Sri Vedavyasa, the very incarnation of Sri Vishnu for awarding sacred knowledge and freedom from fear, is the author of eighteen Puranas (lit. narratives of ancient times) running into four hundred thousand shlokas or verses. The names and extent of each of the eighteen Puranas is given in detail in Chapter 31 of the twelfth canto of Srimad Bhagavatham, which is one among the eighteen, having 18000 shlokas. While Srimad Bhagavatham is not the lengthiest of the Puranas (Skanda Purana with 81100 being the longest), it is certainly the crown jewel among them. It has been said that the other Puranas spread their luster in an assemblage of the righteous only so long as the Glorious Bhagavatha is not directly visible. It is considered to be the cream and essence of the Upanishads and a person sated with its nectarine flavour will not find delight anywhere else. The Bhagavatha is the delight of the devotees of Sri Vishnu - is free from faults and impurities and has the sole aim of Kaivalya or liberation which is the goal of Parmahamsas. A mere reading gives so much peace to the mind and the soul. The power is astonishing.
There are blessed men, like the Late Anantharama Dikshitar, who had immense memory and literary prowess, He could recite any verse from any of the epics, like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatam, Narayaneeyam, and the like, with uncomparable ease.
2 comments:
Great post Sriram. Bhagavatam is my favorite Purana too. I have a blog on Symbology on CH1B. Did you happen to read it?
- Archana
Bhagavatham is most cetainly the nectar of all to hear, esp if the preceptor is able to bring out the rasa without obfuscating. I have had the fortune to hear it 3 times till now, from one who has reached the SUPREME state himself.
BTW do read Archana's symbology blog. Simply too good and a place where lively debates take place.
Post a Comment