Sunil, Aug 28 2011
Please accept my humble obeisances
Which are the different ways in which one can render devotional service
Regards,
Sunil
Ashutosh Pandey, Aug 28 2011
Hare Krishna
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
*Sravanam kirtanam vishnoh, smaranam pada sevanam*
*archanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam*
*Sravanam* — by *hearing* the glories of Krishna from authorities (bona fide spiritual master or his representatives)
*Kirtanam-*by * congregational melodious chanting* of Hare Krishna Mahamantra
*Smaranam*- by *remembering* the pastimes of Krishna that you heard from authorities
*Pada Sevanam*- by offering *service to the lord’s lotus feet* (serving Vaishnavas, offering flowers, tulasi leaves etc.)
*Archanam – deity worship*(newbies can do the same with Photo-frames of lord or can perform worship of Gaura Nitai if allowed by authorities)
*Vandanam- praying *to lord for mercy (go in front of deities and say in your heart looking at them that you are here to be the object of His pleasure, tell me my lord how can I serve you, I am fallen but please engage me in your service and the service of your devotees, cry like a child…. it helps)
*Dasyam*- being *servant of the lord..*..perform duties of spiritual master…serve Vaishnavas….be humble like a blade of grass…tolerant like a tree..and think yourself to be simply insignificant
*Sakhyam- *being as a *friend *of Krishna glorify His name…tell about Him to others..how beautiful and merciful He is….
*Atma-nivedanam-* share your *thoughts and feelings* with the deities…confess your weakness…ask for mercy and promise yourself to rectify it…..
*As a practical guide::*
*Associate *with the devotees of the Lord Krishna
Read everyday (even one sloka or just two pages) of *Books *of Srila Prabhupada
*Chant *sixteen rounds of Hare Krsna mahamantra
*Diet *on Krsna prasadam——try to offer food to the lord in your home or whenever you get opportunity in temples
*Listen to the lectures* of Srila Prabhupada….or choose a bona fide master authorised by Srila Prabhupada if you like to listen in a particular language as Maharaja or Goswamis of ISKCON are from almost all parts of the world.
Out of this *Listening, Reading and chanting* are very important as these you can do wherever you are and whatever condition in you are living…… Whether in comfortable position or in times of pain….
Hare Krsna
YS
Ashutosh
Sunil, Aug 29 2011
Thank you Ashutosh Prabhu very much for your answer
Mahabhagavat Das SDA, Aug 29 2011
Very nice answers from Ashutosh Prabhu!
It is practically unlimited, in how many practical ways one can render devotional service…
Our collective mission is to take Krishna Consciousness to every living entity on this planet — so anything towards that goal is a service… speak about Krishna, show Krishna, give Krishna, share Krishna… and assist those who are doing it with body, words, and resources including time, money, facility, land, building, etc… whatever one can afford, whatever one has, engage wholeheartedly in service to the devotees of Krishna.
Your servant,
Mahabhagavat Das
