The Greatness of Vishnu's Devotees

Parvati said:

1. O lord of the universe, O master, tell what are said to be the characteristics of Vishnu's devotees, and what is their importance. Mahadeva said:

2-9. Since he belongs to Vishnu, he is looked upon as a follower (or devotee) of Vishnu. Brahma should be known as the source of all and as one who has taken up a form. From him brahmanas, masters of the Vedas, are born. They should be known as Vishnu's devotees and never the others. He who possesses purity, truth, forgiveness, who is free from attachment and hatred, who knows the ideas contained in the Vedic lore, is known as a devotee of Vishnu. He who is always engaged in keeping the sacred fire, who always honours his guests, who is devoted to his father and mother, is called a devotee of Vishnu. He who is having the virtue of compassion, who is averse to sins, who is marked with a conch and a disc, is called Vishnu's devotee. He who wears a garland round his neck, who always utters (the name of) Rama with his mouth, who would always devotedly sing (Vishnu's praise), is said to be Vishnu's devotee. Those men who are always devoted to the Puranas, who are always engaged in (performing) sacrifices, should be known to be Vishnu's devotees, and are dear to all sects. Those sinful men who censure them, repeatedly go to (i.e. are born in) bad stocks after their death.

10-17. Those brahmanas who always honour the image named Gopala, fashioning it from a metal only with four hands, and well decorated, worship it, are known to enjoy religious merit. Those brahmanas who after having fashioned an image (of Vishriu) from stone and called Krishna and beautiful in form, worship it, should be known to be of meritorious forms. Where there is the Shalagrama stone, where there is the stone from Dvaraka, or where there is the combination of these two, there is salvation. There is no doubt about this. If after install2634 Padma Purdtia ing the image with (i.e. to the accompaniment of) a hymn, one worships it, then that worship gives a crorefold merit. It leads to religious merit, acquisition of worldly prosperity, satisfaction of sensual desires and salvation. Devotion of nine kinds1 should be shown for Vishnu. Therefore, you should make the image of stone or metal. Devotees should meditate upon it and worship it. A devotee should offer to the image worship with kingly attendance. One should always remember lord Vishnu, the soul of all, the only refuge of the helpless and the poor, and the cause of the existence of the worlds. One should always remember (Vishnu), destroyer of great sins, (as present) in that image and say 'This is Gopala, so also Krishna, and Rama.'

18-30. He who worships (the lord) properly, is a man of the lord. The best men, the followers of Vishnu, should fashion the form (of the image) like that as was taken up by Kesava (i.e. Krishna or Vishnu) in Gokula. A wise man should fashion his form for self-gratification. By (doing) this, ample devotion is produced. There is no doubt about this. In that image should be fashioned especially a conch, a disc, a mace and (other) weapons of Vishnu according to (proper) measure. One should get fashioned an image having four arms, two eyes, holding a conch, a disc and a mace, wearing a yellow garment, beautiful, very large, wearing a garland of wood-flowers, and with bright ear-rings of lapis lazuli, having gems on the crown, and always shining with Kaustubha. (It should be) of gold, silver, copper or brass. (He should) get it installed especially by best brahmanas with Vedic hymns as given in the sacred texts. After that it should be worshipped according to the (injunctions in) holy texts. The worship should be duly offered with hymns and in sixteen ways2 of doing homage. When Vishnu is worshipped, all deities are worshipped. Therefore, the great lord should be worshipped in this way. The god without beginning and end, holding a conch, a disc, a mace, and the lord of all gives everything to his followers, of the nature of merit. As is Vishnu, so is ava. There is absolutely no difference between the two. O goddess, knowing like this, the fashioning of the images of both should be done. There is no doubt that he who worships Shiva and is given to censuring Vishnu, lives in the Raurava hell. I am Vishnu, I am Rudra, I am Brahma, the grandsire. I repeatedly and constantly live in all beings. Parvati said:

1. Navadha Bhakti — Listening to the praise of Vishnu, narration of his virtues, remembering him, serving his feet, worshipping him, saluting him, servitude to him, his friendship, and offering oneself to him.

