3. Worship of Vishnu

 

There are many religions in the world. There is a history of the people who created these religions.

Hinduism is a religion that has been prevailing in our country for thousands of years without having been created by anyone. 

Hinduism is not a religion, it is a way of life. No ritual is required for one to "become" a Hindu. There are no priests involved in proselytizing activities. 

Anyone can consider himself a Hindu. You don't have to prove yourself to be a Hindu by going to a temple, reading the Gita or celebrating festivals. 

Some would say that Hinduism has many sects. These are not sects, but forms of worship 

Adi Shankara has defined six types of Hindu worship. 

1. Saivism (Worship of Lord ShivA)

2, Vaishnavism (Worship of Vishnu)

3. ShAktam (Worship of Goddess Shakthi)

4. GANapathyam (Worship of GaneshA)

5. KaumAram (Worship of MurugA also known as SkandA)

6. Sauryam (Worship of SuryA, the Son) 

Although Adi Shankara wrote hymns on many deities, there are many examples of him giving Vishnu the highest place in his mind. 

While he was in Kashi some Pandits were walking down the street debating a difficult rule of grammar in Sanskrit. Adi Shankara stopped them and said, "Praise Govinda." As we all know, Govinda refers to Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu and sometimes to Vishnu himself. 

He composed a wonderful hymn on Vishnu called 'Baja Govindam,' exhorting the Pandits that the knowledge of grammar would not help them in their final days. 

Once when Adi Shankarae came out of his body and entered the body of a dead king with a view to live the life of a married man in response to the challenge of a person who debated with him, the religious extremists, the Kaabalikaas, who did not agree with Shankara's  philosophy tried to burn his body. 

At that time, Adi Shankara sought refuge in Narasimha, one of the incarnations of  Vishnu. He meditated on Narasimha and composed the hymn "Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalambam". By the grace of Narasimha his burnt body became whole again. 

This is the hymn he recited on Vishnu for his mother to attain moksha when her mother was on her deathbed. 

"Vanamali gathi saarngi sangi chakricha nandaki

Shriman Narayano Vishnur Vasudevo Abhirakshatu." 

This hymn which means "Narayana, also known as Vishnu or Vasudeva who wears a garland called Vanamali and who carries a conch, a wheel and and a bow called Saaranga should protect me'.

Interestingly, this verse is included in the Vishnu Sahasranama, after the 1000 names of Vishnu are recited. 

Shankara's mother breathed her last listening to this verse and reciting it. People with faith would strongly believe that Shankara's mother would have attained the feet of Lord Vishnu.

In another hymn, Shankara says, 

"Akaasath pathitham thoyam yadha gachahti saagaram

Sarva Deva Namaskaraha Kesavam Pratigachati." 

This means "All the water that falls from the sky reaches the sea. Similarly, the obeisance we offer to all the gods will reach Kesava (Vishnu) 

Although Adi Shankara was not considered a Vaishnava Acharya like Ramanuja, the above examples show how much importance he gave to the worship of Vishnu.

 It is a Vaishnava tradition to perform any action by saying 'This action is done by Vishnu for Vishnu's sake on His own will and for His own satisfaction." 

In the Vaishnavite tradition, I conclude this blog post by saying that this post is also being done by Vishnu as per His will for His own satisfaction.

Tamil Version of this Post