We as humans start facing innumerable difficulties right from the time of our birth. There seems no end to these troubles. Vedas have described different methods through which a person can get rid of his difficulties and achieve the path of salvation.
In Kali Yuga, method of achieving salvation is not complicated but yet difficult. People are asked to chant the names of Gods. Mere chanting is not sufficient. Chanting has to be done with soul. One has to put his heart in it while chanting. No money is spent in doing so and no materials are required. By chanting names of Gods, we get a shelter under which we can protect ourselves from worldly difficulties and troubles. Heart becomes free from ego, mind attains peace and soul acquires oneness with God. This is what a salvation is all about. We need not perform sacrifices, we need not fast or travel to spiritual places to acquire oneness with God. All we have to do is utter supreme soul's name and while doing so, no other thoughts should linger in our minds. All we have to do is get drenched in his devotion and dwell in his ocean. Path seems easy, but is most difficult.
There are so many religions which are practiced world wide. Some of them are Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism etc..... There are innumerable followers of each religion. Sometimes a person born in one religion get attracted towards another. Each religion revolves around its own God. In certain religions, only one God is preached and in other religions like Hinduism, innumerable number of Gods are worshiped. Whatever may be the case, each religion comprises of one or more Gods and each God has one or more names. These names show us the path and lead us through that path and help us get rid of this mortal world.
Islam have discovered 99 names of Allah. Some of them are Al-Malik, Ar-Rahim, Al-Aziz, Al-Rafi, Al-Basir, Ar-Rahman etc..... Rahman means one who is going to shower kindness and compassion. Rahim means one who shows mercy. Karim means one who is very generous. Muslims have 99 prayer beads. Before initiation of any work they chant a line which is Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim". It means in the name of Allah who is the most kind and full of compassion.
Hinduism is considered to be the oldest religion in the world. Rigveda has described 33 Gods. There exists 340,000,000-360,000,000 Gods in Hindu religion. Each God has one or more names. Few people argue that if there exists one God then why should he be called with so many names. Answer for their question is that though God is one but their characters, their effects, their stories vary from one another. If a person says that he is a doctor, it does not describe him completely. To complete the description, it is essential that he describes his degree completely. Is he an allopathy doctor or doctor of ayurveda, homeopathy, naturopathy should be described. Is he M.B.B.S, M.D., an eye specialist, E.N.T. specialist, gynecologist or does he write thesis after completing PhD should be mentioned. When there are so many certifications and so many degrees for doctors specializing in different parts of the body then why should not the supreme soul be called with different names. After all he is the source of strength, power, life, light and everything. He deserves to be called with different names. If different specialists are called by different names, then why should not God be called with various names as he is the one who empowers and strengthens these specialists as well as others.
Each name of God describes his story, characters, importance, effects, hidden mystery etc..... Hundreds of names describe hundreds of stories, characters, importance, effects, hidden mysteries behind their names. For example, 'Ram' when uttered means one who is residing in each and every part of ours, one who protects us from everything, one who inspires us for everything. But, this does not describe the importance of God completely. 'Shiva' means auspicious and prosperous. The word helps a person to uplift himself. The word 'Krishna' means attraction. It attracts everybody and fills them with pleasure. Lord Krishna is known to attract not only human beings, in fact cows, birds, trees, plants etc..... towards himself. Attraction of gopis towards Krishna is very well known. He is even known to attract water in Vrindavan. In the same way, 'Dam' from 'Damodar' means a rope. 'Odar' means stomach. One whose stomach is tied with rope is known to be Damodar. This word describes story of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna used to steal butter from pots. All the gopis and ladies of Vrindavan would often complain regarding the same to his mother 'Yasodha'. Thus, she used to tie him with rope which was tied on his stomach and there by he was called with the name 'Damodar'. This story depicts that soul been tied, wishes to get free and God been free, wishes to get tied. God Damodar is one who is better described as one in whom whole universe is residing and resting.
Hindu culture respects mother equivalent to God. Mother is considered to be no less than God. In the heart of mother, God resides. No matter how evil a woman may be but for her kids, she is no less than God. She brings up and takes care of her kids in the same way God takes care of us. Thus, saints and sages right from ancient times have remarked mother as God. Therefore in India, people worship so many Goddess in the form of mothers like Mother Kali, Mother Laxmi, Mother Durga, Mother Saraswati etc..... Goddess Saraswati is known to enrich the department of education. Goddess Laxmi is known to make a person rich. Mother Chandika is an idol depicting anger towards evil. Goddess Uma is the concluding strength of Omkar.
Many of us in evening prayer chant the names of 24 Gods like Keshava, Narayana, Madhav, Govinda, Vishnu, Madhusudan, Trivikram, Vaman, Sridhar, Hrishikesh, Padmanabh, Damodar, Sankarshan, Vasudev, Pradhyumman, Aniruddh, Purshottam, Adhokhaj, Narshimh, Achyuta, Janardhan, Upendra, Srihari and Sri Krishna.
