Navadha Bhakti - The 9 modules of Devotion..

[Guest guest]

!! Sri Rama Jayam !!

 

" Shravanam kirtanam vishno smaranam paada sevanam

archanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma nivedanam "

This is one of the most popular shlokas in Bhagavattam ,wherein child Prahlada

is suggesting the 9 easiest steps to attain Lord's compassion.

A very similar illustration can also be witnessed in " Sri Ramcharitmanas " ,

wherein Lord Rama is praising the divinity of blessed Sabari in front of Sri

Lakshmana swami. Thulasidas says that, unable to speak for herself, Sabari stood

still with folded palms, trembling lips & joyfilled tears. Her lifelong patience

has finally beared the fruit of Sri Ramadarshanam with his eternal servant Sri

Lakshmana. Sabari's old eyes have nothing more to see now becoz after seeing

Rama, there is nothing left to see in this perishable world. Even Mahadeva is

unable to express the joy of Sabari today. She is blessed totally by the supreme

Lord. She has reached to level to be called as " Ramasakhi " , which no other lady

is known to have other than Sri Sita devi herself.

The entire world witnessed this rare event where the Lord sold himself to an old

lady in this way. The Lord of 14 worlds is standing empty handed with absolutely

nothing to offer to Sabari. Thulasidas writes - having seen all 9 forms of

devotion in Sabari , Lord Rama praised her devotion, clarifying in the following

way -

1) Pratham Bhagati Santan kar sangaa

Which means: The first step to devotion (Bhakti) is to keep company of the

Saintly people.

2) Doosri rati mam kathaa prasangaa

Which means: The second step is to enjoy listening to discourses pertaining to

the Lord.

3) Guru pankaj seva, teesri bhakti amaan

Which means: The third step, is to believe, humbly in Guru/God.

4) Chouthi Bhagati mam gun gaan, karai kapat tajee gaan

Which means: The fourth step is earnestly (without hypocrisy) sing the praises

of the Lord.

5) Mantra jaap mam dridh Visvaasaa, Pancham, bhajan jo Ved Prakaasaa

Which means: Chant the Vedic Mantras with immense faith.

6) Chattha dasa seela birati bahu karmaa, nirat nirantara sajjan dharma

Which means: The sixth step is not to react in adverse circumstances, yet act,

perform ones karma, like the great ones do.

7) Saatvam sam mohi main jag dekhaa, mothey sant adhik kar lekhaa

Which means: The seventh step is to perceive the world as God Himself.

And believe the saintly to be greater than the Lord.

8) Aathvam jathaa laabh santoshaa, sapneu nahin, dekhai par doshaa

Which means: The eighth, is a state (which one arrives at when one travels the

first seven steps) where there is no desire left, but the gift of perfect peace.

(In this state) one does not see fault in others, even in a dream.

9) Navam saral sab san chhal heena, mam bharos heenya harash na deenaa

Which means: In this state one has full faith in the Lord, becomes (child-like)

simple with no hypocrisy. In this state, he does not fly high or sink low (but

becomes equanimous).

Sri Rama adds that Sabari's Bhakti is perfectly complete & there is nothing

more to be added to it.

Yet if anyone were to have taken even one step towards devotion, out of all

nine, he/she would be very dear to the Lord.

Hare Krishna ....

Hare Rama ......