Benefits of Ashtakshari - OM NAMO NARAYANAYA from Narayana Upanishad.


One should utter    Om  first, then  namah  and thereafter narayanaya.  Om is a single syllable. Namah   consists of two syllables. Narayanaya   consists of five syllables. This is the mantra of eight syllables (ashtakshari) pertaining to Narayana. Whoever studies this mantra and  chants it constantly, becomes free from all disgrace, attains full life and hegemony. He enjoys royal pleasures and attains self-mastery, thereupon He attains  Liberation, yea Final Liberation.This the Sama Veda teaches.  3.

Commentary
This verse gives the construction of the sacred Aṣṭākṣari mantra. Here we are introduced to the benefits which accrue from a regular and focussed recitation this mantra.

1. Anapabruvaḥ — Freedom from disgrace, in other words we will overcome all our past indiscretions and become well-renowned.

2. Sarvam āyuḥ — Health and a full life-span.

3. Prājāpatyam —  Procreative energy or power to become like Brahma in the ability to accomplish projects.

4. Rāyas-poṣam — Increasing prosperity and wealth.

5. Gaupatyam — Mastery of the sense – freedom from all sensual conditioning.

6. Amṛtatvam — immortality



From : http://www.vedarahasya.net/tarasara.htm

He who has mastered this eightfold Mantra is purified by Agni; he is purified by Vayu; he is purified by the sun; he is purified by Shiva; he is known by all the Devas. He attains the fruit of reciting Itihasas, Puranas, Rudra (Mantras), a hundred thousand times. He who repeatedly remembers (or recites) the Ashtakshara (the eight-syllabled Mantra) of Narayana gains the fruit of the recitation of Gayatri a hundred thousand times or of Pranava (Om) a myriad of times. He purifies (his ancestors) ten (degrees) above and (his descendants) ten (degrees) below. He attains the state of Narayana. He who knows this (attains) the state of Narayana).

Like the eye (which sees without any obstacle) the things spread (in the sky), the wise ever see this supreme seat of Vishnu. Brahmanas who are spiritually awake praise in diverse ways and illuminate the supreme abode of Vishnu. Thus is the Upanishad. (Thus is) the Sama-Veda with the third foot. Hari Om Tat Sat !



OM NAMO NARAYANAYA = Narayana astakshari.

om na-mo naa-raa-ya-Naa-ya
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 = 8 akshara [Akshara = energy
inflow, final result] = 8th house
1 2 3 = 3 words [Words = energy
outflow, start of count] = 3rd house

the mantra devata Narayana sits in lagna and the recitation of this
mantra gives good health, protection from all evils, long life and clear
intellect. It is the greatest mantra for lagna suddhi and is one of the
three mantras of the Narayana Kavacha. The greatest strength of this mantra
is that it removes all kinds of nija dosha indicated by the 8th house or
8th lord and makes the lagna very strong.

The Power of Vishnu Sahasranamam- Vani's rebirth A real 'story' as told by a close friend: "Vani was in her early thirties when I first met her in a Mumbai local sometime in the late ‘70’s. She never talked much but her helping tendency was obvious. She boarded the train at the starting point and always found a seat. Instead of sitting through the hour-long journey, she would offer her seat – a luxury - to another lady. My acquaintance too began this way – a few pleasantries exchanged over the train’s din. After a couple of months, she was not at her usual seat. Everyone presumed that she was on leave. In the busy buzz of the Mumbai life, no one thought twice about her till she came back after nearly 4 months. None of us could recognize her. She had lost weight, her cheeks were sunken, eyes lifeless, and to top it all, she had an almost bald head. Out came the rude shock that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo radiation therapy. She hoped that she had won over the disease, but even before she regained her lost strength, it was found that the cancer had spread to the other breast, and the therapy was repeated. Left with no choice, she gave up her job. Her children were 8 and 10 years old. We all wished her well and I did not see her after that. I had moved out of Mumbai after my marriage; slowly, memories also faded away. Sometime in 2001, while at the lobby of Panchajanyam - a guest house run by Guruvayur Devaswom Board - a lady by my side enquired if I was from Mumbai. When I said yes, she introduced herself as - Vani. I just could not believe my eyes. She then narrated her story of survival. After resigning her job, she went through the usual process of radiation and chemotherapy. More than the treatment, the side-effects were unbearable. The family bore suffering for a year; then her husband decided that they would move back home in Kottayam, Kerala. There she underwent Ayurvedic therapy, but to no avail. Slowly her whole body was engulfed by cancer and she was almost bed-ridden. Her one wish was to visit Guruvayur. If she didn’t make it, her son’s wedding was to be conducted there. Slowly she lapsed into a coma. No-one knows how the topic came about, but her mother and mother-in-law sat on either side of her and continued to chant Vishnu Sahasranamam (1000 names of Lord Vishnu). They continued with faith and fervour for 7 days and nights. When they needed a break, someone else would take over. Vani slowly regained her consciousness and became aware of sights and sounds, and the intensity of their prayer. She also joined in, and continuously for a year their house reverberated with the chanting. Today I believe, she is somewhere in Dubai with her daughter, spreading the message of her recovery and helping others as usual." QED

The Power of Vishnu Sahasranamam- Vani's rebirth

A real 'story' as told by a close friend:
"Vani was in her early thirties when I first met her in a Mumbai local sometime in the late ‘70’s. She never talked much but her helping tendency was obvious. She boarded the train at the starting point and always found a seat. Instead of sitting through the hour-long journey, she would offer her seat – a luxury - to another lady.

