Benefits of Japa
| Part-1 Feb—26—2011 Sunday The benefits of Japa or mantra chanting which is an important remedial measure in Jyotisha (Vedic astrology). It is written by the well known Swami Sivananda, (founder of the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh, India in 1936) : The seeker after truth reaches the highest goal by japa or chanting of the Lord's name (or mantra) alone; example, Aum Namo Narayanaya; or Aum Namah Sivaya. This is a sure medicine for the disease of birth and death. All sins and malefic effects in horoscope vanish. Young boys Prahlada and Dhruva did Japa of Sri Narayana manthra and attained their noble goals. Smarana / Japa (mentally chanting) is remembrance of the Bhagavan (Lord) at all times. The mind does not think of any worldly subject. It is engrossed in thinking of the glorious God alone forgets the body and its surroundings. For common persons, the best manthra for japam is “Hare Rama, Hare Rama; Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare; Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna; Krishna, Krishna, Hare, Hare.” If a person chants this simple manthra, 108 times at a time for 18 times a day with devotion for entire life, he gets the best benefits and full protection of God. He is freed from all malefic effects and periods of the nine planets. There is no doubt at all. “Hare” means Almighty who destroys all sins and evils in a person. If his conduct and character are pious, he surely gets Moksham (salvation; freedom from the cycle of birth and death). Sri Chaitanya Maha Prabhu, and Sri Nitya Nanda saints of Bengal achieved Moksha (salvation) by chanting this manthra onky. Ever remember Bhagavan (the Lord). His divine name is the greatest treasure on earth. It has got indescribable power of bestowing blessings upon all who have faith. It is the best practice to chant the mantra at In ordinary self-consciousness there is duality between the The chanter and the name of God become one. The eternally revealed truth reveals itself to him and he realises his oneness with the supreme. The sense of duality, the gulf of separateness between the finite and the infinite vanishes gradually. Spiritual life needs harmony in all parts of your being and living. Spiritual Benefits of Japa : Story of Valmiki Maharishi Valmiki was born as Ratnakara to sage Prachetasa. At a very young age, Ratnakara went into the forest and got lost. A hunter, who was passing by, saw Ratnakara and took him under his own care. Under the love and care of his foster parents, Ratnakara forgot his original parents. Under his father's guidance, Ratnakara turned out to be an excellent hunter. As he approached marriageable age, Ratnakara was married to a beautiful girl from hunter's family. The Story of Dhruva Uthaanapaada is the elder of the two sons of Manu. He gave to mankind the Dharma Sasthra, (the code of Righteousness) had two wives, Suruchi and Suneethi. Uthama was the son of Suruchi, the younger queen while Dhruva was born to Suneethi. One day, both the boys were playing in the garden. Spotting their doting father sitting on the throne, they rushed forward to sit on their father’s (king’s) lap. While Uthama (four years old son) sat on his father’s lap, the five-year old son Dhruva was prevented by Suruchi; she said harshly that only her son had the right to sit on the king’s lap and pushed Dhruva out. The king watched this injustice silently. Dhruva went to straight to his mother Suneethi and sat in her lap weeping. When he started criticising his step-mother for her rude action, his mother silenced him and said, "Desist from criticising anyone. If you criticise others the defects pointed out by you will come to you. Accept everything as something good." So saying she advised Dhruva to go to the forest and do penance to secure the Grace of Bhagavan (Lord) Sri Narayana (Sri Maha Vishnu), who was the only divine Saviour of the helpless. Dhruva obeyed his mother implicitly and proceeded to the forest without any fear and with full faith in his mother’s words that God was the only refuge for the forlorn. Having noticed this wonderful determination of the young boy who was ready to brave the perils of the forest with firm determination great divine sage Narada appeared before him and tried to dissuade him from undertaking a severe penance to earn the Bhagavan (Lord))’s Grace. But Dhruva refused to go back and expressed his full confidence that he would surely succeed in winning the Bhagavan Sri Narayana’s Grace with his mother’s blessings and his unshakable faith. This is the ideal that today’s students should learn and practise . Narada was pleased with the young Dhruva’s firm faith