The devotee should not be content with merely listening. He should reflect on what he has heard and put into practice the teachings. These are called manana and Nididhyasana. The triple process of listening, reflection and practising leads to God realisation.

Narada is the supreme example to the world of one who realised the Divine by continuously singing the glories of God in all circumstances and at all times. Narada, who was born out of the mind of Brahma, demonstrated to the world the supreme spiritual efficacy of singing the Lord’s glories.

Prahlada demonstrated the power of constant remembrance of the name of the Lord, whatever the ordeals one had to face. He chanted the names of Vishnu without fear or anguish when the demons thrust their javelins at him at the bidding of Hiranyakashipu (Prahlada’s father). Prahlada was an unflinching devotee of Vishnu, whom his father hated as an enemy.

The Goddess Lakshmi is the supreme example of one who earned unique distinction by devoted service to the feet of the Lord. Though she was the Goddess of wealth and presided over all prosperity, she showed to the world that serving the Lord’s feet was greater than all the treasures on earth. Today’s devotees worship Siri (wealth) more than Hari (the Lord). They do not realise that by worshipping the Lord’s feet, even wealth can be got. What foolishness is it to go after money, forgetting the lotus feet of the Lord, which are the fountain source of all prosperity!

Worshipping the Lord by constant prostration was the form of devotion exemplified by Akrura, a devotee of Krishna. Namaskar (the act of worshipping the Lord with folded palms) signified the total offering of the body and the senses to the Divine as a mark of complete surrender to the Divine. It signifies the elimination of the ego and seeking merger in the Lord wholeheartedly.(SSS Vol.22, pp.197-198)