The nine processes of devotional service recommended by Prahlada Maharaja and accepted by the Vaishnava acharyas.
1. HEARING (sravanam)
2. CHANTING (kirtanam)
3. REMEMBERING( visnu smaranam)
4. SERVING THE LORD'S LOTUS FEET (pada sevanam)
5. DEITY-WORSHIP (arcanam)
6. PRAYING (vandanam)
7. EXECUTING ORDERS (dasyam)
8. SERVING AS A FRIEND (sakhyam)
9. COMPLETE SURRENDER (atma nivedanam)
1. HEARING (sravanam)
2. CHANTING (kirtanam)
3. REMEMBERING( visnu smaranam)
4. SERVING THE LORD'S LOTUS FEET (pada sevanam)
5. DEITY-WORSHIP (arcanam)
6. PRAYING (vandanam)
7. EXECUTING ORDERS (dasyam)
8. SERVING AS A FRIEND (sakhyam)
9. COMPLETE SURRENDER (atma nivedanam)
Of all nine there is one that is indispensable. Hearing. Without hearing it is not actually possible to perform the other eight. This is obvious when we consider that Lord Brahma, the first created being in the universe, before anyone or anything else was manifest, the first person's engagement was to hear "hear" from Krishna. Whatever we know about Krishna is coming from Lord Brahma. At first Lord Brahma performed austerities and meditation "hearing" but one sound "tapa." When the Lord was pleased with Brahma's execution of the initial order...perform austerities...the Lord then revealed..."tene brahma hrda" hearing from Krishna within the heart.
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