Thursday, March 21, 2019

Vishnu Puranam Full Audio 1 of 6



After the recitation and recording of the entire Kalika Puranam in this blog, there developed an intense desire to recite and record the entire Vishnu Puranam and make it available to all devotees so the feeling of being an audience to the Rishi Himself is obtained. By the Divine Will of Sri Maha Vishnu, Sri Maha Lakshmi, Sri Maha Saraswati, Sri Maha Kali Devi, Sri Kanchi Maha Periyava, Sri Dr. G. Krishna Kumar and All the Divine Elevated Souls, here is the Original Entire Vishnu Puranam recited in beautiful Sanskrit for the common good of all. This set of 6 posts represents a major entry in this blog. This effort has taken more than a year to complete. This is especially useful if one wants to undertake a “Shravana Vratam” ( loosely defined as an “auspicious austere offering of devotion by listening” ) to Sri Maha Vishnu by listening to the entire Puranam. Or one could listen to individual chapters here and there depending upon one’s inclination. As in other audio in this blog site, this is a humble offering by Adiyen- the humble servant here  – the audio is not professionally recorded.

And now the details. This presentation comprises of 5,479 verses covering 126 chapters. Because of the sheer volume, there are a total of 6 parts here each representing an Amsha (Part)(Book). The total hours of audio ends up being 15 hours, 22 minutes and 37 seconds. Some chapters are short and some are long. If one is simply listening for heavenly pleasure or for individual meritorious chapters, then individual chapters may be listened to ( some exceptions exist and they are detailed as and when needed, since one cannot break away from a story partially ). However, if a “vratam” is undertaken ( either with a formal “sankalpam”(vow) or simply a mental desire ) , then one needs to plan ahead. The vratam can be planned to be completed in 126 days at the rate of one chapter a day or in 14 days at the rate of 9 chapters a day or in 9 weekends at the rate of 14 chapters every weekend or any other time combination period. Extended periods are not preferred because so many worldly hurdles may crop up thereby introducing anxiety. It is advisable to peruse through FIRST by way of timing of each section, listen to one or two chapters and plan well in advance and of course pray for the success of the mission. Adiyen has performed this vratam in 15 days.

The number of shlokams and the audio time of each chapter is given individually, along with restrictions if any regarding necessity of keeping chapters together. A very brief description of each chapter is also given, so one has some idea of what is being listened to. While listening, because of the tremendous level of peace that ensues, the body may tend to get so relaxed that one might fall asleep; to avoid this, please ensure plenty of sleep is given to the body ahead of time. To get the most benefit, try to pay attention to the words even if not fully understood. Understanding is great but not necessary; devotion is more important. One MUST sit and listen; per Srimad Devi Bhagawatham, one cannot lie down and listen, unless you are sick and / or handicapped. One needs to shower clean, ( if showering cannot be done because of sickness, apply Thiru Namam, Vibhuti or Kumkumam ), wear clean clothes and light a lamp and offer something to Sri Maha Vishnu every day that the vratam is followed; it could be some formal food, fruits, raisins, milk or at least some sugar. If you are listening in the car, then a chapter CANNOT be stopped without completing completely, even if your “destination” has been reached. If there is a requirement to keep chapters together, then that MUST be followed also. Please offer the HIGHEST level of Respect and Devotion that is possible. This is a POWERFUL treatise, full of POTENT mantras and should NOT be taken lightly.

Being not qualified to advise whether women who choose to undertake the vratam can continue during days of “cycles”, they are hereby advised either to seek the advice of the learned or try to schedule ahead of time to avoid such periods completely.

The presentation here is ONLY the original Sanskrit shlokams that are hundreds of years old and no copyrights cover these. If interested in knowing the meanings of these shlokams, there are some wonderful Books available: (a) for English translation one is highly recommended to purchase the Book “Vishnu Puranam – Sanskrit with English Translation by H.H.Wilson; Edited by K.L.Joshi” by Parimal Publications – this is available from http://exoticindiaart.com  – the ISBN is: 978-81-7110-212-9. Translations in other languages may also be available.  This is stated only as a reference and helpful suggestion; there is NO financial commissions, incentives or commercial motivation behind these recommendations - NOTHING. These publishers are performing Divine Service by translating these ancient gems of shlokams. If any Book is purchased, one must place the Book with reverence in a sacred area since it contains Divine mantras and represents the Deity Himself.

Downloading Files Note: This note is NOT repeated in the other parts of this set.

NOTE: BECAUSE SOME OF THE AUDIO FILES IN CHAPTERS ARE VERY LARGE FILES, YOU WILL HAVE TO DOWNLOAD AND THEN LISTEN. On mobile devices and some computers, you may get the message -- This file is too large for Google to scan, download anyway? -- You will have to answer "YES" and then listen after download. On some computers, when you hit the play button, if nothing seems to happen, click the Download arrow at the top, click download anyway and then listen. Sorry for the inconvenience -- but these are big files and praise to Sri Maha Vishnu -- His Grace is magnificent !

