Navadha-bhakti

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>The words "sapteti" indicate that next Jiva Gosvamin is going to explain

>the meaning of the word "sapta." He does that by stating: "Seven, because

>only after gaining the goal of the previous [can there be] the status of

>sakhyam and atmanivedanam."

 

Thank you foor the explanation, Ekanath and Adipurusa prabhus.

 

How do we put together the fact that the 7 first principles of devotional

service belong to vidhi-marg and the 2 last - sakhyam and atma-nivedanam -

to raga-marg, with the following other statements by Srila Prabhupada?

 

Does it imply that the processes of sakhyam and atma-nivedanam, while

essentially belonging to the realm of raga-bhakti, could still be performed

on the level of pancaratrika, or vaidhi, in relation to the Deity, or on the

level of bhagavata, or raga, in relation to preaching (see SB 7.5.23-24

purp. below)? Is it correct?

 

Your servant,

Madana-mohana das

 

 

SB 4.13.3 purp:

 

"There are two different ways of approaching the Supreme Lord. One is called

bhagavata-marga, or the way of Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the other is called

pancaratrika-vidhi. Pancaratrika-vidhi is the method of temple worship, and

bhagavata-vidhi is the system of nine processes which begin with hearing and

chanting."

 

SB 4.24.45-46 purp:

 

"Worship according to the pancaratrika-vidhi is called vidhi-marga, and

worship according to the bhagavata-vidhi principles is called raga-marga.

The principles of raga-marga are especially meant for devotees who are

elevated to the Vrndavana platform."

 

SB 4.27.24 purp:

 

"All devotees are in the disciplic succession stemming from Narada Muni

because they worship the Deity according to Narada Muni's direction, namely

the Narada-pancaratra, or the pancaratrika-vidhi. A devotee follows the

principles of pancaratrika-vidhi as well as bhagavata-vidhi. Bhagavata-vidhi

includes preaching work-sravanam kirtanam visnoh-the hearing and chanting of

the glories of Lord Visnu, the Supreme personality of Godhead. The

pancaratrika-vidhi includes arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam."

 

SB 7.5.23-24 purp:

 

"Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives the following explanation in

his Tathya...Thinking oneself to be nitya-krsna-dasa, everlastingly a

servant of Krsna, is called dasyam, and sakhyam means being a well-wisher of

Krsna. Krsna wants everyone to surrender unto Him because everyone is

constitutionally His servant. Therefore, as a sincere friend of Krsna, one

should preach this philosophy, requesting everyone to surrender unto Krsna.

Atma-nivedanam means offering Krsna everything, including one's body, mind,

intelligence and whatever one may possess."

 

Lecture on SB 6.2.24-25, Gorakhpur, February 13, 1971:

 

Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada? You said... When you were speaking of

bhagavata-vidhi, you said that of the nine devotional methods, it

includes... I didn't understand which ones it includes, up to what point.

 

Prabhupada: Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam-this is bhagavata-marga. And

arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam-that is pancaratrika,

arcanam. So out of the nine-nine, eight, seven, six, five-whatever you do,

that is sufficient because absolute.