Sunday, 21 August 2011

SRIMAD BHAGWATAM


The Bhagavata Purana (also known as SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM, or simply Bhagavatam) is one of the Puranic texts of Hindu literature, and is Sanskrit for "The Book of God". Its primary focus is the process of bhakti yoga (loving devotion to the Supreme Lord) in which Krishna is understood as the Supreme all-embracing God of all gods (Svayam Bhagavan). The Bhagavatam takes the form of a story being told by a great rishi known as Suta Goswami,to a host of assembled sages, who ask him questions in regard to the various avatars, or descents of Vishnu within the mortal world. Suta Goswami then relates the Bhagavatam as he has heard it from another sage, called Sukadeva. The language of the Purana closely resembles Vedic which may indicate an early dating or a variety of other possible possible reasons to resemble the archaic texts. 
Each section or canto describes specific avatars of Vishnu, beginning with a summary of all avatars in the first canto concluding with description of Krishna as Svayam bhagavan. The tenth and eleventh cantos give detailed accounts of the story of Krishna's appearance and pastimes in Vrindavan, and his instructions to various devotees (such as the Uddhava Gita). The final twelfth canto foretells the coming of the age of Kali yuga (the current age according to the Hindu cycle of ages), and the eventual destruction of the earthly universe.


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