The Tantric Secret Seed Syllables of the Seven Hundred Verses to Durga

Name is 'speech' vak speech/Word. And whatever exists here is in the form of speech. Speech is the root of name, the essence, the basis of name.¹³

That unmanifest subtle essence was manifested only through name and form—'this is the name and this is the form of this name.'¹⁴

Therefore, the medium to manifest that unmanifest consciousness-self chidatman self of consciousness in oneself, through the reverse order pratiprasava process of involution, is also name and form. The consciousness-self was first expressed in the order of name—'this is the name', then form—'this is the form.' Now, the order to return to it is → form → name → and finally the consciousness-self. Thus, name is greater than form because it is closer to the Self. Form is limited, while name is unlimited.

Tulsi says—

Name and form are the two designations of the Lord,
Ineffable, beginningless, and well-matched.
It is an offense to call one great and the other small;
Let the wise understand this by listening to the distinctions.
Forms are seen to be dependent on names;
There is no knowledge of form without a name.
If you see a specific form without knowing the name,
You cannot recognize it even if it is in your hand.
If you remember the name without seeing the form,
Love arises in the heart with special intensity.

Impersonal and personal are the two forms of the Brahman,
Ineffable, profound, beginningless, and matchless.
In my opinion, the Name is greater than both,
For it brought the world under its own control by its own power.
Both are unreachable, but both are made reachable by the Name;
Therefore, I have called the Name greater than Brahman/Rama.
The Lord of Raghu gave liberation to Shabari, the vulture, and his servants;
The Name has redeemed countless wicked ones, as the Vedas recount.
Rama gathered an army of bears and monkeys,
And labored not a little to build the bridge.
But by simply taking the Name, the ocean of existence dries up;
Wise men, reflect upon this in your hearts.¹⁵

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13. "Speech is greater than name; speech makes the Rigveda known..." Chandogya 7/2/1.

** "Name is the Rigveda, Yajurveda..." Ibid 7/1/4.

14. "This was then unmanifest. It became manifest through name and form; 'this is the name, this is the form'." Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Chapter-1, Brahmana-4, Mantra-7.

15. Ramcharitmanas (Balkand).