Ram Rameti Rame Rame Manorame - The Name Equal to a Thousand Names
Ram Rameti Rame Rame Manorame - Sanskrit Text
श्रीराम राम रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे ।
सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
śrīrāma rāma rāmeti rame rāme manorame |
sahasranāma tattulyaṁ rāmanāma varānane ||
Meaning
"Saying 'Rama, Rama, Rama', I delight in the enchanting Rama. O fair-faced one (Parvati), the name of Rama is equal to the thousand names (of Vishnu)." In this verse Lord Shiva tells Parvati that revelling in the single name "Rama" - manorama, the one who delights the mind - yields the same merit as reciting the entire Vishnu Sahasranama, the thousand names of Vishnu.
About this Shloka
This is one of the most quoted verses in the Hindu devotional tradition. It appears in the phala-shruti (the section describing the fruits) connected with the Vishnu Sahasranama, framed as a dialogue in which Parvati asks Shiva for an easy way to obtain the benefit of the thousand names, and Shiva reveals that the name of Rama alone is sufficient. The verse is therefore the supreme endorsement of nama-japa - repetition of the divine name - as a complete spiritual practice accessible to everyone.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
The shloka establishes that in the present age (Kali Yuga) the simple repetition of the Lord's name carries immense power. Chanting it grants the merit of a vast recitation in a fraction of the effort, making liberation accessible without elaborate ritual. Regular repetition of "Sri Rama" purifies the mind, dissolves sin and fear, bestows peace and devotion, and keeps the heart anchored in the divine. It is a favourite verse to recite at the start of Rama worship, before the Sahasranama, or as a standalone japa.
Astrological Relevance
Lord Rama was born in the solar Ikshvaku dynasty and is closely associated with the Sun (Surya), the karaka of soul, authority, vitality and noble character. Chanting Rama-nama is a classic remedy to strengthen a weak or afflicted Sun, to build self-confidence and leadership, and to restore dharmic order in a life thrown off balance. Because the verse is spoken by Shiva (lord of Saturn-like discipline and time) to Parvati, it also carries Shiva's grace, helping to steady the mind during difficult Saturn periods. As the name of Vishnu's avatara, its repetition supports overall planetary peace and removal of doshas.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Sit facing east in a clean place before an image of Rama (or Rama-Sita-Hanuman). Begin with this shloka, then repeat "Sri Rama Jaya Rama" or simply "Rama Rama" as japa, using a tulsi mala of 108 beads. The verse may also be chanted thrice as an invocation before reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama. Maintain steady, devotional attention on the name; consistency each day matters more than quantity.
Best Day & Time
Suitable any day, with Sunday (the Sun's day) and Thursday especially favourable; Rama Navami and Ekadashi are most auspicious. The Brahma Muhurta before dawn and the early morning hours after bathing are ideal for nama-japa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is this shloka from?
It is part of the phala-shruti associated with the Vishnu Sahasranama, framed as Shiva's reply to Parvati about an easy path to its benefit.
Is the name 'Rama' really equal to a thousand names?
The verse declares so: Shiva states that the name Rama is tattulyam - equal in merit - to the entire thousand names of Vishnu, underscoring the supreme power of nama-japa.
How should I chant it?
Recite the verse as an invocation, then repeat 'Sri Rama' as japa on a tulsi mala, ideally in the early morning, with devotion and a steady mind.
Why Shiva gave Rama's name as the crown of all Vishnu-stutis
Among the most treasured passages in the entire canon of Vaishnava literature, this shloka stands apart because it is spoken not by a devotee of Vishnu but by Shiva himself - underscoring the transcendent unity that runs through Hindu devotion. Appearing as the phala-shruti, or declaration of fruit, at the close of the Vishnu Sahasranama, it asserts that the simple, two-syllable name Rama carries within it the full weight of all thousand names. Devotees believe that even a single sincere utterance of this shloka - or of the name it extols - opens the heart to the same grace that months of elaborate stotra-recitation might yield.
In the Jyotish tradition, the name of Rama is particularly associated with the Sun (Surya), the planet that governs the soul, vitality, and dharmic clarity. Reciting this shloka at sunrise is therefore considered especially auspicious, aligning the chanter's inner light with the cosmic principle that Rama's name is said to embody. Whether chanted once each morning or woven into longer japa practice, this shloka reminds us that bhakti is not measured in quantity but in the sincerity with which the name is held in the heart.