Changes

Archana means worship of the Supreme Being.<ref name=":6" /> The Shiva Purana states that archana or worshipping includes offering of sixteen types of service like Padya, etc. to the Supreme being in accordance with one's capacity.<ref name=":14" /> It says,<blockquote>सदा भृत्यानुकूल्येन विधिना मे परात्मने ।। अर्पणं षोडशानां वै पाद्यादीनां तदर्चनम् ।।२.२.२३.३०।।<ref name=":15" /></blockquote><blockquote>''sadā sevyānukūlyena sevanaṁ taddhi gogaṇaiḥ ।। hr̥dayāmr̥tabhogena priyaṁ dāsyamudāhr̥tam ।।2.2.23.29।।''</blockquote>Further more, 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" /> The Shiva Purana states that archana or worshipping includes offering of sixteen types of service like Padya, etc. to the Supreme being in accordance with one's capacity.<ref name=":14" /> It says,<blockquote>सदा भृत्यानुकूल्येन विधिना मे परात्मने ।। अर्पणं षोडशानां वै पाद्यादीनां तदर्चनम् ।।२.२.२३.३०।।<ref name=":15" /></blockquote><blockquote>''sadā sevyānukūlyena sevanaṁ taddhi gogaṇaiḥ ।। hr̥dayāmr̥tabhogena priyaṁ dāsyamudāhr̥tam ।।2.2.23.29।।''</blockquote>Further more, 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 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" />

Vandana refers to paying obeisance to the Supreme Being.<ref name=":6" /> Explaining Vandana, Shiva Purana says,<blockquote>मन्त्रोच्चारणध्यानाभ्यां मनसा वचसा क्रमात् ।। यदष्टांगेन भूस्पर्शं तद्वै वंदनमुच्यते ।।२.२.२३.३१।।<ref name=":15" /></blockquote><blockquote>''mantroccāraṇadhyānābhyāṁ manasā vacasā kramāt ।। yadaṣṭāṁgena bhūsparśaṁ tadvai vaṁdanamucyate ।।2.2.23.31।।''</blockquote>Meaning: Meditating in the mind, repeating the mantras and touching the ground with eight limbs (ie. offering ashtanga pranama) is called Vandana or saluting.<ref name=":14" />

 

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" />

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.

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.