{"id":5412,"date":"2022-11-25T04:55:32","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T23:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discoverursupersoul.com\/?p=5412"},"modified":"2022-11-25T04:55:32","modified_gmt":"2022-11-24T23:25:32","slug":"how-srava%e1%b9%87am-helps-us-in-our-krishna-conscious-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/how-srava%e1%b9%87am-helps-us-in-our-krishna-conscious-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"How \u015arava\u1e47am helps us in our Krishna Conscious journey?<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"How<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u015arava\u1e47am means hearing and it plays a very important role in our Krishna Conscious journey.<\/strong> In fact, in our material life too \u015brava\u1e47am plays a significant role. For example, in our schools and colleges we learnt by hearing the subjects from our teachers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember, teachers asking us to hear attentively to understand the subjects thoroughly they were teaching. And in case of doubts, we raised our hands, and the teachers answered our queries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In spiritual life too, it is through \u015brava\u1e47am that we begin understanding the absolute truth.<\/strong> We came to know about Krishna or Rama by first hearing from our parents<\/strong>. And later when we met devotees of Iskcon, we heard from them in detail about Rama and Krishna. This helped us understand the necessity and urgency of practicing Krishna Consciousness.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now if we look through the history of mankind, we will see that all the great devotees of Lord perfected their lives by hearing the transcendental message<\/strong>.\u00a0 In the nava vida bhakti, the first process is \u015brava\u1e47am (hearing).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now let us see how \u015brava\u1e47am played an important role in the life of great devotees of the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arjuna attentively hears from Krishna and understands the purpose of life<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the battle of Kurukshetra, when Arjuna saw that he will be fighting against his own family members, he got bewildered or we can say that he had emotional breakdown.<\/strong> He was so disturbed that he wanted to run away from the battlefield and retire to the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was not that Arjuna was a coward.<\/strong> Just before Kurukshetra war he had single-handedly almost defeated the entire Kaurava army which had warriors like Bhisma, Drona, Karna and Duryodhana.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Arjuna was fortunate that Krishna was there with him as his charioteer<\/strong> at the battlefield of Kurukshetra. In that difficult situation, he approaches Krishna for guidance. And Krishna begins giving him the great knowledge of Bhagavad Gita<\/mark><\/a> which completely transforms Arjuna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the Supreme Lord Krishna says to Arjuna that if he wants to know him and understand him completely then he should try to hear (\u015b\u1e5b\u1e47u) what he is saying.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Now hear, O son of P\u1e5bth\u0101, how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me<\/strong>, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt.\u201d Bhagavad Gita 7.1<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And towards the end of his discourse, Krishna asks Arjuna if he heard his message attentively or not? Are all his doubts cleared or not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cO son of P\u1e5bth\u0101, O conqueror of wealth, have you heard this with an attentive mind?<\/strong> And are your ignorance and illusions now dispelled?\u201d Bhagavad Gita 18.72<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arjuna\u2019s all doubts cleared<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Arjuna had heard with complete absorption; all his questions were answered.<\/strong> He now knew who he is and what should be the purpose of his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArjuna said: My dear K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy. I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.\u201d Bhagavad Gita 18.73<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mah\u0101r\u0101ja Par\u012bk\u1e63it perfected his life by hearing about the Lord for seven continuous days<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mah\u0101r\u0101ja Par\u012bk\u1e63it was cursed to die in seven days by a brahmana boy named, \u015b\u1e5b\u1e45gi. Knowing that he has only seven days to live, King Par\u012bk\u1e63it, immediately renounced everything material<\/strong> which is the cause of great bondage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He gave up the charge of his kingdom to his son, Janamejaya, renounced his family, left the comforts of the palace and came to the bank of the Ganges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the bank of the Ganges, he sat down on a seat of straw facing north. He even gave up food and water. Controlling his mind and senses, he decided to fix his mind completely on the lotus feet of Lord Krishna<\/strong> till the time of his imminent death. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hearing that the great king is about to leave his body in the most auspicious way and return back to the kingdom of God, great sages and demigods assembled there. There also came the great transcendentalist \u015ar\u012b \u015aukadeva Gosv\u0101m\u012b, the son of Vyasdeva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mah\u0101r\u0101ja Par\u012bk\u1e63it\u2019s query to \u015ar\u012b \u015aukadeva Gosv\u0101m\u012b<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Seeing \u015ar\u012b \u015aukadeva Gosv\u0101m\u012b, the self-realized sage, Mah\u0101r\u0101ja Par\u012bk\u1e63it humbly asked him what is the best way by which he can leave his material body.<\/strong>\u00a0 The great king wanted to know what should a person who is on the verge of death should do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

