Inspiring Prayers from Bhagavata Purana (Reviesd and Enlarged Edition)

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Impersonalists cannot be purified, for they do not offer personal prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even though they sometimes offer prayers, the prayers are not directed toward the Supreme Person. Impersonalists sometimes show their incomplete knowledge by addressing the Lord as beingnameless.

They always offer prayers indirectly, saying, "You are this, You are that," but they do not know to whom they are praying. A devotee, however, always offers personal prayers.

A devotee says, govindam adi-purusam tam aharm bhajami, "I offer my respectful obeisances unto Govinda, unto Krsna." That is the way to offer prayers. If one continues to offer such personal prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is eligible to become a pure devotee and return home, back to Godhead.

Bhagavata Purana also called Srimad-Bhagavatam or simply Bhagavatam, is the famous treatise in Vedic literature. Written by Srila Krsna-dvaipayana Vyasadeva in the most mature stage of his life, this scripture is considered to be the literary incarnation of The Lord. Although it was originally written in Sanskrit but it has been translated in many Indian regional languages. This is a great philosophical and literary treatise and is the foremost among all the Vedic literatures. As compared to other scriptures, Bhdgavata leaves a much greater impact on the readers.

Bhdgavata Purana is a wonderful conversation between Maharaja Pariksit and Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, which is available to everyone. Maharaja Pariksit was cursed by a brahmana boy to die within seven days. On hearing this, Maharaja Pariksit renounced his royal responsi- bilities and decided to search the ultimate goal of life. While he was pre- paring for his imminent death he met the most revered Srila Sukadeva Gosvami and from him he heard Srimad-Bhdgavatam, which is full of the nectar of Krsna’s glories. This sublime conversation between the two great personalities lasted for seven days. During this period Maharaja Pariksit abstained from drinking, eating and even sleeping because the actual goal of human life is to realize Absolute Truth which is none other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna.

Srimad-Bhagavatam covers many issues which are under consider- ation of the scientist’s contemplation and research in the modern time. Bhagavata is the essence of the entire Vedic knowledge and philosophy; or fact, it is the source of all Vedic and Gaudiya literatures. It presents the Vedic knowledge in absolute totality in a most certified and bonafide way and includes everything from self-realization to the origin of uni- verse and encompasses all branches of knowledge. It is described in the simplified form of stories. At the same time, it is also poetic, attractive and magnificent. Bhagavata Purdna is decorated with comprehensively covered details of pastimes of the various incarnations of God and His loving devotees. The prayers offered at the lotus feet of God, with love and devotion, are the crux of these pastimes. Through selective words and verses (Slokas) devotees glorify the greatness of The Lord. By read- ing these one's heart is attracted to Krsna. Lord Krsna is also known by the name ‘Uttama-Sloka’ because glories and prayers are offered to Him to seek His mercy. Srila Prabhupada mentions in his lecture -

"There are so many prayers in the Sastras. So therefore His name is UttamaSloka. These prayers are not composed by some ordinary rascal poet. They are composed by stalwart, great personalities like Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and others like Sata Gosvami, Sukadeva Gosvami and Vyasadeva. Therefore, they are called ustama-sloka, selected and ultimately composed poeury. Hence, Bhagavan’s another name is Uuama-Sloka. He is offered prayers by the great personalities with selected composition of poetry and prayers. So bhagavaty uttama-sloke."

In Vedic scriptures, you shall find numerous prayers and verses, which glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead and demigods who are helping in managing this universe. Most of the spiritual knowledge is provided in the form of these prayers. You can pick prayers from any of the Vedic scriptures; these prayers fulfill many objectives. The glorification of magnificence of God means to offer honor and fame to Him. Fame means "prestige, honor, praise and worship". We know that the glorification of the greatness of God means accepting His position with utmost reverence. Hence glorification of God is a primary and essential attribute of one’s life. Through the medium of Prayers, we can know His supreme wish and empower ourselves by His mercy, only then can we attempt to serve him. Without prayers, it is virtually impossible to attain the desired position for spiritual advancement.

When we think that I am independent and there is no need of God in my life and no need of prayers, then we are under the greatest illusion. Sometimes this illusion is shattered by the unbearable suffering of life or the knowledge of the truth attained through association with pure devotees. When this happens, we realize that ] am an insignificant, fallen and helpless living entity who is toiling for livelihood. We all are very attached to material life and are far from understanding and realizing our fallen state.

Our prayers are usually inspired by the grief and distress of life. According to Bhagavad-gita, even these types of prayers which focus on our happiness and joy rather than on the glorification of The Lord are also accepted by Him. In Bhdgavata, we have an example of Dhruva Mahéraja, who worshipped God to take revenge from his step mother asking for a prosperous and rich kingdom. After very severe meditation, Dhruva Maharaja had the auspicious darsana of The Lord. Then Krsna asked "What do you want?" Dhruva answered, "Now that 1 have had Your darsana, 1 am fully satisfied and now I don’t want anything." This should be the aim of all prayers that we can attain the devotional service of Godhead and there should not be any other desire. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has also endorsed this -

"O Almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor to enjoy beautiful women. Nor do I want any number of followers. What I want only is the causeless mercy of Your devotional service in my life, birth after birth"

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (4.24.76) at the end of a great prayer offered by Lord Siva to Lord Krsna, it is mentioned that "Although it is extremely difficult to serve and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead but mere recitation of these prayers makes one eligible to obtain Lord’s mercy easily." In the purport of this verse Srila Prabhupada writes "A devotee of Krsna can achieve all the perfections merely by offering prayers to Him." A devotee who recites and meditates upon these prayers is sure to go back home back to Godhead. To substantiate this line Srila Prabhupada says-

"Impersonalists cannot be purified, for they do not offer personal prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even though they sometimes offer prayers, the prayers are not directed toward the Supreme Person. Impersonalists sometimes show their incomplete knowledge by addressing the Lord as being nameless. They always offer prayers indirectly, saying, "You are this, You are that," but they do not know to whom they are praying. A devotee, however, always offers personal prayers. A devotee says, govindam ddi-purusarh tam aharn bhajami: "I offer my respectful obeisances unto Govinda, unto Kriina." That is the way to offer prayers. If one continues to offer such personal prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is eligible to become a pure devotee and return home, back to Godhead.