'The Efficacy of Nama Parayanam"

Krishna narrates Gita to Arjun in Mahabharath. Bhishma narrates Vishnu Sahasranamam also in Mahabharath which is heard by Krishna himself.It always brings plesure to Krishna when HIS namavali is sung as also reciting the namavali is equivalent to performing 'yagya' according to Veda.

The efficacy of reciting ' Bhaghavan Nama' is three fold; Sri Mukkur Lakshmi Narasimmacharyar in his book " Kurai Onrum Illai' in Tamil explains as follows:-

1) " Dhrushta Phalam'
2) " Adhrista Phalam "
3) "Dhrishtadhrista Phalam"

Dhrishta Phalam refers to the direct fruit of our action. Dhrushta in sanskrit means found. Phalam means fruits of labour. For example, a student prepares well for the exam and recites Bhagavan Nama also for success in the exam. The results are announced and when he sees that he has obtained 100 out of 100, he realises
" Dhrista Phalam". It is something like 'seeing is believing'. He believed that he didn't get even one mark less was due to the prayers he did before going to the examination hall. He starts quoting Tennyson to his close friends about the efficacy of prayers 'More things are wrought by prayer than the world dreams of'.

Bhagavatham cites one instance for ' Dhrishta phalam'.
('Jami' refers to a woman of virtues and Ajami is opposite of that).
A person by name Ajamilan met an Ajami in a forest and stayed with her for a number of years and begot 10 children. At the age of 88 he was very ill & bed ridden. Ajami neglected him totally. His end was nearing and three Yama kinkaras came to fetch him. Since Ajamilan committed sin in great proportion three were sent by Yama instead of the usual two. Ajamilan shivered when they were about to come near him. He called his 10th child by name " Narayana, Narayana" who was playing nearby. God Narayana heard HIS name pronounced by Ajamilan in distress. HE immediately appeared on the spot and drove away the Kinkaras. Ajamilan wondered if Bhagavan could respond even for a single call, what benefit he could have reaped if he had been singing HIS name regularly! Ajamilan obtained 'moksha' for uttering "Narayana" in the last minute! This episode explains ' Dhrishta Phalam' ! (God comes in person to help HIS devotee-Dhrishta Phalam)

2) Next in line is ' Adhrishta Phalam ' which means help comes although God remains
away from the scene. Draupadi's case stands as a ready illustration . When she prayed to Krishna to save her modesty at the hands of Dussasana, Krishna's 'abhaya karam' made the saree to grow endlessly. Here Krishna does not appear on the scene - adhrishta palam.

3) 'Dhrishtadhrishta Palan' concept is evident in the case of 'Gajendra Moksham' episode. " Adhimoolame" was the clarion call made by the Gajendra and Lord Narayana rushed to the spot and got Gajendra released from the clutches of the crocodile which was also killed by Lord's missile.

Here Dhrishta phalam refers to Lord's response to arrive at the spot of trouble after having been called by Gajendran (direct happening) and 'Adhrishta Phalam' refers to Gajendran obtaining mukti by the Grace of Narayana in absentia. The two benefits bestowed by HIM were in union or happened simultaneously. This phenomenon is known as "Dhrishtadhrishta Phalam" !

Chanting HIS name with devotion develops concentration in self and realisation in HIM. Vishnu Sahasranamam has certain distinction and chanting the sahasra namavali yields multi dimensional effects. The first sloka explains the first eight aksharas of Gayatri mantra. The second explains the next eight and the third slokam in Sahasranamam explains the third eight aksharas of Gayatri Mantra. Gayatri is reckoned as the fifth Veda and Vishnu Sahasranamam's first three slokas contain the Gayatri Mantra.

Gayathri at dawn wears crimson colour dress and recites Rig Veda. At noon, she is dressed in White Silk and recites Yajur Veda. In the Sandhya Time, she is dressed in black raw silk and recites Sama Veda. Hence reciting Gayatri Mantra is equivalent to reciting the three vedas. By reciting thr first three slokas of Vishnu Sahasranamam, one begets at once the rich advantage of chanting the four Vedas. These facts are explained in the book " Kurai Onrum Illai" in Tamil by Mukkur Lakshmi Narasimhachariyar.

When the nama 'Govinda' is chanted the ten avatars of Vishnu get reflected as they are inherent part of that Namavali. Mukkur Lakshmi Narasimhachar explains this phenomena step by step in his book :-

'Go' means mountain and refers to'Matsya-Avatar' as the mountain was lifted by Vishnu.

'Go' also means "earth". In Varaha Avatar Vishnu redeems Bhooma Devi.

Devas,in total,propitiated Narasimha in the name of Govinda. Hence Narasimha avatar is inherent in the nama "Govinda".

Vishnu who is also Govinda sought space to cover three measures of HIS steps. Thus Govinda represents Vamana Avatar also.

Parasurama who went around the Earth is also known by the name 'Govinda ' as the word 'go' symbolises Earth,as already referred.

"Go" also means 'weapons' and Rama who obtained the weapons from the Sage Viswamitra gets the name ' Govinda '. Rama Avtar thus figures in the name of Govinda.

Balarama who drained the ocean to plough the Earth gets the name "Govinda'.

'Go' (Gowhu) refers to 'Cow' and Krishna looked after the cows in Brindavan where he grew under the most affectionate care of Yasoda. 'Govinda'thus have the connection with Krishna Avatar. Govinda also means "protector of cows"

Srinivasa or Venkata Nathan who resides in Tirumala is also 'Govinda' as Lord Venkateswara is the presiding deity in Kali yuga. HE is known in Tamil as 'Kan Kanda Deivam'.
That is why devotees perform 'Kalyana Uthsavam' to Venkatramana and seek HIS blessings to beget good rewards in the concurrent life as well as emancipation (mukti) when the end comes.

' Achutha, Anantha, Govinda, Kesava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, Vishno, Madhusudhana, Thrivikrama, Vamana, Sridhara, Hrishikesa, Padmanabha, Damodara are some names often recited from the Sahasra Namam.

Nama Sangeertanam is the easiest way in Kali yuga to obtain salvation.