Pleasing Vishnu

The boar told the earth that he was not particularly fond of rituals or ceremonies. He was easily pleased by simple obeisance, provided that it was performed with genuine devotion.

To attain Vishnu’s favours, one should wear white and worship him with white flowers in a temple on dvadashi. All the four classes were entitled to Vishnu’s favours. A righteous and honest brahmana attains his favours as a matter of course. So can a kshatriya who is humble, a good host, a patron of good deeds and a donor of gifts. The qualities required of a vaishya are that he should be helpful and considerate to others, devoted to his guru free from covetousness and lust, clean of habits and clean of heart. Shurdras can attain Vishnu’s favours if they pray with pure hearts, shun anger, lust, passion and evil, cultivate feelings of mercy and charity, have faith in fasts and are devoted to brahmanas.

Vishnu favours one who worships him with calmness and concentration, is a vegetarian, observes celibacy and other rituals on prescribed days, and, of course, keeps his mind free from jealousy, envy, pride and egotism.