The names of divine incarnations (partial or full) can be used as mantras. In the ancient tradition of Bharat (India), Parashurama, Rama, Hanuman, Krishna, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and many others have their own mantras.
A mantra is a word or a series of sacred words, a mystical symbol of God. It carries with it a deep meaning which, if practiced according to the scriptures, can lead to peace of mind, the destruction of all vices and the elimination of ego.
Devotees of Sathya Sai Baba often greet each other with “Sai Ram.” This tradition, started as early as the time of Sai Baba of Shirdi, has a deep meaning which we will explore below. Sathya Sai Baba invited its use by these words:
“When you meet, do not exclaim ‘Hello!’ or ‘Goodbye!’ or any nonsense. Let the moment of meeting be sanctified by the remembrance of God; so say: Ram Ram, Ore, Hari Ore, or Sai Ram.”
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 10, Chapter 14, 18/07/1970
In India and around the world, some devotees chant the name “Om Sri Sai Ram” by repeating “Om Sri” while inhaling air and “Sai Ram” while exhaling. Let us try to understand each and every word that makes up the mantra “Om Sai Ram”. It has a deep meaning that we will explore below.
The syllable “Om” embodies in itself and signifies in “Sanathana Dharma” (“Eternal Path of the Right”) or Hinduism the vibration of the cosmic sound, proper to the universe.
In the Shiva Purana, Mahadeva states:
“O dear children, your illusion was the result of not meditating on Me. If you had retained My knowledge, you would not have been carried away by this false pride of being Maheśa. So from now on, both of you will start chanting the Om (Om) mantra to gain knowledge of Me. It will also quell your false pride. I have taught this great auspicious mantra. Om (Om) came out of My mouth. It originally pointed to Me. He is the pointer and I am the one indicated. This mantra is identical to Me. Repeating this mantra is actually like repeatedly remembering Me. The syllable ‘A’ comes first from the face facing North; the syllable ‘U’ facing West; the syllable ‘M’ from the face facing South; and the Bindu (dot) from the face facing East. The two groups of created beings, Nāma (Name) and Rūpa (Form), are pervaded by this mantra. They indicate Śiva and Śakti. (…) The whole series of Vedas and millions of mantras are derived from this. Different things are achieved through different mantras, but everything is achieved only through Oṃkāra.”
(Shiva Purana I, c.10, v. 15-23)
The word “Sai” means “holy” in southern parts of India, and was the first word used by the devotee Mhalsapathi of Shirdi when he first saw Sai Baba of Shirdi arrive, with the phrase “Yaa Sai!” (which literally translates to “Welcome, Holy One!”).
Regarding the meaning of the name Sai, Bhagavan also said:
“Let us consider the meaning of the name Sai Baba. ‘Sa’ means ‘Divine’; ‘Ai’ or ‘Ayi’ means ‘Mother’ while ‘Baba’ means ‘Father’. The name indicates Divine Mother and Father, as does Sambashiva, which also means Divine Mother and Father. Your physical parents show love with a dose of selfishness; but this ‘Father-Mother’ Sai shows you affection or scolds you only to lead you to victory in the struggle for self-realisation.”
(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 12, Brindavan, 19/6/1974)
Furthermore, during a Christmas discourse, Swami emphasized a special connection between the name Sai and that of Jesus, the Christ:
“The original name of Jesus was Isa, which when repeated becomes Sai (Isa-Isa-Isa-Isa, Ed.). Both Isa and Sai mean Ishvara, God, the Eternal Absolute, Sat-Cit-Ananda (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss). In the Tibetan manuscript of the monastery where Isa spent some years, his name is written as ‘Isha’, meaning ‘The Lord of all living beings’.“
(Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 14, Prashanti Nilayam – 25/12/1978)
The term “Ram” can be seen as an abbreviation of the avatar “Rama,” which has multiple interpretations. One understanding is that “Ra” represents the Fire Principle, capable of transforming everything into nothingness, while “ma” means maya or illusion, making it a symbol for getting rid of ignorance. Additionally, Sai Baba taught that “Ram” means the embodiment of love, joy, and happiness.
It is interesting to note that in the Quran Jesus is addressed by the name Isa. Bhagavan had on another occasion explained the deep meaning of the name “Rāma”:
“According to Thyagaraja, the name ‘Rama’ is derived from the two letters ‘Rā’ and ‘Ma’ in the two mantras associated with Vishnu and Shiva. These two mantras are: ‘Namo Narayanaya’ and ‘Namah Shivaya’. Without the syllables ‘Rā’ and ‘Ma’, the two mantras lose their meaning. Therefore, ‘Rā’ and ‘Ma’ are the life-giving letters in the two mantras. The name ‘Rama’ is therefore the life-giving essence of the two great mantras mentioned above. The term ‘Rāma’ has another esoteric meaning. It is made up of three syllables: Ra + A + Ma. ‘Ra’ means Agni (the God of Fire). ‘A’ represents Surya (the sun god) and ‘Ma’ represents Chandra (the moon god). The combination of the three letters forms the name Rāma. ‘Ra’, representing the Fire God, burns away all sins; ‘A’, representing the Sun God, dispels the darkness of ignorance and ‘Ma’, symbolising the Moon God, cools the temper and brings tranquillity. The name Rama has the triple power of washing away sins, removing ignorance and calming the mind. (…) In ancient times people used to say that their inner secrets were known only to the Spirit of Rama within (Atma-Rāma). The Self is also called ‘Rāma’. ‘Rāma’ means ‘The Pleaser’.“
(Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 31, Brindavan – Rama Navami, 4/5/1998)
In essence, ‘Sai Ram’ obeys one fundamental premise: to remember the divinity that is present in every human being.