|| Shree Hari ||

Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2

मानसमें नाम-वन्दना

continued......

Even though in both the fifteen day periods (rising and setting moon) ,  the moonlight radiates equally,  but people believe that in the first fifteen day period the moon increases, and in the other it decreases.   If you measure day and night then you will find out that it is about the same amount of time that the moon radiates. Then what is this “Shukla paksh” (increasing moon)  and “Krushna paksh” (decreasing moon)  ?    In Shukla Paksh the Moon nourishes,  is showers nectar,  by which the fruits on trees grow,   pregnant women’s fetuses grow and they all receive nourishment.   With the moon-light,  the various herbal plants acquire exceptional nectar,  and they are riped by the Sun.   Just as the Sun and the Moon see to the supreme good of this entire world.  In the same way,  the “Ra”  and “Ma”  in God’s Name,  are the kind to provide nourishment in every respect.   

‘जग हित हेतु बिमल बिधु पूषन’‒ this divine name “Ram”   is  clear.    Due to planets such as “Raahu”  and “Ketu”  coming on the path of the Sun and the Moon,  one sees an eclipse,  but there is no eclipse in repeating the Divine Name of the Lord.    The moon increases and decreases,  but Ram only keeps on increasing.    ‘राम कभी फूटत नाहीं’  ...   It is ever pure,  therefore for the benefit of the world,  it is like the pure Moon and Sun.   

The two alphabets,   “Ra”  and “Ma”,  whose glories have been sung by Goswamiji Maharaj,  these glories are understood properly when man does Naam Japa (repeats the Divine Name of the Lord).    God has showered His grace,   He has given us the human body,   He has given us Satsang,  and now become engaged in reciting the Divine Name of the Lord.   In this day and age,  if man does even the slightest bit of Japa,  it is very great.   In Kaliyug,  the prices of everything are increasing,  then is not the price of the Divine Name also increased ?   At present the glories of worship and remembrance of God is much more than all the other Yugas.   

चहुँजुग चहुँ श्रुति नाम प्रभाऊ ।

कलि बिसेषि नहिं आन उपाऊ ॥

                                                    (मानस, बालकाण्ड, दोहा २२ । ८)

chahu juga chahu shruti naama prabhaau,  

kali biseshi nahi aana upaau

(Manas,  Baalkaand,  22/8)   

The glory of the Divine Name is supreme in all the four Yugas and all the fours Vedas,  particularly so in the Kali age,  in which there is no other means of salvation.   

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji   

|| Shree Hari ||

Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2

मानसमें नाम-वन्दना

continued......

Just as those who smoke cigarettes,  form a group of their own,  in the same way,  saints also somewhat form their own group.  Their group is formed on its own.  Those who worship God they too get together and become engaged in devotion.   For generations and ages this tradition has been going on.   Hundreds of years have gone by, since the time that many great Mahatmas were present;  but even today simply based on their name this world is carrying on, repeating the Divine name of God, remembrance of the Lord,  chanting His Holy Name, benevolent activities, charitable work,  virtuous deeds, and activities promoting the supreme good of the world.  It is due to the power  of the oneness with the Divine that this is carrying on.   The divine name of the Lord is a great protector of the devotees of the Lord.  

भगति सुतिय कल करन बिभूषन ।

जग  हित   बिमल   बिधु   पूषन ॥

                         (मानस, बालकाण्ड, दोहा २० । ६)

Bhagati sutiya kala karana bibhooshana

jaga hita hetu bimala bidhu poosahana  

They are beautiful ornaments for the ears of the fair damsel in the form of Bhakti (Devotion) and stand as the spotless sun and moon for the good of the world.  (Manas,  Bala. 20/6)  

‘Ra’ and ‘Ma’‒ these two sounds,  are like those ornaments for each ear of the devoted fair lady.    The hands have ornaments and so do the feet,  then what is the reason that in the above stanza “doha”  only refers to the ornaments for the ears ?   Devotion penetrates the heart of he who hears (with ears) the Divine Name of the Lord “Ram”.  The divine name “Ram”  are the ornaments of the ears.   If you want to invite “love and devotion for the Lord”  then do “japa”,  repeat the divine name “Ram”.    By doing so,   “bhakti”  will come running after you.   She (bhakti,  devotion)  will get  situated within and you will be super blessed.  

‘जग हित हेतु बिमल बिधु पूषन’ ‒ The moon and the Sun ‒ these two are the Lord’s eyes.  Both illuminate day and night.   The world is benefited immensely by both.  

