STRESS AND NEW INSIGHTS IN NAMASMARAN: DR. SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

NAMASMARAN is a multidimensional and totipotent or pleuripotent activity. Thus on the one hand it is a mere remembrance or recitation of God’s name or OMKAR by an individual, either loudly or silently; and on the other hand; when it reaches its zenith; it is one with cosmic consciousness Himself (within which everything is contingent).

The initial experience of NAMASMARAN can be totally different in accordance with our physiological disposition. Many times, especially if we are obstinate or stubborn with strong likes and dislikes, then we may feel that it is suffocating, and is strangling our freedom! Therefore it is said; that we should start NAMASMARAN on a relatively small scale.

We have to appreciate that during NAMASMARAN there is a gradual withdrawing of the decent of consciousness involved in neurophysiological information processing, which embodies neuro-biochemical and neuro-electrophysiological changes. These evolve and synchronize the conflicting thoughts, emotions, instincts, desires, drives, cravings and behavior.

Till such time that the process of NAMASMARAN does not take roots in our being, the decent of consciousness embodying an illusion of freedom, to which we are addicted; keeps on resisting our practice of NAMASMARAN. This causes conflict!

This happens because; even though NAMASMARAN emancipates all aspects of individual and social life, it is alien to us; and hence we find it unpleasant, restrictive and coercive!

Gradually we realize that NAMASMARAN acts as a thought anchor; and holds us together, while catalyzing the process of self realization!

The beauty of NAMASMARAN is that by virtue of reversing the decent of consciousness, it is never restricted to our own petty benefits, even if we wanted it that way. It is always benevolent to all; including those, who may be thousands of miles away and known or unknown to us!

It is said to be emancipating even to those subtler entities whose “life” does not fit in the usual laws of biology such as the departed souls! This is not surprising; if we realize that when at its zenith, NAMASMARAN is one with cosmic consciousness; and everything (including past and future generations) is contingent therein!

When NAMASMARAN reaches its zenith; it is one with cosmic consciousness (within which everything is contingent); as stated earlier, and the inexplicable effects of NAMASMARAN begin to manifest at the level of electrochemical activities in various parts of brain. These in turn; are responsible for the experiences of the practitioner of NAMASMARAN; as well as the apparently miraculous effects; on body functions, behavior and other events in individual, family and social life.

One of the several concrete possibilities resulting from NAMASMARAN; which may be accessible to technology is; consolidation of to and fro connections between brainstem including limbic system and the cerebral cortex.

Since NAMASMARAN is a very subtle process it could possibly also lead to quantitative, spatial and temporal changes in the micro-neuro-physiological secretory and electrical events (as well as changes in their interrelationships) in key positions in the central nervous system and influence the whole biochemistry and physiology of STRESS!

This could explain the aphorism of Shri Brahmachaitanya Maharaj Gondavalekar from Gondavale (District Satara in Maharashtra State, in India); that NAMASMARAN embodies all the aspects e.g. YAMA, NIYAMA, ASANA, PRANAYAMA, PRATYAHARA, DHARANA, DHYANA & SAMADHI; of YOGA. These are achieved in a subtler and continuous manner, in NAMASMARAN.

Roughly speaking it appears that; in asana, pranayama and other procedures in hatha yoga, are employed to “push up” the descending consciousness from receptors, plexuses, muscles, respiration, autonomic nervous system etc back to its original position in and beyond cerebral cortex; and in NAMASMARAN; it is like withdrawing or sucking the descending consciousness.

It may not be inappropriate to note here; for record; that we need not believe any of this blindly; as; soon we would see; scientific validation of the aphorisms as above; about NAMASMARAN; of many seers. It would then be accepted automatically without any kind blind belief by all; irrespective not only religions; but even ideologies such as atheism.