In the vast ocean of devotion, Shravan Bhakti holds a place of great importance, acting as the very foundation upon which all other forms of devotion stand. The term "Shravan" means listening, and Shravan Bhakti is the act of listening to divine knowledge with complete devotion. It is not merely about hearing words, but about absorbing the divine essence of what is being communicated, allowing it to resonate within the heart and soul.
We often hear about God, attend kirtans, discourses, and satsang, but do we truly understand what Shravan Bhakti means? Is it simply sitting in the presence of divine discourse, or is there something more at play? To grasp the essence of Shravan Bhakti, we must delve deeper into its true significance and explore how it serves as a spiritual ladder in our lives.
At its core, Shravan Bhakti is the first step on the path of devotion. It is the act of listening to the glories of the Lord—His divine form, qualities, leelas, and teachings. However, Shravan is not just about hearing with our physical ears; it is about listening with our hearts. It is about allowing the divine words to penetrate our very being, planting the seeds of love and reverence for the Divine.
In our everyday lives, when we are about to meet someone, we have never met before, we first gather information about them—how they look, what they do, their likes and dislikes. This information helps us form a mental image of the person. Similarly, in our spiritual journey, Shravan Bhakti is the gateway to divine love. Before we can worship God or express our devotion, we must first know Him. We must understand His nature, His likes and dislikes, and the path that leads to Him. By listening to the stories of God's divine activities, His teachings, and His miracles, we begin to comprehend His greatness. This understanding ignites the flame of devotion within us, leading us closer to Him.
Listening to the glories of the Lord is the first step in the nine forms of devotion. It marks the beginning of our spiritual awakening. When we are engrossed in worldly life, we are in a deep sleep, unaware of the divine reality. Shravan Bhakti wakes us up to the truth, initiating our journey towards spiritual enlightenment.
One of the greatest examples of Shravan Bhakti is found in the story of Maharaja Parikshit. Maharaj Parikshit, the illustrious grandson of Arjuna and son of Abhimanyu, was destined for greatness even before his birth. During this fierce battle of Kurukshetra, Parikshit lay nestled in the womb of his mother, Uttara, unaware of the cosmic forces at play. As the war drew to a close, Asvatthama, the son of Dronacharya, unleashed the devastating brahmastra weapon, intent on extinguishing the life of the unborn child. But the ever-compassionate Lord Krishna intervened, entering the womb of Uttara to shield Parikshit from certain doom, ensuring the survival of this divine lineage.
In the years that followed, after the Pandavas had ascended to their eternal abode, Maharaj Parikshit ascended to the throne, becoming the ruler of the entire planet. Under his just and benevolent reign, the land flourished. There was no crime, no poverty, no disease—only prosperity and peace.
One fateful day, while hunting in the forest, Maharaj Parikshit grew weary and parched. Seeking refuge, he stumbled upon the hermitage of Sage Shamika, who was deeply engrossed in meditation. Repeatedly, the king requested water, but the sage, lost in his spiritual reverie, remained unresponsive. In a moment of frustration and clouded judgment, the king committed a grave mistake. In his anger, he draped a dead snake over the sage's shoulders, a gesture born of impatience and exhaustion.
This act of disrespect did not go unnoticed. Shringi, the sage's son, upon learning of the incident, was incensed. In his fury, he pronounced a curse upon the king, declaring that within seven days, Parikshit would meet his end through the bite of a snake. When Sage Shamika learned of the curse, he chastised his son, recognizing the grave consequences that would follow.
When Maharaj Parikshit received news of his impending death, he did not waver in fear or seek to alter his fate. Instead, with the faith of a true devotee, he embraced the curse as a divine blessing. He relinquished his royal duties and sought refuge on the banks of the sacred Ganges, where he could immerse himself in spiritual contemplation. Knowing that liberation from the cycle of birth and death could be attained by hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Lord, Parikshit desired the company of saintly devotees who could speak to him of Krishna.
By divine arrangement, many great sages gathered at the Ganges, among them the exalted Sukadev Goswami, the son of Vyasadev. Maharaj Parikshit, with humility and devotion, accepted Sukhdev Goswami as his spiritual master, imploring him to recount the glorious pastimes of the Lord. Pleased by the king's sincerity, Sukadev Goswami began narrating the nectarean stories of Krishna, His various avatars, and His divine exploits, as immortalized in the Srimad Bhagavatam.
For seven days and nights, without rest, Maharaj Parikshit was absorbed in hearing the divine discourse. As the narration unfolded, Parikshit’s mind became entirely fixed on the Lord, transcending all worldly concerns. When the prophesied snake, Takshaka, finally arrived and bit the king, his body was consumed by flames due to the power of the serpent's poison. Yet, in that moment, Parikshit Maharaj attained liberation, his soul ascending back to the Supreme Lord, having perfected his life through the sacred act of hearing the Lord’s glories.
The story of Maharaj Parikshit is a timeless reminder for all of us. By regularly immersing ourselves in the hearing and reading of Lord Krishna’s divine leela and those of his avatars, we too can transcend the material world. Shravan Bhakti is not just about listening; it is a transformative process. The Srimad Bhagavatam emphasizes that listening to the glories of the Lord is a purifying process that cleanses the heart of impurities like lust, anger, greed, and envy. As these negative qualities diminish, the devotee's mind becomes steady in pure goodness, leading to a deeper understanding of the divine.
To truly benefit from Shravan Bhakti, three essential qualities are required: an earnest desire to listen, complete faith in what is being heard, and the willingness to put the teachings into practice. When we listen with devotion, the act of listening itself becomes an act of worship, drawing us closer to the Lord. Regular participation in satsangs, listening to the words of wise sages, and immersing oneself in the teachings of the scriptures are all ways to cultivate Shravan Bhakti. By doing so, we allow the divine words to purify our hearts and guide us on the path of devotion.
Maharaj Parikshit listening to Srimad Bhagavatam from Sri Sukadev Goswami
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