| What is the Significance of Lord Rama’s Name?
sri rama rama rameti rame rame manorame;
sahasra nama tat tulyam rama nama varanane!
O lovely Parvati, I chant the holy name of Rama, Rama, Rama and thus constantly enjoy this beautiful sound. This holy name of Ramachandra is equal to one thousand holy names of Lord Vishnu. (Padma Purana 72.355)
The above sloka is recited at the end of the Vishnu Sahasranama, and is Lord Shiva’s reply to Goddess Parvathi’s question as to which mantra can be easily recited and has the equivalent effect as the Vishnu-sahasra-nama-stotram.
Rama Nama was the sacred mantra given by Maharishi Narada when confronted by the dacoit, Ratnakar. Narada Muni opened Ratnakar’s eyes to the sinful life he was leading and told him, “This sacred name of Rama will wash all your sins away, and you will begin a new life.” Transformed and chastened, the dacoit went into a trance, and began to utter the name that was given to him. He grew indifferent to hunger, thirst and bodily demands. He gave himself up to the Divine Name.… His austerities continued for days on end, and he did not move from the place he sat; an anthill grew all around him, and yet he was lost to all sense of this world.
That was how the dacoit Ratnakar became Sage Valmiki, who later wrote the Ramayana, one of the greatest epic histories from India. His life was touched with divine grace, thanks to the Rama Nama mantra.
We hope to see you for this special occasion.
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