 ( Mobile devices: click download; then play.)

And Now the Audio of Sri Vishnu Puranam:

Book1: Ch 1: 35 Verses: 5 minutes 41 seconds: Size: 5 MB

Brief: Brief obeisance to Lord Vishnu by Maharishi Parashara, the grandson of Sage Vasishta, who is questioned by disciple Maitreya as to the substance of the world, its elements, Gods, Manus, time periods such as Manvantaras, duties of various castes, etc. Parashara recollects the boon given to him by Maharishi Pulastya, everything that was said to him by Pulastya and Vasishta and promises to impart them to Maitreya.


 Book 1: Ch 2: 68 Verses: 10 minutes 5 seconds: Size: 9 MB

Brief: Parashara praises Lord Vishnu, the support and substratum of all things, the unchanged, imperishable Purushottama, One who cannot be comprehended by the senses; birthless and deathless known as Vasudeva, colorless and formless and is the Chief Principle and Spirit ( Pradhaana and Pumaan). The concept of Intellect, Ego and the senses is then dealt with in this chapter.


Book 1: Ch 3: 28 Verses: 4 minutes 10 seconds: Size: 4  MB

Brief: Brief description of the units of time from seconds (blinking of eye) to Kalpas.


Book 1: Ch 4: 52 Verses: 8 minutes 36 seconds: Size: 8  MB

Brief: Narayana first assumes the form of fish, tortoise and then a boar and raises Prthvi, Mother Earth. Verse 12 onwards is praise of Vishnu by Prthvi.


Book 1: Ch 5: 65 Verses: 9 minutes 41 seconds: Size: 9 MB

Brief: Primary creation by Vishnu in the form of Brahma; immovable things created first from absolute darkness; then animals, beasts, Gods, Rakshasaas, Yakshaas, Pishachas, Sarpas, Gandharvas, humans. Intellect, ego, senses, desire for action and qualities of goodness and darkness are dealt with in this chapter.


Book 1: Ch 6: 41 Verses: 5 minutes 52 seconds: Size:   5 MB

Brief: Formation of the four castes; importance of Yagnas (sacrifices); materials to be offered in Yagnas; fruits of leading pious lives currently that is felt in the after-life.


Book 1: Ch 7: 45 Verses: 6 minutes 22 seconds: Size: 6  MB

Brief: Story of creation continued. How Brahma created nine Brahmarishis from His mind and then Rudra; then Swayambhuva Manu and His wife Satarupa from whom were born sons Priyavrata and Uttanapada and daughters Prasuti and Akuti and the lineage of Daksha started, including Dharma and Adharma. Brief dealing with dissolution.


Book 1: Ch 8: 32 Verses: 5 minutes 4 seconds: Size: 5 MB

Brief: Origin of the Eight Rudras, namely Rudra, Bhava, Sarva, Isana, Pasupati, Bhima, Ugra and Mahadeva. Rudra marries Sati who later was born as Daughter of Himavan. Divinities Dhatru and Vidhataa and daughter Sri Lakshmi, born of the Ocean, were born to Bhrugu; this last statement is questioned by Maitreya and is answered by Parashara in the next chapter.


Book 1: Ch 9: 147 Verses: 20 minutes 33 seconds: Size:  19 MB

Brief: Story of Sage Durvasa who gives the garland given to him by a nymph over to Indra, who in turn places on the brow of Airavata, his elephant, who in turn throws to the ground; this action infuriates Sage Durvasa, who feels Indra insulted him by throwing down the gifted garland and curses that Indra will lose all Kingdom. Indra asks for forgiveness but Durvasa refuses to forgive. Indra loses all kingdom and the Gods go to Brahma, Who asks Them to go to Vishnu. The Gods praise Vishnu and are asked to churn the ocean to get the nectar of immortality; during the churning, Sri Laksmi comes out from the ocean; the nectar of immortality is obtained; but Vishnu dressed as a beautiful lady confuses the demons and prevents them from partaking the nectar which is consumed only by the Devas, who then by renewed vigor conquer the demons and get back their kingdoms. Verses  116 to 137 in this chapter are the hymns of praise for Sri Lakshmi. Verse 137 states: “Sri Laksmi states that ‘I will never turn my face away from that mortal who morning and evening shall repeat the hymn of praise you just said’.” Thus, Sri Lakshmi was first born to Bhrugu and at a later time, born of the ocean.


