Why should one chant the Name 'Sree Ram' instead of 'Ram'?

Sree Ram

Listen to the chant of Sree Ram

Chant of Lord Ram

1. Worship of Ram and seekers

1.1 Chanting of ‘Hare Ram’ (हरे राम)

The Kalisantaran Upanishad is a part of the Krushna-yajurveda. Its other name is Harinam-opanishad. This Upanishad was narrated by Sree Brahma to Sage Narad towards the culmination of the Dvaparyug. In short, it says that the mere chanting of Sree Narayan’s Name eliminates the ill effects due to the influence of Kali. This mantra consists of sixteen words -

Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare
Hare Krushna Hare Krushna Krushna Krushna Hare Hare

हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे।
हरे कृष्‍ण हरे कृष्‍ण कृष्‍ण कृष्‍ण हरे हरे ।।

These sixteen words are associated with the sixteen kalas of the embodied soul. Thus it is a mantra which destroys the covering of the embodied soul. Some sects worshipping SreeKrushna chant the second half of the mantra first.

1.2 Spiritual experiences obtained when chanting the Names Ram and Sree Ram

Chant the Names Ram and Sree Ram each for two minutes and record your spiritual experiences, that is note with which Name you feel pleasant or distressed. Then read the following paragraph. The table below enlists the spiritual experiences of seekers who were attending a workshop on spirituality, in Mumbai.

Spiritual experience obtained during chanting	Ram	Sree Ram
1. Efforts were necessary (presence of grossness)	8	-
2. Felt serene	1	6
3. Felt like chanting Sree Ram instead of Ram	1	-
4. Occurred automatically	1	8
5. Felt distressed	-	5*

* Since the spiritual experience of Bliss or Serenity is new for an average seeker chanting the Name Sree Ram can cause him distress.

The majority felt more pleasant when chanting Sree Ram rather than Ram. This will clarify the difference between the two Names. Despite this, five individuals experienced distress when chanting Sree Ram. To avoid this a seeker is advised not to chant a Name meant for a spiritual level higher than his.

The words in the mantra ‘Shri Ram jai Ram jai jai Ram (श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम)’ mean the following -

Shri Ram:	This is an invocation of Shri Ram
Jai Ram:	This is in praise of Ram.
Jai jai Ram:	Like ‘namaha’ it signifies surrender.

1.3 Differences between various Names

	The male / female family deity (kuladevata)	Ram	Sree Ram
1. At what spiritual level % of the seeker is is it useful?	20-50	50-60	60-80
2. Manifest energy %	10	70	0
3. Mission	Activation of energy	The energy performs a specific function	Conversion of the energy into Shiv

1.4 Spiritual practice of which form of Ram is useful for a seeker at a particular spiritual level %?

Form of Ram	Spiritual level of the seeker %
1. Ramapanchayatan (The five- fold family of Ram)	20-40
2. Ram - Sita and Hanuman	30-50
3. Ram and Sita (Sitaram)	30-50
4. Ram	50-60
5. Sree Ram	60-80

1.5 Beneficial to go from many to one

Once the stage of worship of the family deity is completed, the spiritual practice of Ram who is true to His word, devoted to only one wife and who attains his target with just one arrow is useful for many a seeker to go from many to one..

1.6 Ritualistic worship (puja) and celebration of religious festivals

Since Ram is an incarnation of Sree Vishnu, He too is worshipped like Vishnu. (Refer ‘Why are tulsi leaves offered to Lord Vishnu?’.) The birth of Shri Ram is celebrated on the ninth day (navami) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra, at twelve noon.

1.7 Ram and Sita Gayatri

दाशरथाय विद्महे । सीतावराय धीमहि ।
तन्‍नो रामचंद्र: प्रचोदयात्‌ ।।

Meaning: We are quite familiar with Ram, the son of Dasharath. We meditate on Ram, the husband of Sita. May that Ram inspire our intellect benevolently.

जनकात्‍मजाय विद्महे । भूमिपुत्र्यै धीमहि ।
तन्‍नो जानकी प्रचोदयात्‌ ।।

Meaning: We are quite familiar with Sita, the daughter of Janak. We meditate on Sita, the daughter of the Earth. May that Janaki inspire our intellect benevolently.

2. The Ramayan in our lives

If one is disinterested in something one says there is no charm (Ram nahi) in it. From some Names in the Ramayan one will realise how the Ramayan is going on in the day-to-day life of a seeker.

Ram: Atmaram is the soul principle.
Sita: Adimaya is the Great Illusion. The abduction by Ravan, Her entering the fire were all a part of the play of the Great Illusion. In one’s life too the play of the Great Illusion in the form of happiness and unhappiness continues.
Lakshman: Laksha (लक्ष) which means attention and man (मन) meaning mind constitute the name Lakshman (लक्षमण). One’s attention should always be concentrated on the soul.
Bharat: The name Bharat (भरत) is derived from bha (भ) meaning radiance and rat (रत) meaning engrossed. A seeker is thus one who is engrossed in the worship of radiance.
Shatrughna: The name Shatrughna (शत्रुघ्‍न) is derived from shatru (शत्रु) and ghna (घ्‍न). Shatru means the enemy and ghna the destroyer. The six foes of the soul (shadripu) are one’s enemies.
Ram, Sita and Lakshman: Ram means spiritual knowledge, Sita means devotion and Lakshman means detachment.
Hanuman: The activated spiritual energy (kundalini).
Ravan: The six foes of the soul (shadripu) - desire, anger, greed, attachment, vanity and envy.
Kumbhakarna: Laziness

Thus like the Ramayan, the Mahabharat too goes on in one’s day-to-day life !

।। Shri Ram jai Ram jai jai Ram ।।

Reference: ‘Vishnu and His forms’, published by Sanatan Sanstha.

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