|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 306 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  157

Nimi Navayogi Samvadham

The practice of devotion and worship of the Supreme Lord as Upasana Moorthi is to elevate the soul from the worldly matter and bondage.   The Supreme Lord has incarnated on the Earth to elevate the souls and destroy the wickedness and deceitfulness.  The worship of the supreme Lord and performance of related spiritual and religious rites should not be a medium to fulfill one’s own material desire; it should be a means to attain serenity of the mind.  Therefore, any spiritual and religious rites should not be performed aiming for material welfare, people and wealth which have impermanent nature.  The mind and intellect have immense potential to rise to the extreme heights of spirituality, the state where there is no sorrows, agonies, pain, and miseries.  Therefore the spiritual practice is not to attain any material well being, it is for the spiritual elevation of the souls with the constant practice of meditation.

King Nimi speaks “ Oh!Bhramin, Oh! Athmaviththama, how could we attain the serenity of the mind? How did we conduct meditation upon supreme Lord Hari?”

Chamasa speaks “Oh! Rajan, Anekagratha/ lack of undivided attention is the state of mind full of a cluster of thoughts, causes an inability to concentrate on a specified object.  There are four Yugas, Kritha/Sathya Yuga, Thretha Yuga, Dwapara and Kali Yuga.  During Krita/Sathya Yuga, the mind and intellect had intense capabilities to conduct meditation.  In the Thretha Yuga, the three qualities are known as Sathva, Rajasik, and Thamasik, started to expose, the Sathvik nature has lessened and Rajasik nature has increased, therefore the worship of the supreme Lord conducted in the form of fire sacrifices.   All the available ingredients were offered in the Agni with utmost dedication and devotion followed with Vedic chants, and accepted all those merits as the grace of the Supreme Lord.  In the Dwapara Yuga, the worship of deities as an idol, Goseva, Booseva/Upasana was predominant.  In this Kali era, humans became lethargic and lazy, experienced lack of memory and extreme fear and anxieties, that can be retreated only with the reading or listening to the glorious myths of supreme Lord or singing in praise of him/Harikatha and Acchyutha Keerthanam, more importantly the women and Shudras should be included in this deed with great humility to elevate their souls.”

Nimi speaks “ Oh! Bhramin, how did we practice the constant remembrance of the Supreme Lord?”

Namasthe  Vasudevaya  Nama: Sankarshanaya Cha | Pradhyumnayanirudhdhaya Thubhyam Bhagavathe Nama: || Narayanaya  Rishaye  Purushaya Mahathmane | Vishweshwaraya  Vishwaya  Sarvabhoothathmane Nama: ||

Karabhajana speaks “Oh! Rajan, if the mind is restless due to the cluster of thoughts, the remembrance of the practice of sacred names of the Supreme Lord would bring the serenity of the mind.  I shall prostrate before the lotus feet of Mahapurusha who incarnated as Lord Krishna and Rama, he is serene and pleasant, he is worshiped by Lord Bhrama and Lord Shiva, and the sacred rivers, he is venerated by the distressed and desolate people, he took great care of the people of Vraja and elevated the souls soaked in the material matters and bondage of worldly existence.  I shall prostrate before the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Rama who sacrificed the wealth, Kingdom and his beloved people and sincerely followed the order his father, undertook strict austerities, and conducted penance in the woods, chased the Mayamrigam/golden deer at the request of his consort to perform a Mahathkarma/superior deed.  The constant remembrance of his sacred names and his various incarnations would bring all the auspiciousness to the worshiper.  It would remove the restlessness and anxieties, and provide serenity to the mind.  Oh! Rajan, in this Kali era, the contemplation upon supreme Lord Narayana and singing in praise of him and reading his glorious myth, are the supreme method to elevate the soul.”

Dhyeyam Sadha  Paribhavaghnam Abheeshtadhoham | Theerthaspadham Shiva Virinchinutham Sharanyam | Bhrithyarthiham Pranathapala Bhavabdhipotham | Vandhe Mahapurusha They Charanaravindham || Thyaktha Sudhusthyajasurepsitha Rajyalakshmim | Dharmishta Aryavachasa Yadhagadharanyam| Mayamrigam Dhayithayepsithamanvadhavadhvandhe | Mahapurushatha They Charanaravindham ||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 305 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  156

Nimi Navayogi Samvadham

Omithyadheshamadhaya  Nathva  Tham Suravandhina: | Urvashim Apsara: Shreshtam Puraskrithya Dhivam Yayu: || Indhrayanamya Sadhashi  Shrunvatham Thridhivaukasam | Uchur Narayanabalam Shakrasthrasa Vismitha: ||

King Nimi speaks “ Oh! Bhramin, which incarnation of the Supreme Lord should be contemplated?”

