STAGES OF BHAKTI

STAGES OF BHAKTI

In the religious books, the following stages of Bhakti are mentioned.

1. Satsang (good company of saints)

2. Swadhyaya (study of holy scriptures)

3. Stuti (admiration)

4. Shraddha (faith in God)

5. Bhakti (devotion to God)

6. Nishtha (Sincerity)

7. Ruchi (taste of hearing and chanting His name)

8. Rati ( intense attachment to Lord)

9. Sthayi Bhava (steadfastness)

10. Prema-Maya (the devotees at this stage has no attachment to worldly objects and lives and moves in Divine ecstasy)

Briefly there are nine modes of Bhakti:

1. Sravan (hearing of Divine Glory)

2. Kirtan (singing praises to Him with Bhava {emotion} and devotion)

3. Smran (remembering His name)

4. Padasevana (service and presence at the feet of the Lord)

5. Archana (worship)

6. Vandana (prostration to God)

7. Dasyam (cultivating Bhava of a servant)

8. Sakhyam (cultivating Bhava of a friend)

9. Atma Niveddana (complete self-surrender)

There are 16 limbs of Puja (ritual worship) of a Deity:

1. Asan – offering seat for the Deity

2. Svagat – welcome the Deity with prayer (mantra)

3. Padya – washing the feet

4. Arghya – Water offering made in a vessel

5. Achamana – sipping of water

6. Madhuparka – (honey, ghee, milk and curd)

7. Snana – bathing8. Vastra – garments

9. Bhushan – ornaments and jewels

10. Gandha – perfume

11. Pushpa – flowers

12. Dhoop – incense

13. Dipa – light

14. Naivedya – food offering

15. Tambulam – betel nut

16. Vandana or Namaskaram – prostration and prayer.

The accessories of worship mentioned above have inner meanings as mentioned below:

Arghya (water) used in worship is a symbol of pervasiveness and an object for purification.

Bhushan (ornaments) placed on image symbolise the virtues of the Deity who is immortal.

Gandha (perfume) stands for the perception of consciousness pervading the earth of which the physical body is made. Sense of smell is connected with the prithvi tatva (earth).

Pushpa (flowers) offering of flowers indicates perception of consciousness pervading the akash tatva (ether).

Dhoopa (incense) stands for perception of consciousness pervading the vayu tatva (air).

Dipa (light) stands for perception of consciousness pervading the agni tatva (fire).

Yajna (fire) stands for transmutation. Agni is a great transformer in nature.

Arati (waving of lights) stands for discarding of the objects of thought, which is the inanimate world.

Naivedya (food) Food sustains life. Offering of food stands for perception of the principle of immortality. Rice as food stands for the perception of Existence-Consciousness-Experience in all things.

Vandana (obeisance and praise). Obeisance stands for dissolution of all thoughts into the Principle-of-All. Prayer and praise offerings stand for the dissolution of words into the word principle.

There are eight signs of progress in the Path of Devotion:

1. Tears

2. horrification

3. tremor

4. weeping

5. laughing

6. perspiration

7. fainting and

8. inability to speak.

Sri Ramanuja has mentioned some ways of fostering and intensifying Bhakti:

1. Abhyasa-Practice-to be regular and punctual in daily sadhana.

2. Viveka-Discrimination-to know what is right and what is wrong.

3. Satya-Truth-to be in words and deeds.

4. Arjava-Straightforwardness, avoid cunningness.

5. Kriya-Doing good to others-i.e., rendering selfless services.

6. Kalyana-Wishing good of all, i.e., never harm anyone by thought, word or deed.

7. Daya-Compassion-to be merciful and to forgive others' fault.

8. Ahimsa-Non injury9. Dana-Charity.

There are five kinds of emotions (bhav) in Bhakti:

1. Shanta Bhava (peaceful emotion).

2. Dasya Bhava (considering oneself as a slave/servant of God)

3. Vatsalya Bhava (considering God as a Father-Mother).

4. Sakhya Bhava (considering God as friend like the Arjuna and Krishna)

5. Madhurya Bhava is a most difficult mode of vedanta Sadhana. It is merging in Him.

One emotion (Bhava) embraces the other.

A devotee starts from fine emotion, which develops into warm affection and then in glowing love and ultimately into the supreme and unbounded love. When a devotee advances in devotion to the Lord, he sheds tears of delight. He may cry or laugh. He may sing or dance in Divine Ecstasy.

When devotion matures, it brings jnana (wisdom) to the devotee. Bhakta is also a jnani. It is only at the time of intense devotion and love that becomes void and free from conceit and pride.

(Courtesy: by Hari Dutt Sharma)