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Listen and learn

CHENNAI : The Bhagavata Purana instructs the path of Bhakti as the basis of spiritual life and also suggests the nine forms of devotional discipline (Upasanas) for developing Bhakti — Sravanam (hearing about the Lord), Kirtanam (chanting His name), Smaranam (remembering Him), Padasevanam (serving Him), Archanam (worshipping Him), Vandanam (paying obeisance to Him), Dasyam (being a servant to him), Sakhyam (looking upon Him as a friend) and Atmanivedanam(surrendering to Him).

The first step Sravanam (hearing) indicates developing a taste for listening to God's qualities by which the mind is encouraged to think more often about Him so that it becomes a continuous process of thinking/meditating on Him, said Sri K. B. Devarajan in a lecture. The Vedas are called Shruti, that which has been heard and learnt. What was taught by word of mouth is the implied meaning of Nammazhwar's hymn Tiruvaimozhi. Since time immemorial the oral tradition of imparting knowledge through the Guru-Sishya system established the efficacy of hearing in the process of learning, and scriptures, the Puranas and Itihasas were handed down in this manner.

The advantage of listening to the exposition of spiritual texts by learned preceptors is that one gains knowledge of the self (Atma Jnana) and also gets initiated into the path of Bhakti. In this manner one is able to imbibe the beneficial and great truths of existence and develop an inward attraction to God.

In Azhwar's viewpoint, one need not give anything in return except lending the ears to the qualities of God. Azhwar claims that the Lord entered his consciousness when he constantly listened to His infinite greatness. This makes him greater than the Lord because he has within him the Lord of the entire universe.

The narratives of Prahlada, Gajendra, Vibhishana, Panchali, Ahalya and Dhruva illustrate the efficacy of unflinching faith and devotion in the most inspiring manner. Janamejaya who listened to Sage Vaisampayana's narration of the Mahabharata understood that listening to the epic is both the means and end of liberation.

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