The Greatness of Japa

A devotee asked, “Swami, what is the easiest way to attain moksha?”

Bhagavan said with a smile, “As and when the mind goes astray, it should be turned inward and made to steady itself in the thought of the Self. That is the only way.”

Another devotee said, “To do so, the repeating of the name of Rama is good, is it not?”

“Certainly, it is good,” said Bhagavan. “What could be better? The greatness of the japa of the name of Rama is extraordinary. In the story of Namadeva he is reported to have told one devotee, ‘If you want to know the greatness of the name of Rama you must first know what your own name is, what your real nature (swarupa) is, who you are and how you were born. Unless you know your own origin, you will not know your name!’
This idea is found in the Abhangas of Namadeva written in Marathi language and in the Malayalam Adhyatma Ramayana.”

Thereupon Bhagavan related a story from the latter.

It is stated in that book that when Anjaneya went in search of Sita, he seated himself opposite to Ravana in the Darbar Hall on a high pedestal and fearlessly spoke to him thus: ‘Oh Ravana, I give you a teaching (upadesa) for attaining liberation (moksha). Please listen to me carefully.

It is certain that the Self (Atma) gets purified by intense devotion to Hari, who is in the lotus of the Heart at all times. The ego gets destroyed and then the sin gets destroyed.

Afterwards, in its place, the knowledge of the transcendent Self emerges. With a pure mind and with the Bliss (Ananda) generated by a firm knowledge of the Self, the two letters ‘Ra’ ‘Ma’ which are like mantras, will repeat themselves within you automatically. What more is required for a person who has this knowledge, however little it might be? Hence worship the lotus feet of Vishnu, which will remove all worldly fears, which are dear to all devotees and which shine as brightly as the light of a crore of Suns. Give up the ignorance of your mind’.
This has been mentioned in two or three slokas in the Sanskrit Adhyatma Ramayanam but not as elaborately as in the Malayalam text. Is the greatness of the name of Rama ordinary?

Mother's Blessings

Sambandha was born in an orthodox brahmin family in the town of Sirkali, to Sivapada Hridayar and his wife Bhagavatiyar.

One day, when the boy was three years old, the father took him to Thirutonni Appar Koil. The father while immersed in the tank for a bath, began repeating the aghamarshana mantram.

The child could not see his father in the tank, and looked around in fear and grief. There was no trace of the father. Not able to contain its grief the child wept aloud looking at the temple tower saying, “Mother! Father!”
Parvati and Lord Siva appeared in the sky, seated on the sacred bull, and gave darsan to the little child. As desired
by Siva, Parvati gave the child a golden cup full of milk
from her breast – the sacred milk containing Siva Jnana
(Knowledge of Siva).
The child drank the milk, became free from sorrow, and the divine couple disappeared. The child was transformed into an inspired sage, wholly and solely dedicated to Siva.

Consequently he received the epithet of Aludaiya Pillaiyar (‘the God’s own child’) and Thiru Jnana Sambandhar (‘he who is conjoined with divine wisdom’).

Having drunk the milk of jnana, and feeling quite satisfied
and happy, Sambandha sat on the tank bund with milk dribbling
from the corners of his mouth. When the father came out from
his bath, he saw the boy’s condition and angrily asked, flourishing a cane, “Who gave you milk? Can you drink milk given by strangers? Tell me who that person is or I will beat you.”

Sambandha immediately replied by singing ten Tamil verses. The gist of the first verse is: “The man with kundalas (sacred earrings), the Man who rides the sacred bull, the Man who has the white moon on his head, the Man whose body is smeared with the ashes of the burning ghat, the thief who has stolen my heart. He came to bless Brahma, the Creator, when Brahma, with the Vedas in his hand did penance. He who occupies the sacred seat of Brahmapuri, He, my Father, is there, and She, my Mother who gave me milk, is there!”
So saying he described the forms of Siva and Parvathi who had given him milk, and also pointed out the temple chariot. It was clear from the verses, that those who gave milk to the child were no other than Parvathi and Lord Siva. A large gathering of people witnessed this unique scene. From that day onwards, the boy’s poetic flow continued unimpeded.