Book 1: Ch 10: 20 Verses: 3 minutes 21 seconds: Size:  3 MB

Brief: Brief description of the progeny of the daughters of Daksha Prajapati including Ayati, Niryati, Markandeya, Sinivali, Kuhu, Raka, Anumati, Agastya, Pavaka, Pavamana, etc.


Book 1: Ch 11: 56 Verses: 8 minutes 38 seconds: Size: 8 MB

Brief: The second son of Swayambhuva Manu, named Uttanapada had two wives Suruci and Suniti. Through Suruci was born Uttama and through Suniti was born Dhruva; the former was the favorite of the King. Once, the King Uttanapada placed Uttama on his lap and unseated Dhruva, who becoming extremely disappointed, asks his mother who advises him to pray to Vishnu. Dhruva goes to the forest and consults the Rishis who give the Mantra: “ Hiranyagarbha Purusha Pradhana Vyaktha Roopine; Om Namo Vasudevaya Shudhdha Gyaana Swabhavine” to Dhruva to repeat to propitiate Vishnu. It may be noted that this same mantra appears in Chapter 32 of Kalika Puranam which can be found in this blog!


Book 1: Ch 12: 102 Verses: 14 minutes 58 seconds: Size: 14 MB

Brief: Dhruva commences a tenacious and austere penance against all odds and difficulties. Finally, Sri Maha Vishnu comes to him and asks him to ask for boons. Dhruva seeks an exalted station, superior to all that shall endure forever; thus Dhruva exalted to the sky and remains as pole-star.

Merit: He who describes or studies this ascent to the sky of Dhruva will get freed from sins and remain in an exalted position of dignity.


Book 1: Ch 13: 94 Verses: 14 minutes 19 seconds: Size: 13 MB

Brief: In the lineage of Dhruva, King Vena was born who was extremely wicked. After repeated efforts to set him right failed, the rishis decided to get him slain. Without a king, the kingdom fell into disarray; the rishis then decided to rub his thigh and from it, Nishada was born to carry away the sins. The rishis then rubbed his right arm and thence was born the resplendent Prthu. Mother Earth that was destroyed during the period of anarchy soon produced famine and all people went hungry; at this point, Prthu decides to kill Mother Earth. Mother Earth then pleads Prthu not to do so and instead to make several areas level and She would provide the milk needed for nourishment. Prthu listens and follows Her advice and famine gets removed and all beings live happily.

Merit: Verse 93 and 94 state that He who hears this story of the birth of the magnanimous Prthu shall not face any bad dreams and his evil acts get pardoned.


Book 1: Ch 14: 49 Verses: 7 minutes 44 seconds: Size: 7 MB

Brief: In the lineage of Prthu was Prachenabarhish who had ten sons who were called Prachetasas who were experts in military science. Their father asked them to increase the number of people by multiplying and advised that the best way to do so was by propitiating Sri Maha Vishnu; and so they went into the ocean and performed severe penance. This story continues in the next chapter. Great hymns of praise to Sri Vishnu in verses 23 through verse 43.


Book 1: Ch 15: 156 Verses: 22 minutes 4 seconds: Size: 20 MB

Brief: This is a very powerful chapter. As Prachetasas were in penance, Earth was getting taken over by overgrown trees and mankind was perishing; getting angry the Sages caused heavy winds and fire to destroy all trees. Soma, the Moon, who is in charge of vegetation begged the Sages to calm down and said He would give them Marisha – the daughter of the woods as their wife with whom they can multiply mankind. The story of Marisha starts. Formerly a Sage named Kandu was practicing austerities and the King of the Gods sent down the nymph Pramlocha to disturb him; she did so and at the end of several hundred years of mutual enjoyment, the Sage realized He had steered away from his penance and allowed the nymph Pramlocha to return to her abode in the heavens after getting angry; as Pramlocha got ready to leave, droplets of perspiration from her body landed on the dry tree leaves and with the help of the wind and nourishment from Soma (Moon), a lovely girl called Marisha was born who was given as wife to Prachetasas when she became older. Marisha, the progeny of Sage Kandu and wife of Prachetasas, produced the Patriarch Daksha, who produced several offsprings.

Maitreya confounds Parashara with his doubt that Daksha was supposed to be born of Brahma; how is it that He is told be born as son of Marisha; Parashara clears the doubt. Daksha produced several sons named Haryasvas and ordered them to multiply to increase mankind population. Sage Narada misguides them and they get lost in the woods. Disappointed, Daksha produces more sons named Savalasvas and asks them to multiply; Narada ill-advises them also to follow the footsteps of their brothers and they get vanished also. Angered, Daksha curses Narada and produces sixty daughters who are given away to various sages. Their names and the names of their progeny are given included in whom are Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakashipu and the wise Prahlada.


