The sixth form of devotion in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is Vandanam, an act of reverence and prayer that draws the heart closer to the Supreme. It is a devotional form where the worshipper humbly bows before the Lord, offering their whole being in complete surrender.
Among the most beautiful examples of Vandanam is Akrura, whose heart overflowed with devotion upon arriving in Vrindavan to meet Sri Krishna. This moment captures the essence of reverence and longing that Vandanam embodies. When Akrura entered the sacred land of Vrindavan, his heart could no longer contain the flood of emotions that surged within him. The mere thought of beholding Krishna filled him with such intense joy that his hair stood on end, and tears flowed from his eyes, unable to be held back. In his ecstasy, Akrura leaped from his chariot, throwing himself upon the ground, rolling in the dust of Vrindavan. "Oh, this is the very earth touched by the feet of my beloved Lord!" he cried, overwhelmed by the holiness of the place. As he continued on his way, his eyes fell upon Krishna, gracefully milking the cows. The sight of the Lord’s radiant form, so simple yet divine, overwhelmed Akrura beyond words. Overcome with awe, he rushed forward and prostrated at Krishna's feet, his body trembling with devotion. Sensing the deep emotions within His devotee, Krishna gently lifted Akrura, drawing him close to His heart, and embraced him with the love only the Lord can offer. In that moment, Akrura’s devotion was met with the tender grace of the Lord, a meeting of two hearts bound in pure, divine love.
namas te vāsudevāya sarva-bhūta-kṣayāya ca
hṛṣīkeśa namas tubhyaṁ prapannaṁ pāhi māṁ prabho
(Srimad Bhagavatam 10.40.30)
"O son of Vasudeva [Krishna], obeisance to You, within whom all living beings reside. O Supreme of the mind and senses, again I offer You my obeisance. O master, please protect me, who has surrendered unto You."
Akrura’s devotion demonstrates how Vandanam can lead to transcendence, as he fully immersed himself in the ecstasy of devotion.
"Chaturvidha bhajante maam janah sukritino’rjuna
Aarto jijnaasurartharthee jnaanee cha bharatarshabha
Teshaam jnaanee nityayukta eka bhaktirvishishyate
Priyo hi jnaanino’tyarthamaham sa cha mama priyah"
(Bhagavad Gita 7.16-7.17)
"Four kinds of virtuous men worship Me, O Arjuna: the distressed, the seekers of knowledge, the seekers of wealth, and the wise. Among them, the wise who are always engaged in devotion are the best, for I am exceedingly dear to them, and they are dear to Me."
Here, Krishna reminds us that even those who come to Him in times of need are blessed. Yet, the wise—those who approach Him with unwavering love and reverence—are the ones closest to His heart. Through sincere prayers, as demonstrated by Akrura and many others, the devotee can realize the Supreme.
Another shining example of Vandanam is Queen Kunti. In the Mahabharata, despite her endless suffering, Queen Kunti remained devoted to Krishna. At the end of the Mahabharatha War between Kauravas and Pandavas, When the entire Kaurava army had perished, Aswathama, the son of Guru Drona sent the Brahmastra to kill all the Pandavas. He aimed his asthra at the unborn child of Abhimanyu. Lord Krishna then entered the womb of Uttara, the wife of Abhimanyu and saved her child. Thus, the clan of Pandavas was saved. At this juncture Kunti the mother of the Pandavas addresses this prayer to Lord Krishna. Her prayer, after the Kurukshetra war, is one of the most sincere expressions of surrender:
namasye puruṣaṁ tvādyam īśvaraṁ prakṛteḥ param
alakṣyaṁ sarva-bhūtānām antar bahir avasthitam
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.18)
"O Krishna, I offer my obeisance unto You because You are the original personality and are unaffected by the qualities of the material world. You exist within and beyond everything, yet You are invisible to all."
Kunti even prayed for more suffering, believing that hardships would bring her closer to Krishna, saying, “Let our sufferings come again, for when we see them, we see You.”
Vipadha santhu nasashwathathra thathra jagat guro,
Bhavatho darsanam yathsyadha punarbhava darsanam
“Oh teacher of the universe , let these calamities occur frequently, For we are blessed with meeting with you which eliminates the sorrows, Of this life with its ever occurring cycles of births and deaths.”
Vandanam is not limited to humans. The story of Gajendra, the king of elephants, highlights how even animals can attain the Supreme through sincere prayer. As Gajendra was caught by a crocodile, he realized that no worldly power could save him. With deep faith, he offered a heartfelt prayer to the Lord, and Krishna came to his rescue, granting him liberation.
Vandanam teaches us that prayer is not merely a collection of words—it is the language of the heart. Whether it’s Akrura’s tears of joy, Kunti’s surrender, or Gajendra’s cry for help, true prayer transcends speech. Its beauty lies in its sincerity, for the Supreme listens not to the words, but to the soul’s deepest yearnings.
In Vandanam, the devotee bows physically and spiritually, offering their entire being in devotion. It is the act of laying oneself down before the Divine, humbled and grateful for the opportunity to be in His presence. As we bow in Vandanam, we are reminded that through surrender, we touch the feet of the Infinite.
Mathura Bijaya - Akrura taking Krishna and Balaram to Mathura
Beautiful 🙏