Your experiences with Sita Ram and other Rama mantras?

[agorman]

What have been your experiences with Sita Ram and other Rama mantras?

Mine have been strange. I've recitated "Ram" in bed sometimes and twice Rama sent me to a forest in the astral plane to fight. "Do you want to be a warrior? Then you need training!" he said, wielding a sword (!). Very few times I've been taken consciously to the astral plane, so easily.

In other occasions nothing happened when reciting "Sita Ram", in others I've felt a sensation of love and well being I seldomly felt with other gods. And twice he rejected me because I don't feel identified with Indian culture and if I followed him I was going to end up in an Indian paradise (Ayodhya) forever.

Now I'm with the Buddha on my altar and I've received the thought from Shakyamuni that if I want to become a happy householder instead of an ascetic monk, I should better follow Rama as my master (teacher). I once received the same thoughts from Shiva. And according to what I've read about Rama, those thoughts make sense.

I thought back to the Buddha and told him although I like some things of Indian culture, I don't feel identified with it. He replied that those appearances of divine beings, Indian or not, are just archetypes. Krishna is the realized person who plays and loves, Rama is the warrior and housholder, Shiva is the yogi, Brahma is the builder of things, etc. He didn't mean they're not real gods; but he referred to their appearances and personalities.

I've already tried Occidental paths, but I make no progress. Even in Occidental paths, sometimes Indian things like chakras are mentioned and reinvented, etc.

 

[stvdv]

Thanks for sharing. Nice experiences. I used to do more mantras few years ago. Last few years went to a church, so less mantra. But last week I felt that Indian way is what I really like. Reading your experiences remember me the one time I did "Om Namah Shivaya". I decided to continue till Shiva would appear. Suddenly (after about 20min) I heard a noice and opened my eyes and looked in the eyes of a cobra. Freaked me out quite a bit. And I prayed like I never prayed before "Shiva, enough, please go now". I never did this mantra again. I think I better stick to Rama mantra. Gives me peace, never cobras sofar.

My guru warned me always "Be careful what you pray for, I might give you, you might not like it". Maybe I try Shiva mantra again, and be much more specific if asking something. Because I do like shiva mantra a lot.

 

[agorman]

I heard a noice and opened my eyes and looked in the eyes of a cobra. Freaked me out quite a bit.

LOL! I also had a vision once with Shiva and cobras. His intention was to get me rid of the fear of death. But it seems in your case Shiva was more violent! I think maybe he scared you so you go on with Rama.

 

[Sirona]

When I was new at chanting Hare Krishna, Rama appeared to me in a dream as a fierce warrior who said he would protect me. It was awesome, if not a bit intimidating. I have never shared this story with anyone before.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Rama always remains with me. My mantra is (very common):

"Dakshine Lakshmanoryasya vāme cha Janakātmajā,
prishthe Mārutaryasya, tam vande Raghunandanam."
(On whose right is Lakshman and the daughter of King Janaka (Mother Sitā) on the left, and on whose front is Lord Hanumān, the son of the wind-God, O heart, worship that scion of the Raghu family)

@Sirona, Lord Rama is never ferocious. He is a sea of calmness.

 

[agorman]

He is a sea of calmness.

Maybe it depends on the person Rama's dealing with. Shiva is calm with me, but I've known people he's been enraged with.

BTW, "Rama" means "branch" in Spanish. "Sita Rama" sounds to me like "quote branch". Anyway when I'm thinking of the god, I'm not thinking of a branch, so concentration helps.

 

[stvdv]

LOL! I also had a vision once with Shiva and cobras. His intention was to get me rid of the fear of death. But it seems in your case Shiva was more violent! I think maybe he scared you so you go on with Rama.

Once I prayed to Rama to help me with my health, and with diet. Then I heard a voice "Rama got very angry when people ate outside, and sent someone to bring them back". Seems to me that Rama send Shiva to give me a shiva-ish reminder, when I go off diet. Happened quite a few times now. About 8 snake encounters and the worst was when He dropped a gigantic[20cm at least] scorpion from the roof I sat under onto my head. But it worked, I found a "snake-free" diet finally. It didn't diminish my fear of snakes and scorpions, though.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Maybe it depends on the person Rama's dealing with. Shiva is calm with me, but I've known people he's been enraged with.

BTW, "Rama" means "branch" in Spanish. "Sita Rama" sounds to me like "quote branch". Anyway when I'm thinking of the god, I'm not thinking of a branch, so concentration helps.

Yeah, all Hindu Gods are extremely calm. Whether it is Shiva or Vishnu. Lord Vishnu caressed the feet of Sage Bhrigu when he kicked the Lord in the chest. Even when they are fighting the tormentors of their devotees, they are perfectly calm. They know it is all their own 'leela' (play).