यदादित्यगतं   तेजो   जगद्‌भासयतेऽखिलम् ।

यच्चन्द्रमसि यच्चाग्न्नौ तत्तेजो विद्धि मामकम् ॥

                                            (गीता १५ । १२)

"Yadaadityagatam tejo jagbhaasayate khilam

Yaccandramasi yaccaagnau tattejo vidhi maamakam." (Gita 15:12)

Lord says -

"The light (coming from Me) of the Sun that illumes the whole world, and which is in the moon and in the fire - know that light to be Mine." (Gita 15:12)

It rains due to the sunlight and heat that is radiated by the Sun,  and hence farming takes place.  

‘तपाम्यहमहं वर्षं निगृह्णाम्युत्सृजामि च’‒  The Sun Lord causes the rain to fall.   Due to the rains,  the grains grow,  the grass grows,  the fields grow.  Sun Lord,  aids in drying up the poisons in the fields,  and in ripening the field.   And the moon aids in nourishing the fields.   The farmers keep saying things like, now the moon is going in the direction of “shukla paksh”  (fifteen days of the rising moon after the no moon).  Now the fields will grow.  As the moon showers its nectar,  the budding and growing of flowers and fruits begins.     

The heat of the Sun destroys all the poisons that are present in the atmosphere.  Sometimes when it does not rain,  and   bad season arrives, then people say that darkness has arrived.  But even that darkness is essential,  or else if it rains all the time,  then some poisonous elements are born in the plants.   These poisonous elements are destroyed by the Sun.   Therefore the Sun nourishes and the Moon showers its nectar.   Goswamiji further describes the two types of seasons.

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji   

|| Shree Hari ||

Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2

मानसमें नाम-वन्दना

continued......

The Nature of Saints

Saints do not have pride.   They are most loving to the Lord and they regard everyone as great.    

सीय राममय  सब जग जानी ।

करउँ प्रनाम जोरि जुग पानी ॥

                           (मानस, बालकाण्ड, दोहा ८ । २)

Siya Ramamaya saba jaga jaani,  ।

karau pranaama jori juga paani ॥

(Manas, Baalakand, 8 । 2)

Recognizing the entire creation as full of Sita and Rama  I pay obeisance to them with joined palms.   

However many men that are there,  they are our Ramji,  and however many women that are there,  they are all Sitaji-Maa.   This is their sentiment and feeling.   ‘मैं सेवक सचराचर रूप स्वामि भगवंत’ ‒ they regard all as God,  therefore there is no pride within them.   Such a one, appears dear to God;  because  ‘निज प्रभुमय देखहिं जगत केहि सन करहिं बिरोध’‒  who will they have animosity towards,  when they see God in all of creation.  

During Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s time,  there was a sinner named of Jagaayi-Madhaayi.  Nityanandji was beaten up very badly by him, when Nityanandji repeated the Lord’s Divine Name to him.   Even while being beaten up,  Nityanandji kept saying to the sinner, you repeat the Name of Hari,  repeat Hari.  Even to such a sinner,  God showered His grace.   Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,  made him a devotee.  He made a resolve,  that one should have more mercy on those who are very sinful,  the wealthy and the Pandits; because alerting them, cautioning them and making them aware is very difficult.   And they will not be alerted by other means,  they will simply not listen to things about devotion;  because they are filled with pride.   Chaitanya Mahaprabhu even graced such men by making them repeat the divine Name of the Lord.  He engaged everyone in chanting (kirtan) the divine name of the Lord.

‘जग पालक बिसेषि जन त्राता’‒  such a repeater of the Lord’s Name,  even protects the evil doers, they destroy the pride of the proud,  and engage them in worship of the Lord.  And they even engages ordinary people and draws them towards God.   They engage them all, so that all can become loving devotees of the Lord.  ‘सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः’  ‒ Not just that all become free of disease,  but may all become loving devotees of the Lord -  such are the wishes of the Lord.    In this manner,   beholding a saint too can lead to many virtues.   One gains immensely.  Why is it so ?  In their hearts the sentiment and feeling for God remains constant,  and they want to serve all.   Due to this,   simply their “darshan”, can have an influence.   Simply by remembering them,  and simply their talks can have an impact.   Because their hearts are overflowing with feeling of God and they are ever charged up to serve.   Therefore,  by meeting them (darshan), by listening to their lectures,  by touching them,  by remembering them etc.,   it has an influence on the people,  and it leads to their supreme good  (kalyaan).

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji   

|| Shree Hari ||

Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2

मानसमें नाम-वन्दना

continued......

