DEVOTION

What is devotion?

a. The word ‘Bhakti’ in Sanskrit is derived from the root ‘Bhaj’, which means ‘to love’ or ‘to
adore’ or ‘to serve’ or ‘to keep companionship’. In simplest terms, devotion is love for God.

b. According to Bhagawan Baba, devotion is the very essence of human life. He puts it in His
inimitable style, “All types of learning can be compared to books on cooking where as
devotion is the act of cooking. If one does not do the cooking at all, what is the use of all
the books on cooking?”

c. In the Bhagavad-Geeta the Lord declares, “I cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas or
by penance or by charity or by the Yagas and Yajnas. Only by steady devotion or Ananya
Bhakti, one can know, see, experience and merge in Me.”

There are five aspects of devotion:

1. Faith or Shraddha: Faith is the very foundation of devotion. Baba says, “Where there is
faith, there is love. Where there is love, there is peace. Where there is peace, there is
truth. Where there is truth, there is bliss, there is God.”

2. Love or Prema: Love is the essence of devotion. According to Sri Aurobindo, “Love is the
crown of all works and the blossoming of all knowledge.

3. Yearning or Vyakulata: Yearning to win God’s grace and love, to be in His proximity and to
become one with Him, lifts up man from the mundane level to the divine heights.

4. Experience of bliss or Rati: Love for God bestows on man the experience of an inner bliss
which does not depend on the external world. This bliss grants to man freedom from
bondage to senses and hence makes him a master of his senses. Thus devotion blesses man
with great will power to control his mind and senses, and becomes the basis of strong
character.

5. Surrender or Sharanagati: Devotion culminates in surrender to God, which frees the

Why should we cultivate devotion?

 Bhagawan declares, “Bhakti confers on man Bhukti, Shakti and Mukthi.” Bhukti is all that is
required in the material world; Shakti is strength – material and spiritual; Mukti is the
ultimate goal of life. Devotion can grant man success in this world and the other. Therefore
devotion is the highest treasure that man should achieve in his life.

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  God is ‘Apadbhandhava’. There are innumerable experiences in the past and the present to
show that sincere prayers can rescue man in times of difficulties and dilemmas of life. We
can cite many examples from Bhagavatha Vahini.

 Divine grace can bestow on us success in our ventures in the world and help us to achieve
all our aspirations and ambitions.

 Devotion provides the foundation for strong character, since it grants to man will power to
control his senses and mind.

 It is our primary duty to cultivate gratitude to God who is our source and the creator of this
wonderful world.

Types of devotees

In Bhagavatham we have two classifications of devotees. The first is based on the mental evolution
of the devotee:

1. Samanya Bhakta or the ordinary devotee worships God in images with faith and
devotion, but he is totally indifferent to devotees of God and other beings. He does not
have the ability to see God within himself or in other beings.

2. Madhyama Bhakta or the intermediate devotee entertains love towards God and
friendliness towards His devotees; kindness and sympathy to common people.

3. Utthama Bhakta or the good devotee sees God within himself and in every being. He
leads his life adoring God and working for the welfare of all beings.

The second classification is Guna-based:

1. Thamasic Bhakta prays to God for success in his wicked activities. Eg: A robber or a dacoit
worshipping God for success in his ventures.

2. Rajasic Bhakta worships images and idols for fulfilment of worldly desires like wealth,
position, fame and name.

3. Sathwic Bhakta loves and adores God for liberation from bondage of Karma. He performs
all his duties as a loving offering to God.

4. Nirguna Bhakta, who has transcended the three Gunas, experiences oneness with God; he
loves God without any motives and desires. Such a devotee will not even yearn for Moksha.

In the Bhagavad-Geeta, the Lord classifies the devotees on the basis of their motivation for
devotion:

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 1. Arta prays to God for rescue from difficulties and crises in life

2. Artharthi worships God for wealth, power, position, progeny, fame and name.

3. Jijnasu adores God for spiritual progress.

4. Jnani loves God since he knows that nothing else is worthwhile in life.

Nava Vidha Bhakti or the nine forms of devotion

1. Shravanam: Listening to the glory of the Lord - Parikshith

2. Keerthanam: Singing the glory of God - Narada

3. Vishnu Smaranam: Chanting the divine name – Prahlada and Valmiki

4. Archanam: Worship to the Lord – Akrura

5. Vandanam: Salutation to the lotus feet of the Lord – Prithu

6. Padasevanam: Service to the lotus feet – Lakshmi

7. Dasyam: Servitude to the Lord – Hanuman

8. Sneham: Friendship with the Lord – Arjuna

9. Atma Nivedanam: Self-surrender to the Lord - Bali

The five attitudes (Bhavas) of devotion

1. Shantha Bhava: Serenity – Bheeshma

2. Vatsalya Bhava: Maternal or Paternal attitude – Yasodha

3. Dasya Bhava: Servitude – Hanuman

4. Sakhya Bhava: Friendship – Arjuna

5. Madhura Bhava: Love of the beloved