Ram Nam

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Ram Naam (राम नाम) means "the name Rama", which can imply either devotion to Rama, the avatar of Vishnu, or as a name to the ultimately formless (advita), all-embracing Absolute Brahman. Rama's name is often chanted or sung within the many traditions of Hinduism. A popular mantra is Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram (often prefixed with "Om"), which was popularized in western India by Samarth Ramdas. It is often referred that he is Everywhere, and present in every particle of nature, whether living or non living.

In Mahabharata, Lord Shiva states that uttering "Rama" three times is equal to pronouncing the lakhs other names of God.

The mantra was often used by Mahatma Gandhi or Bapu.

"Ram Naam Satya Hai" (The name of Ram is truth) is commonly chanted by Hindus while carrying a dead body to the cremation ground in India, Nepal, Guyana, and southern Bhutan. This recitation implies that the dead body no longer sustains the truth (breath) which is Ram Nam. The dead body devoid of the breath or Ram Nam has no value whatsoever.

Ram is total truth as earth and universe is.

Some very powerful RAM mantras.

1. Ram. (Sanskrit) राम

2. Shree Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram. (Sanskrit) श्रीराम जयराम जयजय राम

3. हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे !
हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे !!

4. हे रामा पुरुषोत्तमा नरहरे नारायणा केशवा गोविंदा गरुडध्वजा गुननिधे दामोदरा माधवा !
हे कृष्ण कमलापते यदुपते सीतापते श्रीपते वैकुंठाधीपते चराचरपते लक्ष्मीपते पाहिमाम !!

Neem Karoli Baba encouraged the constant repetition of "Ram" in order to become closer to God, saying: "By taking the name of Ram, everything is accomplished."

Tyagaraja the great composer of carnatic music regarded music as a way to experience the love of God. His songs were on Ram Nam. He attained kapala Moksha on January 6, 1847.

Swami Ramdas is a well-known example of a modern day saint who attained Nirvana through constant repetition of "Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram" and established Anandashram, where this mantra is sung continuously from morning to night. Swami Ramdas is better known as PAPA Ramdas.

From a practical point of view, the remembering of RAM NAM is actually reorienting to our true self. It is akin to a proper physical, instinctual, emotional and intellectual (holistic) stance that enables us to live in a way conducive to individual and global blossoming. As per Gita (9th chapter), if we remember God (i.e. true self) by any name, we succeed in individual and universal blossoming.

Most of the saints such as Jnaneshvar, Eknath, Kabir, Tukaram, Samarth Ramdas, Shri Gondavlekar Maharaj, Kancharla Gopanna and in recent times Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave were strong proponents of remembering the name of God (called NAMASMARAN or JIKRA) in accordance with our tradition. Mahatma Gandhi has written a book titled "Ramnam".

See also

References