Grandfather clocks make the Insomniac nervous. It looks as if their sole aim is to provoke him with their solemn sound that another hour has gone by and he hasn't yet slept! At the stroke of each hour, the Insomniac gets even more frantic that he has just a couple of hours left for day-break and he hasn't slept a wink. He frets, worries, clasps his palms in despair and is at a loss on what to do next. Could his body have somehow forgotten the ability to sleep ?
The Insomniac decides to scout for help.
Mantra therapy:
He has a favourite swamiji whom he looks up to for advice on salvation and now sleep. Stroking his copious white beard, Swamiji gives him a patient ear. "Have you heard about sambodhanaa dhwani?", Swamiji begins on a tangent. The Insomniac hasn't heard about it. "Well, when you call out chai-wala from the train, what does the tea-vendor at the platform do? He doesn't come empty handed and begin a conversation on the well being of your wife and kids, does he !? He comes with a cup of tea and hands it over to you", Swamiji elucidates.
The Insomniac is confused whether Swamiji has heard him correctly. Swamiji has. The guruji proceeds, "In the invocation of "chai-wala", the task for the tea-vendor is embedded! He has to deliver a cup of tea. So too, if you invoke the Lord with a specific name, with a given task, he will do the needful. That is the magic of sambodhanaa dhwani. Take this name from the Vishnu Sahasranama (1000 names of the Lord)", Swamiji continues only to be brusquely interrupted by the Insomniac.
The Insomniac is well versed in this topic and understands the Swamiji's train of thought. Welling up with pride, he waxes, "I know! I chant uttaarano-dushkritihaa-punyo-duswapna-naashanah (particular verse in the 1000 names of the Lord where he is praised as "duswapna-naashanah"- the remover of bad dreams and nightmares! As per tradition, the devout typically chants this name before going to bed.) everynight without fail! It has just not worked!"
Swamiji cannot be cowed down by counter arguments like these. "Sambodhanaa dhwani has actually worked! Through your invocation, you've given the Lord a specific task. He has actually fulfilled your request! You've asked for freedom from nightmares. He has obliged you by ensuring that you don't sleep at all!" Swamiji answers brilliantly convulsing with laughter! He just can't contain himself. The Insomniac sees the humour but needs a solution nonetheless.
Swamiji continues. Try this out- "Take this name from the same set of 1000 names- Sharvari-karah (verse 97). It refers to the Lord as the "night maker", the one who rejuvenates us with sleep, sweet dreams and relaxation. Names like dinkar (Lord of the day) are more popular but for your ailment, you need to chant and meditate on Him specifically as sharvari-karah. It has to work. There is no doubt!"
The Insomniac now has a task on his hands. He has to adhere to a strict regimen: To chant sharvari-karah, O lord of night and blessed sleep at least 1008 times and check out the results.
We wait with bated breath! If the Insomniac doesn't write more, he has succeeded. Otherwise, he will continue his rant!
The Insomniac decides to scout for help.
Mantra therapy:
He has a favourite swamiji whom he looks up to for advice on salvation and now sleep. Stroking his copious white beard, Swamiji gives him a patient ear. "Have you heard about sambodhanaa dhwani?", Swamiji begins on a tangent. The Insomniac hasn't heard about it. "Well, when you call out chai-wala from the train, what does the tea-vendor at the platform do? He doesn't come empty handed and begin a conversation on the well being of your wife and kids, does he !? He comes with a cup of tea and hands it over to you", Swamiji elucidates.
The Insomniac is confused whether Swamiji has heard him correctly. Swamiji has. The guruji proceeds, "In the invocation of "chai-wala", the task for the tea-vendor is embedded! He has to deliver a cup of tea. So too, if you invoke the Lord with a specific name, with a given task, he will do the needful. That is the magic of sambodhanaa dhwani. Take this name from the Vishnu Sahasranama (1000 names of the Lord)", Swamiji continues only to be brusquely interrupted by the Insomniac.
The Insomniac is well versed in this topic and understands the Swamiji's train of thought. Welling up with pride, he waxes, "I know! I chant uttaarano-dushkritihaa-punyo-duswapna-naashanah (particular verse in the 1000 names of the Lord where he is praised as "duswapna-naashanah"- the remover of bad dreams and nightmares! As per tradition, the devout typically chants this name before going to bed.) everynight without fail! It has just not worked!"
Swamiji cannot be cowed down by counter arguments like these. "Sambodhanaa dhwani has actually worked! Through your invocation, you've given the Lord a specific task. He has actually fulfilled your request! You've asked for freedom from nightmares. He has obliged you by ensuring that you don't sleep at all!" Swamiji answers brilliantly convulsing with laughter! He just can't contain himself. The Insomniac sees the humour but needs a solution nonetheless.
Swamiji continues. Try this out- "Take this name from the same set of 1000 names- Sharvari-karah (verse 97). It refers to the Lord as the "night maker", the one who rejuvenates us with sleep, sweet dreams and relaxation. Names like dinkar (Lord of the day) are more popular but for your ailment, you need to chant and meditate on Him specifically as sharvari-karah. It has to work. There is no doubt!"
The Insomniac now has a task on his hands. He has to adhere to a strict regimen: To chant sharvari-karah, O lord of night and blessed sleep at least 1008 times and check out the results.
We wait with bated breath! If the Insomniac doesn't write more, he has succeeded. Otherwise, he will continue his rant!
You are not old enough to suffer from Insomnia. I am surprised, seriously! And to add to Sarah's comment, even my favourite past-time is sleeping. Probably I should swap some of my sleep with your insomnia. :)
ReplyDelete-Deepti.