Navayogi Drumila speaks “ Oh! Rajan, there are countless incarnations of the supreme Lord.  You can even count the number of sands on the Earth, but it is impossible to count the incarnations of the Supreme Lord.  The whole Universe and its living beings are initiated from the supreme Lord Adi Narayana, therefore he is addressed as ‘Vishwam’, he represents the Universe and its living beings, and he is all-pervasive.  Oh! Rajan,  The son of Bhrama, Dhakshaprajapathi had a daughter Dharma who married Moorthi, this couple had two male children Nara and Narayana.  These children undertook extreme penance in the woods of berry,/Badarikashram, they have attained a higher a state of spirituality, eventually, they have qualified for the title of the throne of Indra.   Lord Indra who was watching the penance of Nara and Narayana, besieged with an extreme anxiety of insecurity of his throne.  Soon, he assigned a group of celestial Apsaras and Gandharvas under the leadership of Kamadeva, to create an obstacle to the penance of Nara Narayana.  They have arrived in Badrikashram, built a hermitage and started living here, they have made all efforts to create impediments to the penance of Nara Narayana was failed miserably.  The celestial Apsaras and Gandharva felt guilty of their mischievous acts to Nara Narayana, they disliked the idea of Lord Indra to create an obstacle for the sincere penance of great Rishis.  They approached Rishis and begged forgiveness was received with great respect.  The celestials were surprised to watch the humility and simplicity of the Rishis, further, they were alarmed about the thought of they may get cursed for their unruly behavior, was pacified by the Rishis.  The celestials were received by the stunningly beautiful women in the hermitage and served with sumptuous meals.  The celestials prostrated before the Rishis and spoke “ Oh! Mahathma kindly forgives our mischievous deeds, it was Lord Indra prompted to do this. Lord Indra is insecure about his throne; you have excelled that position with your extreme penance.” The Rishi Narayana caressed his thigh’ and pronounced ‘Om Ithi’, suddenly a most beautiful Apsara  Urvashi appeared before them.   Thus Rishi Nara and Narayana send the Apsara Urvashi as a gift to Indra with the celestials to the abode of Indra.”

Drumila continues “ Oh! Rajan, the celestials returned to the abode of Lord Indra and explained all that happened in the hermitage of Nara Narayana Rishis.  Lord Indra got alarmed, was comforted by the celestials and presented the celestial Apsara Urvashi on behalf of the Rishis. Lord Indra was amazed to watch the stunningly beautiful celestial Apsara Urvashi, raised from the throne with the mouth wide open, thus he realized the immense Thapobalam/power of penance of Narayana Rishi.  There are several incarnations of supreme Lord, for the elevation of the soul from the worldly matters and bondage.  The Supreme Lord incarnated as Hamsaroopa/preceptor Dhaththathreya,  and Rishabha to elevate the souls with the supreme knowledge of ‘self’, Mathsya to protect the Veda, Kurma for churning the milky ocean for the nectar of immortality, Varaha elevated Goddess Earth from the bottom of the ocean, Nrisimha to protect his ardent devotee Prahladha, Vamana to crush the pride of Bali, Barghava Rama to destroy the wicked Kshatriyas on the Earth, Seethapathi Rama to elevate the souls, Krishna who incarnated to reduce the burden of Earth.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 304 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  155

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King Nimi speaks “Oh! Bhramin, kindly narrates how did Karmayoga help to get rid of the cluster of thoughts”

Navayogi Avirhothra speaks “ Oh! Rajan, the Karmayoga is the sincere performance of daily rites without expecting its fruitful results and surrendering the entire results to the supreme Lord.   Akarma is non-performance of daily rites, due to the lack of time or belief which multiplies the interest in worldly matters and bondages, eventually causes rebirths.  The Vikarma is the performance of unwarranted rites and non-performance of the daily rites, which accumulates sins and forces the Jeeva to hurl in the cycles of birth and death.  Oh! Rajan, even the intellectuals have no clear cut idea about it, therefore it remains unknown to all. "

