Hare Krishna.
PAHMO.
Among the 9 process of devotional Service
(1) hearing about the Lord,
(2) chanting His glories,
(3) remembering Him,
(4) serving and meditating upon His lotus feet,
(5) worshiping Him,
(6) praying to Him,
(7) thinking oneself His eternal servant,
(8) becoming His friend, and
(9) surrendering everything to Him.
Surrendering unto the LORD is the extreme and ultimate quality and it the best process of Bhakti..
1. Is it correct?
2. Among these 9 processes which process is the best?
3. Can we compare one process with the other and say one process is better than the other?
4. Is it so, that each process is the best on its way and if anyone follows any one of the processes (not necessarily all), is eligible for liberation. As below
1. HEARING (sravanam)
Maharaja Pariksit(the last seven days of his life, he constantly heard the Srimad Bhagavatam).
2. CHANTING (kirtanam)
Sukadeva Goswami(spoke the Bhagavatam to Maharaja Pariksit)
3. REMEMBERING( visnu smaranam)
Prahlada Maharaja(never forgot Krsna despite constant tortures from his father- Hiranyakashipu)
4. SERVING THE LORD'S LOTUS FEET (pada sevanam)
Laxmi, the Goddess of Fortune, is always engaged in serving the lotus feet of the Lord.
5. DEITY-WORSHIP (arcanam)
Maharaja Prthu used all of his royal possessions in order to offer them in pure devotion to the Lord.
6.PRAYING (vandanam)
Akura offered prayers to Krsna when he was traveling to Vrndavana in order to see Krsna.
7. EXECUTING ORDERS (dasyam)
Hanuman, the intimate servant of Ramacandra executed all of Sri Ramacandra's orders despite all kinds of difficulties.
8. SERVING AS A FRIEND (sakhyam)
Arjuna was so close to Krsna, that the Lord offered Himself to become his chariot driver and serve Arjuna and his brothers in various ways.
9. COMPLETE SURRENDER (atma nivedanam)
Bali Maharaja gave Sri Vamanadeva his entire kingdom, his possessions as well as his own body, although his own spiritual master was against it.
It appeared hard to understand for me, Can some prabhuji or mataji highlight the above clarification..
Hari Bol!!
Replies
Hare Krishna,AGTSP
Below are some quotations from sastras stating our only Yuga Dharma.. Harinaam Sankirtan
kalim sabhajayanty arya
guna jnah sara-bhaginah
yatra sankirtanenaiva
sarva-svartho ’bhilabhyate
"Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the essential value of this age of Kali. Such enlightened persons worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age all perfection of life can easily be achieved by the performance of sankirtana."
(Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.36)
kaler dosa-nidhe rajann
asti hy eko mahan gunah
kirtanad eva krsnasya
mukta-sangah param vrajet
krte yad dhyayato visnum
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam
kalau tad dhari-kirtanat
"The most important factor in this Age of Kali, which is an ocean of faults, is that one can be free from all contamination and become eligible to enter the kingdom of God simply by chanting the holy names. The self-realization that was achieved in the Satya millennium by meditation, in the Treta millennium by the performance of different sacrifices, and in the Dvapara millennium by worship of Lord Krsna can be achieved in the Age of Kali simply by chanting the holy names." (Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.51-2)
dhyayan krte yajan yajnais-
tretayam dvapare rcayan
yadapnoti tadapnoti
kalau samkirtaya kesavam
"The supreme goal which was attained in Satya-yuga by years of prolonged meditation; in Treta-yuga by performing extensive yajnas; in Dvapara-yuga by opulent and scrupulous Deity worship; in Kali-yuga the same results are easily had simply by the chanting of the holy name." (Visnu Purana)
harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
"In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting of the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way." (Brhad Naradiya Purana)
harinama para ye ca
ghore kali-yuge narah
te eva krtakrtyasca
na kalir badhate hi tan
hare kesava govinda
vasudeva jaganmaya
itirayanti ye nityam
na hi tam badhate kalih
"In this dark age of Kali-yuga, sincere devotees of the Supreme Lord should leave aside all other means for liberation and take full shelter of the holy name. This is their real responsibility and duty. There is unlimited bliss in chanting the different names of Krsna: Hari, Kesava, Govinda, Vasudeva and Jaganmaya. For one who chants constantly with unflinching faith, he remains unaffected by the reverses of Kali-yuga, because his heart has become purified by chanting." (Brhan-naradiya Purana)
hari-nama-para ye ca
hari-kirtana tat parah
hari-puja-para ye ca
te krtarthah kalau-yuge
"Those who engage in chanting the holy name of Lord Hari (japa), are addicted to congregational chanting (kirtana) and engage in the worship of Lord Hari, have accomplished their desires in the age of Kali." (Brhan-naradiya Purana)
dhyayan krte yajan yajnais
tretayam dvapare ’rcayan
yad apnoti tad apnoti
kalau sankirtya kesavam
