SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM - Prabhupada

250 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 5laIJ-d), this is sufficient; the other eight processes are included. Nowlet us discuss these nine different processes.(1) Sravar:uzm. Hearing of the holy name of the Lord (sravar:uzm) isthe beginning of devotional service. Although any one of the nine processesis sufficient, in chronological order the hearing of the holy name ofthe Lord is the beginning. Indeed, it is essential. As enunciated by LordSri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ceto-darpar:uz-mdrjanam: by chanting theholy 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 iscleansed from the core of one's heart, one can realize the form of theSupreme Personality of Godhead - iSvara parama krr:uz sac-cidananda-vigraha.Thus by hearing the holy name of the Lord, onecomes to the platform of understanding the personal form of the Lord.Mter realizing the Lord's form, one can realize the transcendentalqualities of the Lord, and when one can understand His transcendentalqualities one can understand the Lord's associates. In this way a devoteeadvances further and further toward complete understanding of theLord as he awakens in realization of the Lord's holy name, transcendentalform and qualities, His paraphernalia, and everything pertaining toHim. Therefore the chronological process is sravar:uzrh kirtanarh vi$o.This same process of chronological understanding holds true in chantingand remembering. When the chanting of the holy name, form, qualitiesand paraphernalia is heard from the mouth of a pure devotee, his hearingand chanting are very pleasing. Srila Sanatana Gosvami has forbiddenus to hear the chanting of an artificial devotee or nondevotee.Hearing from the text of Srimad-Bhagavatam is considered the mostimportant process of hearing. Srimad-Bhagavatam is full of transcendentalcanting of the holy name, and therefore the chanting and hearingof Srimad-Bhagavatam are transcendentally full of mellows. Thetranscendental holy name of the Lord may be heard and chanted accordinglyto the attraction of the devotee. One may chant the holy name ofLord 1\r:ga, or one may chant the holy name of Lord Rama orN:rsirhhadeva (ramadi-murti$u kala-niyamena ti$!han). The Lord hasinnumerable forms and names, and devotees may meditate upon a particularform and chant the holy name according to his attraction. Thebest course is to hear of the holy name, form and so on from a pure devoteeof the same standard as oneself. In other words, one who is attached