and initiated him in the chanting (japam) of the eight-lettered (Ashta-akshari) highly sacred mantra, "Aum Namo Narayanaya". Dhruva did intense (tapas) penance, giving up food and drink, and was reduced to a skeleton. He transcended his Food Sheath (Annamaya Kosa) and his Pranamaya Kosa (Vital Sheath). He was saturated with the Bhagavan Sri Narayayana’s (Lord))’s name, which he chanted with each breath ceaselessly. His mind sheath (Manomaya Kosa) was also dedicated to the Bhagavan (Lord)), driving away all other thoughts. His entire being was filled with bliss in the contemplation of the Bhagavan (Lord)). This is another ideal taught by Dhruva to students that meditation must be with total concentration on the Divine Form. Bhagavan (Bhagavan (Lord)) Narayana appeared before Dhruva, whose radiance went on intensifying as the Bhagavan (Lord)) was approaching him. Looking at the majestic form of Bhagavan Sri Maha Vishnu, Dhruva burst into ecstatic praise. He exclaimed and prayed emotionally : y'ontaH praviSya mama vAcaM imAm prasuptAM My Lord, I make my prostrations to You. You are the One who has entered into me as my inner soul making me speak. My speech has been dormant all along. You are the One who makes my ears hear, my hands work, my feet walk, my tactile senses to feel, my life to vibrate - all by your Glory, my Lord, who wields Infinite Power. "O Bhagavan (Lord))! Till now You were in me and You have come out to Grace me. Are You going to leave me?" Dhruva who entered the forest for tapas in order to bring God before him, so that he could win from him a status for his mother and himself equal to that of the chief queen and her son, realised that it was too unworthy a boon to demand from the almighty. He therefore asked for liberation from birth and death and external company of the Bhagavan Sri Maha Vishnu was astonished at this amazing wisdom of such a young child, patted him on his cheek and asked him to say what boon he wanted. Dhruva said, "Oh Bhagavan (Lord))Sri Narayana, after having Your Darshan and getting Your Grace, I don’t want anything else." The Bhagavan (Lord)) replied, "Dhruva, you undertook this penance with one thought, namely to sit on your father’s lap, but now you speak differently. Your words and action are contrary to your first thought. You must go back to your father with My divine blessings. I bestow you all knowledge and wisdom. Your father will receive you with full affection. You must rule the kingdom and then come to Me." The Bhagavan Sri Maha Vishnu also assured Dhruva that after ruling the kingdom for a long time he would occupy a most exalted position in the firmament as a star around whom the constellation of the Seven Rishis and other galaxies would revolve. Dhruva is the Pole / guiding star for all mariners for the past several millions of years; and even now during night times. (Recently powerful Radar / Geo-positioning Satellite Guiding systems are used to navigate ships, aero-planes or even cars during day and night). Dhruva, on his return to the kingdom was received with ceremonial honours by his penitent and joyous father. Dhruva consoled his father by reminding him that all are forms of Bhagavan Narayana. Uthaanapaada entrusted the kingdom to the seven-year old Dhruva, saying that a boy who could get the Divine vision and Grace at that tender age, could rule the kingdom. He retired to Skanda Ashrama, seeking realisation of the Divine. Dhruva ruled for a long time of 1008 years, very wisely and well, maintaining justice and peace. When his sojourn in the world came to an end, a celestial chariot came to take him to ‘God’s Abode’. He told the charioteer that God was everywhere and so the question of taking him to God’s place did not arise. So saying, he sat down closing his eyes in meditation and merged in Bhagavan Sri Narayana. The infinite power of Bhakthi (true devotion to the Bhagavan (Lord))) must be understood by all. It contains all the six qualities, namely, Bhukthi(Food), Rakthi (Desire), Yukthi (Knowledge of how to live well), Anurakthi (detachment), Virakthi (cessation of desires), and Mukthi (Liberation). When from the root word Bhagavan (God) the word, "Bhag", is taken and combined with "Kthi" which is common in all the six qualities it becomes "Bhakthi" The story of Dhruva teaches the present day student the value of firm determination and devotion to God. Also, it teaches all humans the value of chanting the name of God with devotion. This is the most precious gift of Japa / chanting the name of God. It acts as a Vajra Kavacham (armour of diamond) and protects the chanter from all evils and suffering.
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