Deivathin Kural Series - 112

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 112 of 06 of Dec 2006.
1. To-day's title is 'Nama Mahimai', or 'Power of Chanting God's Name', occuring in pages 506 to 509, in Volume 1 of Deivathin Kural, Tamil version, published by Vanady Padippagam, Chennai.
2. Dhyanam, Japam, Pooja, Yagna and Kshetradana; are all various religious practices, through which, the individual makes an effort to cleanse his own mind. Along with the above practices, 'Nama Sangeerthanai', or 'Bajanai Seivathu', has been a popular mode of approaching divinity. This was very widely practised all over the country, as evidenced by the fact that, almost all the villages and towns, used to have a Bajanai Matam, or a place where people used to gather every Saturday and Ekadasi, (ie., the eleventh day after a full / new moon), and sing together.
3. We see God's divine forms in the Temples and participate in the Poojas and pray to God. In Bajan, we sing God's names, sing his praise, glorify God's deeds; and there by involve our minds in divine thoughts. Bajanai has the element of a collective effort. Hindu religion is mainly based on individual approach to divinity, by personal cleansing of body, mind and heart, thereby elevating oneself successively to the highest. As one man progresses, by example, he automatically encourages millions. However, there is also the element of collective and congregational worship in Hinduism, through Temples and Bajans.
4. Bajan, ie., collective singing in praise of God, when accompanied by musical instruments, has the inherent ability to attract people's minds easily into devotion. Songs such as, 'raghupathy raghava raja ram' or 'hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare', with easily repeatable words and lilting music, have the capacity to transport one into divine ecstasy. Other than conducting bajan in halls and temples, 'Nagara Sangeetham', is another method, in which a collection of people go around the city or village by walk, singing songs, covering street by street. Especially in the month of Mrgaseersha, (that generally falls between 15 of Dec and Jan, every year), it is an age old custom to do this early in the morning, shivering in the cold, singing Thiruppavai and Thiruvembavai. (Of course, at the end of it, there will always be some hot Sundal or Pongal, distributed as Prasadam.)
5. This good habit should be revived. I do see that in recent times there is a noticeable revival of such wonderful customs, which gives me immence happiness. Our customs and traditions based on Veda and Aagama, have all gone by default mostly; and it is only the Bajana Paddathi which is having a revival. In each city and town, the only, 'Sat Sang' still surviving is this. To that extent, I am happy.
6. In increasing the intensity of devotion, chanting God's names and singing His endearing qualities, through community singing, is a very effective method. Sri Bhagavannama Bhodendra says, "The God who is an embodyment of permanent bliss, for the sake of the masses, has taken so many forms as, Siva, Hari, Vishnu and so on. Not only the forms are important, but also the names. God is ever alive and powerful as the names, 'Siva', 'Hari', 'Vishnu' and so on. They are not just names, but God Himself. Whatever God's power and attributes, are in the 'Nama' too.
7. There has been a whole galaxy of great people who have attained the direct experience of, 'Anubhava' of divinity, through Bajan. The songs that have come out of their inner experience, have the power to melt even the heart of a stone, let alone that of Man. By singing those songs, sins vanish. "Papam vilagi Punniyam Kaikoodugirathu". the songs of, Jayadeva, Theertha Narayana, Rama Dasa, Purandara Dasar, Thyaga Brhmam, Sadasiva Brhmendral, and such including songs in Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Hindi and Marathi, have been organised in to a system by Marudanallur Sat Guru Swamigal, in to a 'Paddathi', or order, known as Sampradaya Bajanai. In some places, this Bajanai singing is celebrated as a big festival, to include, 'Dolotsavam, Kottanotsavam, Vasanta Keli' etc. Whether you conduct a festival or not, in the modern times, Bajan is the easiest method of divinifying one's life. It is said in Sanskrit, 'Kalou Sangeerthya Keshavam', meaning that in Kali Yuga, God is more easily
approached through singing.
8. Let us set aside this Bajanai Paddathi, in which many have to join hands in time and space. All the members in a family can get together, everyday, at least for ten to fifteen minutes, and have Nama Sankeerthanai. This should not be very difficult. This can be done in the Pooja room, or any where lighting up a lamp like a 'Kuthu Vilakku', and sit down together. To sing God's praise you do not have to feel shy. God is of the form of Grace and compassion. The very thought of thinking about Him is good enough. Does not matter if you do not know how to sing. It makes no difference if you have no exposure to music earlier. 'Bakthi Bavanai', or devotional fervour, is what is important. When a child playing with its dolls, suddenly thinks of it's Mother, goes around crying, "Amma, Amma", there is no shyness there. It could not care less for music either. Exactly similarly, we who are involved in worldly affairs all the time, should find some time to cry for, 'Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Siva, Amba'. This is a very good habit. This can give you wealth, health and everlasting happiness. (KTSV adds:- This message has somehow occured at the most apt time, just before the month of Margazhi. There is a Tamil song which goes like this. 'Rama Rama Rama Enru Bajanai Saidu Paduvom. Bajanai Seyya Varavittal, Baktharodu Kooduvom.')
Sambhomahadeva.