[Chaturamnaya] Jagadguru Speaks: The Power of the Divine Name

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Around the beginning of the month, a nugget of Wisdom from the Jagadguru may be posted
on the Chaturamnaya list : http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/chaturamnaya )
 
 
https://www.tattvaloka.com/uploads/jagadguruSpeech/pdf/1556887674JSpeaks%20--%20TATT%20FEB%202023.pdf
 
 
Jivas undergo many births and deaths with untold
suffering. Every man wants to attain liberation and get free
from this transmigratory cycle.
 
Hence man, in the midst of his worldly activities should
allot some time daily to remember Isvara, the supreme
controlling power of the universe. Without abstaining from
his ordained duties, he should, as a daily practice, chant the
names of Bhagavan.
 
Chanting the divine names is characterised as one of the
devotional practices in the scriptures. Whatever one obtains
by engaging in dhyana (meditation) in the Krita Yuga, by
performing Yaga in the Treta Yuga and by doing puja in the
Dvapara Yuga, he obtains in the Kali Yuga by chanting the
sacred names of Bhagavan.
 
Whole-heartedly uttering the name of God in the mind not
only destroys sins but also ushers in auspiciousness.
 
Chanting Isvara's name with a spirit of surrender is the
best expiation for the errors (sins) committed.
 
When the heart of the devotee becomes pure, Bhagavan's
attention is drawn towards that person. Though the fruits
of earlier karmas have to be experienced, the bad effects of
karma can be reduced considerably by His Grace. That is,
the faithful surrender of a devotee will prevent even
negative destiny from running its full course. It is said -
 
  yathAgadaM vIryatamamupayuktaM yadRRicchayA .
  ajAnato.apy AtmaguNaM kuryAn mantro.apyudAhRRitaH ..
{Srimad Bhagavatam}
 
That is, a powerful medicine taken in, even casually,
benefits a man though he may be unaware of its potency.
The same is the case with a mantra as well as with Isvara's
Name.
 
  ajnAnAdathavA jnAnAduttamashlokanAma yat.h .
  saMkIrtitamaghaM puMso dahedegho yathA'nalaH ..
{Srimad Bhagavatam}
 
As a fire burns up a heap of wood, the sacred name of
Bhagavan, chanted whether with or without knowledge of
its greatness, destroys the sins of man.
 
The divine name works wonders by its inherent saving
power.
 
May everyone understand the significance of Bhagavan's
names and chant them often times.