Book 1: Ch 16: 16 Verses: 2 minutes 40 seconds: Size: 2 MB

Brief: Disciple Maitreya asks Sage Parashara to describe in detail the story of the wise Prahlada, the troubles he faced and his responses.


Book 1: Ch 17: 91 Verses: 15 minutes 0 seconds: Size: 14 MB

Brief: Story of Prahlada starts. Hiranyakashipu, the son of Diti, had conquered the sovereignty of Indra and was troubling the Devas. Prahlada, his son, was being sent to school and when asked what he had learnt thus far, said that the absolute power in this universe was Sri Maha Vishnu. This angered his father, Hiranyakashipu, who tried every possible method to kill his own son Prahlada. Prahlada is protected by Sri Maha Vishnu against all the efforts of his father to destroy him. Verses 55 to 91 that comprise the discourse given by Prahlada to his peers is simply philosophically and lyrically superb !


Book 1: Ch 18: 43 Verses: 6 minutes 54 seconds: Size: 6 MB

Brief: Hiranyakashipu orders his cooks to poison Prahlada, but the posion does not work. Later, he asks the Brahmanas to perform magical rites to destroy Prahlada; but Prahlada prays to Sri Maha Vishnu to pardon the Brahmanas for conducting such improper rites; the Brahmanas get pardoned and they all bless the Great Prahlada! This is quite a moving chapter.


Book 1: Ch 19: 86 Verses: 12 minutes 50 seconds: Size: 12 MB

Brief: Hiranyakashipu asks Prahlada wherefrom did he get the powers to thwart all attempts to destroy him; to which Prahlada refers back to Sri Maha Vishnu; angered, Prahlada is ordered to thrown out of a tall mountain peak; Prahlada survives this. Hiranyakashipu then orders Asura Samvara to do black magic against Prahlada which also meets with failure. The demon king Hiranyakashipu then asks Prahlada about what he knows about how kings should behave; when Prahlada gives the discourse, his father does not like it, and orders the asuras to hurl Prahlada to the bottom of the ocean against rocks; at that point, Prahlada sings hymns in praise of Sri Maha Vishnu – these are covered in verses 64 through 86 and are simply superb !


Book 1: Ch 20: 39 Verses: 6 minutes 0 seconds: Size: 6 MB

Brief: Prahlada goes into deep meditation at the bottom of the ocean and recognizes the oneness of the spirit in him and Sri Maha Vishnu and tears asunder the rocks and ocean and comes up only to belod Vishnu clad in yellow robes. When Sri Maha Vishnu tells him to ask for boons, all that he asks is that his devotion see no decay and that he should never forget Sri Maha Vishnu. Upon insistence from Sri Maha Vishnu to ask for yet another boon, Prahlada simply asks that his father be forgiven for all that he put him through. Sri Maha Vishnu grants that and after the killing of Hiranyakashipu by Sri Maha Vishnu in the form of Sri Narasimha, Prahlada becomes the king of the Daityas and then attains liberation. This is quite a moving chapter.

Merit: Verses 36 to 39 state that one who listens to this story of Prahlada that is Chapter 17,18,19 and 20, has his sins washed away; and all the unfair dealings of the world against him get annihilated with just one hearing of this great story; one who hears this story on a full-moon day, new moon day or the eighth or the twelfth lunar day gets merits equal to that of donating a cow; and just as Vishnu protected Prahlada, so will the hearer of this story be protected by Vishnu.


Book 1: Ch 21: 40 Verses: 6 minutes 10 seconds: Size: 6 MB

Brief: Names and description of Prahlada’s descendants. Included are Prahlada’s son Virochana, his son Bali, children of Vaisvanara, Pauloma, the thousand serpents descended from Kadru including Vasuki, Taksha, etc, the Great Eagle Garuda Who was borne by Vinata, etc. This creation is to have taken place in the second manvantara called Svarochisha. There is a brief description of the birth of the forty-nine Deities called Maruts from Diti.


Book 1: Ch 22: 89 Verses: 12 minutes 25 seconds: Size: 11 MB

Brief: The first part of this chapter deals with the assignment of sovereignty of various creations over their subordinates. The four-fold steps of achieving supreme knowledge is touched upon as wells as the form of Sri Maha Vishnu as all-pervading Supreme Energy. The symbolism of every part of Sri Maha Vishnu’s personified body is beautifully explained including the Kaustubha gem, conch, mace, Vaijayanti necklace, etc.

Merit: Verses 87 through 89 state the merits of listening to this first book of Sri Vishnu Purana. It is stated to expiate all sins; one who hears this gets the fruit of bathing in the holy Pushkara lake for twelve years in the month of Karthik. It is stated that the Gods bestow the grace of a Sage on the hearer.


Please proceed to Part 2.

Om Sri Vishnave Namaha !

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