Avirhothra continues "The Veda is Paroksha Shastra, describes how to keep the mind and intellect of the human engaged to various rites, in order to distract the souls from unwanted thoughts and channelize the mind to the path of Moksha.   The Veda instructs the individuals to keep engaged in various rites, in order to get relieved from the cluster of thoughts, eventually attain the path of Moksha, and the Phalashruthi has given to persuade the individuals to perform the rite and elevate their soul.  Whoever does not follow the prescribed rites in the Veda would take several births, due to their inability to keep the mind free from unwanted thoughts.  The Yathishwaras are thoroughly aware about it, they do not get attached to Karma or people or wealth, and elevate their souls; they attain the supreme bliss with the constant practice of renunciation/abandonment.  Oh! Rajan, the practice of contemplating on any of the incarnations the supreme Lord, and performance of rites is called Karmayoga/Sagunopasana, without expecting the fruitful results of the Karma and accept all the happenings as the grace of Lord.  Oh! Rajan contemplates upon supreme Lord Hari who resides as the soul in you, following strict austerities, with the practice of Pranayama, and perform veneration of supreme Lord.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 303 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  154

Nimi Navayogi Samvadham

The practice of constant meditation and contemplation of the supreme Lord removes the cluster of unwanted thoughts from the mind.  The repeated thoughts of unpleasant events take away the serenity of the mind, like the water stored in the reservoir for several years.  The regular practice of meditation removes the cluster of thoughts, and it will not let the mind get stuck with unpleasant thoughts.  The thoughts about people, matter, money, fame and wealth undergoes constant changes and ruin, therefore the illustrious Rishis and Sages experimented the practice of meditation to elevate the thoughts from the destructible Prakrithi to indestructible Bhramam.  The practice of contemplation upon the indestructible Brahmam keeps the mind free from thoughts and cluster of thoughts; gradually it will take the mind to a state where there is nothing other than absolute bliss.  The practice of meditation is contemplation upon the supreme Bhramam who resides as soul/Athman, not the worship of idol or images, the worship of idol and visiting sacred lands and shrines is an ideal method to keep the mind away from the material thoughts and the attachment to people.  The mind and intellect originated from the supreme soul that is void of thoughts is compared as Shakthi/Prakrithi and Shiva/Bhramam respectively, therefore the mind and intellect has the capabilities to keep away from the cluster of thoughts, with the constant meditation upon that supreme Bhramam described as Sath/indestructible Chith/ intellect Anandha/Swaroopa bliss in scriptures. 

King Nimi speaks “ Oh! Bhramaviththama, kindly describe how did I contemplate upon supreme Lord Narayana who resides as a soul?”

Navayogi Pippalayana symbolizes a huge peepal tree that originates from its tiny seed, speaks “Oh! Narendra, the human body comes into existence due to its unfulfilled desires and lust, undergoes constant transformation and ruin.   The unfinished desires and lust causes rebirth, the functioning of the mind, intellect, Ahamkara, Pancha Prana, Karma and Gnanendhriyas takes place with the presence of supreme soul/Ahethu.   It protects the body while in the three states of sleep, awake and dreams, Oh! Narendra, This supreme soul is addressed as ‘Athman’/Paramathma.  The realization of the supreme spirit with constant meditation is an experience that is beyond words, as the sparks of fire do not understand the splendor of the fire.  Oh! Rajan, the supreme soul has neither birth nor death, it is changeless, therefore contemplate upon the supreme soul, that would provide the skill to witness the Prakrithi that undergoes constant transformation, without getting attached to it.   Oh! Rajan, The intense devotion and faith upon the lotus feet of Supreme Lord, with the constant practice of recitation and reading his splendor, would cease the thoughts and impurities of the mind in Jeeva, and this process is called purification of the mind. The constant practice of these techniques of meditation would take you to a transcendental state which is beyond words.  The cluster of unwanted thoughts causes due to the attachment to material matters and people, eventually, they create obstacles in the mind to contemplate upon the supreme soul that has the brilliance of Sun.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 302 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  153

Nimi Navayogi Samvadham

King Nimi speaks “Oh! Bhagavantha, why did the mind and intellect remain constantly under the clutches of VishnuMaya? Not letting to engage in the listening to glorious of Harikatha which is the supreme cure for all the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence.”