These 24 names of Gods are chanted in the form of a prayer which is as follows:-
Achyutam Keshavam Raama-Naarayannam
Krishna Damodaram Vaasudevam Harim
Shrii Dharam Maadhavam Gopikaa Vallabham
Jaanakii Naayakam Raamachandram Bhaje
Achyutam means one who is immortal. Everything in this world is mortal. This body, this world, universe is all going to collapse one day. Immortal will live forever. Soul and supreme soul are the only immortal entities. Keshav means all three deities i.e., Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. He is the one who is responsible for creation for maintenance as well as for destruction. 'Nar' of 'Narayana' means one who is going to take away. He is the dictator, the politician. He is the rule itself. Group of 'Nar' is called as 'Naar'. It includes both men and women. 'Naar' has the light , the power to rule, the knowledge. Naarayana is one who acquires the kingdom of 'Naar'. Ram Naarayannam is the phrase used to worship Ram who is considered to be the incarnation of Naaraayannam. Krishna is the one who has power of attraction. Damodara is the one in whom whole universe rests. Vaasudevam word is used to describe Lord Krishna. He is son of Vasudev. Hari is the one to whom if we bow down with devotion will take away all our sins. Shrii- Dharam is a phrase used to describe Lord Vishnu. Goddess Laxmi married Lord Vishnu and she resides in his heart. Thus, the word Shrii- Dharam is used to describe Lord Vishnu who bears Goddess Laxmi in his heart and is well known as Shrii. Madhava again describes Lord Vishnu. Gopikaa- Vallabham means Lord Krishna. All the gopis of Vrindavan loved him dearly and would get attracted to him. Gopis means cowherd girls. Ramchandram is a word used for Lord Rama. He married Devi Sita and thus Ramchandram Bhaje means saluting or worshiping Lord Rama.
Chinese discovered the word 'Tao'. It means the one who is present in whole universe. He is the creator responsible for everything. He is responsible to develop everything and he is the one who rules everything. In simple words, the word 'Tao' means 'the way'. It is considered to be a base which is responsible for universe to originate and to exist.
Sikhs are the followers of Sikhism religion. They often chant a line "Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal". It is a slogan that fills in a lot of enthusiasm. It empowers a person. It is a shout of victory. Bole so nihal means whoever says or chants this will become happy. 'Sat' means the one which existed before, which is present even now and the one which will exist forever. 'Sri' means clean and 'Akal' means timeless.
Nath Sampradaya says aalakh niranjan. It means one who never gets attracted to senses. Our senses are very bubbly in character. They do their best to deviate us from our meditation and make us concentrate on worldly pleasures. Thus, we need to control them, before they make a control on us. Alakh means one who cannot see. Niranjan means one who is as good as Lord Shiva.
Among thousands of names of God, there is another name i.e., 'Guru'. 'Guru' means teacher. He is considered to be of more importance than the supreme deity himself. He is the one who shows us the path of salvation, who takes us and leads us to the way where we can become one with God. In absence of Guru, progress is very difficult. He is the one who will free us from our life, our beliefs, our rigidity and take us to path of salvation and ultimately leading to freedom. People who serve others in this way are known as 'Guru'.
Purshottam is the one who is best amongst all men. Vasudev is name given to Lord Narayan as he resides in the whole universe. 'Om' is the rule present in entire universe. It represents Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. God is also known as Bhaktavatsal. 'Bhakta' means devotee and 'Vatsal' means affection. God is always affectionate towards devotees. A devotee who has pure heart, God will always show affection towards him.
God is the supreme judge. If he makes judgement, he will punish us for our bad deeds. Then, why should we worship him? Such a question may arise in the minds of most of the people. But, one should also understand that God is Bhakta Vatsala. God will show affection towards them who are have pure heart. God is always partial towards pure soul. God himself is hungry for true love and devotion and whenever he finds a true devotee, God will bless him with lots of affection. God becomes partial and wipes out his tears as well as washes out all his sins. God inspires his devotee to stop performing sins and by giving punishments, provide them with lots of internal strength. God is very kind. He has ability to wash out biggest mistakes as well as blunders. He is the ocean of knowledge and happiness. There is so much of mystery and knowledge hidden in different names of Gods. Names of Gods like Damodar, Ram, Krishna, Keshav etc..... completely purifies our hearts.
Hari anant Hari katha anant. Lord Hari is vast and his stories are never ending. There is no end for his names. There is no end for his strength, for his kindness, for his characters, for his stories etc..... Even if all these names are combined together, cannot describe God's characters, strengths, emotions, kindness, intelligence completely. Such is the glory and importance of names of Gods.