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Malliyoor
ยป
Sapthaham
Bhagavatha Sapthaham
Shrimad Bhagavatham is a sacred text
rendered by Sage Veda Vyasa. Despite the fact that Veda Vyasa passed on
the Vedas, the Puranas and the Mahabharatha to his disciples he felt a
void in his heart. To fill this void, he was initiated by sage Narada
into doing a Bhakthi Grantha (devotional scripture) on lord Krishna, namely,
Shrimad Bhagavatham. Though Sage Veda Vyasa passed on theVedas, the Puranas
and the Mahabharatha to his disciples he kept Shrimad Bhagavatham, the
greatest treasure, to himself, as he felt that the recipient had to be
of the highest order.
And so it was later given to none other than his own son - Brahma Jnani
(man of supreme knowledge) Sri Shuka. The Bhagavatham that we read is
the one that Sri Shuka narrated to King Parikshith (son of Abhimanyu and
the grandson of Arjuna) on the banks of the Holy Ganges for seven days.
Just listening to the narration of Bhagavatham took Parikshith to eternity.
Such is the greatness of this text. It is said that,
"Shrimad Bhagavathaakhyoyam Prathyaksha Krishnavahai"
The Essence of Shrimad Bhagavatham
Dharma is classified into Vaidhika dharma and Bhagavatha dharma. The six
ways of nithya karma (daily duties) constitute Vaidhika dharma. And Bhagavatha
dharma constitutes, Prabhodanam, Unchavruthi, Japa/paarayana, katha shravanam,
keerthanam and dolotsavam (waking up the Lord, begging for food, repetition
of a single name of the Lord/reading the Bhagavatham, listening to the
divine plays, singing the glory of the Lord and putting the Lord to bed,
respectively). Observance of this Bhagavatha dharma is the very essence
of Bhagavatham and will take one to the ultimate goal - God-realisation.
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