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The Divine name religion

CHENNAI: The glory of the Divine name has been expounded by sages and saints from their spiritual experience. The efficacy of chanting God’s names is such that it is capable of granting liberation and it is the best antidote to human sins. Unlike other spiritual practices there are no rigid guidelines to follow in this and hence it is open to one and all. Just because it is easy it does not mean that many practise it.

Bhodendra, a pioneering exponent of the Nama siddhanta tradition, asserts that it is only as a result of merit accrued in innumerable lives that a devotee will develop a taste for the Divine name and recite it. Even then it is a blessed devotee who will be able to utter His name under all circumstances.

In his discourse, Sengalipuram Sri B.Kesava Dikshitar said when the royal sage Nabhi performed a sacrifice with the intention of getting progeny the Lord graced him with the vision of His divine form. The priests who were conducting the sacrifice first prayed to Him, “While stumbling, sneezing, falling down, and yawning, when placed in a sad plight and so on, even in high fever and while dying—when we are powerless to remember You—let Your name descriptive of Your virtues and dispelling all our sins somehow appear on our tongue.” This reiterates that divine grace is essential to even utter His name. Then they beseeched the Lord to bless Nabhi with a son who would be like Him. This was a difficult proposition indeed for who can equal the Almighty who is unmatched? The Lord said so, and promised that He would be born as Nabhi’s son (a part manifestation). In this descent He was known as Rishabhadeva.

Nabhi was overjoyed by his son’s peerless qualities and at the right age installed him on the throne and retired to Badarikashrama. Rishabha begot a hundred sons through His consort Jayanti bestowed on Him by Indra, and Bharata, the famous king after whom this land came to be known, was His eldest son and he became the king.

The other sons were also endowed with virtues and of them nine became great ascetics when Rishabha taught His sons spiritual knowledge. The Bhagavata Purana states that the Lord showed the path of renunciation in this manifestation.

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