Hearing and Chanting the Glories of Lord Viṣṇu
The fundamental practice of the devotional path is to constantly absorb the mind and senses in the infinite greatness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is thoroughly explained by Śrīla Prabhupāda that hearing and chanting the glories of Lord Viṣṇu is the most effective means to purify the heart and escape the cycle of birth and death. The Lord's transcendental activities, names, and forms are absolute, offering boundless mercy to all who sincerely glorify Him.
The Essential Process of Devotion
The foundation of spiritual life is built upon the active engagement of the senses in serving the Absolute Truth. As taught by Śrīla Prabhupāda, the primary and most vital instruction of the devotional process is śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ, or hearing and chanting about the Supreme Lord. When devotees focus their energy exclusively on the glories of Lord Viṣṇu rather than worshiping demigods, they align themselves perfectly with the ultimate goal of the Vedas.
- Bhagavata-vidhi includes preaching work - sravanam kirtanam visnoh (SB 7.5.23) - the hearing and chanting of the glories of Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The pancaratrika-vidhi includes arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-niv.
- Sravanam kirtanam visnoh: one should chant about and glorify Lord Visnu, not any demigod. Unfortunately, there are foolish persons who invent some process of kirtana on the basis of a demigod's name. This is an offense.
- Pariksit Maharaja was listening, and Sukadeva Gosvami was performing kirtana by describing the glories of the Lord. Prthu Maharaja simply worshiped the Lord, and Laksmidevi massaged Visnu's lotus feet.
- One should glorify God in the adoration of santa-rasa or revive his eternal relationship with Visnu as a servant in dasya-rasa, a friend in sakhya-rasa, a parent in vatsalya-rasa or a conjugal lover in madhurya-rasa. All these are on the platform of love.
The Unlimited Greatness of the Lord
The absolute nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead means that His qualities, pastimes, and expansions are completely beyond material calculation. It is repeatedly highlighted by Śrīla Prabhupāda that no one, regardless of their vast lifespan or intellect, can accurately measure the full extent of the Lord's glorious activities. Trying to count the glories of Lord Viṣṇu is compared to the impossible task of counting all the atoms on the earth, establishing Him as the supreme and unequaled master of all existence.
- One who is subject to death cannot measure the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Trivikrama, Lord Visnu, any more than he can count the number of atoms on the entire planet earth. No one, whether born already or destined to take birth, is able to do this.
- Vasistha Muni has given a mantra about Lord Visnu: na te visnor jayamano na jato mahimnah param anantam apa. No one can estimate the extent of the uncommonly glorious activities of Lord Visnu.
- The reciters continued: Dear King, you are a direct incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, and by His causeless mercy you have descended on this earth. Therefore it is not possible for us to actually glorify your exalted activities.
- The visnu-murtis all had eternal, unlimited forms, full of knowledge and bliss and existing beyond the influence of time. Their great glory was not even to be touched by the jnanis engaged in studying the Upanisads - SB 10.13.54.
Glorifying the Supreme Maintainer
Within the cosmic manifestation, the administrative duties of creation, maintenance, and destruction are divided among three principal deities. However, it is carefully clarified by Śrīla Prabhupāda that the role of maintenance belongs exclusively to Lord Viṣṇu, positioning Him as the supreme authority above both Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva. This exalted function of sustaining the entire universe highlights His unparalleled glory and confirms His position as the ultimate shelter for all living beings.
- Sthana: the maintenance of the universe by the Personality of Godhead, Visnu. Visnu's function is more important and His glory greater than Brahma's and Lord Siva's, for although Brahma is the creator and Lord Siva the destroyer, Visnu is the maintainer.
- Garbhodakasayi Visnu is glorified in the Vedas in the hymns of Garbha-stuti, which begin with the description of the Lord as having thousands of heads, etc.
- Garbhodakasayi Visnu, known within the universe as Hiranyagarbha and the antaryami, or Supersoul, is glorified in the Vedic hymns, beginning with the hymn that starts with the word 'sahasra-sirsa'.
- I have thus explained the truth of the first Personality of Godhead, Maha-Visnu. I shall now explain the glories of the second Personality of Godhead.
Purification and Causeless Mercy
The most profound and endearing quality of the Supreme Lord is His absolute compassion toward the fallen, conditioned souls. We learn from the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda that of all the innumerable glories of Lord Viṣṇu, His causeless mercy in delivering entities from the clutches of māyā is the greatest. By sincerely engaging in the glorification of the Lord, even the most sinful individuals are completely purified of their reactions and made eligible to return to the spiritual sky.
- Of all His (Visnu's) glories, the most important is His causeless mercy upon the conditioned souls in reclaiming them from the clutches of maya.
- The Visnudutas made Ajamila aware of devotional service so that He might immediately become fit to return home, back to Godhead. To increase his eagerness to glorify the Lord, they disappeared so that he would feel separation in their absence.
- When the Visnudutas saw Ajamila trying to say something to them, they disappeared to give him a chance to glorify the Supreme Lord. Since all his sinful reactions had been vanquished, he was now prepared to glorify the Lord.
- Sri Maitreya said: After Lord Visnu was glorified by all present, Daksa, his consciousness purified, arranged to begin again the yajna which had been devastated by the followers of Lord Siva.
Conclusion
Hearing and chanting the glories of Lord Viṣṇu is the supreme occupational duty of all living entities. As perfectly demonstrated by Śrīla Prabhupāda, recognizing the unlimited and unmeasurable greatness of the Lord awakens one's dormant spiritual consciousness. By constantly vibrating His holy names and discussing His transcendental activities, the devotee receives the causeless mercy needed to transcend material existence and achieve eternal life in the spiritual kingdom.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Visnu's Glories. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.