2. shodasopacara — Sixteen ways of doing homage to a deity etc: Offering a seat, reception, offering water for washing feet, for rinsing the month, respectful offering, giving water for sipping, madhuparka, bath, garments, ornaments, sandal, flowers, incense, lamp, eatables, salutation.

31. O MaheSvara, tell me properly about the characteristics of those who are said to be the servants and followers and devotees of Vishnu? Mahddeva said:

32-39. Shudras are his servants, Narada and others are his followers, and O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, Prahlada, Ambarisa and others are his devotees. He who is always engaged in a rite in honour of the Supreme Being, who recites the Vedas and the Vedangas, and has the marks of a conch and a disc is said to be a Vaisnava. That shudra who is always engaged in serving brahmanas, who always worships Vishnu, and listens generally to the Puranas that are acceptable to the Vedas, is said to be Vishnu's servant, O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain. He who resorts to (i.e. looks upon himself as a child of) five years and is devoted in many ways, is called Vishnu's devotee, and is approved of among (i.e. by) all good men. O you beautiful young lady, Dhruva and others, so also Ambarisa and others are said to be devotees of all times by the sages. In the Kali age shudras very much devoted to meditation on Vishnu, are most blessed. They enjoy happiness in this world, and go to the eternal (position) of Vishnu. That shudra who has the marks of a conch and a disc, and who is devoted to Vishnu, and who celebrates especially the four festivals, is the servant of Vishnu, as it is seen and heard.

 

CHAPTER EIGHTYTHREE

The Swing Festival

Parvati said:

1-3. O Mahesvara, tell me about the rites (performed) in all months. A great festival is to be celebrated (in these months). Which is the accepted manner (in which the festival is to be celebrated)? O lord of gods, tell me which the deity is who is to be worshipped, what his greatness would be, and on which, day (of the month) it is to be performed. What is told to the devotees of Vishnu of meritorious deeds about the month? I am blessed, I am fortunate, I am lucky on the earth, that I (shall) hear the story of Vishnu (from you) by seeing you and coming in your contact. Shiva said:

4-18. I shall, O sinless one, tell you the mode of the festivals, hearing which you will be delighted as by songs and musical instruments. First, especially on the Ekadashi of the bright fortnight of the very auspicious month of Caitra one should worship (Vishnu) mounted on a swing. O goddess, one should always devoutly celebrate the festival according to the rule. They (who) see Krishna, remover of the blemishes of the Kali age, mounted upon the swing, are, O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, free from thousands of offences. The sins committed during crores of existences remain as long as one would not swing god (Vishnu), the lord of the universe, the master of the universe. Those who in the Kali age see Janardana mounted upon the swing, are freed even though (they have committed) the sin of killing a cow. What then can be said about others? Gods, along with Rudra, being delighted at the swing festival, jubilantly dance, sing, and play upon musical instruments in the courtyard. Sages, the attendants of Shiva, gandharvas, the groups of the celestial nymphs like Rambha, so also the serpents led by Vasuki, so also deities and chief gods, desiring to see Vishnu come to the swing (festival). On the swing (festival) day in the vernal season beings are present for (i.e. at the time of) the swing festival, and O great goddess, those

VI.83.19-34

2637 belonging to a heavenly stock also certainly go (there) when (the image of) Krishna is (placed) on the swing. Seeing Vishnu on the swing, there is a festival for the three worlds. Therefore, giving up a hundred other occupations celebrate a festival on the swing (festival) day. Prahlada comes there. Vishnu mounts on the swing, O great goddess. Remembering him who grants a boon (one should celebrate the festival). Those who keep awake (on that night) remembering Krishna on the swing, receive the fruit of all their religious merit in a moment. Those who see Vishnu on the swing in the spring, being saluted by the god of gods, play with Vishnu. One seeing (the image of) the god facing the south and mounted on the swing, O goddess, is free from (the sin of) the murder of a brahmana on seeing Visyu (just) once. 'Om, we know the god mounted on the swing. We think of Madhava. May that god urge us on'. This is the worship with the Gayatri (hymn).