"Whatever is achieved in Satya-yuga by meditation, in Treta by offering ritual sacrifices and in Dvapara by temple worship is achieved in Kali-yuga by chanting the names of Lord Kesava congregationally." (Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda 42nd Chapter)
satyam kaliyuga vipra
sri harer nama mangalam
param svastyayanam nrnam
nasty-eva gatir anyatha
"Oh brahmana, chanting of the holy name is the auspicious process in Kali Yuga. It is the highest auspiciousness for mankind. There is no other way." (Padma Purana)
krsna krsneti krsneti
svapan jagrad vrajamstatha
yo jalpati kalau nityam
krsna-rupi bhaveddhi sah
"Whoever continuously chants Lord Krsna's holy name, even in his sleep, can easily realise that the name is a direct manifestation of Krsna Himself, in spite of the influences of Kali-yuga. This has been ordained by Lord Krsna. (Varaha Purana)
kali-kala kusarpasya
tiksna-damstrasya ma bhayam
govinda-nama-danena
dagdho yasyati bhasmatam
"I see that Kali-yuga is like a black, poisonous snake with a gaping mouth and fangs. But please be unperturbed dear devotees and listen with faith. Once the holy name of the Lord is being chanted, it is like igniting a forest fire which will burn to ashes the poisonous snakes within the forest. (Skanda Purana)
mahabhagavata nityam
kalau smakirtaya kesavam
"The hallmark of a mahabhagavata the most elevated devotee in Kali-yuga is that he chants the holy name of the Lord constantly. (Skanda Purana)
varjams-tisthan svapannasnan
svasan vakya-prapurane
nama-samkirtanam visnor-
helaya kali-vardhanam
krtva svarupatam yati
bhakti-yuktam param vrajet
"In our normal activities of eating, sleeping, sitting, dreaming, etc. to chant Krsna's names, while nullify the ill effects of Kali-yuga, is the perfection of speech. Even it a person chants Krsna's names indifferently, he will surely achieve his svarupa,or original spiritual self and attain that state beyond all material fear and lamentation. He will reach Vaikuntha, the supreme goal. (Linga Purana)
hare krsna hare krsna
krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama
rama rama hare hare
iti sodasakam namnam
kali-kalmasa-nasanam
natah parataropayah
sarva-vedesu drsyate
"After searching through all the Vedic literature one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krsna." (Kali Santarana Upanisad)
And finally, Madhva himself, quoting Narayana Samhita, in his Mundakopanisad Bhasya says
dvapariyair janair visnuh
pancaratrais tu kevalam
kalau tu nama-matrena
pujyate bhagavan harih
"In the Dvapara-yuga people should worship Lord Visnu only by the regulative principles of the pancaratra and other such authorized books. In the Age of Kali, however, people should only chant the holy names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
Hare Krishna Prabhuji, dandavat,
Some quotes certifying importance of Kirtan are given:
भगवान चैतन्य महाप्रभु : कृष्ण के पवित्र नाम के कीर्तन मात्र से मनुष्य को भौतिक संसार से छुटकारा मिल सकता है | इस कलियुग में भगवन्नाम के कीर्तन से बढकर अन्य कोई धर्म नहीं है | कलियुग में अर्थात कलह तथा पाखंड के इस युग में उद्धार (मोक्ष ) के लिए, भगवान श्री कृष्ण के पवित्र नाम के जाप के अलावा कोई और उपाय नहीं है, नहीं है, नहीं है (CC.आदि लीला 7.73, 74 & 76) | कीर्तनीय: सदा हरि: अर्थात भगवान कृष्ण के नाम का सदा कीर्तन करो |
भगवन्नाम का कीर्तन बड़े से बड़े पापो के फलों को भी उन्मूलित करने में सक्षम है (SB.6.3.31) | जिस प्रकार अग्नि सूखी घास को जलाकर राख कर देती है, उसी प्रकार भगवान के पवित्र नाम का जप चाहे जान कर या अनजाने में किया जाता है, यह व्यक्ति के पाप कर्मों के सभी फलों को जलाकर राख कर देता है (SB.6.2.18) | भगवान के पवित्र नाम का संकीर्तन इतना शक्तिशाली है कि इससे गृहस्थ भी उसी चरम फल को सरलता से प्राप्त कर लेते हैं, जो सन्यासियों को प्राप्त होता है (SB.7.15.74) |
यधपि कलियुग दोषों का सागर है फिर भी इस युग में एक अच्छा गुण है | केवल हरे कृष्ण महामंत्र का कीर्तन करने से मनुष्य भवबंधन से मुक्त हो जाता है और दिव्य धाम को प्राप्त होता है (SB.12.3.51) | तुलसीदास जी ने रामचरितमानस में लिखा है: “कलियुग केवल नाम आधारा, जपत (सुमिर) जपत (सुमिर) नर उतरही पारा” | जो लोग सचमुच ज्ञानी हैं, वे इस कलियुग के असली महत्व को समझ सकते हैं | ऐसे प्रबुद्ध लोग कलियुग की पूजा करते हैं, क्योकिं इस पतित युग में जीवन की सम्पूर्ण सिद्धि संकीर्तन सम्पन्न करके आसानी से प्राप्त की जा सकती है (SB.11.5.36) |
हरे कृष्णा
Hare Krishna Pr,
All are mutually inter-dependent on each other but of all REMEMBERING is the best & ultimately all activities combine into remembrance.
Thank you for your quick reply.
Hare Krsna,
Thank you for your answer.. But my point is , Is it like the ladder(stages) or the process of devotional service.
Then what about the stages (Ladder, gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Krsna consciousness).
1. sraddha: faith
2. sadhu-sanga: association with devotees
3. bhajana-kriya: performance of devotional service
4. anartha nivrtti: decreasing of unwanted attachments
5. nistha: steadiness
6. ruci: taste
7. asakti: attachment
8. bhava: love
9. prema: pure love for Krsna
My question is like "Which one is better, Hearing or Chanting" ?
Hari Bol..