250 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 5

laksana), this is sufficient; the other eight processes are included. Now
let us discuss these nine different processes.

(1) Sravanam. Hearing of the holy name of the Lord (sravanam) is
the beginning of devotional service. Although any one of the nine pro-
cesses is sufficient, in chronological order the hearing of the holy name of
the Lord is the beginning. Indeed, it is essential. As enunciated by Lord
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ceto-darpana-marjanam: by chanting the
holy name of the Lord, one is cleansed of the material conception of life,
which is due to the dirty modes of material nature. When the dirt is
cleansed from the core of one’s heart, one can realize the form of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead—isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-
Gnanda-vigrahah. Thus by hearing the holy name of the Lord, one
comes to the platform of understanding the personal form of the Lord.
After realizing the Lord’s form, one can realize the transcendental
qualities of the Lord, and when one can understand His transcendental
qualities one can understand the Lord’s associates. In this way a devotee
advances further and further toward complete understanding of the
Lord as he awakens in realization of the Lord’s holy name, transcenden-
tal form and qualities, His paraphernalia, and everything pertaining to
Him. Therefore the chronological process is Ssravanam kirtanam visnoh.
This same process of chronological understanding holds true in chanting
and remembering. When the chanting of the holy name, form, qualities
and paraphernalia is heard from the mouth of a pure devotee, his hear-
ing and chanting are very pleasing. Srila Sanatana Gosvami has forbid-
den us to hear the chanting of an artificial devotee or nondevotee.

Hearing from the text of Srimad-Bhagavatam i is considered the most
important process of hearing. Srimad-Bhagavatam is full of transcen-
dental chanting of the holy name, and therefore the chanting and hear-
ing of Srimad-Bhagavatam are transcendentally full of mellows. The
transcendental holy name of the Lord may be heard and chanted accor-
dingly to the attraction of the devotee. One may chant the holy name of
Lord Krsna, or one may chant the holy name of Lord Rama or
Nrsirnhadeva (rémadi-mirtisu kala-niyamena tisthan). The Lord has
innumerable forms and names, and devotees may meditate upon a par-
ticular form and chant the holy name according to his attraction. The
best course is to hear of the holy name, form and so on from a pure devo-
tee of the same standard as oneself. In other words, one who is attached
