सीतानाथ समारम्भां रामानन्दार्य मध्यमाम्। अस्मदाचार्य पर्यन्तां वन्दे श्रीगुरू परम्पराम् ।।
Glory of Śrī Rām naam has been spread everywhere in Vedsaar Śrīmad Rāmcharit Mānas. But I will go strictly with 1.1.19 of Mānas Maharāj, as this section is exclusively dedicated to Śrī Rāma's naam Mahatamya. This servent can prove every single word of Vedsaar Śrīmad Rāmcharit Mānas from other scripture as what Śrīmad Göswāmi Tulsidās Ji Maharāj has written is in accordance with Vedās, Purān, Itīhāas and Āgam shastra. But I will stick with Mānas Maharāj only, as this is full and final proof of everything in Śrī Rām Tattva Nirupan, no need of any other specific scripture to add on. So get ready to get the eternal bliss of the sweetest lord name. We will go with bit details;
बंदउँ नाम राम रघुबर को । हेतु कृसानु भानु हिमकर को॥ 1
बिधि हरि हरमय बेद प्रान सो । अगुन अनूपम गुन निधान सो॥ 2
I pay my respects to Lord's Holy Name 'RAM' of Lord Raghubar'. This name has three letters 'Ra+Aa+Ma' (ra+a+ma). These letters respectively represent the three great Gods, viz. (i) the 1st letter 'Ra' stands for the Fire-God (as this why very first word of Vedā is अग्नि that itself represents that it has been illuminated by R of RAM") , (ii) the 2nd letter 'A' stands for the Sun God (according to Valmiki Ramayan Lord Shri Ram is the lord of even Surya Narayan which means the sun is illuminated by the name of Lord Rama, it is said in Sanat Kumar samita that Lord Shri Ram is the one who is present in the middle of the Sun's core {as according to Vedas, that palce where Paratpār Par-Brahmā is present} ), and (iii) the 3rd letter 'Ma' stands for the Moon God (in Moon dynasty Lord Krishna has been incarnated from here in indirect way Shrimad Tulsidas Ji Maharaj has quotes Yajurvedā Shäkhayam Krishnōpanishad 1.1 that says lord Śrī Rām incarnates as Lord Śrī Krishnā).
The holy Name of Lord Ram represents the three Gods of the Trinity, viz. Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the sustainer and protector) and Shiva (the concluder of creation) respectively. It is the essence of the Vedas (ie. it is literally the breath or the vital life of the Vedas-"bēda prāna). It is without qualifications; it is peerless and an eternal source or fount of all auspiciousness and good virtues.
Note "The word 'Raghubara' literally means the 'Great Lord who is the best in the line of kings descending from the ancient king named Raghu who ruled over the kingdom of Ayodhya in ancient time".
From the spiritual perspective this name means 'the Lord of the creatures', where the 1" part of the name, i.e. 'Raghu' stands for a living being, and the 2nd part, i.e. 'Bara' stands for the Lord or a husband, So this verse essentially means I pray to and offer my respects to the holy Name of Lord Ram who is the Lord of all living beings'. The three letters of Lord Ram's holy Name, viz. 'Ra+Aa+Ma' (ra+a+ma), represent the basic cosmic energy incorporated in the 'fire element' that is at the base of all life in this creation as represented by the 'sun' and the moon', i,e. the one that shines directly (i.e. the sun), and the one that is made to shine by the first (i.e. the moon). In this metaphor, the 'fire' stands for the cosmic Consciousness, the 'sun' for the Supreme Being, and the 'moon' for the individual Creature as the latter basks in the glory of the former. Refer. Maharamayan, 52/62-64.
To wit, just like the fire is able to burn all impurities and make gold pure, invocation of Lord Ram's holy Name purifies the creature completely and makes his heart holy and pure. Again, just as the sun provides energy and life to all the creatures on earth and removes all darkness and the fear of ghosts by its mere presence in the sky, the holy Name of Lord Ram removes all darkness of delusions and ignorance that cloud the soul of a creature, thereby freeing him and granting him fearlessness from the horrors of birth and death in this mundane world of transmigration. And finally, just as the moon provides a soothing balm of its rays to the world scorched by the heat of the blazing sun, the Lord's holy Name gives solace and succour and hope to the tormented soul of all creatures. Lord Ram, the three letters 'Ra, Aa and Ma' of the Lord's holy Name combine the energy of the Fire God, the Sun God and the Moon God.
Further, it also combines the powers of the three great Gods of the Trinity, viz. Brahma the creator, Vishnu the sustainer and protector, and Shiva the concluder of creation. To wit, the holy Name of Lord Ram symbolizes the entire gamut of creation its beginning, its development and expansion, and its conclusion. It infuses life (Brahma), it protects and sustains (Vishnu), and it provides liberation from the miseries and torments of life (Shiva).
