Power of God’s Name

Excerpts from Baba's speech
 

The mantra on Lord Rama’s name is more powerful than Lord Rama, Himself.  The basis on which we say this is, was it Rama who crossed the ocean to Lanka?  It was Aanjaneya who leaped across the ocean by chanting Rama’s name.  Saint Ramanuja drew so many lakhs of people into the path of Bakthi (devotion).  It is impossible for anyone to accomplish this. 

Once Saint Ramanuja goes on a pilgrimage by foot to the ‘Malai Nambhi Perumal’ Temple in Thirukurungudi.  The Lord asks him, ‘Ramanuja, it is amazing!  How could you draw so many people into the path of devotion?  It is unbelievable’.  Do not question if the Lord can talk.  There was a time when God was communicating directly with man.  Because we lost all our values, the Deities in the temple became stone.  Lord Perumal communicated directly with Thirukacchi Nambi of Kancheepuram.  An incident that had been seen by other people.  People thought Veerabrahmaendra of Andhra Pradesh was just an ordinary man.  When he asked for a match stick to light his cigar to the deity in the temple, the Lord emerged, lighted his cigar and disappeared.  This is a true incident.  Veerabrahmaenra existed just 400 years before us.  There was a time when all the deities in the temple would talk.  We have degraded in our devotion and wisdom.  Therefore God stands as stone. 

Lord Perumal seeking a pleasant life marries Mother Earth (Bhooma Devi).  Bhooma Devi tells Lord Perumal, ‘If I stop rotating, the world will be in an unpredictable state.  So, you go if you wish.  I will stay here itself.’  He then marries MahaLakshmi because he was a celibate even after marriage.  MahaLakshmi tells Him, ‘I will constantly be on the run for wealth.’  Saying this, she continued her chase.  He then goes to Lord Siva thinking he can at least talk to his grandson.  But Lord Siva had burnt him.  Therefore, hoping to get some rest, He went and lied down on Adishesha.  Adishesha was continuously generating poisonous air.  Even this was not relaxing so he calls for Gaurda, climbs on to his back and flies through the sky.  On seeing a snake on the ground below, Garuda tells Lord Vishnu, ‘Perumal, wait.  I’ll eat it and come.’   On hearing this, the Lord goes to Puri and stands there as Jagannath.  So goes a legend…

So why did God turn into stone?  Isn’t it because of us, men who have become stone-hearted?  ‘Malai Nambhi Perumal’ asks Ramanuja, ‘How could you draw so many people into the path of devotion?’  Ramanuja replies with a laugh, ‘You have a doubt.  So you are the student and I am the teacher.  Ask me with the respect due to a teacher and I will reply.’  Therefore Perumal welcomes him with a red carpet, makes him sit on the throne and standing humbly before him says, ‘Please tell me now’.  Ramanuja replies with a smile, ‘I could achieve all this only by chanting your name.’  Therefore, the power of a name is not even beheld in the owner of the name. 

In the Ramayana, when Rama, Lakshmana and others remain in a swoon being shot by the ‘Naagaasthiraa’ arrow, Garuda comes flying in the sky above.  The moment Garuda’s breath falls on them they are relieved and come back to life.  Then Garuda muses in pride, ‘What’s great about Rama and Lakshmana?  See only I had to come and revive even them!’  But the next minute he thinks, ‘O God!  I am His vehicle…  How could I become so egoistic?’ and feels guilty.  He immediately goes to Sage Narada and seeks explanation from him for the negative thought that had come to his mind.  Narada says, ‘I will not give you the answer to your question.  You go to Maharishi Kaagabujandar and seek an answer to your query.’

Garuda travels towards the ashram of Kaagabujandar.  When he was nearly 4 miles from the ashram itself, his mind gets immense clarity.  Not even the slightest confusion.  Greatly puzzled, Garuda enters the ashram of Kaagabujandar and exclaims, ‘What a surprise!  While approaching 4 miles towards your ashram itself all my doubts were clarified and my ego has vanished too!’  Kaagabujandar replies, ‘For so many thousands of years we have been chanting ‘Rama Naamam’.  The power of that has spread around 4 miles and the power of Rama Namam has dispelled your ignorance.  The power of the Name of the same Rama about whom you got confused, was itself able to dispel your ignorance with its power in a 4 mile radius, remove unnecessary thoughts and clarify your mind.’