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TheGreatnessofNama
KaliYugaandNama
NamaSankeerthanam

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1.GrahapradhistaYathra

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1DPD means Name. The word name has evolved from the Sanskrit word "Nama". Nama or name

referstothenameofaperson,placeorthing.Withoutaname,uniqueidentificationofentitiesinthe
world is not possible and without identification communication is not possible and without
communication nothing is possible in this world. The whole world will come to stand still. So is the
importanceoftheName.

2. Graha pradhista1 Crore Nama

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3.SignificanceofGrahapradhistha

PRUH

Whenyoucallapersonbyhisname,immediatelyherespondsbysomemeans.Whenhumanbeings
respondtoacallbyhis/hername,whatwillhappenwhenyoucallGodbyhisname?Godtheloving
motherofallcreatures(Movableorimmovable)willdefinitelyrespondtoyourcall.InfactHeiswaiting
foryourcallButwenevercallHim.

Watchout this place for exclusive

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articleson"GreatnessofBhagawan
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Nama"
1. SagunaWithnameandform(Bhagwan)
2. NirgunaNamelessandformless(BhramaSwaroopam)
The nirguna bhramam being nameless and formless in nature, worshipping or loving the nirguna
bhramam is not possible. We humans, beings the highest creation of God cannot do it, no need to
mentionaboutothercreatures.So,thenirgunabhramamduetoitsendlessloveandmercyenteredinto
a stage where in it have numerous forms with numerous names. At this level it is called as Saguna
bhramamorBhagwan.Bhagwancanbelovedandworshipped.Bhagwanhasnumerousnames,he
canbecalleduponbyanynamesandhecanbeworshippedinanyforms.

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Amonghisnumerousformsandnames,youcanchoosethenameyoulike.(Example:Rama,Krishna,
Siva,Jesus,Allah,Sairam,Narayana,Govinda,Hari,Vittal,Vasudeva,Radhe,Shyam).Thenumerous
namesofGodarereferredas"BhagwanNama"whichmeansNameofBhagwan.Nowthatyouhave
chosen the name you like, you can start chanting (Continuously/repeatedly telling the name). This is
called 'Nama Sankeerthanam' (chanting of Bhagwan Nama) and this is the very dharma prescribed
exclusivelyforthisKaliYuga.ThisistheYugadharma.
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WhyisNamaSankeerthanammeantasKaliYugaDharma?
IntheKaliYuga,peopleareincapableofdoinganydharmas.TheconceptofDharmawillloseitsfoot
holdinKaliYuga.KaliYugaisaperiodofdecadenceofallDharmabyallsectsofpeople.Thefollowing
arefewdhoshagunasthatonecaneasilyfindinthepeopleinKaliYuga.
Peoplewilldowhattheyarenotsupposedtodo.
Peopleshallnotdowhattheyaresupposed/expectedtodo.
Traditionwouldbethrownoverboard.
EachsectwillboastitselfasSupreme.
Virtueslikechastity,righteousnessandobstinacieswouldbeinterpretedaccordingtotheirown
whimsandfancies.
Evilandtransgressionwouldbewidespread.
Womanfolkwouldindulgeinfalsehood,adultery,anddeceitandspeakharshlanguages.
Bachelors(Bhramachaaries)willnolongerfollowtheirdutiesanddailyvirtues.
Householderswillneglecttheirprescribedritualslikecharityandsacrifice
Vanaprastaswouldnotretiretotheforest,butclingtocities.
Sanyaasiswouldhaverelationshipwiththeirkithandkin.
Kingswouldlevyburdensometaxesandfailtoprotecttheirsubjects.

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Allthefourgroupofpeople,Brahmins,Vysyaas,KshatriyaasandSudraaswouldcommitoffenses.
Havingbecomeslavestotheirsenses,foolsandvillainswillcontinuetheirevilactions.
Dharmawillsurviveinsomecorneroftheworld.
WhenDharmastaggersononelegandretegetedtoacornerWhenallunrighteousactionsgainthe
upperhandWhenmenandwomenabandonallprescribedcommandmentsandrules
Aneasypath,thepaththatissimpleandeffortlessandsuitedforallhumanbeingsinKaliYugacomes
torescueanddeliveranceofoneandall.ItistherecitalofBhagwanNama.Understandingthehelpless
stateofhumanbeing,BhagwanenforcedthatinKaliYuga,NamaSankeerthanamistheonlywayto
salvation.
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["WhateverfruitsarebegotbymeditationinKritaYuga,conductingsacrificeinThrethaYugaandby
worshippinginDwaparaYugacanbehadby.HVDYD6DQNHHUWKDQDPinKaliYuga"]
NamaSankeerthanamisendorsedbytheVedas.
NamaSankeerthanamremovesallSins.
NamaSankeerthanamgrantsallthedesiresofthehumanbeing.
NamaSankeerthanamisnotdependantonanyothermeansofworshipordharma.
NamaSankeerthanamisnotboundedbyplaceortime.
NamaSankeerthanamsurpassesallotherformsofworshipandactionsprescribedbythe
Vedas.
humanbeingsregardlessofcaste,creed,community,religion,sexareeligibletochantthe
BhagwanNama.

