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Essence of all paths : Hari Nama

 People often misunderstood the relation between the holy Vedas and the Bhagavata Marg . The Vedas are divine in origin ,it is also distinct from the Vedic rites (like purification,oblation ) which is the main  topic of Karmakanda .In general Vedas (mainly the Samhita part) have the seed of all paths .The Gita too glorified the mastery of the Vedas.  Latter by Vyasa ,the One Veda is divided into different parts !The Samhitas are divine in origin, while the other parts like Aryanka,Upanisad are the realizations of  different sages .

                Srimad Bhagavata is the fruit of the Divine vedas,it's the natural commentary on the Vedas ! Bhagavata is bit different than the Pancharatra Agama .The Bhagavata is katha based Nabadha Bhakti  ,It all started with the Chartursloki teaching ,latter espoused by the nine great sons of Risava deva . Another, line was that of Piplad -Samkhayan-Parasara- Maitrayee . Latter, on the conjunction of Dvapara and Kali era,Sri Vyasa deva and Sukadeva though the Book 'Srimad Bhagavata' gave final form to it with the life and deeds of Sri Krsna in His Dvapara Appearance . 

              According to some scholars ,path of the holy name is a new religion . But , this is just a misunderstanding , As Sri Madhavdev wrote -Adi Satya yuge suddha dharma asileka matra Hari Nama (In the first divine Krta-Yuga ,there's only Hari Nam ) . Well, Madhavdeva did not write his own interpretation ,it was actually the  translation of a Verse from a Sanskrit book namely Vaishnava Tantra sara - Ado Krto Yuge Dharmo Nrinam Hamsa iti . Then ,in another book (Krita Yug Vichar)- Guptam Hari Yasha chaiba bipuat kriti Devata ! There's an interesting story in the Padma puran about the replacement of the holy names with rituals  .Then in Mahabharata Sravan Mahatmyam :

Vede Ramayane chaiba purane bharate tatha

Adi-Madhya-Abasane chu Harim Sarvatra Giyate 

  Evidence of Nama glorification in the Vedic Samhitas -

Yajur-Veda : Yashya Nam Mahayasha ( Summary : There's no comparison for Him,As His Name has the greatest glory .)

Rigveda : Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha vadanti ( He who is one ,Sages call him with  different names)

Then also, In the Bhagavata Gita - Sakheti matva prasabha yad yukta he Krsna He Yadava he Sakhtei .

Sri Sankardeva wrote that - Manu Adi kari Veda artha bicharya ,Veda artha hari nama janaya nitchaya (Bhakti-Ratnakar)

meaning:  The Sages( like Manu) already knew the importance of Hari nam (as the fruit of the Vedas )very well . They actually wrote the divine names of Lord Visnhu in various spots in their respective Scriptures .

Evidences from Non-Vaishnava books :

Shiva Puran : Siva Maheshvara chaiba Rudra Vishnu pitamah

                      Samsara vaida Sarvagya Paramatmeti Mukyata.

                     Glorifying Lord Shiva with the name of Vishnu.

Devi Bhagavata : Cha satma cha para Brahma Krishna ityabhi dhiyate . 

                          Glorifying Sri Krsna as the Param Brahma and origin of Prakitri.   

Kalika Puran : Tad va punatu Hari Padasaroja yugam ! 

 The Tantric Kalika puran begins with the remembrance of Hari's lotus feet . 

Manu Samhita : Tena Narayana smrita (1.10)

It explains why the Lord is known as Narayana .Latter,the last chapter  of the book says the different names of The one Lord.

In Markendeya Chandi : Pradhanik Rahasyam : Visno krishna Hrisikesho vasudevo janardanan

Then , in the beginning of  Sandhya Vandana , Mantra    'Natvatu Pundarikashya '

in Parayachita Matram (Purification ) : Tad Vishnu Parama padam and also '...'trahimam pundari kakshyam sarva papo'

In Suryaarghya Mantram  : Namaste Vishnu Rupaye .. Then also ,in Sankalpam ,Acidravara,samarpan,beiguna,the Nama smarana is there .

As in the Smriti Shastra : Anivedya tu Yad bhuktam Vishnave Paramatmane 

                                    majanti pitaro tasya narake swasati samah . (V. Smriti)

In Yogini Tantra : Ajita Kesava Vishnu Hare Satya Janardana ,samsa narayana swaha

   Hence,we can say that the glorification of Lord through Name chanting or Hari Nama Dharama is the essence of all Paths -Vedic Samhita & their rites,the Purans,the Smritis ,the righ handed Tantra (such as Tantra sara) ,the left handed Vamanaya Tantra (such as Yogini Tantra) . As in Sankaradeva's words - 

1. Purna nuhi jata jagyar amga

  HariName kore sobe susanga. (Pasanda Mardana)

(Tantra,Mantra ,Yantra and other requirements have faults in them depending upon the time,place and so on,But Harinama makes all incomplete rites perfect and complete . 

2.Jagatare Mokhya Hoibeka buliya

   janiya situ nokobe (Ajamila Upakhyan)

The Sages (Vedic time) hide the holy name chanting in their respective rites ,just to make sure that the entire world will not get liberation  at once(just to maintain the cycle of world).

3. Bhakti bine aan pyachit jata 

   nakare pravitra patakik kadachita (Bhakti- Ratnkara)

Without the devotion of Lord Krishna,the other rites can't completely purify a sinner .

4. Kono Dine itu  sarira poreyo

   ketikhone niye Yama

   Aura ki senthare  bharta bhumit

   huibaha manushya janma (Ajamila Upakkhyan)

Not sure,when this material body will die,the angel of Death Yama will come and take all ! Uncertainty is there whether one will reborn as a human being in this holy Bharata-Varsha or Not ! Who have a higher range of merit,he only born as a human in Bharata .  Hence, Do Not Waste this precious life ,it is even the wish of the angels of Heaven too .Stay at your home and just remember Hari ,achieve perfection and liberation thorough the Name of Hari.


(Painting : Bhakatas singing Harinama , Satriya manuscript )


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