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Sri Krishna Chaitanya was the pioneer of the movement of Nagar Sankeertan. He used to get himself immersed in the contemplation of the Lord while singing His glory and used to be oblivious of the external world.
Once he was conducting Nagar Sankeertan in Navadweep. Several leaders of the town too joined him in his bhajan. They were all ecstatically singing bhajans and walking along the streets. A thief also joined this
group. He thought it would be an opportunity for him to pick the pockets of rich devotees who would be lost in singing and dancing.
But when he actually participated in it he began singing with more zeal than others. All of them had
come to a temple and were seated. He sat near Chaitanya, while those sitting in front were listening
to his discourse. Many had left the temple precincts by then.
He held Chaitanya's both feet and said: "Swami, you are giving so much advice to so many people. Kindly
impart to me some sacred "manthra". Chaitanya looked at him and said: "Tell me first of all who you are and what you do". The thief said: "Swami! How can I lie to you? I am a thief. I have been a thief all my life. My name is Rama, people call me 'Rama' - the thief."
Chaitanya said: "Oh what a pity. I shall give you a name or a message but what will you give me as guru
dakshina?" The thief at once said without any hesitation: "I shall give you a share in the booty I get from my theft."
Chaitanya said: "I have no need for any money. All that I insist is that you should give up stealing."
The thief said: "Swami, that is my profession, how else can I earn a living, when I do not have any other
skill?"
"Well," said Chaitanya, "I shall give you a sacred name on one condition, when you go for thieving, you
must first recite the sacred name I give you 1008 times." Chaitanya whispered into his ear: "Om Namo
Bhagavathe Vasudevaya".
Transformation even by then had taken place in the thief because of the touch of the holy person. He was
also freed from the sin of his past deeds because of the conversation with Chaitanya. The thief went back a
refined person.
One day many wealthy house-holders had locked their houses and had gone for the darshan of Sri Krishna
Chaitanya. The thief did not want to lose this opportunity to break into a house. He went to the house of the richest man of the town. He broke into the house and entered the room where the iron safe was kept. He opened it and saw valuable gems and jewels of gold. He resolved not to touch anything until he had
finished reciting 1008 times the manthra given to him.
Before he completed the number, the master of the house arrived along with the familiy. The lady of the
house wanted to remove all the jewels she had worn before she left the house and keep them back in the
safe. She saw a stranger lost in the recitation of the sacred manthra "Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya." She thought he must be a great sage who had come to their house to bless them. She called her husband. The thief was lost in his meditation. The entire familiy sat round him with folded hands. They thought he must be a saintly soul like Chaitanya.
The thief opened his eyes after the completion of 1008 times the manthra. He was surprised to find a group of people sitting reverentially before him.
The master of the house asked him, "Oh Sir! May we know who you are and may we request you to honour us by accepting to take food with us today so that we shall be redeemed of our sins."
The thief said to himself: "If the mere recitation of the Lord's name, now and then can bring me such
honour, what greater things cannot happen to me if I sincerely make it my daily habit of reciting the name
continuously. I may certainly win the grace of the Lord." He decided to give up thieving.
He prostrated before the master of the house and his wife and said, "Mother, let me tell you the truth. I
am a thief. Let me go to the forest. I shall spend the rest of my life in the contemplation of God." All were
surprised at his words but were very happy. 
He stayed with them as their guest that night. The news of this event spread fast around in the morning.
As a result, the whole neighbourhood came to see him. They took him in a palanquin round the town and left him in the forest where he wanted to do his tapas. Later, once again, he came to Chaitanya and received his blessings so that he may blossom into a real sage. This is the power of Nama Sankeertan or Chanting the Lord's name

Reflection
The Lord Himself has settled the nature of His worship for every age. Bhakti Marga is Kali Yuga's simplest
and safest way for Realization of soul for all. Though the scriptures relate that there will be a decline in dharma in this Kali era, man can take heart from the fact that it is in this age that the method for
realising God is easy. The code of conduct (dharma) prescribed by the scriptures varies according to the age.
Chanting the Divine name has been mentioned as the best antidote for all the sins of man. Easy to adopt
by anyone it does not have any restriction in the manner, time or place for its recitation. There are
different methods in which the Divine names can be handled, Nama japa, Nama Sankirtana, Bhajana and
recitation of Stotras, being some of the popular methods followed according to one's preference.
While the 1000 names in the Sahasranama were selected and strung together by Bhishma, the name Rama selected by Sage Vasishta for the Lord attests to its importance. It is besides being a name of the Supreme Being, also a mantra capable of delivering man from bondage.
"Nama Japa" means constantly chanting the name of one's beloved God or Guru with respect and devotion to invoke God's blessings and free one from material (worldly) attachments to move towards Spiritual Realization. The Holy name is the Divine medicine to save us from the chronic disease of worldliness. 
The power of Nama Japa is well known to all. In the epilogue to the great Vishnu Sahasra Nama, Parvathi
asks Lord Shiva: How do the wise chant the thousand names in brief? And Lord Shiva responds with the
well-known couplet "Sri Rama Rama Rameti, Rame Raame Man Naryana "Which is your permanent abode?".
To this Sri Vishnu replied "Naham Vasami Vaikunte, Nahi Yogi Hridaye,Yatra Mad Bhakta Gayanthe
Tatra Thistami Narada !" which means "Oh Narada, I am not in Vaikunta, nor in the hearts of yogis, you will feel my presence where my devotees sing my name with love and affection".
When Arjuna asked Lord Krishna, "Oh Lord, how can I perceive when I am engaged in worldly activities?" To this Lord Krishna replied, "Oh Arjuna, you can always do my Namajapam by which you will remain in my pure consciousness". Bhagavad-gita
Meerabai turned ecstatic when she discovered the potency of Rama nama. It was like coming upon a
treasure - " Payoji maine Ram ratan dhan paayo!" This treasure, she says, none can rob, it does not reduce
if you draw from it, in fact, it grows at a compound rate.
It is said "God Realization will not spring out of one's heart, if the seed of the name is not sown in
the proper soil of a saintly and devoted heart, carefully sifted by the process of renunciation, watered by the tears of Love and Repentance and guarded always by good, moral character."
The practice of chanting the Name of God is recommended by all religions. If one believes in God, he must necessarily believe the word of God as well. 
Listening to the glory of God (Sravanam) is also as important as chanting His names. It is important to
coordinate thought with chant. If the mind wanders while lips utter the Name, the exercise is futile.
Let us do the Japa feeling God's presence in everything and everywhere. Let us draw closer and nearer to Him while repeating His name.