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OncesomeofthesageswantedaclarificationonwhetherasimpleandeasyformofDharmaiscapable
ofbestowingthelargerfruits.TheycametothegreatmaharishiVyasa.Vyasawasbusywithhis
ablutionsinriverGanges.Knowingaboutthesages'issue,Vyasaplungedthriceinthewateruttering
thefollowingwords,

.DOL <XJD LV *RRG 6XGUDDVDUH *RRG "WomenareGood"After Vyasa came out of the river, the

sagesaskedforanexplanation,Vyasareplied"Whatcanbeyearnedin10yearsinKritaYugacanbe
accomplishedin1yearduringThrethaYuga,whatcanbeaccomplishedin1yearduringThrethaYuga
canbehadinonemonthduringDwaparaYuga,whatevercanbedonein1monthcanbehadin1day
duringKaliYuga."ThatiswhyKaliYugaisgood.
Thegreatmerits(Punyas)earnedinKritaYugabyDhyanaormeditationinThrethaYugabySacrifices
or homas in Dwapara Yuga by worship can be easily acquired in Kali Yuga by "Bhagwan Nama
Sankeerthanam".Kaliisextolledasgoodbecauseduringthatperiodalittleeffortpaysrichdividends.
So Vyasa was happy to pronounce it. Then Vyasa clarified the pronouncement that women and
Sudraasarealsogood.Alittleeffort(bychantingthebhagawannama)onthepartofthesepeoplehas
redeemedthemfromsinsandtheiractionshavebecomefruitful.Allthethreeareblessed.
Itisalmostimpossibletoacquiregreatmerits(punya)intheearlierYugasbutinKaliYugainspiteofits
eviltendencies,thereisonegreatattribute,aredeemingfactor,mancanattainliberationfrombondage
throughBhagwanNamaSankeerthanam.

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ChantingofthebhagawannamaalsocalledasBhajancanbeclassifiedasfollows,
NamaShravanamHearingthebhagawannama
NamaChanting
NamaSankeerthanam(alsocalledasNamaKeerthanam)Recitingthebhagawannama
Thiscanbefurtherclassifiedas,
NithyaNamaKeerthanam(Dailychantingasapractice(sadhana))
KamyaNamaKeerthanam(Withmaterialisticintention)
BoththeformsofNamaKeerthanamhavethesamepowerandefficacy,thoughthepurposemaybe

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different.NamaSmaranamRecollectingthebhagawannama
NamaSmaranamRecollectingthebhagawannama
NamaJapamChantingnamainDhyana
AlltheaboveformsofNamaSankeerthanamwhetherperformedconsciouslyorunconsciously,bothof
theaboveareduetothegreatmerits.Whoeveruttersthebhagawannama,his crores and crores of
sins, accumulated over various births will be destroyed. The fire when touched consciously or
unconsciously, will definitely burn your fingers, likewise a bhagawan nama uttered consciously or
unconsciouslywillleadtoliberation.InthestoryofAjamilafromSrimadBhagavatham,Ajamilautters
thenameofNarayanacasually(referringtohissonandnottheAlmighty),stillhisinnumerablesinsare
destroyedandheattainedliberation.
ItistobenotedthatNamaKeerthanaispossibleonlyforthosewhohaveacquiredgreatmeritsinthe
previousbirthandbyutteringthebhagawannama,onealsogathergreatmerits.
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BhagwanNamaKeerthanamisthefruitofgreatmerits(Punyas)absolutelygreatmerit.Thegreatness
ofBhagwanNamacannotbeexplainedbymerewords.HoweverwiththegraceofBhagwanNamaand
Gurunadhaalanattempthasbeenmade.
SrimadBhagavathamsaysthat,'theaggregateofallthevirtuesaccumulatedinmillionsandmillionsof
birthsinduceonetoutterthenameoftheDivine'.
Vishnudharmasaysthat,
LivinginsacredplaceslikeVaranasi,
StudyingVedas,
PerformingAshwamedayagaandotheryagas,
Giftingawaythousandsofcowsasdhana,
ThefruitofalltheabovedeedsisconsciouslyorunconsciouslygettingintoBhagwanNama
Keerthanam.

