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naama sankirtanam

From the Bhakti List Archives

Mani Varadarajan • September 27, 1995 


There are many popular texts that glorify naama sankirtanam
as the easiest way to mukti.  I think even the Vishnu 
Sahasranaamam has prefatory shlokas that say this; I
can look it up if you need to know for certain.

Usually, though, most texts say that naama sankirtanam
is the easiest way to remove all hindrances to true bhakti.
Vishnu Purana says that uttering the name of Hari once
will remove all chance of suffering in hell.

For more scriptural references, one need only look at
any book published by the Hare Krishnas, who champion
hari naama sankirtanam more than any other sect. They will
quote endlessly from the Bhagavata and other Puranas.

I will also do some more research if you would like.

Mani

P.S. In his exposition of the Vishnu Sahasranaama, 
Parasara Bhattar comments that putting one's hands
together and chanting the names of the Lord is itself
as good or better than the arduous practice of bhakti-yoga.
This easier form of bhakti is what he suggests the
rest of us should do. Parasara Bhattar was one of the
chief disciples of Ramanuja.