19-34. 'Repeated salutations to Madhava, Govinda, Shrikantha'. The worship should be done to the accompaniment of the hymn and according to the rule. Being composed he should give a gift to his preceptor according to his capacity. He should devoutly sing (the praise) of Vishnu; then the (worship) will be complete. O you beautiful lady, what is the use of repeatedly saying other things? Vishnu remaining on the swing removes all sins. He, worshipped properly by men, always gives everything. Where (Vishnu) remains on the swing, gods, and kinnaras with gandharvas come there. There is no doubt about this. There he should worship Vishnu with the hymn, Om, Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya ('Om, Salutation to the lord Vasudeva'). With this hymn he should worship (Vishnu). He should do the worship according to the rule and in sixteen ways of doing homage (to Vishnu). All his desires for virtue, material welfare etc. would certainly get fulfilled. O you of a good vow, all that like the assignment of (the various parts of) the body, hand etc., should be done with (i.e. to the accompaniment) of this hymn. The festival should be celebrated with the hymn as told in the holy text. He should keep (the image of) the deity (Vishnu) along with Lakshmi on the swing. In front of (the image of) the deity he should install (the images of) Narada etc. — the divine sages. So also the devotees like Visvaksena should always be installed in the front. The wise one should wave the light with the sound of five musical instruments. O goddess, in every watch he should be carefully worshipped. He should offer him respectful offering with coconuts and white banana plants. He should be carefully worshipped, O goddess. 'O god of gods, O lord of the world, O holder of a conch, a disc and a mace, accept the worship. Favour me.' The remnants of the offering should be given to Vishnu's devotees. The devotees of Vishnu should play upon musical instruments and dance there. Then especially the swinging (of the swing) should be done. O goddess, all the holy and sacred places that are there on the earth, come there to witness (the festival) on that day. Knowing like this, O goddess, the great festival should be celebrated. O you daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas, shudras and all other castes should be looked upon to be holding a conch, a disc, a mace.

 

CHAPTER EIGHTYFOUR

The Damanaka Festival

Mahddeva said:

1-19. In this month of Caitra itself, the Damanaka festival should be celebrated; and especially on the twelfth day the rite should be properly performed. (This festival) meritorious and enhancing the joy of the people, should be devoutly celebrated by the devotees of Vishnu. The blossom of Damanaka that has originated from the joy of gods should be offered by the devotees, the followers of Vishnu, desiring the fruit of the entire worship on the twelfth day of the bright half of Caitra, O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain. With the mind fixed on the great festival a man should celebrate it with great devotion. O you sinless one, having first gone to a grove, (a man) should worship (the deity) with Rati, according to the preceptor's order (saying), 'Salutation to you, O Kamadeva, deluding all. I shall look out (for you) for Vishnu. (Please) favour me.' He (i.e. his image) should be brought home to the accompaniment of the sounds of singing and musical instruments. O best among the gods, Vishnu's devotees should devoutly worship him at night after preliminary consecration of his image at night. Then before him (i.e. his image) an auspicious circle should be drawn all round. Then he should install him there with Rati. The wise one should (then) cover the image with a white (piece of) cloth; and should place damanaka. The best brahmanas, the devotees of Vishnu, should perform the worship there only. 'Klim, salutation to Kamadeva. Hrirh, salutation to Rati also.' A wise man, after installing (the image of) Kandarpa in the quarter of Indra (i.e. the east), should worship (the image). O chief among gods, at night offering of sandal, flowers, so also incense, lamp, waving of lights should be devoutly~and in the proper manner done. (Saying) 'Salutation to Madana' (he should) worship in the east. (Saying) 'Salutation to Manmatha' (he should) worship in the south-east. (Saying) 'Salutation to Kandarpa' (he should worship) in the south. (Saying)'Salutation to Ananga' (he should worship) in the raksa (i.e. the south-west) direction. (Saying) 'Salutation to him whose body was reduced to ash' (he should worship) in the west. (Saying) 'Salutation to Smara' (he should worship) in the north-east. (Saying) 'Salutation to Isvara' (he should worship) in the north. (Saying) 'Salutation to Puspa-bana' (i.e. having arrows of flowers) (he should worship) in the north-east. In all the four directions he should worship (the image of) him. Then worshipping damanaka with sacred rice grains, incense, lamps, offerings of eatables, tambulas, he should salute damanaka after consecrating it with the recitation done one hundred and eight times of the Kama-Gayatrl (hymn): 'We know that Purusa, Kamadeva. We reflect on him. May that Ananga urge us on'. (Then he should say: ) 'Salutation to Puspabana giving joy to the world; (salutation) to Manmatha, the eye of the world, and to him who delights Rati. Salutation to you, O god of gods. O Shri Visvesa (i.e. the lord of the universe), salutation to you. Salutation to you, O lord of Rati; salutation to you, O ornament of the universe. O lord of the world, salutation to you. Salutation to you, O origin of everything.' With such various types of hymns, especially with those that are told in the sacred texts, Janardana, along with Lakshmi, should be carefully worshipped. Then the wise (man) should report the act (to the lord), and keep awake. (He should say), 'O god of gods, O lord of the world, O you who give the desired objects, O you dear to Kamesvari, O Vishnu, fulfil the desire in my heart'. Shrinivasa, Jagannatha (i.e. Vishnu) who desires the good of his devotees, should be carefully worshipped with many such hymns. He should offer damanaka to deities like Lakshmi and Vishnu. Then (he should offer) a great worship with incense etc. And a great festival should be celebrated with songs, musical instruments, dancing etc. A pitcher is placed before the deity. Having poured water from the pitcher on the feet of the deity, he should have water-sport on that day. Then he should devoutly worship his preceptor with garments, ornaments and money. Then he should eat along with his kinsmen — the devotees of Vishnu. Mahadeva said:

20-31. Then he should worship Vishnu with damanaka sprouts. When Vishnu is worshipped, I am always worshipped. O goddess, on seeing the damanaka festival, he who has killed a brahmana, or snatched away gold, or is a drunkard, or eats flesh, is freed from the sin. O goddess, those good devotees of Vishnu who have worshipped the deity with damanaka, with damanaka-sprout, have visited all the sacred places. He who has worshipped Vishnu with a (damanaka-)sprout, has studied the Vedas, all holy texts, and maintained the sacred fire. His family — whether of a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, shudra or (of) any other (caste) — is lucky, is said to be very lucky. Being born in a family in which the damanaka festival is celebrated, is blessed. So also he who has worshipped Vishnu. O goddess, having worshipped (Vishnu) with damanaka when spring has arrived, he gets the fruit of the gift of a thousand cows. He who would with great devotion worship Vishnu with jasmine flowers in the spring, would obtain salvation. Maruka and damanaka instantly pleased Vishnu. Therefore, the best men, Vishnu's devotees, should worship (Vishnu with these). When he has worshipped Vishnu, he has made (a gift of) a thousand cows, has given his daughter (in marriage to a worthy groom), has given the gift of the earth. Of him who, having taken but one damanaka-sprout, worships the lord of gods when spring has come, O daughter of the (Himalaya) Mountain, I do not know the measure of his religious merit. He having four arms enjoys the fruits of merit, worldly objects, sensual desires here (i.e. in this world) and in the next world, and enjoys Vishnu's position.

CHAPTER EIGHTYFIVE

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