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| Archana means worship of the Supreme Being.<ref name=":6" /> Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita says that whatsoever form a devotee desires to worship with belief, He makes that belief firm and unflinching. He also asserts that whoever offers Him with devotion and a pure mind (heart), a leaf, a flower, a fruit or even a little water, that He accepts as offering.<ref name=":7">Swami Sivananda (2000), [https://holybooks-lichtenbergpress.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/BHAGAVAD-GITA-By-SRI-SWAMI-SIVANANDA.pdf Bhagavad Gita], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref><blockquote>यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति । तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम् ॥७.२१॥<ref name=":3">Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Chapter 7 (Jnana Vijnana Yoga)]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति । तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ॥९.२६॥<ref name=":5">Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Chapter 9 (Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga)]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''yo yo yāṁ yāṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ śraddhayārcitumicchati । tasya tasyācalāṁ śraddhāṁ tāmeva vidadhāmyaham ॥7.21॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati । tadahaṁ bhaktyupahr̥tamaśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ ॥9.26॥''</blockquote> | | Archana means worship of the Supreme Being.<ref name=":6" /> Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita says that whatsoever form a devotee desires to worship with belief, He makes that belief firm and unflinching. He also asserts that whoever offers Him with devotion and a pure mind (heart), a leaf, a flower, a fruit or even a little water, that He accepts as offering.<ref name=":7">Swami Sivananda (2000), [https://holybooks-lichtenbergpress.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/BHAGAVAD-GITA-By-SRI-SWAMI-SIVANANDA.pdf Bhagavad Gita], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref><blockquote>यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति । तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम् ॥७.२१॥<ref name=":3">Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Chapter 7 (Jnana Vijnana Yoga)]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति । तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ॥९.२६॥<ref name=":5">Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Chapter 9 (Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga)]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''yo yo yāṁ yāṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ śraddhayārcitumicchati । tasya tasyācalāṁ śraddhāṁ tāmeva vidadhāmyaham ॥7.21॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati । tadahaṁ bhaktyupahr̥tamaśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ ॥9.26॥''</blockquote> |
| === वन्दनम् ॥ Vandana === | | === वन्दनम् ॥ Vandana === |
− | Vandana refers to paying obeisance to the Supreme Being.<ref name=":6" /> There are many examples of devotees who practiced Bhakti through Vandana anf were variously blessed by the Supreme. <blockquote>चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन । आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ ॥७.१६॥</blockquote><blockquote>तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त एकभक्तिर्विशिष्यते । प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः ॥७.१७॥<ref name=":3" /></blockquote><blockquote>''caturvidhā bhajante māṁ janāḥ sukr̥tino'rjuna । ārto jijñāsurarthārthī jñānī ca bharatarṣabha ॥7.16॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''teṣāṁ jñānī nityayukta ekabhaktirviśiṣyate । priyo hi jñānino'tyarthamahaṁ sa ca mama priyaḥ ॥7.17॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Four kinds of virtuous men worship Me, O Arjuna ! They are the distressed, the seeker of knowledge, the seeker of wealth and the wise, O lord of the Bharatas ! | + | Vandana refers to paying obeisance to the Supreme Being.<ref name=":6" /> There are many examples of devotees who practiced Bhakti through Vandana and were abundantly blessed by the Supreme. The Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 10, Adhyaya 40) describes how Akrura was blessed with the divine vision of Shri Krishna and Balarama as Vishnu and Adi Shesha on the banks of the river Yamuna as he descended into the waters to perform his regular obeisance. As Akrura bowed down to them, overwhelmed with intense devotion and tears of joy, there was an outpouring of Bhagavad stuti. The concluding verse of Akrura's salutations to Vasudeva is as follows.<ref name=":2" /> <blockquote>नमस्ते वासुदेवाय सर्वभूतक्षयाय च । हृषीकेश नमस्तुभ्यं प्रपन्नं पाहि मां प्रभो ॥ १०.४०.३० ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AA%E0%A5%A6 Adhyaya 40]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''namaste vāsudevāya sarvabhūtakṣayāya ca । hr̥ṣīkeśa namastubhyaṁ prapannaṁ pāhi māṁ prabho ॥ 10.40.30 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Salutations to Bhagavan Vasudeva, the refuge of all beings. Oh Hrshikesha ! I bow down to you. Oh Prabhu ! Be pleased to protect me who has approached your feet.<ref name=":2" /> |
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− | Of them, the wise, ever steadfast and devoted to the One, excels (is the best); for, I am exceedingly dear to the wise and he is dear to Me.<ref name=":7" />