The next day once again the Seth went in his dhoti (indian outfit) with his water flask.  The same saint was sitting right in the same spot.   Seeing the Seth,   the saint said ‒ ‘Ram - Ram !’   Suddenly the Seth realized,  that all of this was due to the magical powers of this saint.   The saint said to the Seth ‒ ‘Now onwards, you repeat the divine Name of the Lord.  Do not insult or condemn anyone.   Now you may go to your home.’  The Seth,  quietly,  returned to his home.

When one becomes proud,  they begin to condemn others.   The pride of wealth is very bad.   A wealthy man mostly cannot become devoted to God.   It is not that rich people can never be devotees of the Lord.   King Ambrish was a devotee of God.   There were many other wealthy men who had become devotees of God;  but they did not have pride of their wealth.   They did not care about money.   God does not regard pride as being good.   ‒‘अभिमानद्वेषित्वाद्दैन्यप्रियत्वाच्च’   Even a devotee such as Naradji became filled with pride ‘जिता काम अहमिति मन माहीं ।’ (मानस, बालकाण्ड, दोहा १२७ । ५)  What was his state when he developed pride of having attained victory over his passion ?  God does not let the pride remain in His devotees.   

       ताते करहिं कृपानिधि  दूरी ।

सेवक पर ममता अति भूरी ॥

                        (मानस, उत्तरकाण्ड, दोहा ७४ । ७)

Man can fall steeply with pride.   God removes this pride.    All the demoniacal qualities and all the bad qualities and conduct,  they all remain under the shade of pride.    It has come in Mahabharat ‒ Just like, Kaliyug resides under the shade of a Baheda tree,   in the same way,  all demonaic qualities reside under the shade of pride.   One develops pride of riches, and knowledge as well.   When we become “sadhus”  then the change of clothing and appearance also leads to pride,  that I am a Sadhu.   This too inflates the ego.   Oh Brother,   let us blow away  improverishment.  What to speak of one who fills them with riches  !   Those ordinary servants who serve a rich man,  talk among themselves -  ‘due to some fortune, this man acquired money; but he is a foolish man.’  If you ask him, ‘you being so wise and intelligent,  why do you continue to stay here with one who is unwise and obtuse?’   Similarly,  the proud men say to pandits -  ‘so what if you are well-read,  you don’t have the brains,’’   As if all the wisdom is with them and them only.   Everyone else is without any intelligence and foolish.   

It is difficult to find ‘अकलका अधूरा और गाँठका पूरा’.   There are very few men who will think that “now I have acquired a lot of money,  now I do not need any more of it,  but I have less knowledge,  let me gain more knowledge and understand more things.   This conflict remains.   Sometimes one also develops pride of being poor.   Ordinary people say  ‒‘the Seth is a Seth of his wife.  What have we to offer to him?’  this attitude is also very bad.   It is God who saves the man,  or else at every step,  pride arises.   Therefore one must remain ever alert regarding pride.   

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji   

|| Shree Hari ||
Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2
मानसमें नाम-वन्दन

continued......

The saint thought,   that I must teach him a lesson.   So he disguised himself as the “Seth”, and went to the “Seth’s”  house.   The gatekeeper said -  ‘How come Sir you are home so early today?’  He said,  that ‘a polymorphic is disguised as me and is coming towards the house.  I thought that he might be up to some mischief,  therefore I came home early.  You be careful !  If he comes here,  do not let him in.’   

Just as the owner was doing his routine rituals,  similarly, this saint (disguised as the Seth) began to do worship of the Lord and daily scripture reading.   Now the Seth just like he normally did,  came in his ‘dhoti’  carrying a water container.    The guard stopped him.   ‘Where are you going?   Stay away from here !   The Seth said -  ‘Have you had some “bhaang” (a sort of opium drink)?  Are you drunk or what?   What is the matter with you  ?   You are my servant, and I am your master.’  The gatekeeper said ‒‘Get away from here,  you cannot enter the premises’   The Seth called out for his kids ‒‘What is the matter with this gatekeeper today?’ Then he heard the children saying  ‒‘go away,  do not come in’.  Whoever he called out to,  they all disregarded and pushed him away.    The Seth saw,  that what sort of drama is going on brother ?  I am unable to even enter the gates of my own house.   The poor man began to wander here and there.  

