Vishnu Sādhana

The project’s sādhana for Boons and Salvation focuses on Shiva, but this is not a “sectarian” project. So, one may ask whether the sādhana would work just as well for Vishnu. Yes, it could work, but one must bear in mind that Vishnu does not readily grant material boons, whereas Shiva does since he is easily pleased. Creating a similar sādhana for Vishnu is beyond the scope of this project, but we can make a few suggestions.

Regarding mantra for Salvation:

The Salvation component of the sādhana requres a mantra for use in activity. For Vishnu, one could use the mantra “Viṣnave namaḥ”, without any “OM”. (The syllable “OM” is too “inward”, it withdraws the mind from the world, and so is not good to use in daily activity.) The mantra “Viṣnave namaḥ” is found in the Bhagavatam chapter 6.8 (on the Narayana Kavacha).

Regarding Boons:

It’s still recommended to ask of Shiva, because Vishnu tells us he does not readily grant material boons, whereas Shiva does because he is easy to please (“Āśutoṣa”). (See Srimad Bhagavatam chapter 10.88.) Nothing prevents a follower of Vishnu from seeking boons from Shiva; for instance, Krishna considers the worship of any deity to be worship of himself (Bhagavad Gita verse 9.23).

One can of course still offer water to Vishnu. In Bhagavad Gita verse 9.26, Krishna even mentions offering leaf, flower, fruit, and water. But he doesn’t say he’ll grant boons; rather, it’s just a good thing to do as devotion. Of course, adding other items to the daily offering can make it more difficult and tedious. (It sounds easy enough, but one quickly finds that it makes it more of a chore to do on a daily basis.) By contrast, the Shiva boons sādhana aims to keep things as simple and easy as possible, so that one can do it every day without feeling any “pinch” or resistance. (And, so that millions of people will do the sādhana, in order to reap collective global boons, such as calling down an Avatar Now.)

There are instances of Vishnu granting boons, but such boons are rare and difficult to achieve. The prominent example is that of Dhruva, whose story in told in the Bhagavatam Purana (book 4, chapters 8-12). Dhruva did extreme austerities (tapas), and was ready to continue unto death. Fortunately, Vishnu had mercy and granted Dhruva the boons of rulership of the kingdom and very long life. But it’s unlikely that any human living now in Kali Yuga could perform such tapas Dhruva as did.

One meritorious thing one can do is listen to the story of Dhruva, known as the “Dhruva Charita” in the Bhagavatam Purana. The “fruit of listening” (Sanskrit “phala-shruti”) says: “It is conducive to wealth, fame and longevity, is sacred and full of great blessings.” (Verse 4.12.45, spoken by Rishi Maitreya.)

So, we will shortly be adding links to a Sanskrit recitation of these chapters, and an English translation.

Viṣnave namah!