ram el. 1.A1. (Dha1tup. xx , 23) %{ramate} (Ved. also P. %{ra4mati} or %{ramNAti} pf. %{rarAma} MBh. ; %{reme} Br. &c. ; aor. 3. pl. %{ranta} RV. ; %{araMsIt} Ka1v. ; %{araMsta} RV. ; %{raMsiSam} SV. ; fut. %{rantA} Gr. ; %{raMsyati} Br. ; %{-te} ib. &c. ; inf. %{ramitum} MBh. ; %{rantum} ib. &c. ; %{rantos} Br. ; ind. p. %{ratvA4} ib. ; %{rantvA} Ka1v. ; %{-ramya} or %{-ratya} Pa1n2. 6-4 , 38) , to stop , stay , make fast , calm , set at rest (P. ; esp. pres. %{ramNAti}) RV. VS. ; (P.A1.)to delight , make happy , enjoy carnally MBh. Hariv. S3ukas. ; (A1.) to stand still , rest , abide , like to stay with (loc. or dat.) RV. &c. &c. ; (A1. ; P. only m. c.) to be glad or pleased , rejoice at , delight in , be fond of (loc. instr. or inf.) RV. &c. &c. ; to play or sport , dally , have sexual intercourse with (instr. with or without %{samam} , %{saha} , %{sAkam} or %{sA7rdham}) , ChUP. MBh. &c. ; to couple (said of deer) Pa1n2. 3-1 , 26 , Va1tt. 8 Pat. (cf. Caus.) ; to play with i.e. put to stake (instr.) Bhat2t2.: Caus. %{rama4yati} or %{rAma4yati} (aor. %{a4rIramat}) , to cause to stay , stop , set at rest RV. TS. Pan5cavBr. Ka1tyS3r. ; (%{ramayati} , m.c. also %{-te}) to gladden , delight , please , caress , enjoy carnally MBh. Ka1v. &c. (3. sg. %{ramayati-tarAm} , Ratna7v. iii , 9) ; to enjoy one's self , be pleased or delighted MBh. Hariv. ; %{mRgAn@ramayati} , he tells that the deer are coupling Pa1n2. 3-1 , 26 Va1rtt. 8 Pat.: Desid. in %{riraMsA} , %{-su} q.v.: Desid. of Caus. in %{riramayiSu} q.v.: Intesis. %{raMramyate} or %{raMramIti} Pa1n2. 7-4 , 85. [Cf. Zd. ram , Gk. $ , &262829[867 ,2] $ , $ ; Lith. {rimti} ; Goth. {rimis}.]
http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/tamil/recherche

राम ram] a. m. n. f. rāmā agréable, charmant; plaisant, beau — m. plaisir | myth. [Rām.] np. du roi avatāra de Viṣṇu au tretāyuga; fils de Daśaratha roi d'Ayodhyā de la lignée solaire [sūryavaṃśa] et de la reine Kausalyā, il est né à midi le 9e jour du mois caitra sous le nakṣatra punarvasu; son guru était Viśvāmitra, avec qui il se rendit à Mithilā; il épousa Sītā, fille du roi Janakarāja, en gagnant un concours d'archerie, où il banda, et cassa, l'arc Ajagava de Śiva; à Paraśurāma indigné qu'il ait manqué de respect envers son guru Śiva, et le défiant, il arracha l'arc de Viṣṇu; Sītā lui donna pour fils Kuśaet Lava; Daśaratha sur ses vieux jours fit de Rāma son héritier; mais sa seconde femme Kaikeyī, lui rappelant sa promesse d'exhaucer un vœu, l'obligea à laisser le royaume à son fils Bharata_1; Rāma s'exila volontairement avec Sītā et son frère Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata_1 assurant la régence; Rāma vécut avec eux comme ermite dans la forêt Daṇḍaka, dans un ermitage sur la rive de la Godāvarī, où il tua de nombreux démons, et not. l'ogresse Tāṭakā et ses fils; l'ogre [rākṣasa] Rāvaṇa, roi de Laṅkā, décida de les venger, et déguisé en ascète, enleva Sītā et la transporta à Laṅkā dans son char volant [vimāna_1]; Rāma et Lakṣmaṇapartirent à sa recherche avec l'aide du roi des singes Sugrīva et de son général le fidèle Hanumān, qui franchit le détroit en volant et retrouva Sītā; l'armée des singes construisit une jetée de pierres [setu] pour franchir l'océan, et après une grande bataille Rāvaṇa fut vaincu par Rāma; cette victoire est célébrée à la fête de daśāha; Sītā, répudiée par Rāma, se jeta au bûcher, mais Agni l'épargna, et elle fut réunie à Rāma, qui reprit son trône à Ayodhyā pour un long règne de justice; Rāma est l'archétype du Roi Juste de Droit Divin; cf. Karuṇasāgara, Kākutstha, Dāśaratha, Raghunandana, Raghunātha, Rāghava, Rāmacandra, Mārīca | [Paraśurāma «Jāmadagnya | cf. balarāma | math. symb. le nombre 3 — f. rāmā femme charmante.
Sanskrit Heritage Dictionary

 

[Shantanu]

The central feature of the story of Ram and Sita in the Ramayana epic is the need to humans to challenge and counter evil. So the mantra should focus on this aspect.

 

[agorman]

The central feature of the story of Ram and Sita in the Ramayana epic is the need to humans to challenge and counter evil. So the mantra should focus on this aspect.

What do you think about the following?

Glory of Rāma Naam

 

[Aupmanyav]

There won't be one God for the whole world, though a devotee may feel the necessity. Actually this is the strart of conflicts. It is good that Hinduism is not afflicted by this disease. There are many God's and people will worship various Gods. However, Lord Rama exemplifies 'dharma', duty and sobriety. That is why Hindus say 'Rāmo Videhavāna Dharmah' (Lord Rama is Dharma Personified).

 

[Shantanu]

What do you think about the following?

Glory of Rāma Naam

It is worshipping God: I like it.

 

[stvdv]

When I was new at chanting Hare Krishna, Rama appeared to me in a dream as a fierce warrior who said he would protect me. It was awesome, if not a bit intimidating. I have never shared this story with anyone before.

@Sirona: Thanks for sharing. Great fortune, Rama as a warrior protecting you. You have nothing to worry anymore after having had such a dream. I am happy to read that I am not the only one having intimidating encounters.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Really! Lord Rama remains with me day and night. He is always calm and pleasant.

 

[stvdv]

@Aupmanyav: Beautiful. My ego is obviously still too big for Rama to remain 24/7 with me (and me being aware of this). But I never give up, so 1 day I will reach this goal also.

Of course you are right. The best is not to be happy seeing someone with intimidating encounters, but only be happy when everyone has "calm and peace".