Navayogi Anthareeksha/symbolizes illusion speaks “ Oh! Rajan, a Jeeva attains body due to its accumulated desires, lust, ego, pride, and jealous,  interest in worldly matters and bondages; it keeps taking several births due to the influence of Maya, without the knowledge of supreme Lord who resides as a soul in them.  The Jeeva soaked in Maya constantly engages in a search for sensual pleasures, eventually it completely takes away the attention of the Jeeva from the knowledge of ‘Self’, it causes the Jeeva to undergo endless miseries and sorrows of their own deeds/Karma, in this way, without the knowledge of ‘self’ continues to remain soaked in the worldly matters, takes several births.  The Jeeva continues to hurl in the cycles of births for hundreds of years, get burnt in the scorching heat of Sun, come down along with the downpour, once again enters in the cycle’s birth from the Beeja of male and enters the womb of the female.”

King Nimi speaks “Oh! Maharishi, kindly describes the ways to get freed from the Maya/illusion? How did we get rid of it easily?”

Navayogi Prabuddha speaks “Oh! Rajan, Jeeva performs all the deeds to get satisfaction, so they never get satisfied with their deeds, they keep chasing for the pleasure relentlessly, and completely engages in the worldly matter and bondages, this creates huge obstacles to elevate the soul.  A Jeeva desires to achieve Shreyas/fortune, the elevation of the soul, get freed from the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence; it should take shelter at the feet of a preceptor who elevates the soul with the knowledge of scriptures, like a person stuck in the darkness seeks help from the person in the brightness, like a hunter guides an individual who left alone in the middle of dense forest.  Oh! Rajan, You need not search for a preceptor outside, you have marvelous scripture ‘Bhagavatham’ which is the supreme Lord Krishna/Swayam Hi Krishna, it is the greatest wealth for all, it teaches the Bhagavatha Dharma, it is Guru/preceptor, Athma/soul and Deivam/God, the constant listening and reciting this scripture would please Lord Hari who resides as a constant companion of the soul.  The association with the saintly people and ascetics is like a stream that moves along with the huge watercourse, which is constantly in search of the union with the ocean.  It would cultivate a sense of kindness, compassion, companionship, curiousness to learn scriptures, silence, purity, the practice of celibacy, etc.  It would purify the intellect and the souls achieve serenity of mind.  It should be read with the utmost dedication and concentration, do not pass sarcastic comment on anything, listen to it with dedication/Shravanam, sung in praise/Keerthanam, and contemplate upon it/Dhyanam on the various mysterious legends of Hari.   ”

Shravanam Keerthanam Dhyanam  Hareth Adhbhutha Karmana: | Janmakarma Gunanam Cha  Thadharththe Akhilacheshtitham||

Anthareeksha continues “ Oh! Rajan, initially, it is difficult to adopt any of the above-said methods, assemble with the pious people and listen to this glorious myths and share it with each other’s and keep discussing on it, keep a practice of recitation or listening to the birth of supreme Lord Krishna, and his various passionate sports, along with your family, children, and wives.  Keep constant association of the ascetics, pious and saintly men, and serve them, would provide sense renunciation.  This practice would provide intense love on supreme Lord Hari, it also helps to grow mutual love, respect, and affection in the family. In this way, keep contemplating upon supreme Lord Hari and make others involved in the contemplation of Lord Hari.  In this practice, you can get rid of accumulated sins, and it would bring intense devotion and faith upon him. It would bring tears in your eyes, you will be transported to the state of ecstasy, you cannot express them in words, and finally, it would bring union with the Supreme Lord Hari.    Whoever recites or listen to the Bhagavatha Dharma in the above-said methods would get rid of Maya effortlessly.  The intense devotion transforms the Anyabhakthi/worship of idols, worship in the shrines, to Ananyabhakthi/with the knowledge that the supreme Lord  who resides as a soul in living beings and stop conducting the search for that supreme Lord outside the world, in this way you can get of Maya/illusion easily.”

King Nimi speaks “Oh! Bhramaviththama, kindly describe the methods of meditation and whom to be contemplated?”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 302 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  153

Nimi Navayogi Samvadham

King Nimi speaks “ Oh! Bhagavath Priya, kindly describe the methods of Bhakti/devotion,  what’s true devotion? and who’re passionate devotees of Lord?”

