Chapter summary
अनन्तपुरमाहात्म्यम् Ananta Pura Māhātmyam
The Glory of Anantapuram
**The revered Sadguru said:**
There once lived a great yogi, a veritable treasure of penance, named Śrīvatsa. Firm in his sacred vows, he undertook severe austerities on the banks of the Sarasvatī river, his sole desire being a direct vision of Janārdana, the Lord of the universe and God of gods. (v.1-2) His rigorous discipline knew no bounds: sometimes he subsisted only on leaves, at other times solely on water or air, and often he observed a complete fast. This great sage endured the scorching heat of summer, sitting amidst five fires; he submerged himself in water during the bitter winter; and in the month of Śrāvaṇa, he allowed the incessant rains to drench him. (v.3-4) With an ardent longing to behold the Lord, he chanted the twelve-syllabled mantra (Dvādaśākṣara-vidyā) billions of times, performing the preparatory rites (puraścaryā) with unwavering devotion. (v.5)
One morning, having risen and purified himself in the auspicious waters of the Sarasvatī, he performed his morning prayers (sandhyā), meditating deeply on Lord Nārāyaṇa. This great yogi, adorned with the ūrdhvapuṇḍra mark, a necklace of tulasī beads, and a garland of sacred padma seeds, chanted the holy names of Hari. He meticulously gathered flowers, sandalwood paste, food offerings, incense, lamps, and other articles, then personally performed the worship according to the prescribed rites. (v.6-8) Placing the sacred Śālagrāma stone upon a revered pedestal with profound faith, the sage, resolute in his vows, performed the ceremonial bath with the five nectars (pañcāmṛta). After applying fragrant sandalwood paste and worshipping Govinda with sacred tulasī leaves, he devoutly presented the food offering (naivedyam). Then, with eyes brimming with tears, he performed the ārati (waving of lamps), followed by circumambulation and prostration. (v.9-11) He then settled upon his seat before the Śālagrāma, closing his eyes and meditating intently on Hari, the wielder of the conch and discus. (v.12)
At that very moment, a small child, crawling and crying repeatedly, approached him and, with an endearing reverence, climbed onto his lap. Considering this a disturbance to his profound meditation, the sage gently pushed the child away with his hand. Instantly, the child, whose golden anklets tinkled sweetly, vanished. (v.13-14) Opening his eyes at once, the great sage realized he had been deceived by Krishna, who had appeared in the form of a child, and was overcome with immense distress. The great yogi, his eyes now filled with tears, stretched out his lotus-like hands and lamented with a voice utterly steeped in sorrow. (v.15-16)
**Śrīvatsa said:**
Alas, how unfortunate I am! I have been deceived by Vishnu! Deluded, I failed to recognize Krishna, who had come onto my very lap. After performing such severe penance and waiting for so long, I, a fool, did not realize it was Krishna who had graciously appeared before me. (v.17-18) The vision of Vishnu is priceless, yet my own power of penance is trivial. Otherwise, how could I have been so easily deceived by the merciful Keśava? Therefore, I, who possess nothing, pray only for His boundless mercy. May the one who is affectionate to those who take refuge in Him swiftly fulfill my heart's desire. (v.19-20)
O God of gods, salutations to You, O holder of the conch, discus, and mace! O Dāmodara, O lotus-eyed one, O Govinda, O Madhusūdana! O Lord, I possess neither the power of yoga nor the strength of penance. O Krishna, O Keśava, only by Your grace can I be granted Your divine vision. I desire to see only You, whose very form is the bliss of vision. O Mādhava, what else is there for me to pray for beyond this? (v.21-23) I grieve only in separation from You, O Puruṣottama. Do not test me, O Master; I am a wretched and profoundly weak soul. O ocean of mercy, I do not possess the devotion or faith required for Your service, a service that is rare even for the gods. (v.24-25) Having pushed You away when You came onto my lap of Your own accord, I, being deluded, now suffer again. O Govinda, such is my misfortune! Forgive this offense, O Acyuta, Ananta, Mādhava! O Lord, O Puruṣottama, please protect me with Your grace, for I have taken refuge in You. (v.26-27)
**The revered Sadguru said:**
Thus praised by Śrīvatsa, the great Vishnu, the very abode of compassion, spoke in an unembodied voice, deep and resonant as the rumbling of clouds. (v.28)
**The Supreme Lord said:**
"Come to the Ananta forest (Anantavanam) and behold My form there. O great sage, do not grieve; you will see Vishnu reclining upon Ananta, the cosmic serpent." (v.29)
