The crystal has many properties, and one of them is that when electrical energy is applied, it transforms it into
mechanical movement. On sensing any mechanical movement, the crystal transforms it into electrical energy. That is, crystal
transforms energy into vibration and vice versa. Secondly, no colour can be attributed to the crystal, but when a ray of
light is passed through it, many vibrant colours could be seen. Thirdly, to denote the highest form of purity, we say
"crystal clear," meaning that there is nothing purer than the spatika, i.e., crystal.
It is known that any movement or vibration is bound to make a corresponding sound and vice versa. Sound thus produced conveys the true meaning of the corresponding energy and vibration. Thus, any sound conveys a true meaning. Therefore, it is true that the crystal, even in its sthira (stable) posture, contains all these properties. Crystal by itself therefore can be compared to the Paramathma—Parabrihma, which is a sthira and can produce energy—beeja; through beeja, vibration—thathva; and in the course of this, sound—the akhsara or the syllable.
Paramathma—Parabrihma had created many sounds—the syllable, it is said in our upanishads, and one such sound is Aum, which is considered most sacred and holy. The syllable Aum is made of three letters á +ò+ má and is an 'Aakara' that leads this mantra and is a 'taraka nama'. The other Taraka nama being Ramá. The syllable Ramá contains three letters, namely Ra + á + má.
Our Rishis who were tuned with Paramathma-Parabrihma had identified these three letters with the corresponding beejas and thathvas when these letters were produced by Paramathma-Parabrihma. "Ra" is identified with agni beeja, which burns and destroys our paapa (sins) and makes us "sath.". The letter "á" is identified with surya beeja, which takes away our agyana and floods us with gyana, and we realise ourselves and become "chith." "Má" is identified with Chandra Beeja, which wears away our kaama, desire, and bestows on us bliss and "adesire." The combination of these three letters Ra, á, and má corresponds to agni, surya, chandra beejas, and sath, chith, and ananda thatva. Thus reproduction of the syllable Ramá will bless us with Sath, Chith, and Anantham together, i.e., "Sachithanantham.".
Anything natural has a resonance frequency to which it tunes itself, and modern science has also said so. Chanting of this taraka nama Ramá, which combines the three letters Ra, á, and má, will bestow on us "Sachithanantham," which is the greatest bliss one can obtain during this birth we have taken now. This bliss assures us of no rebirth hereafter.
Paramacharyal of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in his characteristic simple language has said, "There are two powerful 'Taraka Namas'. One is Aum, and another is Ramá. All mantras have to be prefixed with Aum for obtaining the benefits of those mantras, whereas there is no need to prefix Aum when the name 'Ramá' is recited because the name itself is 'Tarka Namam'.".
It is said, "Aakarah vishnu vasaha," that is to say, in Aakara resides Vishnu. In Aum, Aakara leads, and in Ramá he resides. Lord Parameshwara says that by chanting Ramá nama thrice, one can obtain the benefit of having chanted the thousand names of Lord Vishnu, i.e., Vishnu Sahasranamam. Such is the greatness of this Ramá nama.
It is believed that breathing one's last in the banks of holy Ganges in Kasipuri the mokshapuri one gets mukthi, moksha, for Lord Parameshwara is ever chanting the Ramá nama here as Kathyayini Kamukan in the ears of all people in Kasipuri. Listening to or uttering the name Ramá at the time of death relieves everyone from sin, and the jevathma obtains the mukthi. Hence the Kasipuri has come to be known as mokshapuri.
Since the jevan transcends samsara to moksha, mukthi by the Ramá nama, the Ramá nama is Tharaka nama, Tharaka mantra.
Let us chant the name of Ramá for obtaining the "moksha," i.e., salvation.
|| jaya jaya shakara hara hara shankara ||
|| Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram ||
|| Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram ||
click for brief on Sri Kathyayini priyan
ED [7th June 2001]