Our entire life is like the vast ocean, and hence it is called "samsara sagara" (the "ocean of life"). The goal of life is to cross this ocean without falling down and drowning in it. Our dearest Mother Sai emphasizes constant namasmarana (Chanting the name of the Lord) in every single discourse as the easiest way to attain this goal of our lives. Swami stresses that this goal is easily attained by constant namasmarana. Why does Swami place such emphasis on namasmarana?

We have several examples of sincere devotees of the Lord using this very powerful tool to attain the goal. One prominent example is the story of Hanuman. Hanuman was entrusted the task of crossing the mighty ocean in search of Mother Sita. Hanuman was not sure about his strength and ability to cross the ocean - the ocean of life. It was then that he was reminded of the power of Name of Lord Rama. He constantly repeated the Name. That helped him assume a mighty form by metamorphosis and in a single leap, he was able to cross the ocean and reach Lanka, where Mother Sita was held captive. Hence, just the name of the Lord is sufficient enough to help us cross this ocean of life.

However there is more to the power of the Name than just crossing the ocean. When Hanuman returned back to Lord Rama after having met Mother Sita, the Lord hugged him and said that Hanuman was like a brother to Him on par with his own brother Bharatha. Bharatha was indirectly involved in the exile of the Lord to the forest along with Mother Sita and Lakshmana Why then did the Lord compare Hanuman who was considered His greatest devotee, to Bharatha?


It is said that Bharatha after accepting the Padukas (Sandals) of the Lord, lived in the outskirts of Ayodhya in a hermitage. He passed his life constantly repeating the Lord's Name. There was not a moment when he did not chant His Name. When Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years, people of Ayodhya, the sages, hermits and all others were not able to tell the difference between Lord Rama and Bharatha. Bharatha was in every sense just like Lord Rama. Due to the constant chanting of the Divine Name, he even resembled the Lord. This is indeed the power of chanting His Name. Constant Namasmarana does not just help us cross the ocean of life, but also realize the Ultimate Truth that we are not different from God.

In Swami's words, "Love is the only property that always grows - the more you spend, the more it grows; it never diminishes. When we sing the glory of God, the Divine vibrations spread all around and the people who hear this Namasmarana, even from a distance, feel very happy. Divine music can confer solace even to children and animals. By hearing Namasankirtan, even the heart of a stone-hearted person will melt. We have heard of several instances in Indian history where great devotees of God, by their Namasankirtan, could bring about complete transformation in die-hard criminals. For example, Valmiki, the composer of the Ramayana, was a robber by the name of Ratnakara, who was transformed by the power of divine music.

Continue this Namasankirtan wherever you are throughout your life. Especially, when your spirits are down with sorrow, sing the glory of God full-throated. Never feel diffident to sing the glory of God, thinking that others may make fun of you. Irrespective of what others may think or say against you, continue this sacred activity of Namasankirtan. Only then will you be charged with Divine power."

Let us all pursue this sacred task of Namasmarana diligently to cross the ocean of life and realize the Ultimate Truth that we are indeed no different from God.