| Visnu Sahasra-Nama |
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VISNU SAHASRA-NAMA |
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'form' stands for the physical features of the world of phenomena,
name signifies the psychical characteristics. The 'form' does not
condition us so much as the 'name. The spell of 'name' is even
harder to get over than the hold of 'form'. Hence, the divine name
is said to be more efficacious than the divine form in extricating
the devotee from the trammels of worldliness.
There are several stories in the puranas to illustrate this point. One of them relates to Hanuman proving to his Lord Ramachandra himself that the name 'Rama' was more powerful than the person Rama. Of the Tantrika technique of worship, the central principle is the gradual substitution of subtler for grosser modes of devotion Although the sadhaka starts with outer worship (bahya-puja), he is not to stop there. He has to go inward by stages through chanting of hymns (stava), muttering of mantras (japa), and meditation (dhyana), until he attains unity with the non-dual Reality (advaita-bhava). Starting from the gross forms of worship, the devotee should progressively adopt subtler modes. The grades are indicated in the following verse: prathama pratima-Puja japastotrani madhyama uttama manasi puja soh'am pajottamottama. "The first stage is image worship; the next consists in japa and prayer; still higher is mental worship; the highest is of the form 'I am He'." It will thus be seen that the repetition of the divine names and sacred formulas occupies a crucial Place in the scheme of spiritual disciplines. |
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