| + | Another example of a Bhakta who was firmly resolved in the practice of Bhagavad Vandana was Kunti. It is well-known that Shri Krishna saved the fetus in the womb of Abhimanyu's wife Uttara from the Brahmastra released by Ashvatthama. It is said that the Brahmastra that is irresistible and uncounteractable became inactive when it came in contact with the lustre of Vishnu. At that very moment, Kunti who was also saved along with Draupadi and the Pandavas from the Brahmastra paid obeisance to Shri Krishna as follows:<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>नमस्ये पुरुषं त्वाऽऽद्यं ईश्वरं प्रकृतेः परम् । अलक्ष्यं सर्वभूतानां अन्तर्बहिरवस्थितम् ॥ १.८.१८ ॥<ref name=":4">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AE Adhyaya 8]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''namasye puruṣaṁ tvā<nowiki>''</nowiki>dyaṁ īśvaraṁ prakr̥teḥ param । alakṣyaṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ antarbahiravasthitam ॥ 1.8.18 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: I bow down to you the foremost Purusha (the cause of world), the Lord (of the universe), who is beyond Prakrti, imperceptible yet pervading all beings from within and without. |
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− | Akrura was blessed with the divine vision of Shri Krishna and Balarama as Vishnu and Adi Shesha on the banks of the river Yamuna as he descended into the waters to perform his regular obeisance. Overwhelmed with intense devotion and with tears of joy, he bowed down to them and began Bhagavad stuti that concludes with the following salutations to Vasudeva.<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>नमस्ते वासुदेवाय सर्वभूतक्षयाय च । हृषीकेश नमस्तुभ्यं प्रपन्नं पाहि मां प्रभो ॥ १०.४०.३० ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AA%E0%A5%A6 Adhyaya 40]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''namaste vāsudevāya sarvabhūtakṣayāya ca । hr̥ṣīkeśa namastubhyaṁ prapannaṁ pāhi māṁ prabho ॥ 30 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Salutations to Lord Vasudeva, the asylum of all beings. Oh Lord of sense-organs ! I bow down to you. Oh Lord ! Be pleased to protect me who have approached your feet.<ref name=":2" />
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− | It is well-known that Shri Krishna saved the foetus in the womb of Abhimanyu's wife Uttara from the Brahmastra sent by Ashvatthama. It is said that the Brahmastra that is irresistible and uncounteractable became quiescent when it came in contact with the lustre of Vishnu. At that very moment Kunti who was also saved along with Draupadi and the Pandavas paid obeisance to Shri Krishna as follows: <blockquote>नमस्ये पुरुषं त्वाऽऽद्यं ईश्वरं प्रकृतेः परम् । अलक्ष्यं सर्वभूतानां अन्तर्बहिरवस्थितम् ॥ १.८.१८ ॥<ref name=":4">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AE Adhyaya 8]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''namasye puruṣaṁ tvā<nowiki>''</nowiki>dyaṁ īśvaraṁ prakr̥teḥ param । alakṣyaṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ antarbahiravasthitam ॥ 18 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: I bow down to you the First (the cause of world) Man, the Lord (of the universe), beyond Prakrti, imperceptible yet pervading all beings from within and without.<ref name=":1" /> | |
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− | In fact, so strong was her belief and devotion in Krishna that she says,
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− | यथा हृषीकेश खलेन देवकी कंसेन रुद्धातिचिरं शुचार्पिता । विमोचिताहं च सहात्मजा विभो त्वयैव नाथेन मुहुर्विपद्गणात् ॥ २३ ॥
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− | विषान्महाग्नेः पुरुषाददर्शनाद् असत्सभाया वनवासकृच्छ्रतः । मृधे मृधेऽनेकमहारथास्त्रतो द्रौण्यस्त्रतश्चास्म हरेऽभिरक्षिताः ॥ २४ ॥
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− | विपदः सन्तु ताः शश्वत् तत्र तत्र जगद्गुरो । भवतो दर्शनं यत्स्याद् अपुनर्भवदर्शनम् ॥ १.८.२५ ॥<ref name=":4" /><blockquote>''vipadaḥ santu tāḥ śaśvat tatra tatra jagadguro । bhavato darśanaṁ yatsyād apunarbhavadarśanam ॥ 25 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning:
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− | Oh Hrshikesha ! Just as your sorrow-stricken (mother) Devaki who was incarcerated for a very long time by Kamsa, was released by you, so also I along with my sons, was often saved in a number of difficulties by you alone as my protector.
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− | Oh Hari, we have been completely protected by you from poison, from the great fire, from the sight of cannibalistic demons, in the assembly of the wicked, from the danger of forest-dwelling, from the missiles of great warriors in every battle and the missile of the son of Drona (Ashvatthaman)
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− | Oh Master of the Universe ! May there always be calamity at every step (if in every such calamity we are blest with) your sight which relieves people from the cycle of re-births.<ref name=":1" />
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| + | In fact, so strong was her belief and devotion in Krishna that she prayed to be blessed with calamity at every step of life, always, so that she is blessed with the darshan of the Supreme, who has always been prompt in coming to the rescue of his devotees at very step, and thereby, get released from the cycle of rebirths.<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>विपदः सन्तु ताः शश्वत् तत्र तत्र जगद्गुरो । भवतो दर्शनं यत्स्याद् अपुनर्भवदर्शनम् ॥ १.८.२५ ॥<ref name=":4" /></blockquote><blockquote>''vipadaḥ santu tāḥ śaśvat tatra tatra jagadguro । bhavato darśanaṁ yatsyād apunarbhavadarśanam ॥ 1.8.25 ॥''</blockquote> |
| === दास्यम् ॥ Dasya === | | === दास्यम् ॥ Dasya === |
| Dasyam refers to the intent of dedicating all of one's actions to him. | | Dasyam refers to the intent of dedicating all of one's actions to him. |