Sri Ramashtakam composed by Sage Vyasa.

Sri Ramashtakam composed by Sage Vyasa

Vyasa composed this Srirama Ashtakam ( couplet of 8 verses).  Vyaya offers his prayers to Lord Rama who has no equal and is second to none  and goes on describe Lord Rama's beauty, Character and qualities.

Vyasa goes on to describing that Lord Rama

1.      is very beautiful and pretty

2.      Destroys all sins,

3.      Ensures the mind of his devotees is happy.

4.      Has shining matted hair,

5.      Frees the fear in the mind of devotees

6.      Reveals His self  to those devoted to him deeply

7.      Is very merciful,

8.      Destroys sorrows of life

9.      Treats every one equal

10.   Is very peaceful

11.   Does all that is good for devotees

12.   Shows the world in himself 

13.   is someone without form

14.   Does not see differences

15.   Is crystal clear,

16.   Is the ship to cross the sea of life,

17.   Shows mercy.

18.   His greatness is revealed through Vedic sayings,

19.   Is Brahmam himself spread everywhere.

20.   Grants peace,

21.   Gives us pleasure,

22.   Destroys the problems of life,

23.   Is oone avoids illusion,

24.   Is the resplendent Guru.

Vyasa in Phalastuthi says that one who chants , reads or hears this Rama Ashtakam  stands to gain in knowledge, wealth, Pleasure and limitless fame and salvation.

Power of Rama Nama Manatram

Power of Rama Nama Manatram

Rama Nama Mahima Stotram

Rama Nama is considered as Taraka( means) to rid of the Cycle of Birth and death. In Vishnu Sahasranamam, a verse explains the power of Rama Nama from none other than Lord Shiva.

In Vishnu Sahranama Phalstuthi, Parvathi wants to know  from Shiva how the devotees can chant 1000 names of Vishnu regularly and if there is an alternative and easy method that would include the power of all these thousand names. Shiva replies that chanting the name of Rama constantly is equivalent to chanting all the thousand names.

ईश्वर उवाच 

श्रीराम रामेति रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे ।

सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥

īśvara uvāca
Srīrāma rāma rāmēti ramē rāmē manōramē |
sahasranāmatattulyaṁ rāmanāma varānanē ||

Sage Valmiki the author Of the epic Ramayana was a highway robber bearing the name of  Ratnakar. He robbed people after killing them to provide for his family. . He tried to rob sage Narada. Narada advised to him to give robbery as he was accumulating sin. Narada wanted him to find out if his family would share his bad karmas he was indulging in robbery for their sake. Ratnakar realized that there was no one willing to come forward to share it. Ratnakar realized his mistake and asked Narada’s advice to get rid of his sins. Narada knew the significance and power of Rama Mantram but could teach him, as he was bound not to reveal it. So he advised Ratnakar to chant “maRA-MAra” with devotion as the Rama mantram becomes a by-product of his chanting “maRA-MAra”. Ranakar followed his advice for considerable time and ant hill enveloped him. God was satisfied with his devotion. He got the name Valmiki implying the one who rose out of  ant hill.

The रा in Ashtakashari Mantram (ॐ नमो नारायणाय )  म in Panchakshari Mantram (ॐ नमशिवाय ) are known Jiva Akshrams or Life-line letters and without those two aksharams  both mantarams lose their significance. These two letters together end up in the Powerful राम Rama Manthram

The power of Rama Nama mathram is difficult to comprehend. The Rama Nama Mahima is well Explained in the Rama Nama Mahima Stotram which is presented below. 

Srirama Pancharatnam

. Let us dwell on Lord Rama by chanting this Srirama Pancharatnam consisting of 5 stanzas.