Refer: Tulsidas' book Kavitawali, Uttar Kand, verse no. 74 which also says the same thing in its line nos. 1-2.
*This verse clarifies that the Name which is being glorified is not simply a name of a great king, but it is a holy Name that has been endorsed by the Vedas, the most sacred of religious texts. The three letters of Lord Ram's holy Name combine and roll into one the cosmic powers and the authority of the three supreme forces of creation, viz. the creator Brahma, the sustainer Vishnu and the concluder Shiva. The holy Name 'Ram' represents the entire spectrum of creation-its beginning, its expansion and its conclusion. And therefore it stands for 'Brahm', the Supreme Being Śrī Rām.
The holy Name of Lord Ram is equivalent to the divine Mantra 'OM' that is universally regarded as the most sacred of all Mantras and is directly related to the cosmic personality, Śrī Rām as it is the sound manifestation of the latter and stands for Brahm, the Supreme Being. This fundamental metaphysical fact has been elaborately detailed in Ram Uttar and Purva Tapini Upanishads that belongs to the Atharva Veda tradition. OM and RAM are synonymous with each other. Calling Lord Ram's holy Name as being the 'essence of the Vedas' it is meant that just like a body is useless without life in it, the scriptures would lose their greatness and holiness, their importance and value, if Lord Ram's holy Name is removed from them.
An important question arises here. The Supreme Being Rām has countless names. He is known by different names in different religions and faiths; all these names refer to the same Divinity. Then why is that Lord Ram's name 'Ram' or 'Rama' or 'Raam' is regarded as the best and the most holy among them all? It is like a case of it being 'the first among equals'. It is said in Padma Puran, Uttar Khand, 254/22 that 'Lord Ram is the one who resides in the heart of all living beings, and his name is the one that directly appeals to the heart which finds joy in remembering it. So therefore, though there are thousands of names of the Supreme Lord, the name 'Ram' is the best amongst them all.'
There is another aspect to it. All the Mantras or divine formulas that have been prescribed in the Vedas and other scriptures are specific to particular Gods to whom they belong, and when these Mantras are used for spiritual purposes, only the spiritual energy of their respective God or deity is invoked. But in the case of Lord Ram when his holy Name is remembered or invoked then the benefits that accrue encompass the entire spectrum of cosmic forces, i.e. the forces of creation, of sustenance and of conclusion. Nothing is left out, and so obviously the powers and authority that this holy Name grants to the person who invokes it are all-encompassing and wholesome in their nature. The benefits of Lord Ram's holy Name are all-round and comprehensive.
Like Lord Śrī Rām who is self-illuminated and does not require any other source to provide light same is the holy Name of Lord Rām is also self- illuminated and self-empowered. As it has been described Par-Brahma in Vedās.
महामंत्र जोइ जपत महेसू कासीं मुकुति हेतु उपदेसू ॥ 2
महिमा जासु जान गराऊ । प्रथम पूजिअत नाम प्रभाऊ॥ 3
Lord Shiva repeats (chants) this 'Great Mantra" of Lord Ram, and utters them in the right ears of a dying man at Kashi (Varanasi) to give him emancipation and salvation. Lord Ganesh knows about the stupendous glory, the mystical powers and the supremacy of Lord Ram's holy Name over all other Mantras of all other Gods, and it is for this reason that he (Ganesh) is worshipped first in all religious ceremonies and is deemed to be the senior-most God.
This fact has been endorsed in Ram Uttar Tapini Upanishad of the Atharva Veda tradition. This Upanishad clearly states that Lord Ram's holy Name 'RAM' is called the "Tarak Mantra", which is a spiritual formula that can grant freedom, deliverance, emancipation and salvation to the soul of the creature by liberating him from the cycle of transmigration and helping him to go across over this vast ocean represented by this mundane world of birth and death.
Refer also to:
(a) Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, (i) Chaupai line nos. 3-4 that precede Doha no. 46; (ii) Chaupai line no. 7 that precedes Doha no. 108; (iii) Chaupai line no. 1 that precedes Doha no. 119; Kishkindha Kand, Chaupai line no. 4 that precedes Doha no. 10;
(b) Barvai Ramayan, verse no. 53;
(c) Kavitawali, Uttar Kand, verse no. 74;
(d) Vinai Patrika,(i) stanza no. 11, verse no. 152; (ii) stanza no. 3, verse no. 218;
(e) Shiva Samhita, 2/14;
(f) Anand Ramayan, Yatra Kand, Canto 2.
