Spiritual benefits of chanting God’s Name

Chanting God’s Name is the boat that helps us ferry across the ocean of life. The benefits of chanting are innumerable. Given below are the benefits that we can derive from chanting according to path of Dnyanyoga (Path of Knowledge) and Bhaktiyoga (Path of Devotion).

1. Benefits as per Dnyanyoga

A. Chanting purifies the antahakaran
(The inner sense organs consisting of the
conscious mind, sub-conscious mind,intellect
and ego), making it capable of receiving spiritual knowledge

Chanting God’s Name constantly purifies an individual’s subconscious mind and makes it capable of receiving Divine Knowledge. Just as one cannot reap a good harvest without ploughing the field to make it fertile, similarly, knowledge cannot penetrate the antahakaran until it is purified. Hence, it is necessary to remain steadfast unto the practice of karma (An act), bhakti (Devotion), worship of God, singing bhajans (Devotional song), kirtans (Devotional discourses) etc.

B. Obtaining Divine Knowledge due to chanting

We are habituated to obtaining knowledge through the medium of letters; but the ‘Name’ is an indicator of God that is knowledge of the soul.

2. Benefits as per Bhaktiyoga

A. Chanting alone can bestow merits
equivalent to what can be attained through
several pilgrimages and Yadnyas (Ritual of sacrificial fires)

1. कृष्ण कृष्णेति कृष्णेति कलौ वक्ष्यति प्रत्यहम् ।
नित्यं यज्ञायुतं पुण्यं तीर्थकोटिसमुद्भवम् ।।
– Skandapuran, Dwarkamahatmya

Meaning : In Kaliyug , he who continuously chants God’s Name gets the fruit of 10,000 Yadnyas and of million sips of Tirtha (Sacred liquid).

2. कुरुक्षेत्रेण किं तस्य किं काश्या विरजेन वा ।
जिह्वाग्रे वर्तते यस्य हरिरित्यक्षरद्वयम् ।।
– Naradpuran, Uttarkhanda, Adhyaya 6, Shloka 4

Meaning : What is the need for those who chant God’s Name continuously to go on a pilgrimage ?

3. तन्मुखं तु महत्तीर्थं तन्मुखं क्षेत्रमेव च ।
यन्मुखे राम रामेति तन्मुखं सार्वकामिकम् ।।
– Padmapuran, Uttarkhanda, Adhyaya 72, Shloka 32

Meaning : When chanting is continuous, our mouth itself becomes a pilgrimage. That itself becomes the location of purity, which can fulfil all our desires.

B. Development of faith and
bhav (Spiritual emotion) for the Deity

Repeated chanting of God’s Name backed by belief in God’s Name gives us spiritual experiences. This leads to development of faith in the ‘Name’ and the Deity. When we have the belief that God’s Name will give us everything, we start chanting with intense yearning for Him and bhav for the Deity develops swiftly. ‘God exists where there is bhav’. Hence, in Spirituality, developing bhav has utmost importance.

C. The Deity is appeased due to chanting of its Name

When we chant the Name of a Deity, it is appeased. In worldly life, when we are constantly in touch with someone he does not forget us. Thus, by chanting His Name if we remain in contact with God, then He too remembers us.

‘अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते ।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ।।
– Shrimadbhagwadgita, Adhyaya 9, Shloka 22

Meaning : I take care of the worldly requirements of those who worship me with devotion.

The quote reveals the secret of devotion that when we remain engrossed in God’s Name, He looks after our worldly and spiritual needs. This itself is known as Rajayoga (Path of God-realisation, by following eight steps of spiritual practice described by Sage Patanjali). No matter what anyone may say, I term this as Rajayoga. In Shri Gurucharitra, Saints bestow the title ‘wealthy’ upon the one who chants God’s Name. Hence, one who chants God’s Name is truly wealthy.’ – H.H. Kane Maharaj, Narayangaon, District Pune, Maharashtra

D. Method of bestowal of God’s grace upon chanting

Though buttermilk contains butter, only when it is churned does the butter rise to the surface. Similarly, when we constantly chant God’s Name, He bestows His love in numerous ways.

3. Benefits of chanting on a subtle level

Click on the below Subtle Drawing / Picture for a larger view !

A. Positive vibrations in the picture based on subtle-knowledge : 3% – H.H. Dr. Athavale

B. Proportion of vibrations in the picture based on the subtle-knowledge : Bhav 1%, Deity Principle 2%, Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) 2 % and Shakti (Divine Energy) 1.5%

C. Other aspects :

1.Due to chanting, unnecessary thoughts of the individual reduce and he is able to experience peace of mind. Also, due to concentration, he is able to develop communion with God.

2. Due to chanting, the Raja-Tama components in the individual reduce and Chaitanya increases.

3. Constant chanting helps destroy the numerous impressions of many births on the subconscious mind of the individual.
– Mrs. Yoya Vallee (Vaishakha Shukla 12, Kaliyug Varsh 5113 [14.5.2011])

Reference : Sanatan’s Holy Text ‘Importance and Benefits of Chanting’