Ramanama
{{Short description|Hindu practice of chanting the name of Rama}}
{{Italic title}}
The ramanama ({{Langx|sa|रामनाम|lit=the name of Rama|translit=rāmanāma}}) is the Hindu practice of ritually chanting the name of the deity Rama, an avatar of Vishnu.{{Cite book |last=Ranganathananda |first=Swami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7UelDwAAQBAJ&dq=a&pg=PT18 |title=The Spiritual Life of Indian People |publisher=Advaita Ashrama (A publication branch of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math) |pages=18 |language=en}} Rama's name is often chanted or sung within several traditions of Hinduism in the form of a japa, or meditative repetition.{{Cite book |last=Glucklich |first=Ariel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tfZNoX09XNAC&pg=PA193 |title=The Strides of Vishnu: Hindu Culture in Historical Perspective |date=2008-05-09 |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA |isbn=978-0-19-531405-2 |pages=193 |language=en}}
Literature
In the Ramacharitamanasa, the ramanama is regarded to offer strength to Hanuman.{{Cite book |last=Ludvik |first=Catherine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KCXQN0qoAe0C&pg=PA50 |title=Hanumān in the Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki and the Rāmacaritamānasa of Tulasī Dāsa |date=1994 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1122-5 |pages=50 |language=en}}
In the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred book and current guru of Sikhism, the name of Rama is the second most commonly used name for the formless God after the name Hari.
In the Vishnu Sahasranama, a popular verse indicates the significance of the name of Rama.{{Cite book |last=Devananda |first=Vishnu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JgnTT0eqwIoC&pg=PA67 |title=Meditation and Mantras |date=1999 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1615-2 |pages=67 |language=en}} In the Padma Purana, Shiva recites the verse to his consort Parvati:{{Cite book |last1=Bhatt |first1=Dr G. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VWXxDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA3324 |title=The Padma-Purana Part 10: Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Volume 48 |last2=Deshpande |first2=Dr N. A. |date=2013-01-01 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-3915-1 |pages=3324 |language=en}}
{{Blockquote|text=Śrī rāma rāma rāmeti
rame rāme manorame
sahasranāma tat-tulyaṁ
rāma-nāma varānane}}{{Blockquote|text=O lovely-faced lady, I chant the holy name of Rama, Rama, Rama, and thus constantly enjoy this beautiful sound. This holy name of Rama is equal to the one thousand names of Vishnu.}}
In popular culture
The mantra was often used by Mahatma Gandhi.{{Cite book |last1=Vandana |first1=Sister |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B09-QDlLRnoC&pg=PA114 |title=Nama Japa: The Prayer of the Name |last2=Mataji |first2=Vandana |date=September 1995 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |isbn=978-81-208-1286-4 |pages=114 |language=en}}
Neem Karoli Baba encouraged the constant repetition of "Ram" in order to become closer to God, saying: "By taking the name of Ram, everything is accomplished."
A popular mantra is Shri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama{{Cite book |last=Manjunath.R |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cFblEAAAQBAJ&dq=om+sri+ramaya+namah&pg=PA191 |title=Beyond the Temples: Unraveling the Mysteries of Hindu Gods |date=2023-11-24 |publisher=Manjunath.R |pages=191 |language=en}} (often prefixed with "Om"), which was popularised in western India by Samarth Ramdas. Swami Ramdas is said to have attained nirvana through the constant repetition of this mantra. He established Anandashram, where this mantra is chanted continuously from morning to night.
"Ramanama satya hai" ({{Translation|The name of Rama is the truth}}) is a Hindi phrase commonly chanted by Hindus while carrying a dead body to be cremated.{{Cite book |last=Michaels |first=Axel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DSaxCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA147 |title=Homo Ritualis: Hindu Ritual and Its Significance for Ritual Theory |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-026263-1 |pages=147 |language=en}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1GfO7k7scSsC |title=Ayodhya Imbroglio |date=1995 |publisher=Ashish Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7024-679-4 |pages=90 |language=en}}
Tyagaraja, a composer of Carnatic music, mentioned the ramanama in his compositions.{{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=William Joseph |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CZBnppBQgOsC&pg=PA115 |title=Tyāgarāja and the Renewal of Tradition: Translations and Reflections |date=1994 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1146-1 |pages=115 |language=en}}