जान आदिकबि नाम प्रतापू । भयउ सुद्ध करि उलटा जापू॥
सहस नाम सम सुनि सिव बानी । जपि जेईं पिय संग भवानी ॥
The ancient poet (Valmiki) knows the great effect and the magical powers of the Holy Name of Lord Ram because he attained purity and greatness by chanting this Name in the reverse order'. On hearing from Lord Shiva that Ram's Name is equivalent to thousands of Names of other Gods and Godesses, Bhavani (Lord Shiva's consort) decided to chant this Holy Name alongside Lord Shiva. [To wit, when Shiva's consort became aware of the glories of Lord Ram's holy Name, she used it as a spiritual formula herself just like her husband Lord Shiva had always been doing.]
Refer: (a) Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, (i) Chaupai line no. 3 that precedes Doha no. 3; and (ii) Sortha/Doha no. 14 (d); (b) Vinai Patrika, (i) verse no. 151, stanza no. 7; (ii) verse no. 156, stanza no. 2; (ii) verse no. 156, stanza no. 2.
In Adhyatma Ramayan, Ayodhya Kand, Canto 6, verse nos. 64 and 80, Valmiki himself says: "Oh Lord Ram, I have attained the exalted state of being a sage equivalent in stature to celestial sages because of your holy Name. Say then, who can ever sufficiently praise the greatness of your holy Name?"; "The celestial sages known as Sapta-rishis had advised me to repeat your holy Name in the reverse order as MARA instead of in the right order as RAMA because I told them I wouldn't be able to do it in the correct way due to my overriding sins. And inspite of this reverse way of chanting your glorious name, I still found exaltedness and enlightenment." Sage Valmiki was a sage who lived during the time of Lord Ram. The Lord had visited his hermitage during his journey into the forest.
The story of Valmiki is as follows: Sage Valmiki is well known for his classical work known as the famous epic 'Ramayana', which is his magnum opus. He is also credited with penning Advhut Ramayan in which Sita had assumed the form of Maha Kali to kill the Ravana with a thousand heads. Valmiki is said to be the son of sage Pracheta who is said to be the son of Varun, the Water God. He is also said to be one of the Prajaapatis the ancient patriarchs of this world. Before he became famous as 'Valmiki", he was known by the name of Ratnakar. In his early life he had been in the company of Bhils, ancient tribals, from his childhood days, and married into this race. So he adopted their life and means of livelihood, which was hunting. He used to waylaid travellers and rob them to sustain his family. Once the celestial sages known as Sapta-rishis met him and told him that no one would share his sins. The meeting of these sages was a turning point in Valmiki's life. He pleaded with them to tell him how to get over his path of sins and somehow find deliverance. The sages then advised him to meditate upon the holy Name of Lord Ram as it is the easiest way for him for it requires no knowledge of scriptures and needs no formalities, and at the same time it is easy and convenient for himi to repeat it as a Mantra. Valmiki accepted this advice, and immediately sat down in a motionless state of Samadhi, focusing his mind on the holy Mantra 'RAM'. This alone led him to his enlightenment and self-realisation.
According to Adhyatma Ramayan, Ayodhya Kand, Canto 6, verse nos. 57-58 he was a Brahmin by birth but became a cruel robber who would even kill his victims if they failed to give all their possessions to him. He had adopted this means of livelihood because he was brought up by a band of robbers and highway vagabonds who would way lay travellers and rob them. Once the seven celestial sages known as the Sapta-Rishis went through the forest where he lived, and Valmiki accosted them. When asked by the sages why he robbed others, Valmiki replied that he did it to feed his family and other dependants. The sages advised him that they would not share the consequences of sins that he is committing for them. To test the correctness of this advice, Valmiki tied them to a tree and went to his house to ask his kith and kin if they would share any misfortune that might befall upon him. When they replied that they are only concerned with what loot he brings home, Valmiki's eyes of wisdom opened instantaneously. He rushed back to the sages, untied them and fell at their feet seeking forgiveness. He asked them to show him the path by which he can seek redemption and salvation for himself. The sages then advised him to do Japa (repetition) with Lord Ram's holy Name 'RAAM. Valmiki said that he was so sinful that it is not possible for him to utter the Lord's holy Name. At this, the sages thought over the matter and told him to repeat the name in the reverse order as 'MARAA'. When this word MARAA is repeated it becomes RAAM. This trick worked fine for Valmiki, and he immediately sat down to do Tapa (severe form of penance) and meditated on the name of the Lord in the reverse order. He became so immobile and lost in contemplation that a mound of anthill formed around his body. It so happened that when the sages returned to the same place during their return journey, they saw him in this condition. They poured consecrated water on him and revived him. It was then that they gave him a new name 'Valmiki', which means 'one who has emerged from an anthill'. This story is narrated in Adhyatma Ramayan, Ayodhya Kand, 6/57- 58.
