Reinstating One's Original Position
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Paramhamsa Vani
Apr 29, 2026, 12:56:36 AMApr 29
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Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!
To possess bhakti or love for God means to have come in contact with a vaishnava—a lover of God. This comes about due to sukrti or past tendencies towards spiritual culture. If one holds ice near one's body, he becomes cold. If one holds flame near one's body, he becomes hot. In the like manner, if one associates with a devotee—a vaishnava—he becomes devoted to God. Prahlad Maharaj was a great devotee. When he was only a young boy, he spoke of nine processes which, if executed with sincerity, are sure to reinstate one's original position as an eternal servitor of the Lord. He says:
sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam
iti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cennava-laksana
kriyeta bhagavaty addha tan manye 'dhitam uttamam
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.23-24)
"Hearing and chanting about the transcendental Holy Name, form, qualities, paraphernalia, and pastimes of Lord Visnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord as one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind, and words)—these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krishna through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge."
---Jagad-guru His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
To possess bhakti or love for God means to have come in contact with a vaishnava—a lover of God. This comes about due to sukrti or past tendencies towards spiritual culture. If one holds ice near one's body, he becomes cold. If one holds flame near one's body, he becomes hot. In the like manner, if one associates with a devotee—a vaishnava—he becomes devoted to God. Prahlad Maharaj was a great devotee. When he was only a young boy, he spoke of nine processes which, if executed with sincerity, are sure to reinstate one's original position as an eternal servitor of the Lord. He says:
sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam
iti pumsarpita visnau bhaktis cennava-laksana
kriyeta bhagavaty addha tan manye 'dhitam uttamam
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.23-24)
"Hearing and chanting about the transcendental Holy Name, form, qualities, paraphernalia, and pastimes of Lord Visnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord as one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind, and words)—these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krishna through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge."
---Jagad-guru His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
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