King Parikshit asked, \u201cYou are the spiritual master of great saints and devotees. I am therefore begging you to show the way of perfection for all persons, and especially for one who is about to die.<\/strong>\u201d Srimad Bhagavatam 1.19.37<\/mark><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Death is not the end of everything. As we are living now, after death again we are going to live but in a different body. So, it is important to know how to die so that after death when we again begin to live, we live happily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u015ar\u012b \u015aukadeva Gosv\u0101m\u012b about \u015brava\u1e47am <\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Answering the king, the revered sage said that those who want to free themselves from all material miseries and desire should first hear about the Supreme Lord<\/strong> at the time of death. After hearing sufficiently about the Lord one should then continuously glorify the Lord and remember him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cO descendant of King Bharata, one who desires to be free from all miseries must hear about, glorify and also remember the Personality of Godhead<\/strong>, who is the Supersoul, the controller and the savior from all miseries.\u201d Srimad Bhagavatam 2.1.5<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, here too, we see that \u015ar\u012b \u015aukadeva Gosv\u0101m\u012b underlines the importance of hearing. In that transcendental assembly, \u015ar\u012b \u015aukadeva Gosv\u0101m\u012b narrated Srimad Bhagavatam to Mah\u0101r\u0101ja Par\u012bk\u1e63it. The king heard the transcendental subject matter very attentively and when he had any doubt he also inquired submissively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u015ar\u012b \u015aukadeva Gosv\u0101m\u012b was the most qualified speaker in the assembly of great sages and Mah\u0101r\u0101ja Par\u012bk\u1e63it who had voluntarily abandoned all material attachments was the most qualified listener. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mah\u0101r\u0101ja Par\u012bk\u1e63it perfected his life by hearing about the Lord for seven continuous days. And after leaving his body he went back to the spiritual world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Narada Muni purified and perfected his life by hearing about the absolute truth from the Bhakti Vedantist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Great sage Narada in his previous life was son of a maidservant<\/strong>. And before taking birth from the womb of a maidservant, he was a Gandharva living in heavenly planet. But unfortunately, he misused his position as a Gandharva, so he was cursed to become the son of a maidservant<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But to his great fortune he got an opportunity to associate with pure devotees (bhakti-ved\u0101ntas) of Krishna for four months<\/strong> of the rainy season.\u00a0 The great Ved\u0101ntists were very merciful to him. He once took the remnants of their food after taking their, this completely burnt all his sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for four months, he heard from them attractive pastimes of Krishna. By hearing from these great devotees, he developed taste for hearing (\u015brava\u1e47am) about the Supreme Lord Krishna.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual Journey of Narada<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sage Narada personally narrates his spiritual journey to his disciple, Vy\u0101sadeva, \u201cO Vy\u0101sadeva, in that association and by the mercy of those great Ved\u0101ntists, I could hear them describe the attractive activities of Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.<\/strong> And thus listening attentively, my taste for hearing of the Personality of Godhead increased at every step.\u201d Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.26<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sage Narada further describes how the great devotees were always absorbed in chanting the glories of Lord Hari. And he had the opportunity to constantly hear from them which helped him to rise above the lower modes of passion and ignorance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThus during two seasons \u2014 the rainy season and autumn \u2014 I had the opportunity to hear these great-souled sages constantly chant the unadulterated glories of the Lord Hari.<\/strong> As the flow of my devotional service began, the coverings of the modes of passion and ignorance vanished.\u201d Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.28<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although he was cursed to live as son of maidservant but by the association of pure devotees of Krishna, he nullified all his sins and perfected his life. In the next life he was born as the son of Brahma and came to be known as Narada<\/mark><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srila Prabhupada redefined the goal of his life after hearing from his guru<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Srila Prabhupada wanted to do something good for India. Before meeting his guru, \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b, like most other Indians during 1920s, he was thinking to serve the nation by participating in political movement. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But after meeting his guru and hearing from him, he understood that reviving the spiritual culture and sharing the glorious spiritual message of India is the best way to serve Mother India. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And we all know how Srila Prabhupada has played a pivotal role in spreading Krishna Consciousness or Hare Krishna movement all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Srila Prabhupada has many times highlighted the importance of hearing (\u015brava\u1e47am). In one of his initiation lectures, he says, \u201cThe most important item is \u015brava\u1e47am, or hearing. If you do not do anything else, if you simply sincerely hear about God, then gradually you will be God conscious.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By his own example, he has shown us that how hearing is important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once in Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada had to make a choice between visiting the temples in Vrindavan or hearing from his spiritual master, \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b. He chose to hear from his guru because he thought that the best way to see Vrindavana is by hearing its glories<\/strong> from Krishna\u2019s pure devotee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da says<\/mark><\/a>, \u201c\u2026..Ke\u015bava Mah\u0101r\u0101ja was informing that \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta is going to Mathur\u0101 tomorrow morning and he will speak hari-kath\u0101 this evening. Anyone who wants to may remain. Or otherwise they may go to see \u015ae\u1e63a\u015b\u0101y\u012b Vi\u1e63\u1e47u. So at that time I think only ten or twelve men remained \u2013 \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja was one of them. And I thought it wise, What can I see at this \u015ae\u1e63a\u015b\u0101y\u012b? Let me hear what \u015ar\u012bla Bhaktisiddh\u0101nta Sarasvat\u012b will speak. Let me hear.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hippies heard directly from Srila Prabhupada and became happies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When Srila Prabhupada went to west in 1965 to preach the message of Krishna and Lord Chaitanya, he did not have any proper facility to preach. He did not have any monetary support or organizational background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He would go to the park and do kirtan.\u00a0 Just by hearing the holy name many young American boys and girls got attracted to Krishna.<\/strong> Later these young Americans would come to Srila Prabhupada and hear from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As they began hearing they developed taste for Krishna Consciousness and distaste for abominable activities<\/strong> like meat eating, gambling, intoxication and illicit sex which is against Krishna Consciousness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They redefined the purpose of their life and understood the importance of practicing devotion to Krishna. And within few years thousands of people all over the world became serious in Krishna Consciousness and began chanting the names of Krishna and worshipping Krishna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This all started just by hearing (\u015brava\u1e47am).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, we see that how hearing (\u015brava\u1e47am) transforms a person\u2019s life by helping him to develop taste for Krishna Consciousness. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens when we hear or do \u015brava\u1e47am from scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam is mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam only, \u201cSimply by giving aural reception to this Vedic literature, the feeling for loving devotional service to Lord K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, sprouts up at once to extinguish the fire of lamentation, illusion and fearfulness.<\/strong>\u201d <\/strong>Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.7<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we hear decides our future. We know the GIGO principle – Garbage In Garbage Out or Good In Good Out. It is important that we give good input to our mind. If we are hearing materialistic talks, mundane gossips, movie songs then we will always be absorbed in mundane activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if we do \u015brava\u1e47am i.e hear pastimes of Krishna,<\/strong> devotional songs and most of the time discuss about Krishna with others then we will develop taste for Krishna<\/strong> Consciousness<\/strong> and will attain Krishna.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choice is ours!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u015arava\u1e47am means hearing and it plays a very important role in our Krishna Conscious journey. In fact, in our material life too \u015brava\u1e47am plays a significant role. For example, in our schools and colleges we learnt by hearing the subjects from our teachers. I remember, teachers asking us to hear attentively to understand the subjects… <\/p>\n

Read More<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5416,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[100],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-philosophy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5412"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5412\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}