**The revered Sadguru said:**
Hearing the unembodied voice, the great sage immediately set out along the forest path, filled with eager anticipation for the vision of Vishnu. "Where is Anantavanam?" he asked repeatedly, as he wandered through the forest, distressed by his separation from the Lord. (v.30-31) Wandering thus through the wilderness with reverence and eagerness, he at last reached Anantavanam, situated on the shore of the western ocean. (v.32)
There, he beheld the Primeval God, Vishnu, whose face was illuminated by the radiant gems on the thousand hoods of the serpent king, Ananta. His eyes, vast as lotus petals, gazed serenely, and His divine form was adorned with various resplendent ornaments: a glorious crown, jeweled earrings, and the brilliant Kaustubha gem. He was the tranquil one, the unborn Acyuta, the sovereign of the gods, engaged in yogic sleep upon the serpent couch. His broad chest was graced with a garland of fresh, divine tulasī leaves and marked with the auspicious Śrīvatsa symbol. His long, outstretched arms were beautified by armlets, and a resplendent yellow garment draped His magnificent thighs. His beautiful navel, with its three graceful folds and girdle, was the sacred abode for the billions of cosmic spheres contained within the lotus. This lotus, indeed, was the sole cause of the birth of the Veda-born Brahmā, the creator of all moving and unmoving beings. His glorious pair of lotus feet, the ultimate refuge of all worlds, were tenderly held by the creeper-like hands of Padmā (Lakshmi) and Dharā (Bhudevi). (v.33-36) At His sides, He was served by Rudra, Vidhi (Brahmā), Śakra (Indra), the Moon, the Sun, and by foremost sages such as Vyāsa, Atri, Nārada, and Śuka. He was the primal source, who, by the measure of His own body in length and breadth, had fashioned the three worlds. (v.37)
Seeing Him, Śrīvatsa joined his hands in a cup-like gesture and placed them upon his head. His eyes grew moist with tears of love, and his body thrilled with horripilation. In a state of ecstatic agitation born from the flood of love, he praised the great Puruṣa with a faltering voice. (v.38)
**Śrīvatsa said:**
Salutations to the infinite one, of a thousand forms, with a thousand feet, eyes, heads, thighs, and arms. Salutations to the eternal Puruṣa of a thousand names, the sustainer of a thousand crore yugas. (v.39) I bow to Vishnu, whose form is tranquil, who reclines on the serpent, from whose navel springs the lotus, the Lord of gods. He is the form of the universe, vast as the sky, cloud-hued, with a beautiful body. He is the beloved of Lakshmi, with lotus-like eyes, attainable through the meditation of yogis' hearts. He is the remover of the fear of worldly existence and the sole Lord of all worlds. (v.40)
I bow to Vishnu, who is dark as a cloud, clad in yellow silk, marked with the Śrīvatsa, His body radiant with the Kaustubha gem. He is endowed with merit, His eyes are as large as a lotus, and He is the sole Lord of all worlds. I bow my head to the four-armed Vishnu, who holds the conch and discus, wears a crown and earrings, is clad in a yellow garment, has eyes like a lotus, and whose chest is adorned with a garland and the radiant Kaustubha gem. (v.41-42) Salutations to the unchanging, pure, eternal, supreme Self; to Vishnu, who is ever of one form and is all-conquering. Salutations to that powerful Vishnu, by the mere remembrance of whom one is liberated from the bondage of birth and worldly existence. (v.43-44) Salutations to the one with a lotus-navel, salutations to the one wearing a lotus garland. Salutations to the one with lotus-eyes, salutations to the one with lotus-feet. Be pleased, O Padmanābha! Be pleased, O Puruṣottama! Be pleased, O Puṇḍarīkākṣa! Be pleased, O Madhusūdana! (v.45-46)
**The revered Sadguru said:**
Thus praised, the Lord of the universe spoke these sweet words to Śrīvatsa, the best of sages: "Let a boon be chosen by you." (v.47) Then the excellent sage, desiring the welfare of the world, prayed thus: "O Lord, O Vishnu, O Prabhu reclining on Ananta! Remain here itself and grant Your vision to the people for as long as the moon and sun endure." The Lord agreed to this. To this day, the wonderful sacred place of Anantapuram can be seen. (v.48-49) Those people who listen to this auspicious glory of Anantapuram will find all their sins destroyed. Of this, there is no doubt. (v.50)
Thus ends the twenty-third chapter, entitled "The Glory of Anantapuram," in the Fifth Part of the "Divyadeśavaibhavam" composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