Now what am I to do ? When no where was he acknowledged,  he went to the king’s palace and filed a report,  a complaint, that I have encountered this troubling situation.   The Seth was highly honored in the kingdom.  When the king saw him in this state,  he said ‒‘what do you have to say today ? How is it that you have come here in your “dhoti”  carrying you water flask ?’   He said ‒ ‘O’  Maharaj  ! Some stranger has disguised himself and entered my home, and has thrown me out.    The king said ‒‘you used to come here in a chariot with four horses.  Today,  your condition has deteriorated to such an extent !’   The king asked his men to go and investigate the situation and find out about the fake man.  When they went to the Seth’s house,  the family said,   the fake guy went to meet the king  !  Our Seth is sitting inside.  The king was informed that the Seth was sitting comfortably at his home.   The king said to tell the Seth that the king is inviting him.     Now the Seth,  came in a chariot with four horses,  like he used to visit before and said  ‒ ‘Oh!  sustainer of all !  Why have you remembered me today?   What is the issue ?  

The king was baffled,  seeing them both looking so alike.  How is anyone to tell the real one ?   On asking the minister,   they said,  they are unable to figure out who is the genuine Seth.   Thereafter the king asked ‒‘who is the genuine one of the two and who is fake?    Then they said ‒‘you may test us’ the saint who had become a Seth said ‒‘Bring the register.   I will tell you what is written in the register.”  The registered was brought in.  The saint who was disguised as a Seth,  he without seeing said that in such and such a year,  that a particular building so much money was spent.   So much was spent on “ghee”  and that much on weddings.   All that was recorded in a particular register.   They were able to trace all those figures in that particular register.  The Seth was totally awed.   He did not remember any such details.    From this it was proven that he was the fake Seth.  Therefore it was ordered to  be sentenced with a punishment.   But due to the request of the saint,  he was released.    

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji  

|| Shree Hari ||

Manas Mein Naam Vandana - 2

मानसमें नाम-वन्दना

‘जग पालक बिसेषि जन त्राता’‒  On the subject of pride of wealth,  a poet has said something unique ‒

हाकम जिन दिन  होय  विधि  षट्  मेख  बनावे ।

दोय  श्रवणमें  दिये  शबद   नहीं  ताहि  सुनावे ॥

एक मेख मुख माय   विपति  किणरी  नहीं  बूझे ।

दोय मेख चख मांय   सबल  निरबल  नहीं  बूझे ॥

पद हीन होय हाकम  परो छठी मेख तल द्वार में ।

पांचों ही मेख  छिटके परी  सरल  भये  संसारमें ॥

When a man achieves worldly success,  then he does not listen to anyone,  he cannot see,  and he becomes mute.   He applies six types blocking devices.   Two  blocks are in the ears,   by which he cannot hear any words.   If someone calls out that “Annadaata (Provider of Food) !  We have encountered some financial difficulties,  please have mercy,  we have some difficult times.’  On hearing with the ear, it should be comprehended  isn’t it?   But he does not listen at all,   the ears are plugged,  now how is he going to listen ?   In the same way,  two more blocks (blinders) are placed on the eyes,   then ‘a powerful man does not understand one without any power’ ‘give him punishment,’ ‘penalize him with a fine of this amount !’ ‘Oh’   Brother ! how poor he is,  how will he be able to give ?’ ‘imprison him’‒ what effort is there in simply throwing out words?  And one more block or blinder is ‘मुख माय विपति किणरी नहीं बूझे’‒  whether you are unhappy or happy,  how are you,  what is your current state ?   You are not facing any difficulty I presume ?  -  a rich man never asks such things.    When these blinders are opened up, then   ‘सरल भये संसारमें’‒ he becomes simple minded and straight-forward.   

Lesson from a Saint to the Wealthy Man  (Seth)

This is a story about a  man who was very wealthy (Seth).   Early in the morning,  he used to take a bath in the river,  and after coming home,  do his daily routine tasks.   Like that,  daily he used to come to the river for bathing.   One day,  a very good holy man wandered to the bank of the river.   The holy man said -  ‘Seth !  Ram Ram !’   The wealthy man did not reply,  so he once again said -  “Seth !  Ram Ram !’  In this manner, he did this 2-3 times,  then too the Seth did not say ‘Ram Ram’.   The Seth thought that surely this person was asking,  rather begging for something.   Therefore he began to say -  ‘Get out !  Out !  Out from here !’  The holy man saw that the man’s pride was significantly inflated.   The man did not even want to take the name of the Lord.   The holy man was only repeating the Lord’s name then too the Seth was shooing him off, and telling him to get out of the way.   

These rich people have the misconception that someone will ask them for something,  and take something from them.   Therefore wealthy people remain fearful of everyone.  They are fearful of the poor, the ascetics, the Brahmins, the government and other statesmen,  the thieves, and robbers,   They are also fearful that if they have too many children and grand-children, then their wealth will get divided.  

From  Book in Hindi “Manas Mein Naam Vandana”  by Swami Ramsukhdasji