SrimadBhagavathamsaysthat,Karma(duties)needtobeperformeduntilonerealizesthegreatness
ortakesinterestin"Bhagawada"Dharma(havingthebhagawannamaalwaysinlips)andhearingto
thestoriesofthelord.
TherearetwowaystoreachGod.Oneistherockyandtheotherissmooth.YogawilltakeyoutoGod.
RitualswillrevealHIMtoyou.Butthisisnotaneasypathforeveryone.ThecommonmanreachesGod
throughdevotion.Anyonemaytreadthispath,man,woman,theworthyorunworthy.
"TotakeGod'snameisaneasyway.Itburnsupthesinsofallyourbirth.Thereisnoneedtoseekthe
Lord in the forests, if you have his name in your lips. He comes willingly to you. That is what
'BhagawadaDharma'teaches.

Bhagawada Dharma is an extension of Vedic religion. All

religionteachesusthatGodisomnipresent,"EswaramSarva
Bhoothaanaam". The nirguna bhramam that is the formless
ParabhramawithoutdesireissameastheSagunaBhramato
whomweattributeformanddesire.
TheteachingsofVedasaremany,buttheessenceofthemall
is one, that is "You must surrender yourself to God". But be
faithful to one self and chant His name. The teaching of all
philosophiesyieldsbutonlyonemeaning.Thescriptureare
manybuttheessenceisonethatisthegoal
Itisnotnecessarytocondemnorforsakeone'sdutyinsearch
ofGod.Whetherakingoracommonman,thewaytoGodis
verysimple.TakeHisnameeverymoment.Becomedetached
from the world. You can accumulate such great merit, such
thatyoucanembracetheLord'sfeet.

Doing punya karma's like performing penance, learning Vedas, doing great rituals, gifting, getting
dipped in holy water, performing one's prescribed duties without fail, for thousand and thousands of
birthismeretooltogetintoNamaKeerthanam.Theyarejusttools,nottheultimatefruit.
Unlessarigorouspenanceisdoneinthemidstofroaringfire(forunlimitedkalpas),oneisnotdestined
to hear Bhagwan name at the time of death. The word kalpa stands for countless number of years.
UnlimitedKalpammeansBhramaKalpam.(<KnowmoreaboutKalpa(link)>)
Thisdoesnotunderminetheefficacyofthispenance,butitisonlymeanttoexaltthegreatnessofNama
Keerthanam.Itissaidin'PoorvaMimansa'thatthepunyaacquiredinthreeBhramaKalpamproduces
the love for Nama Keerthanam. If one utterance of the bhagawan nama can help one conquer the
diseaseofbirthanddeathwhatmoreneedtosayofdevoteeswhoutterthebhagawannamawithlove
forever.Thusthelord'sNameonceuttereddispelsallhurdlesagainstNamaKeerthanam,nullifiesall
sinsandguidesthedevoteetodeliverance.

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KarmayogaisprescribedforthosewhodonotsetinterestinNamaKeerthanamanditsgreatness.So
onehastoperformdedicatedKarmaYogafor3BhrammakalpatogetinterestinNamaKeerthanam.
NamaKeerthanamiscalledSagunaBhramaBhajanam.Thismakesoneasapotentialcandidatefor
Nirguna Bhrama Nishta which is the tool for attaining gnana. So Nama Keerthanam is for attaining
gnana
ThereisnootherwaybuttochantHisname.Itstrengthensyourfaith,purifiesyoursoul.Themindisa
wanderer, only God's name can give it a direction. Sincere love leads to concentrated devotion
continualchantingofGod'snamefillsoursoulwithconcentrateddevotionthroughthisonecanattain
God.
"God'snameonlips,salvationinhand"thatistheexperienceofmany.Meditationbringsone untold
gainthechantingofGod'sname.

