Recently I visited a religious congregation on the request of one of my relatives. I found the surroundings neat and clean there; people were well-behaved. This made me ask some questions about the organization as to what it does, what it preaches, and how it helps society and its overall growth. The answer a responsible person gave me prompted me to write this article about Ram Naam.
This is such a huge subject which has been taken by every saint and seer in some way or the other. In fact, it is the very core of their writings and preachings. All the saints and seers have made their utmost effort to clarify the subject with all the possible examples and parables, yet it is one of the most misunderstood subjects.
Before I dive into the subject, there is the simple fact that everyone knows and it must be assimilated: water quenches thirst, we cannot call it water when it doesn’t. Food satisfies hunger, we cannot call it food when it doesn’t. If the qualities something is known for, do not exist in them, we shall outrightly reject it. Likewise, Ram Naam has such a great quality that it can help you crossover the ocean of sorrow and misery – Naam let bhav sindhu sukhahin. (नाम लेत भव सिंधु सुखाहीं – रामचरितमानस). This should be kept in mind.
What is Ram Naam ?
Ram Naam, Satya Naam, Naam, Adi Naam, Shabd, Shabad, Shabd Brahma, and many more such words are there for Ram Naam or Raam Naam. The very same thing has been mentioned as ‘Word’ in the Bible.
Ramcharitmanas has elaborate story of Ram – how he was born, got married to Sita, had to leave the royal palace, and went to the jungle. There Sita was stolen by Ravan. Ram fought a fierce battle with Ravan, destroyed Ravan, and finally came back to Ayodhya with Sita and his younger brother Laxman. We know this story.
Saints and seers like Kabir, Ravidas, and many others talk about Ram but their Ram is not the son of Dashrath. Their Ram is that infinite power that is in every particle of this universe.
That Naam was there when there was nothing – absolutely no creation – it has been mentioned in the Bible “In the beginning was the Word”.
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What’s so special in Ram Naam?
When Ram visits the Ashram of Rishi Atri, he emancipates Ahilya there which had become stone because of curse of the Rishi Atri. The mention of –
Ram ek tapas tiy tari, Naam koti khal kumati sudhari
राम एक तापस तिय तारी । नाम कोटि खल कुमति सुधारी ।।
This shlok indicates that Naam was even before Shri Ram was born in Ayodhya.
That Naam cannot be pronounced. It doesn’t come under consonants and vowels. Any name that can be pronounced or recited with the help of consonants and vowels is not Ram Naam. Because it was there when there was no human being, no creation – nothing. These consonants and vowels came into being when human beings and civilization came into existence.
What Sant Kabir said about Ram Naam ?
Saint Kabir clearly says about it:
Bavan Aakhar maya mahin, tame satya naam nahin nahin nahin.
बावन आखर माया माहीं । तामें सत्य नाम नाहीं नाहीं नाहीं ।
There are 52 letters in the script. And definitely that Naam is not in those letters. It is beyond that. It cannot be recited. It cannot be pronounced.
What Tulsidas said about Ram Naam ?
Consider this what Tulsidas says about it:
Naam let bhav sindhu sukhahi, karahu vichar sujan man mahin.
नाम लेत भव सिंधु सुखाहीं । करहु विचार सुजन मन माहीं ।।
Meaning: O wisemen, think about this: by remembering that Naam the ocean of sorrow and misery gets dried.
Jaasu naam sumirat ek bara, nar utarahi bhav sindhu apara.
जासु नाम सुमिरत एक बारा । नर उतरहि भव सिंधु अपारा ।।
Meaning: By remembering the Naam even once, a man crosses over the infinite ocean of grief and misery. Such is the greatness of that Naam.
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The Power of Ram Naam
These are the qualities that Ram Naam possesses. If one is uttering any Naam that comes in vowels and consonants, it won’t serve the purpose. It will definitely not take you across the ocean of grief and misery.
All over saints and seers have talked about it. Verily it is that infinite power that pervades the universe.
Now, the point is how to know it. It is within us, but how to know it?
All the saints unanimously call upon human beings to know it in order to escape the sorrow and misery of this world. They say: if you want to know it, you will have to look for a guide, master who can reveal it to you within yourself.
The True Meaning of Ram Naam
Once known that Naam has such a trait that when it is remembered it presents the form of the infinite that is divine light which equals thousands of suns:
Sumiriya Naam roop binu dekhe, Aavat hridaya saneh visheshe.
सुमिरिय नाम रूप बिनु देखे । आवत हृदय सनेह विशेषे ।।
About that Naam, Kabir says something very unique. It can only be understood when it is revealed by the Master who knows it.
Mala japoon na kar phirun, jibhya kahe na ram,
Sumiran mera hari kare, main paun vishram.
माला जपूं न कर फिरूं, जिभ्या कहे न राम ।
सुमिरन मेरा हरि करे, मैं पाऊं विश्राम ।।
Meaning: I neither use hands for rosary to count prayers nor my tongue says Ram. Instead, the God remembers me and I find relaxation, peace, satisfaction.
Such is that Naam which can only be known by such a teacher or master who knows it and can reveal it to you. And herein lies the true happiness and peace. This all lies within all of us not outside.
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