In this context, please allow me to ask you a few questions –
• One day while the young Ramana was at home, the fear of death gripped him. He decided to face this fear and in order to investigate, immediately rushed upstairs and lay as stiff as a corpse, pretending to be dead. He got rid of the fear of Death once for all and emerged as a Realized Being.
• After the above incident happened, a visitor to his house uttered the word ‘Arunachala’ and this drew him at once to the Arunachala Hill. He narrates this account himself. Now, who is greater, ‘I’ or ‘Arunachala’?
• Before leaving for the Arunachalam, he wrote a letter to his family members in which he said he was going to meet his Father. Now, who is greater, ‘I’ or his Father?
• As soon as he reached the Holy Arunachala temple, he ran straight into the sanctum sanctorum and embraced the Lord who was in the form of a Lingam. Now, who is greater, ‘I’ or the Lord in the form of the Lingam ?
• While he lived in Tiruvannamalai, once, when his mother fell ill, he composed two beautiful poems on Lord Arunachaleswara pleading the Lord to cure her. Now, who is greater, ‘I’ or the Lord Arunachaleswara?
• Once, when the Arunachaleswara deity was taken as a procession around the Hill (‘giri valam’), as the procession passed the Ashram, Bhagavan Ramana immediately stood up in reverence. When the devotees around wondered why he did so and enquired, he replied, ‘Appavirkku pillai enrum adakkam’ (The son is always subservient to the Father). Now, who is greater, ‘I’ or the Father?
• Bhagavan Ramana’s compositions like ‘Arunachala Aksharamanamalai’, ‘Arunachala Stuthi Panchakam’, ‘Arunachala Ashtakam’ etc. sing praise of none other than Lord Arunachaleswara. Now, who is greater, ‘I’ or Lord Arunachaleswara?
• The lyrics of one of his Tamil compositions read thus: ‘ninaivaru naal mudhalaaga miga peridhena…’ referring to the Arunachala which translates as ‘since the day I remember, I ascertained Arunachala as the greatest’. Now, who is greater, ‘I’ or the Arunachala?
• In one of his songs, Bhagavan Ramana says that the ‘I’ is nothing but Siva who is present in all the life forms including Lord Vishnu and Brahma. He has not composed any song on Lord Vishnu or Brahma. Is he not a Jivan Mukta?
Remember that all the aforementioned incidents had happened only after He had Realized the Self.
You will find answers to your question if you can answer the above questions.
answers and beyonds
I get confused as to which God’s name I need to chant. There are so many gods in our religion and hence so many Names. I used to chant the Shiva Nama and after reading Bhagavatam and Bhagavat Gita, I chant the Mahamantra. Please clear my confusion.
Do not confuse yourself. You are the child of Krishna. Chant the Mahamantra and that is enough. You can also take this as the initiation. Continue to chant the Mahamantra and you will see for yourself how Krishna brings auspiciousness and happiness into your life.
I know only Maha Mantra. Is it enough if I just chant this alone to reach His abode?
You are really fortunate to know only the Maha Mantra. Ignorance of other diverse forms of worship or other Mantra Sadhanas is indeed a boon and fortune, as they distract a Sadhak from concerted efforts. Concentration on chanting the Maha Mantra alone is enough. Catch hold of it. It is more than sufficient to take you to his abode.
Great mahatmas like Bhagavan Ramana who worshipped the Arunachala Mountain as Lord Siva, Seshadri Swamigal who worshipped Sri Krishna – all have worshipped only one form of God. Since Nama (the name of the God) and the Naami (the Named, who is the Lord Himself) are one and the same, chanting the Maha Mantra day and night, all the time will certainly lead one to liberation without an iota of doubt. So continue chanting the Maha Mantra alone and Lord Krishna will take you unto His fold.
Is it right to Chant the Maha Mantra using the Japa Mala or we should chant it like the Kirtan?
You can chant the Maha Mantra either way. Whether you perform Nama Kirtan or chant it with japa mala, you should do it with love and devotion. That is the most important criteria.
Can Mahamantra be written (like Rama Nama)?
Definitely. Do it.
Does the Rama Nama in the Mahamantra denote Lord Ramachandra or Balarama?
It denotes both of them.
Mahamantra has done a lot of good to me and takes me on the right path. These days, I cannot stand the negative attitude of people around me, and this is intolerable. Is this because of the Mahamantra?
When you progress in spirituality, your mind becomes more sensitive day by day. There are a lot of negative things around us. The mind tries to observe all these negativities. What you have to do is, try to neglect such observations and do more and more Japa. It will be alright slowly.
I am chanting maha mantra and following a normal life. How long will it take to attain the Lord? I want to know whether these sufferings will be there in my whole life.
You are already one among the blessed few, picked by the Lord Himself. Don’t get bogged down by any troubles or sufferings on your path. It might be a test for your devotion and faith on the Almighty. Hold on to the Maha Mantra strongly and continue to chant it with the same love and devotion. A sparkling bright future awaits you if you remain steadfast in your chanting.
During the Japa of Mahamantra should I concentrate my mind on my soul?
You would not know the exact location of the soul. Hence you will not be able to concentrate on the soul. Hence, during the Japa, concentrate on your mind.
I hear that the Mahamantra is from the Kali Santarana Upanishad. Hence, is it okay to chant it anywhere without any conditions, or are there rules associated with chanting these? I am asking this because I have heard that Veda mantras have strict rules.
Unlike the other Veda Mantras, the Mahamantra has absolutely no rules and restrictions.
