An Effective Approach for Reciting naamavaLi

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PRELUDE

 

Typically, when one says naamavaLi, such as lalita trishati or

sahasranaamam, there is a fundamental trap of saying the names without

paying attention to them. Especially, long ones such a trishati (300 names)

or sahasranaama (1000 names), sometimes this would make one wonder -- what

happened to all the names I am already at the end, did I say them all or not

:-)).

 

This becomes more critical for works such as lalitaa trishatii, where

hayagriiva clearly says they are not merely naama-s but mantra-s, pay

attention and do it at the right pace (not in hurry).

 

APPROACH

 

I use this approach and may not be to your liking. But still I am sharing

with the hope it may be of use to some. I devised this approach for

trishatii, as I know the names by heart and use a text only to make sure I

do not miss (by error). Hence, I decided to use the a brief translation as

a guide rather than the original itself. That is after I read the meaning

(in Tamil), which is one or two lines, I say the name by recollecting it. I

found this quite fascinating, as no name escapes the attention and the extra

10-15 minutes spent is well worth the effort. I hope with practice, I will

do that naturally in time.

 

SUMMARY

 

1. Do not just use the original namavaLi text.

 

2. If you know the naamavali by heart, just use a brief translation as a

guide to focus on the names and make sure you do not miss anything. Try to

recollect name based on the meaning and for a brief period dwell into the

name as you say it.

 

3. If you do not know the text by heart, use both the translation and

original as guides. First read the translation and have it mind, and then

say the name (such as * kalyANyai namaH, and so on).

 

4. Better to keep the translation to 1 or two lines. But be aware of the

full scope of the name by reading a commentary (at leisure). You may have to

go back and forth.

 

BENEFITS

 

a) Gives a concentrated approach.

 

b) Attention is given to each name

 

c) Meaning of the name is grasped by while saying it.

 

DISADVANTAGES

 

a) It will be take twice as much as time to do it. It is really not a

disadvantage. It only really makes the process productive.

 

--

 

Human mind is capable of defeating anything good you try to do. It will

find a way to beat this too. Hence, when you are not satisfied, go back to

the name (which you said with satisfaction). I remember reading about a

saint, who used say Divine names while walking. If the saint reaches a

point, where she suddenly realized that she has missed the practice (or

found a lapse in concentration), she will walk back all the way to the place

where she lost concentration and will walk all over again. Going back is

something like that. That kind of will tell the mind, more you trouble me --

the more I will train you - so beware and be good.

 

 

FYI.

 

My 2c.

 

Ravi