He established a hermitage on the banks of river Tamsa and lived there. Lord Ram went to meet him during his outward journey to the forest, and it was in the sage's hermitage that Sita lived and her two sons Lav and Kush were born when she was sent to exile by Ram during the final days of the Lord's days on earth as a prelude to his winding up his worldly 'Leela' or deeds and ascending to the Sāket.
One day Valmiki saw a hunter shoot down a male bird and heard the wailings of his companion, the female bird. He cursed the hunter in a verse that came out of his mouth in a poetic style called the Anushtup Chand (metre). Never before had Valmiki ever composed any verse, so he was astonished at this development. Then Brahma the creator appeared before him and ordered him to compose the epic Ramayan for which the basic story was provided to him by sage Narad.
The genesis of the story of Ramayan is this-Once the celestial sage Narad came to his hermitage (called an Ashram) on the behest of Brahma. Valmiki asked him if there was anyone living in this creation who embodied all the 16 Kalaas (qualities) that the Supreme Being is known to possess. Then Narad told him about Lord Ram. This is how the grand and magnificent story of the Ramayan was revealed.
Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, Chaupai line no. 2 that precedes Doha no. 10 which clearly endorses this fact. Refer also to Vinai Patrika, verse no. 247, stanza no. 2.
This story is narrated in Padma Puran, Uttar Khand, Canto 254, verse nos. 11- 24. Briefly it is as follows: Parvati, the divine consort of Lord Shiva, had been initiated and given Lord Vishnu's Mantra by her Guru (preceptor) sage Vamdeo (pronounced "Vaamdeo"). Once Lord Shiva sat down for his meals and invited Parvati to join him. Parvati replied that she was worshipping Lord Vishnu by using his thousand names, known as Vishnu Sahastra Naam, which takes a long time to complete. It was then that Lord Shiva advised her that she must understand that Lord Ram's single name 'Ram' (pronounced as 'Rāma' or 'Raam) was equivalent to the thousands of names of Vishnu, or for that matter any God. Parvati accepted Shiva's advice as she knew that he was the wisest and the most enlightened amongst the Gods. Since that time Parvati always accompanied Lord Shiva in repeating the holy Name of Lord Ram and used it as her spiritual formula.
हरये हेतु हेरि हर ही को किय भूषन तिय भूषन ती को॥ 7
नाम प्रभाउ जान सिव नीको। कालकूट फलु दीन्ह अमी को ॥ 8
Lord Shiva was so happy at her decision (of chanting Lord Ram's holy Name and accepting it as her spiritual Mantra) that he made her the jewel among womenfolk as well as an inseparable part of his own self. Lord Shiva knows the great effect and the spiritual potency of the holy Name (of Lord Ram)' by the virtue (or the strength) of which the poison he drank became nectar for him.
Note 'Lord Shiva knows the mystical powers and spiritual value of Lord Ram's holy Name. Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, line no. 2 of Doha no. 25 which says that after studying all the scriptures and analyzing the countless ways they have been interpreted, Lord Shiva deduced that Lord Ram's holy Name is the best Mantra and the best spiritual formula for a living being. So he adopted it as his preferred Mantra which he invoked during meditation. This invocation granted him eternal peace and bliss, and elevated him to the pedestal of being a Great God, the 'MahaDeva'.
This story is narrated in Srimad Bhagvat Mahapuran, Skandha 8, Canto 5-7. In brief it is this: The Gods and the Demons decided to churn the ocean to produce Amrit, the liquid that would grant them eternity. But this was not a joke, for the ocean was extremely sour and bitter. During the fierce churning of the ocean, for which the celestial serpent was made a rope, Mt. Mandrachal the churning rod, and the Tortoise as the base on which this mighty mountain was rested, one of the first things that was produced was 'Halahal Poison', i.e. a poison that was so acidic, scalding, corroding and dangerous that if even one drop of it fell on the earth, all life on its surface would vanish. All were terrified, not knowing how to tackle it. All the Gods rushed to Lord Shiva as they knew he was the wisest amongst them all and would certainly know what to do with this poison. Besides this, Shiva is also the God of death, so he would find a way around this problem. So Shiva uttered the holy Name of Lord Ram and sipped the poison. The name of Lord Ram is so powerful that it neutralized the negative effects of the poison so much so that it didn't affect Shiva; only Shiva's neck turned blue due to this poison. Since that time Shiva came to be known as Neel- Kantha, the Lord with a blue-tinged throat.
This drinking of the poison by Shiva and his surviving due to the powerful antidote effects of Lord Ram's holy Name has also been mentioned in Tulsidas' books (i) Kavitawali, Uttar Kand, stanza no. 1 of verse no. 158; and (ii) Vinai Patrika, verse no. 156, stanza no. 2.]
I am again repeating I can put sloka for each chaupai that I mentioned above from shastras but their is no use for them as Manas is Param Praman in it self.
Please Chant
SitaRam SitaRam SitaRam
copied from here
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