Have you ever wondered why Hindus in the parts of North India greet each other by saying 'Ram Ram' twice instead of saying 'Ram' just once?
In Hinduism, greetings vary from region to region. In South India, people greet each other by saying Vanakkam, in Western India by saying Jai Shri Krishna, in Eastern India Jai Jagannath and in North India Radhe Radhe or Ram Ram are commonly used.
The practice of saying the Lord Rama's name twice has existed for centuries, yet many of us are still unaware of the reason behind it. And even if it is considered so auspicious, then why is it said only twice, why not thrice or any other number?
Let's understand in detail the belief behind this greeting.
Why Is 'Ram Ram' Said Twice In Greetings?
In Sanatan Dharma, every practice has a reason, and every ritual has some hidden meaning behind it. Many traditions are believed to hold both spiritual and scientific benefits, although some knowledge is still believed to stay hidden.
According to the Vedas, there are several ancient formulas, Tantras, and Gupt Vidya (secret knowledge) which can be beneficial for mankind when used responsibly.
According to this belief, the letter in the word Ram holds numerical significance.
The letter R(र) is the 27th letter in the Hindi alphabetical series, Aa (आ) is the 2nd letter, and M(म) is the 25th letter. When these numbers are added together, it becomes 54. Repeating the name twice gives a total of 108.
The number 108 is considered highly auspicious in Sanatan Dharm. In Hinduism, every mantra is chanted(Jap) at least 108 times. According to this belief, when Ram Ram said twice makes the sacred count of 108.
'Ram Ram' Said Twice In Greetings (Image: Pexels)
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Benefits Of Chanting Ram Naam
According to Hindu beliefs, there are multiple benefits of chanting Ram naam.
- It is believed to remove negative energy.
- It is said to bring peace and help to overcome anxiety and depression.
- Improves decision-making abilities and boosts creativity.
- Chanting Ram Naam is also believed to overcome anger issues.
An important benefit of chanting Ram Naam is that it is believed to guide the person on the right path. It also helps an individual to inculcate the feelings of compassion, faith, and trust.
Lord Hanuman, one of Rama’s greatest devotees, said that he got his great strength by chanting Ram Naam. According to Hindu scriptures, the eagle, Sampati, the brother of Jatayu, regained its destroyed feathers by chanting Rama’s name three times.
Chanting Ram Naam helps to overcome anxiety and depression (Image: Pexels)
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It is also believed that those who chant the Rama mantra continuously in their lifetime will never have to take rebirth and will get a special place in the sacred abode of Lord Vishnu. According to the Hindu Puranas, an individual can attain salvation by chanting the Ram mantra with pure devotion. This is why people say Lord Ram’s name twice while greeting each other.