Remembrance or Vishnu smaranam

As per the Naradiya Bhakti Sutra,Bhakti or devotion manifests itself in eleven variations;attachment to the remembrance of Sri Hari is the fourth manifestation. In the Srimad Bhagavata,Remembrance is also described as one of the Nabadha Bhakti or Nine-fold Bhagvatic sentiments.The great devotee Prahlad pleased the Lord by this very process of Smaranam.Knowingly or even unknowingly,with scriptural rules or no rules,remembering Lord Vishnu(in whatever condition) is considered as a merit.

   Apavrita pavitro va sarvastha gatoapi va
  Ya smarante pundarikakhyam sa            vyahavantara suchi

 In the all Vedic worship methods such as Sandhya,Parachityam,Yagya,Vishnu smaranam is the first as well as the last step - sangam bhavtu tat sarvam harer namanu kirtanam to make the worship perfect. Even the tantrik scripture kalika puran (Saktism) ,also have the vishnu samranam in its very beginning(1st.Chapter).So,Vishnu Smaranam is accepted in all  the God orientated Indian traditions!In the Gita,Sri Krishna said to Arjuna–Man mana bhava mad bhakto (Gita 9.34) : mat-manh means 'Always think of Me’.So,Thinking of Lord Krishna’s-Glory,Names,forms,past-times,energies,His associates,weapons and devotees are included in this process of remembrance as per the different sentiments of the devotee.But,remembering the names and devotees of Lord Krishna is considered as the best and easiest way to achieve perfection.Srimanta Sankardeva wrote in the book of Bhakti-ratnakar–

               
                  Pasarile Vishnuk sijaya papgaan
                  Eteke vishnuk nuhibaha Vissmran

Meaning : the grievous sins of an individual cover him as he forgets Lord Vishnu ,Hence never embrace Vissmaran (opposite of Smaranam,or omit )!

As in the Hari Bhakti Vilas of Sanatan Gosvami –
ajitam cadhipam caiva
sarvam sarvesvaram tatha
samsmaret puruso bhaktya
vyavaharesu sarvada

Meaning : In his ordinary activities a person should always remember the Lord with devotion by chanting the names Ajita,Adhipa, Sarva, and Sarvesvara .

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said – Krshna Surya sma, maya hay andhkar; yaha krsna taha nahi mayar adhikar.Krishna is the Sun ,whereas nescience or worldy illusion is the darkness.Where’s Sri Krishna,there’s no darkness.There’s also no difference between Krishna & His name– jae nam sei Krishna .
In the words of Gosvami Tulsidas –
   
     Ek hi sadhan sab ridhi sidhi sadhi re
    Grase kali rog jog sanjam samadhi re .

Meaning : the evil spirit of  Kali yuga (dark age) destroyed the virtues of meditation ,sense control and highest state of consciousness;Hence,there’s only one method which can grant prosperity (spiritual);That’s the name of Sri Rama.

       Starting from remembering the names of Hari,one can achieve the perfection in this smaranam process further by remembering the leela or past-times of Krsna ,Specially the nectar like plays of Vrindavana and His bodily luminosity.The body of Krsna is not panchabhautik(made of five elements like a human being),but it’s Sadchitanada,consists of consciousness,truth and bliss;the eternal (sanatana)Ananta(unlimited glory),beyond the covers of material attributes – Purusham-Prakirti-pare!Gradually,one develops the taste for Lord’s Service and attains the state of selflessness.Devotion is greater than the four pursuits,greater than the Nirvana too;Bhakti itself is the way,itself is the support and itself is the fruit! As in Narada Muni’s words -
Trisatyasabhaktireeba-gareeyashi,bhaktireeba gareeyashi 

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