Namaste all
Originally Posted by
smaranam
So what is the point?
The point is that the VedAnta and purAN on which bhakti-yogis rely in their day-to-day sAdhanA, is completely based on the Ved-shruti. It is not fabricated texts like some unfortunately believe.
Bhāgavatam 1.2.12 says:
tac chraddadhānā munayo
jñāna-vairāgya-yuktayā
paśyanty ātmani cātmānaḿ
bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā
"The seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and detachment, realizes that Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service (bhaktyā) in terms of what he has heard from the (Vedānta) śruti."
We should know that Vaishnava practice is based even on the Rig Veda and other Vedas. Thus for instance:
Lord Krsna's Instructions on the Process of Deity Worship, Bhāgavatam 11.27.30-31 (http://vedabase.net/sb/11/27/30-31/en) :
"The worshiper should bathe the Deity every day, as opulently as his assets permit, using waters scented with sandalwood, uśīra root, camphor, kuńkuma and aguru. He should also chant various Vedic hymns, such as the anuvāka known as Svarṇa-gharma, the Mahāpuruṣa-vidyā, the Puruṣa-sūkta and various songs of the Sāma Veda, such as the Rājana and the Rohiṇya."
See also regarding the offerings of food, Bhāgavatam 8.16.51-52 (http://vedabase.net/sb/8/16/51-52/en) :
"Giving up the miserly habit of not spending money, one should arrange for the gorgeous worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who is situated in the heart of every living entity. With great attention, one must prepare an oblation of grains boiled in ghee and milk and must chant the Puruṣa-sūkta mantra. The offerings of food should be of varieties of tastes. In this way, one should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
See Rig Veda 1.156.2:
"He who brings gifts to him the Ancient and the Last, to Visnu who
ordains, together with his Spouse, Who tells the lofty birth of him the
Lofty One, shall verily surpass in glory e'en his peer."
alternative translation:
“He who surrenders, dadāśati, to Vishnu, the All-pervading Godhead, and
His Spouse, sumajjānaye, to the Ordainer [of all things], vedhase, to the
Ancient one, pūrvyāya, [who was here from the beginning of creation]
and who is ever new here, navīyase, who can express the birth of him, yo
jātam asya bravat, and greatness of the Great, mahato mahi, he indeed
should overgrow his kind, yujyaṃ cid abhy asat, with the inspirations of
the higher knowledge, śravobhiḥ.”
It is a well known fact that Vaishnavas offer food to the Lord Vishnu and glorify his pastimes and holy name. Chanting of the holy name of the Lord and celebrating his pastimes described in the Puranas are some of the most important Vaishnava practices.
Rig Veda 7.100.1:
“The one who brings himself to Vishnu, yo viṣṇave dāśat, Walking in the
wide steps, urugāyāya, even if he is mortal, nū martaḥ, who wants to
reach the Goal of Immortality, saniṣyan, he gets protected now [in this
world], nū dayate!
And as he offers himself with his uniting Mind, satrācā manasā yajāte, he
gets, āvivāsāt, the power in his soul, etāvantam naryam, in accordance
with his offer."
Word "urugāya" means "making large strides, wide-striding" and also "the Lord, who is sung of by the great devotees" or "the Lord, who is glorified by great philosophers".
Rig Veda 1.156.1:
"So, Visnu, e'en the wise must swell thy song of
praise, and he who hath oblations pay thee solemn rites."
Rig Veda 7.100.7:
"O Visnu, ... Let this mine offering, Sipivista,
please thee. May these my songs of eulogy exalt thee."
Rig Veda 7.100.5:
"Today I praise This Name of yours, O Vishnu"
Rig Veda 1.156.3 (translation according to Jiva Gosvami):
āsya jānanto nāma cid vivaktan mahas te viṣṇo su-matiḿ bhajāmahe
"O Viṣṇu, Your name is completely transcendental. Thus it is self-manifest. Indeed, even without properly understanding the glories of chanting Your holy name, if we vibrate Your name with at least a small understanding of its glories — that is, if we simply repeat the syllables of Your holy name — gradually we shall understand it."
regards
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