Where the Supreme Lord Krishna resides?
“My dear Nārada, actually I do not reside in My abode, Vaikuṇṭha, nor do I reside within the hearts of the yogīs, but I reside in that place where My pure devotees chant My holy name and discuss My form, pastimes and qualities. Because of the presence of the Lord in the form of the transcendental vibration, the Vaikuṇṭha atmosphere is evoked. This atmosphere is without fear and anxiety. One living entity does not fear another. By hearing the holy names and glories of the Lord, a person executes pious activities. Śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ (SB 1.2.17).”
There is a simple, startling promise in these words: the divine abode is not confined to geography, temples, or even mystical states achieved through intense practice. Vaikuṇṭha—the realm of unbroken peace and loving service—can be evoked here and now, wherever sincere hearts gather to chant, hear, and speak of the Lord.
What does it mean that the Supreme Lord “resides” where devotees chant?
- Presence through sound: The passage emphasizes the transcendental vibration—the holy name itself—as a direct, living form of the Lord’s presence. When devotees chant and sing with sincerity, the vibration becomes a medium through which the Divine is manifest.
- Shared atmosphere: Devotional gatherings create an atmosphere—Vaikuṇṭha atmosphere—where ordinary anxieties and rivalries drop away. In such gatherings, people relate to each other not as competitors but as fellow children of the Divine.
- Transformative listening: Hearing about the Lord’s form, pastimes, and qualities seeds the heart with devotion. The Sanskrit line—śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ—captures that process: hearing and chanting the Lord’s glories purifies and uplifts.
Why this matters for us today?
We often look for God in remote places—holy cities, temples, or the isolated sanctum of a yogi’s heart. While those places have their value, the text redirects our search inward and outward at once: inward, because the holy name touches the heart; outward, because the divine is present in relationship—devotee to devotee. This is profoundly democratic and practical: anyone who earnestly engages in hearing and chanting can awaken the same atmosphere of freedom from fear and anxiety.
Practical ways to evoke the Vaikuṇṭha atmosphere in daily life
- Make space for listening: Set aside time to hear devotional discourses, read scripture slowly, or listen to kirtan recordings. Hearing is not passive here—it’s the seed of transformation.
- Chant together: Even small gatherings—family, friends, or an online satsang—can generate the vibration that evokes the Lord’s presence. Quality of heart matters more than number.
- Discuss the pastimes and qualities: Share reflections on scriptures and stories of the Lord’s pastimes. Such discussion stokes devotion and keeps the meaning of the names and songs alive.
- Serve one another: Practical care and selfless service build trust and remove fear. When devotees see each other as beloved in the Lord, relationships become free of competition.
- Create a devotional corner: A simple space where you chant or read daily can anchor your practice and remind you that the sacred is accessible in ordinary life.
A final reflection
The promise here is not merely poetic. It points to a lived reality: the Divine chooses to be present where He is remembered with love. The holy name is not an abstract sound; it is an active, living presence that transforms the heart and the atmosphere around it. Whenever people come together to hear, chant, and converse about the Lord, they recreate, however briefly, the fearlessness and harmony of Vaikuṇṭha.
Vana Bihari Das
CEO
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