Bhavas in Srimad Bhagavatam - 1

Sri Sri Swamiji expounded the Bhagavata Mahapurana for seven days in March 2008 at Guruvayoor.  Innumerable bhavas sprung forth during His discourses.  Nama Dwaar shares with its readers a few of these...

The perfect wedding match

Sage Vyasa had eighteen daughters each one with varied character and personality. Amongst them was one, who was graceful, beautiful, ‘saatvic’ and lovable.

As a gift for anyone who wins the hand of this beautiful maiden of his, three great jewels were promised  - Bhakti (devotion), Jnana (knowledge) and Vairagya (dispassion)

 It is only when the groom had ‘Guru Paarvai’ (the favorable positioning  of planet Jupiter in the horoscope, also interpreted as Guru's grace) can he marry this beautiful maiden called Bhagavatam.

The Zodiac in Bhagavatam

There are twelve ‘Rasis’ (zodiacs) in the Indian Horoscope and each one of them represents something particular in life.

The first zodiac represents life.

The second house represents family and wealth. The third house represents younger brothers, short travel etc.

The fourth house stands for comforts and happiness, mother, vehicle etc.  The fifth place represents 'Punya' (merits), 'Putra' (son) etc.

The sixth represents stands for debts, laziness, prestige in the society, lack of punctuality, inconsistencies etc.

The seventh house represents neighbours, colleauges, friends, business partners, family partners, your surroundings etc.

The eighth stands for accidents, unexpected miseries, dangerous situations in life (‘Prana Sankata’).

the ninth house represents the assets and merits accrued by our ancestors, father, heriditary wealth, treasures, etc.

The tenth zodiac stands for breadwinning for life - the job.

The eleventh stands for gains, income, awards, favours etc. and the twelfth represents loss, wisdom, death and liberation (‘Mukti Sthaana’)

Srimad Bhagavatam contains twelve cantos, which represents the twelve zodiacs in a horoscope:

 The first canto talks about King Parikshit's lifespan being endangered.

The second canto talks about Sri Suka showing King Parikshit the way to liberation.  Here he says that the illustrious Sadhus and Mahans are your very family.  Getting a Guru (an illlustrious Guru like Sage Suka) is indeed the most invaluable wealth.

The third canto talks in detail about the life and generations of Uttanapaada and Priyavrata who are none but our siblings.

The fourth canto talks about the comforts that Dhruva wanted to enjoy and what it entailed.  It goes to show the meaning of the four Purushartas – Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha; how Dhruva, even after his meditation, came back to the kingdom and ruled it, illustrating all the Purushartas.  The life history of Prithu shows what the true comforts should be -- listening to the glories of the Lord etc.

The fifth  canto talks about Jadabharata’s life history and the initiation of King Rahugana in the path of Jnana by Jadabharata.  It also talks about yet another 'Upadesa' -- the Jnana Upadesa  (initiation of the Supreme Knowledge) of Sage Rishabha Yogi to his children

The sixth canto talks about two stories; it talks about the sins acquired by two varied personalities -- one of a well-educated, well-bred human being by name Ajamila and the other being Indra, the king of the Devas.  The Purana goes to show that in either of these two cases, it is the Lord (and the Lord’s Name) which gives deliverance from these sins).

The seventh canto talks about Prahlada’s story where it shows the importance of association with good-natured (‘saatvic’) people.

The eighth canto starts with the elephant king Gajendra being put into terminal danger and shows us the supreme truth that the only way to escape the pangs of death and misery is surrender unto Lord.  It talks about Amrutha Mathana which shows how wealth is important to our life.  Not stopping with that, it talks about Bali and Vamana Charitra to show that the wealth so earned must be surrendered to the Almighty.

The ninth canto talks about the lineages of different dynasties - of the Sun and the Moon dynasties who are none but our ancestors.   It talks about the great deeds / merits of our forefathers who have relinquished their worldly lives for the sake of Satsang and the Lord.

The tenth canto talks about Lord Krishna’s divine story.  ‘Nityam Dasamasya Pataath’ (One should read the tenth canto everyday) – indicates how one should spend one's lifetime.

The eleventh canto talks about Jnaana through the different ‘Gita’s, clearly showing that attainment of Jnaana is verily the ‘gain’ in our life.

The twelfth canto talks about the Mukti of Parikshit and shows us that ‘Nama Sankirtan’ is verily the path to liberation.

The Authorities

Veda Vyasa is the authority of the Vedas and Narada is considered the foremost in Bhakti.Written by Veda Vyasa on the advice of Sage Narada, Srimad Bhagavatam is, no doubt, the essence of the Vedas and Bhakti

Sage Narada's compassion

The very intention of Sage Narada meeting Sage Vyasa was that the world would be gifted with the great Purana called Srimad Bhagavatam

The very purpose of Sage Narada meeting  Valmiki was that the world would be gifted with the great epic called Ramayana.

The very purpose of Sage Narada meeting Prahalada’s mother was that the demon called Hiranyakashipu would be killed.

Was there a reason behind Sage Narada meeting the little child Dhruva? What was the intended benefit?

Sage Narada had a very similar situation in his youth when his mother left him, and he went to the forests to meditate on the Lord.

The little child Dhruva was in a similar state and as an experienced person, Narada, out of sheer compassion, wanted to impart the knowledge born out of his experience to this little child!

Sage Suka's test

Lakshmi

Goddess Lakshmi has 8 different forms ( “Ashta Lakshmi”), bestowing eight different kinds of wealth to those who propitiate Her.

That is the reason why Sage Suka narrates the appearance of Goddess Lakshmi in the eighth sloka of the eighth chapter of the eighth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam

Part - II