Navayogi Hari speaks “Oh! Rajan, there three types of devotees, Uththama Bhakta/superior one, Madhyama Bhakta/moderate one, and Prakritha/Adhama Bhakta/inferior one.  The superior devotee/Uththama Baktha is one who envisions the presence of supreme Lord in all living and non-living things and constantly remembers the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in him/her.  The moderate one/Madhyama Bhakta is one who have faith in God, cultivates good companionship with the devotees of Lord, and will have a desire to elevate the souls with the knowledge of the presence of Supreme Lord as a soul in living beings, and has the ability to tolerate disgrace and unpleasant things in life and considers them as the grace of the Supreme Lord, ability to keep silent and not to retreat others with harsh words.  The Prakritha Bhakta/inferior one is the person who conducts idol or image worship/without the knowledge of the presence of Paramathma in him, conducts sincere veneration of Lord Hari, and refrain from the association of saintly ones and Sadhus, and live a selfish life.”

Archayameva Haraye Poojam Ya: Shradhdhayehathe | Na  Thadh Bhaktheshu Chanyeshu Sa Bhaktha: Prakritha: Smritha: ||

Navayogi Hari continues “Oh! Rajan, I shall describe the nature of sincere devotee, is one who has perfect control over senses, and accepts all that happenings in life as the grace of the Supreme Lord, are considered as Bhagavathoththama.   The person who performs all the duties and responsibilities as a service to Lord, and live in the material world without getting attached to it, and make one’s own heart as the abode of Vasudeva/Vasudevanilayam. Whoever follows the prescribed rite of Varnnashrama, and the spiritual and religious rites, without arrogance or pride, is beloved of Lord Hari. Even though if you own the wealth of the three worlds, if your virtues are like deities or mind and intellect is not soaked in worldly matters and bondage, and you cannot take away your mind and intellect from the lotus feet of Supreme Lord, even for a second, is considered as Bhagavathoththama.  Therefore, the true devotees fasten the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord with their intense love and devotion upon him, with the regular practice of the devotion and meditation eventually attains supreme bliss.”

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 299 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  150

It was after the glorious battle in the Kurukshetra, the entire Kurus were killed in the battle and there has five Pandavas, Devi Kunthi, Devi Dhraupadhi, and Devi Uththara remained. Devi Gandhari expressed her desire to see the corpse of her hundred children, although she could not see them while they were alive.  The compassionate Lord Krishna took Devi Gandhari and Dhritarashtra to the battlefield was surrounded by the remaining Pandavas.  Devi Gandhari could not bear the misfortune of her children, watching the corpse, she became unconsolable cursed Lord Krishna who was stood beside her with a serene smile, she cursed Krishna that his children would face brutal death before his eyes, he will witness the destruction of the entire clan of Yadhava, and it would remove the smile from his face forever. The supreme Krishna who is the knower of all was least frightened, he was neither shocked nor alarmed.   Thus the Supreme Lord Krishna was well prepared long ago to face the annihilation of his entire clan.

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan, people who are soaked in chasing the pleasure of senses do not surrender their mind and intellect at the lotus feet of Mukunda, would be chased by the fear of death always.   The Supreme Lord Krishna was too quiet in the last few days before leaving for his Dhama.  He was quite sure that his intervention on the lives of his children will not be going to save their lives. Vasudeva was besieged with extreme trepidation and restlessness watching the future of Yadhava clan, children have become deceitful and immoral, soaked in intoxicating drinks, illicit relationships, extreme anger, desire, lust, selfishness, ego, pride, and jealousy.  Vasudeva miserably looked at Krishna who was serene and secluded in his life, understood that he could not protect the Yadhava clan.  Vasudeva lost peace of mind, sleep and restlessness met Maharishi Narada in the palace of Dwaraka.”

Vasudeva prostrated before Maharishi Narada, washed his feet, and offered him a raised seat, Vasudeva began to speak “ Oh! Mahamune, the clan of Yadhu is facing an extremely difficult situation, moving towards its end.  Oh!  Deenavathsala, I would like to hear the Bhagavatha Dharma, I am not aware of it and kindly elevate my soul from the clutches of an intense fear of death. Oh! Suvritha, I have contemplated upon Lord to get the Lord as my child, for the welfare of the souls, unfortunately, I did not learn anything from Krishna to elevate my soul.  I was soaked in Devamaya/illusion, could not elevate my soul and worship Krishna.  It is a kind of unique grief/Vichithra vyasanam, I could not get out of the worldly matters and bondage, even after attaining the supreme Lord Krishna as my child. Oh! Suvritha, kindly accept me as your disciple, and advice me to elevate my soul.” Maharishi Narada was pleased with the humbleness of Vasudeva and began to advise him.