My acquaintance too began this way – a few pleasantries exchanged over the train’s din. After a couple of months, she was not at her usual seat. Everyone presumed that she was on leave. In the busy buzz of the Mumbai life, no one thought twice about her till she came back after nearly 4 months. None of us could recognize her. She had lost weight, her cheeks were sunken, eyes lifeless, and to top it all, she had an almost bald head.
Out came the rude shock that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo radiation therapy. She hoped that she had won over the disease, but even before she regained her lost strength, it was found that the cancer had spread to the other breast, and the therapy was repeated. Left with no choice, she gave up her job. Her children were 8 and 10 years old.
We all wished her well and I did not see her after that. I had moved out of Mumbai after my marriage; slowly, memories also faded away.

Sometime in 2001, while at the lobby of Panchajanyam - a guest house run by Guruvayur Devaswom Board - a lady by my side enquired if I was from Mumbai. When I said yes, she introduced herself as - Vani. I just could not believe my eyes. She then narrated her story of survival.

After resigning her job, she went through the usual process of radiation and chemotherapy. More than the treatment, the side-effects were unbearable. The family bore suffering for a year; then her husband decided that they would move back home in Kottayam, Kerala. There she underwent Ayurvedic therapy, but to no avail.

Slowly her whole body was engulfed by cancer and she was almost bed-ridden. Her one wish was to visit Guruvayur. If she didn’t make it, her son’s wedding was to be conducted there. Slowly she lapsed into a coma.
No-one knows how the topic came about, but her mother and mother-in-law sat on either side of her and continued to chant Vishnu Sahasranamam (1000 names of Lord Vishnu). They continued with faith and fervour for 7 days and nights. When they needed a break, someone else would take over. Vani slowly regained her consciousness and became aware of sights and sounds, and the intensity of their prayer. She also joined in, and continuously for a year their house reverberated with the chanting.

Today I believe, she is somewhere in Dubai with her daughter, spreading the message of her recovery and helping others as usual."
QED

Benefits of Vishnu Sahasranama

The benefits are as follows ;

1. Bad planetary effects
2. Ward away effect of 7.5 shani period
3. Ward away effect of any other malefic planets or dosha
4. Gives peace of mind
5. Gives control in life
6. Gives prosperity
7. Curing incurable diseases, health problems, fear, anxiety and low state of confidence and self-esteem
8. Financial losses, conflicts and poor economic condition
9. Problems with progeny and any problem affecting children
10. Ensuring success in exams, business ventures and other competition.

Vishnu Sahasranama

What is Vishnu Sahasranama (VS) ? It's a composition of 1000 names of Lord Vishnu the Preserver God. It's one of a very important essence of Mahabharatha. It's mentioned in the Anushasanika Parvam. A brief summary goes like this - Bishma while lying on a bed of arrows after severely injured by Arjuna - Yudhishthira asks Bishma the following questions ;

kimekam daivatam loke kim vāpyekam parāyaṇam
stuvantaḥ kam kamarcantaḥ prāpnuyurmānavāḥ śubham
ko dharmaḥ sarva dharmāṇām bhavataḥ paramo mataḥ
kim japan mucyate jantuḥ janmasamsārabandhanāt


In this universe Who is the one (ekam) refuge (parāyaṇam) for all? Who (kim) is the greatest (ekam) Lord (daivatam) in the world (loke)? By eulogising (sthuvantaḥ) whom (kam) can a person (mānavāḥ) reach auspiciousness (śubham) (peace and prosperity)? By worshipping (archantaḥ) whom can a person reach auspiciousness (peace and prosperity)? What (kah) is, in thy opinion, the Greatest Dharma of all Dharmas? By (kim) chanting whose name, can a "creature" (jantuh) proceed beyond (muchyate) the bonds (bandhanāt) of samsāra?
Bhishma answers by stating that mankind will be free from all sorrows by chanting the "Vishnusahasranāma", which are the thousand names of the all-pervading Supreme Being Vishnu, who is the master of all the worlds, the supreme light, the essence of the universe and who is Brahman. All matter animate and inanimate reside in him, and he in turn resides within all matter.

Some of the key points of VS are as below

1. The first eight letters of the first sloka, Viswam, Vishnu and Vashat kaarah are known as Ashtaakshari, preached by Nara Naaraayanaa in the holy Badrikasramam in the Himalayas and is credited to contain the whole essence of the upanishads.

2. Together with the next eight letters of Bhuta, Bhavya and Bhavat prabhuh, the 16 letters point to the 16 Riks of Purushasuktam, one of the most respected and chanted Suktas.

3. Together with the next eight letters of Bhutakrit, Bhutabrit, Bhavah, the 24 letters are credited to contain the significance of Gaayatri Mahamantra, the 24 letters of which are said to represent extracts of the three Vedas.

4. The last eight letters, of the first sloka, namely Bhutaatmaa, Bhuta Bhavanah, together with the 24 already mentioned is said to be the Narasimha Mantra.

5. The nine names mentioned in the first sloka, 8 in the second and 7 in the third, together 24, is again said to represent the secrets of Gaayatri Mantra.

6. Thus, taking the very first sloka itself, it apparently contains nine names of the Sahasranama. But, viewed deeply, these very nine names represent the Ashtakshari ( Om Namo Naarayanaaya), Purushasuktam, Gaayatri and Narasimha Mantram. That is why, perhaps, many commentators have all devoted great attention and importance to Vishnu Sahasranama

7. Mukkur Lakshmi Narasimha Acharyar talks of the word ‘’Rama’ occurring as 394th Naama (43rd sloka), in its concealed meaning, gets chanted 16 times in Vishnu Sahasranamam. They constitute the Mritha Sanjeevani Mantram, the Mantra which can bring the dead back alive, and known only to Sukracharya, the preceptor of the Asuras (those with demoniac qualities)