Sri Muralidhara Swamy - Nectarine Rama Nama is the heart of Vedas

This is the essence of all Vedas. This is the greatest among all mantras. Nectarine Rama Nama is the heart of Vedas.

Various discourses of Sri Muralidhara Swami

Rama Nama is the very essence ('saram') of all Epics, Shastras and the Vedas

Our ancient Sages and Rishis have glorified the Rama Nama

Whether your interest be in Yoga, Meditation or Vedanta, chanting Mahamantra for some time will purify your mind and enable you to proceed in your own path comfortably

When its recitation commences with the Divine Name Hari and concludes with the same, it is a clear and significant indication that the essence of all Vedas is about chanting the Divine Name of Hari.

Essence of Srimad Bhãgavatam

What is the essence of all the Shastras, the Brahma Sutra, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, etc.

The essence of the endless Vedas is this : Seek the shelter of God and repeat His name with all thy heart.

Rama Nama - Birbal and Akbar Story

Funny but thought provoking

Birbal was a minister in the court of Akbar. Birbal, apart from his sharp intellect, was also a devotee of Sri Rama. Akbar had a special regard for Birbal. Akbar used to openly ask Birbal to clarify his impulsive - and very often strange doubts. Birbal never failed to give an immediate and a fitting reply to such questions. Wherever Akbar went, he used to take Birbal along with him. During one such instance, when they travelled for some official purpose, they had to take a route through a dense forest. In the course of the journey, both were totally exhausted and famished. So they decided to rest under the shade of a tree for a while before continuing their journey. Since Akbar was very hungry, he wanted to look around the place to see if he can find a house to get some food. He induced Birbal to follow suit. But Birbal who was in the midst of Rama Nama Japam (Repetition of Rama Nama), turned down Akbar's request.

Akbar looked at Birbal. 'Mere chanting of the names of the Lord would not fetch you food. You have to put in your efforts.... You cannot achieve anything without self effort...'

Akbar left Birbal in the pursuit of pacifying his belly. In a little while he spotted a house. The inmates of the house were overjoyed to see their King coming to their very doorstep for food. They treated him to the best of their capacity. Akbar finished his meal and took a little food for Birbal too and left the house to meet Birbal. He met Birbal and gave him the food.

'See Birbal, I told you... I took some efforts for the food and I got it. You were just sitting and chanting Rama Nama , and you did not get any food.'
Birbal ignored his scoffing and partook the food given by Akbar. After he finished the meal, he looked up at Akbar and said, 'I have just now experienced the power of Rama nama, like never before.You are the ruler of the land. But today even the King had to beg for food. But you look at me. I was just chanting Rama Nama here and the Rama Nama made the king himself to get me food, that too by begging. So I got the food, just by sitting here and chanting Rama nama without any other special efforts. Such is the power of Rama Nama!!'

source: http://shaijavallikatri.blogspot.in/2011/04/rama-namaakbar-birbal-story.html

Gandhiji - Rama Nama and Natures cure

 

During part of his illness my father was in Porbandar. There every evening he used to listen to the Ramayana. The reader was a great devotee of Rama —Ladha Maharaj of Bileshwar. It was said of him that he cured himself of his leprosy not by any medicine, but by applying to the affected parts bilva which had been cast away after being offered to the image of Mahadeva in Bileshwar temple, and by regular repetition of Ramanama. His faith, it was said, had made him whole. This may or may not be true. We, at any rate, believed the story. And it is a fact that when Ladha Maharaj began his reading of the Ramayana his body was entirely free from leprosy.

Gandhiji - Autobiography, p. 48

 

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Power of Rama Nama - Sangeetha Upanyasam by Sri Janakiraman - Podhigai TV

Sangeetha Upanyasam by Sri Janakiraman telecast on Podhigai TV on March 28, 2012 on Rama Nama Mahimai (Power of Rama Nama)

 

The Hindu : Cameron praises Ramayana

The Ramayana is a good lesson for good governance, British Prime Minister David Cameron has said.

Speaking at a Diwali party hosted by him at his official residence, 10 Downing Street, on Monday night, Mr. Cameron said: “In the epic Ramayana, we are looking at how we give people protection, affection and correction.”

Good lesson

“And I think that is a good lesson, because that is what good government should try to do and that is what we should try to do in this country [Britain].” — PTI

The Hindu : Today's Paper / INTERNATIONAL : Cameron praises Ramayana

Gandhiji on Rama Nama

"Ramanama is not for those who tempt God in every way possible and ever expect it to save. It is for those who walk in the fear of God, who want to restrain themselves and cannot in spite of themselves.

M.K Gandhi, Young India, , 22-1-1925

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There is no doubt that Ramanama is the surest aid. If recited from the heart, it charms away every evil thought; and evil thought gone, no corresponding action is possible. The outward helps are all useless if, the mind is weak. They are superfluous if the mind is pure. This must not be taken to mean that a pureminded man can take all the liberties and still keep safe. Such a man simply will not take any liberties with himself. His whole life will be an infallible testimony to the inward purity.

Gita truly says that mind makes the man and unmakes him. Milton paraphrases the same thought when he says: "The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven."

 

Harijan, 12-5-1946

For article, look at the document. - http://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/ramanama.pdf

Importance of Rama Nama by PC Patnaik

Importance of Rama Nama

Alexander, the great after his successful victory in battles with the Kings and rulers was asked at the time of his departure from India to offer his opinion about India. He said; “one is Rama ka Kahani and the other was Ganga Ki Pani”.

 

http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2011/may/engpdf/58-62.pdf