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UtteranceofNamaoncemaynotgivethefruit(destroyingone'ssins)ifandonlyifhe/shehas
committedoneofthefollowingtransgressions(Aparadha),
Discourtesytothedevotees(Bhagawadaabachara)
PreachingthegreatnessofNamatofools
CreatingariftbetweenVishnuandShiva
IndifferencetoVedas
IrreverencetoShastras
IrreverencetoPreceptors(Gurus)
LackoffaithinefficacyofNama
CommittingsinsinthehopeofpropitiatingthegoodswithNamaKeerthanam
Givingupgoodactions
DevelopingathoughtthatotherdharmasandNamaKeerthanamareequal
ThesetransgressionsdesecratetheNamaandarehurdlestoNamaBhajan.
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The main deity of Hindus is considered to be Narayana and Shiva. Every deity has its own moola
mantraforworship.ThemoolamantraforNarayanaandShivaareasfollows:
MoolamantraforNarayana:OmNamoNarayana
MoolamantraforShiva:OmNamaShivaya
The above mantras are the prime mantras for the saivites and vaishanavites. These mantras are
associatedwithaspecificformonVishnuandShiva.HenceareassociatedwiththeSagunaupasana.

IntheNarayanamoolamantra,thelifeofthemantraliesintheletters"ra"(i.e.OmNamoNarayana).If
theletters"ra"isremovedthemoolamantrabecomesinauspicious.
OmNamoNarayana=>OmNamoNayana
IntheShivamoolamantra,thelifeofthismantraliesintheletter"ma"(i.e.OmNamaShivaya).
Iftheletters"ma"isremovedthemoolamantrabecomesinauspicious.
OmNamaShivaya>OmNaShivaya
Discoveringthisdivinesecrets,ourgreatRishiscombinedtheselifepackedlettersofthetwomoola
mantrasandformedthebhagawannama"Rama"i.e.Ra+Ma=Rama
ThisnameRamaneitherassociateswithShivanorwithNarayana,buttotheNirgunaParabhrama,the
formlesssupreme.Hencethisisauniversalname.Itbelongstosaivitesandvaishanavites
ThisNamaneitherbelongstosaivitesnortovaishanavites,butintruthbelongstobothofthem.Notonly
tothem,buttoallintheuniverse.
ThegreatRishi"Vashista"wasdoingthisRamaNamajapa,whenhewasrequestedby"Dhasaratha"
thekingofAyodha,tonamehisfirstson.Vashistanamedhimas"Rama",thegreatbhagawannamaon
whichVashistawasdoingJapa.

ManypeoplethinktheoriginofthenameRamawasaftertheRamaavatar,butthisnameexistedeven
beforeLordRama.ItisabsolutelyfinetoassociatethisnamewithLordRama.LordRamalivedupto
thename.ForKrishnadevoteesthisnamesoundsasRadhaMadahavam.Sothisnameisforeveryone
in the universe. (Living / nonliving, moving / nonmoving). Remember the name of Lord Rama with
love.Godcanberealizedonlythroughloveandbynoothermeans.
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WhataretheinnermeaningsofthenameRama?Thethreesyllables'R','A'and'Ma'indicatethethree
causes for human birth, namely Papa (the sins one has committed), Thapam (the troubles one
experiences) and Ajnanam (one's ignorance). "Ra" represents the root letter for Agni (fire)."A a"
representstheletterforthemoon."Ma"representstherootletterforthesun.WhatdoesAgnisignify?It

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destroys everything and reduces it to ashes. The letter "R" has the power to destroy all the sins
committedbyman.Theletter"Aa"(symbolizingthe moon) has the powers of cooling the fevers man
suffers from and conferring peace on him. "Ma" represents the sun who dispels the darkness of
ignorance and confers illumination of wisdom. Hence, the word Rama has the right triple power of
destroyingsins,conferringpeaceanddispellingignorance.

We must learn to chant the sweet name of Rama with a pure, unsullied heart, in a spirit of selfless
devotion.Inthemindofmandwellthedeitiesrepresentingthemoonandthesun
WholeheartedchantingofRamaNamaoncecandestroymountainsofsins.Asinglematchstickwhenit
isstruckcandispelthedarknessinaroomthathasremainedclosedforyears.Mountainsofcottoncan
beburntdownbyasinglespark.
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Kalpam

Years

Remarks

1ChathurYuga

43,20,0000years

Krita+Thretha+Dwapara+
Kali
(alsocalledasMahaYuga)

1000ChathurYuga

1Kalpam(432croreyears)

DaytimeofBhrama

2Kalpam

1BhrammaKalpam(864crore
years)

1dayofBhrama

365BhrammaKalpam

1BhrammaSamvatsaram(730
Kalpam)

1yearofBhrama

100Bhramma
Samvatsaram

Bhrama'slifetime

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