SVS 41

To make machines such as cell phones, door chimes, etc., chant mantras is not desirable. When the pranava -Om- and nama: are added to any divine name, it becomes a mantra. Mantras have to be acquired from an Acharya in the prescribed way. Even the best medicine will be effective only if it is taken as prescribed. If suitable Acharyas could not be found, there is nothing wrong to chant these Divine names without the pranava and it is guaranteed that it will also yield the same benefits as a mantra would. SVS is a remedy to all our ills and understanding the meanings of each Name will be advantageous. A King wanted his royal guru to administer a mantra. Guru said he would do it later. Couple of days after, the King came and boasted that he had learnt the mantra from the book. Guru told the King that he was a fool and commanded the soldiers to arrest the King. But no soldier moved. King became furious that the Guru appointed by and getting salary from the King should talk like that and so he ordered the soldiers to arrest the Guru and soldiers immediately did that. The Guru smiled. King was perplexed as why the Guru was smiling. Guru said that the same words 'arrest him' were used by both the Guru and the King; it worked with King's uttering, while it was ineffective when Guru told. Moral is mantra is not mere words, but has to be administered by a proper Acharya to be effective.