rangam (vs. 9). He is acquainted with the hermitages situated
in Govardhana (verses 38, 116. 136), Badarīvana (vs.84) and
Vŗndāvana (verses 11, 136). Among the sacred rivers occurring
in the poem, mention could be made of गङ्गा, यमुना, गोदा, वेत्रवती
नर्मदा , तप्ती and कावेरी (vs. 54).
The edifice of the entire lyrical poem rests with bhakti.
the sine qua non of devotional Hinduism. This bears ample
testimony to the popularity of GSN particularly in the Northern
centres of Vaishnavism. Even today one can hear its recitation
in many religious assemblies and Vaishnavile shrines all over
North India. Just as the विष्णुसहस्रनामस्तोत्रम् and the
ललितासहस्रनामस्तोत्रम् have become the most popular devotional lyrical
poems in the South, GSN occupies an important position in
the Northern school of Vaishnavism. From such utterances as
वैष्णवानां प्रियकरम् (vs. 2), वैष्णवो विष्णुभक्तिमान् (vs 4) and वैष्णवो
पठेन्नित्यम् (vs. 16), it is evident that the votaries of this school
of Hinduism do regard GSN as daily prayer book. One of
the reasons for choosing it as the sacred Bible of Vaishnavism,
is that the devotees believe in the doctrine that form
One Eternal Light, springs forth राधा and माधव (कृष्ण:)
.
I may now round up my Preface by saying that the following
benefits accrue from the daily recitation of GSN and offering
worship to the Lord through पूजा:--(i) Removal of physical,
vocal and mental sins, (ii) freedom from poverty, diseases, fear
and famine; (iii) acquisition of wealth, prosperity, offspring and
of a good, noble husband by the would-be-bride who is deeply
devoted to the Lord; (iv) enjoyment of the fruits resulting
from the performance of the गोदान, ब्रह्मयज्ञ, वाजपेय, and one
thousand अश्वमेध sacrifices; and (v) the in-dwelling of the God
in the residence of His devotees.
It is now left for me to express our profound gratitude to Professor K. S. MURTY for the encouraging interest he has shown in the preparation of this critical edition, He expressed his wish to me that GSN may be dedicated to Lord Venugopalaswami of Sangam Jagarlamudi. Sarvashri P.V.R.K. Prasad and G. Kumaraswamy Reddi (former Executive Officers),
