STAGES OF BHAKTI

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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 toworldly 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 Deity2. Svagat – welcome the Deity with prayer

(mantra)3. Padya – washing the feet4. Arghya – Water offering made in a

vessel5. Achamana – sipping of water6. Madhuparka – (honey, ghee, milk and

curd)7. Snana – bathing8. Vastra – garments9. Bhushan – ornaments and jewels10.

Gandha – perfume11. Pushpa – flowers12. Dhoop – incense13. Dipa – light14.

Naivedya – food offering15. Tambulam – betel nut16. Vandana or Namaskaram –

prostration and prayer.

 

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

 

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

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

Gandha (perfume) stands for the perception of consciousness pervadingthe earth

of which the physical body is made. Sense of smell isconnected with the prithvi

tatva (earth).

Pushpa (flowers) offering of flowers indicates perception ofconsciousness

pervading the akash tatva (ether).

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

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

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

Arati (waving of lights) stands for discarding of the objects ofthought, which

is the inanimate world.

Naivedya (food) Food sustains life. Offering of food stands forperception of the

principle of immortality. Rice as food stands forthe perception of

Existence-Consciousness-Experience in all things.

Vandana (obeisance and praise). Obeisance stands for dissolution ofall thoughts

into the Principle-of-All. Prayer and praise offeringsstand for the dissolution

of words into the word principle.

 

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

1. Tears2. horrification3. tremor4. weeping5. laughing6. perspiration7. fainting

and8. inability to speak.

 

Sri Ramanuja has mentioned some ways of fostering and intensifyingBhakti:

 

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 andKrishna)5. Madhurya

Bhava is a most difficult mode of vedanta Sadhana. It ismerging in Him.

One emotion (Bhava) embraces the other.

A devotee starts from fine emotion, which develops into warmaffection and then

in glowing love and ultimately into the supremeand 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 dancein 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 devotionand love that becomes void and

free from conceit and pride.(Courtesy: by Hari Dutt Sharma)

Arun Reddy Nukala

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