husband has just died. It is said that her husband was restored to life. This act of miracle made him famous in Nashik. He is thought to have attained enlightenment at the age of 24.
His devotion was so intense that he adopted the name Ramadas, a servant of Rama.
He travelled for another twelve years in the country which was struggling with the Mughal invasions and unlike other saints . Samartha Ramdas initiated his mission in the year 1644 by performing prana pratishta of a murti of Lord Rama at Chafal. Later, Shivaji Maharaj would provide a land grant for his ashram because Swami Samartha Ramdas was his rajaguru. Besides authoring Das Bodha and many other texts, to awaken the masses to physical fitness and kshatriya spirit, he established 11 temples of Hanuman in towns and villages. in various regions of southern Maharashtra referred to as 11-Maruti.
Through his spiritual practices and unwavering faith in Rama, Swami Samarth Ramdas attained enlightenment, became a revered saint, leaving behind a legacy of devotion and teachings that continue to inspire spiritual seekers to this day.
Swami Vivekananda
In more recent times in the 1900s, Swami Vivekananda was travelling across India as a wandering monk, without any money, totally trusting that we would be provided for by Bhagavan. One day, he was sitting on the railway platform at Tari Ghat station without any food for a long time. A businessman was sitting next to Swami Vivekananda. He was critical of sannyasis. He sat opposite Swami Vivekananda, opened his lunch box, and while eating he started mocking Swamiji, “ Look here, what nice puris and laddus I am eating. You are here with an empty stomach having nothing to eat”. Why don’t you work and earn money like me? Then you can also eat, drink and have all comforts.” Swami hadn’t eaten anything from two days. Swami Vivekananda didn’t speak a single word and sat quietly.
In the meantime, a local person arrived near the platform. He was carrying a bundle under one arm, a glass in one hand, ug of water in the other and also a mat under one of his arms.
It seemed like he is looking for someone. The moment he saw Swami, he came near him, quickly spread the mat on a clean spot, and put down all the things he was carrying.
Then he called Swami Vivekananda and invited him to take the food he had brought. Vivekananda was quite surprised by his gesture and told the man that he might have mistaken the identity.
But the strange man said that he had brought the food for Vivekananda and nobody else. Then he explained, “I am a sweetmeat vendor and was having a usual nap after my noon meal. In my sleep, I dreamt that Shri Ramji was pointing you out to me and telling me that He was pained to see you without food from the previous day and that I should get up instantly, prepare some Puris and curry and bring them to you at the railway station with some sweetmeats, ice-cold water, and a mat for you to sit upon.
The strange man further said “I woke up, thinking it was only a dream and I slept again. But Shri Ramji came to me again in my dreams and told me to do as he had said. I quickly prepared some puris and curry and taking some sweets which I had prepared this morning. Took some cold water and a mat from my shop.
I ran here direct and recognized you at once from a distance. Now do come and have your meal while it is fresh. You must be very hungry.” Moved, Vivekananda thanked the simple man. But the man politely said, ‘No, no, Swamiji Do not thank me! It is all the will of Shri Ramji!’
The businessman who was watching all this felt ashamed of his act. He went to Vivekananda and begged his forgiveness.
In more recent times, Kanchi Mahaperiyava says the highest taraka mantra is Rama namam, as it is the only name that can help us withstand the challenges of life.
What are you waiting for? Inspired by these great saints, you too will have a story to share about how the rama nama, transformed you.
राम राम राम राम राम राम
