The sixth step on the Nava Vidha Bhakti is Vandana. It is offering of prayers and obeisance to the Lord. Bhakti is a natural expression in man. Man’s innate self is Divine and bhakti or love for God is an instinctive expression in man. Just as Arjun became famous for his Sakhya Bhakti and Hanuman for Dasya Bhakti, Akrura became famous for his Vandana or prayers and prostration to Sri Krishna.
Akrura was the uncle of Sri Krishna. He was a courtier in King Kamsa’s court. Kamsa’s was doomed to die at the hands of Sri Krishna. So he plotted to kill Sri Krishna by inviting Him to Mathura. He ordered Akrura to go to Vrindavan and bring Sri Krishna with him to Mathura. Akrura knew of the evil plans of Kamsa. He was very eager to go to Vrindavan as he knew that Sri Krishna was the Supreme Power and he wanted the blessings and darshan of Sri Krishna. It would be the greatest moment of his life when he would have the darshan of the Lord and He would call him as ‘Uncle’. He travelled to Vrindavan melting with love for Sri Krishna.
When Akrura reached Vrindavan, he saw the footprints of Sri Krishna in the dust. He got down immediately and prostrated on the ground. He rolled over the earth to get the dust of the Lord’s footprints over his body. He set an example of the reverence with which we should enter any holy land, whatever be our status, wealth, power or position in life. When Akrura finally met Sri Krishna and Balaram, he prostrated before them with all the eight limbs touching the ground and touched Their Lotus Feet. He sought Their Blessings despite being elder in age and relationship status. Sri Krishna embraced him and took him to His home as an honoured guest. Akrura delivered the invitation and explained about the evil scheme of Kamsa. The Divine brothers laughed and decided to accompany Akrura to Mathura the next morning.
The next morning, Akrura, Sri Krishna and Balaram left for Mathura. The cowherds tried to stop the chariot and prevent Sri Krishna from leaving them. They proceeded and by evening they reached the banks of the Yamuna River. Akrura stopped the chariot to perform his daily worship. As soon as he took a dip in the river, he saw in the waters, Sri Krishna lying as Lord Vishnu on Balaram who became the Anantha Sesha Nag with thousand of heads. He saw Lord Brahma, Shiva , Indra, other Gods, Rishis and Sages surrounding Lord Vishnu and offering Their Prayers.
Amazed and astonished, Akrura came out of the water and went to Sri Krishna and Balaram who were sitting in the chariot. He prostrated before Them and glorified Sri Krishna: My dear Lord, Your transcendental eternal form is full of knowledge. Simply by concentrating one's mind upon Your form, one can understand in full, the knowledge everything that is, because You are the original source of all knowledge. You are the supremely powerful, possessing all kinds of energies. You are the Supreme Brahman and the Supreme Person, supreme controller and master of the material energies. I offer my respectful obeisance unto You because You are Vasudeva, the resting place of all creation. You are the all-pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead, and You are also the Supreme Soul residing in everyone's heart and giving directions to act. Now, my Lord, I have completely surrendered unto You. Please give me Your protection.
Sri Krishna was pleased with the Vandana of Akrura and blessed him. They reached Mathura where He defeated and killed Kamsa. By simply offering Vandana, Akrura became famous and achieved the highest goal of Godhead.
