Chanting His names – The Hindu

In pasuram five of Thiruppavai, the benefits of namasankeerthana are described, said T.N. Aravamuda Thathachariar in a discourse. The efficacy of namasankeerthana lies in the fact that every name of Lord Narayana has a reason behind it. And those reasons have to do with His various auspicious qualities, or kalyana gunas, as they are called. As we chant His names, we are, in fact, celebrating one or the other of His qualities. He is a ‘Mayan,’ says Andal in this verse. Indeed, Krishna deserved this name, because of His many unbelievable deeds. The moment He was born, the shackles fell from the hands of His father Vasudeva. Was this not a supernatural feat? Even when he was a young boy, He killed Kamsa, yet another impossible task for any ordinary mortal. And yet, this Krishna, who demonstrated through such deeds that He was the Supreme One, also chose to grow up amidst the cowherds of Gokula.

He is the One who cannot be fathomed even by sages, who have done penance for years. But He was never far away from the Gopas and Gopikas. Doesn’t such simplicity also make Him a Mayan? Andal uses the name Damodara in this pasuram. Damodara is a name of Krishna that exemplifies His simplicity. It is a reference to His being tied up by Yasoda. He proudly bears the scar from this episode, because it was not Yasoda who tied Him up. The tying up happened because He willed it. Such was His saulabhya. Devaki became the most blessed mother, because she carried Him in her womb. If He honoured Devaki in this manner, He honoured Yasoda by allowing her to tie Him up. When we fix our minds on His qualities, and chant His names, the fire of such devotion burns up our sins. Even sins that we are likely to commit unknowingly in future, get destroyed through namasankeerthana.