Over the last few years I've had a regular practice of reading
the Ramcharitmanas, which is the story of Rama (Ramayana)
according to the sage Tulsidas. There are several places in
the first chapter, the Balakanda, where Tulsidas explains
the mystical power of the name of Rama. For instance, he says:
"I greet the name 'Rama' of the chief of Raghus,
which is composed of seed-letters representing the sun-god,
fire-god, and moon-god. (i.e. Ra, A, Ma respectively)."
In the footnote it explains that every letter/sound of the Sanskrit
alphabet is a bija or seed mantra that invokes a quality of
the divine (diety). When you break down the name of Rama there
are two syllables, but three bija mantras: 'Ra', 'A',
and 'Ma'. 'Ra' represents the Sun, 'A'
represents Agni or fire, and 'Ma' represents the Moon.
Since the three sources of light on earth come from the Sun,
fire, and the Moon, repeating the name of Rama is a method for
invoking light, the supreme light of God. Of course, God is
often described as light. For instance, anyone familiar with
the Bible has heard the passage:
“God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”
1 John 1:5
Here are a few more quotes indicating this luminous aspect of
the name of Rama from the Ramcharitmanas:
"Sri Rama, who is Truth, Consciousness, and Bliss
combined (Sat-Chit-Ananda) is like the sun; the night of ignorance
cannot subsist in Him even to the smallest degree. He is the
Lord whose very being is light."
"Install the luminous gem in the shape of the divine name
'Rama' on the threshold of the tongue at the doorway of your
mouth if you would have light both inside and outside, O Tulasidasa."
"His Name puts on end to the devotee's vain hopes along
with his errors and sorrows even as the Sun terminates the night."
Rama is primarily associated with the Sun, and the first syllable
'Ra' can be found in various languages representing
the Sun. For instance, Ravi is one of the Sanskrit
names for the Sun. Raghu is the solar dynasty or lineage
that Rama belonged to, that traces its origins to the Sun. The
ancient Egyptian God Ra was their Sun god and a major
deity in the ancient Egyptian religion. There are also the English
words radiate, radiance, and ray
(as in the Sun's rays), further suggesting an etymological origin
with the syllable 'Ra.' Another example is that 'raw'
food is defined as food that has been ripened by the Sun.
It's easy to limit the meaning of the name of Rama to the
male Hindu God Rama who lived many thousands of years ago. But
understanding this inner mystical meaning of invoking Light,
makes the practice universal. Also, when you take a deeper look
at the qualities inherent in the two syllables, 'Ra'
and 'Ma', you'll see that father and mother, the masculine
and feminine, the Sun and Moon, exist in perfect androgynous
balance. It's this universal and androgynous quality that makes
the name of Rama unique as a name of God, since God is described
as Light and containing both masculine and feminine qualities.
Shiva as Reciting 'Rama'
The Ramcharitmanas also draws from the classic scriptures of
India to validate the mystical power of Rama's name. Here's
one such quote:
"The scriptures maintain that Lord Shiva, the deity
presiding over the holy city of Kashi (Varanasi), whispers into
the right ear of every creature dying within its boundaries,
the name 'Rama' and thereby brings emancipation to the dying
soul."
When I first went to Varanasi in 1992 I heard people chant "Ram
Nam Satya Hai," while carrying a dead body to the
Manikarnika Ghat cremation grounds on the banks of the ganges
river. This means, "The name of Ram is truth"
in Hindi. At the time I wondered why they didn't chant
the name of Shiva, since after all this was Shiva's city. It
wasn't until I read the Ramcharitmanas that I realized that
Shiva is considered Rama's best devotee, and incessantly invokes
His name for the benefit of others.
"The saints as well as the Puranas and the Upanishads too
declare that the potency of the name 'Rama' is unlimited. The
Immortal Lord Shiva, who is the fountain of joy and a storehouse
of wisdom and goodness, incessantly repeats it."
Narada's Advice to Ganesha
There are other stories that point to the efficacy of the name
of Rama. For instance, it's common knowledge that Ganesha is
typically worshipped first in the Hindu tradition before other
deities. The Ramcharitmanas explains why:
We read in the Puranas how there was a scramble for precedence
among the gods, each of whom claimed the first position for
himself. They approached Brahma for a ruling. He told them that
they should race around the world and that whoever finished
the round the quickest of all would be accounted the highest.
Ganesha, who rode on no better animal than a rat, naturally
lagged behind. He met on the way the celestial sage Narada,
who advised him to scratch the word 'Rama' on the ground and
pace around It, since the word comprised in Itself the entire
creation. Ganesha did accordingly and was naturally the first
to finish the round of the universe. Brahma appreciated this
act and conceded his title of precedence over all the other
gods. Since then Ganesha has uninterruptedly enjoyed the right
of being worshipped first of all.
The Name of Rama as a Remedial Measure
When people ask me about remedial measures I often first suggest
reciting the name of Rama as a japa mantra, which is a mantra
that's recited repeatedly for at least
108 times. It's the best general, all-purpose remedial measure
that I know of. Please see the article Ramnam
as a Remedial Measure to read more. The other general all-purpose
remedial measure that the classic Jyotish texts often recommend
is the Vishnu
Sahasranam.
Any spiritual practice is useful as a remedial measure, but
a japa mantra is very convenient in our busy lives since it
can be repeated anywhere at any time. Since mantras are sounds
that invoke a vibration, to invoke the name of Rama will bring
light and wholeness to the mind, which can only be beneficial.
For this reason it's safe to use even if someone incorporates
other practices. Here is a list of common Rama japa mantras:
Om Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram
Om Ram Ramaya Namah
Shri Rama Sharanam Mama
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
The Mahamantra and the Kali Santarana Upanishad
Regarding this last mantra, also called the mahamantra
or great mantra, the Kali Santarana Upanishad praises
its effectiveness during the kali yuga which is the current
age we live in. Please see this quote from the text translated
by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar:
Hari Om! At the end of Dvapara-Yuga, Narada went to Brahma and
addressed him thus: "O Lord, how shall I, roaming over
the earth, be able to get across Kali?" To which Brahma
thus replied: "Well asked. Hearken to that which all Shrutis
(the Vedas) keep secret and hidden, through which one may cross
the Samsara (mundane existence) of Kali. He shakes off the evil
effects of Kali through the mere uttering of the name of the
Lord Narayana, who is the primeval Purusha". Again Narada
asked Brahma: "What is the name?" To which Hiranyagarbha
(Brahma) replied thus:
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
These sixteen names (words) are destructive of the evil effects
of Kali. No better means than this is to be seen in all the
Vedas. These sixteen names destroy the Avarana (or the centripetal
force which produces the sense of individuality) of Jiva surrounded
by the sixteen Kalas (rays). Then like the sphere of the sun
which shines fully after the clouds disperse, Parabrahman alone
shines." Narada asked: ‘O Lord, what are the rules
to be observed with reference to it?" To which Brahma replied
that there were no rules for it. Whoever in a pure or an impure
state, utters these always, attains the same world of, or proximity
with, or the same form of, or absorption into Brahma.
It's interesting to note that some translations of the text
will say something like, "There is no other means to
liberation in any scriptures," as opposed to what's
been given here: "No better means than this is to be
seen in all the Vedas." Personally, I prefer the less
fundamentalist perspective that recognizes that there are many
paths to the divine.
It's also interesting to note that the original text starts
with the name of Rama, followed by Krishna. However, the order
was reversed by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the 15th century,
who was primarily a Krishna devotee.
Watch an short informal video of my Jyotish guru, Sri K.N. Rao,
chanting a variety of Rama and Krishna mantras:
