Questions and Answers

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Q. How to do Anushtanam for 40 days?

 

A. Do Japa of Rama Nama one lac and twenty-five thousand times at the

rate of 3,000 daily. Get up at 4.00 a.m. Do the Japa. Do the

Anushtanam at Rishikesh, Haridwar, Prayag, Nasic, Benaras, Brindavan,

Ayodhya, Chitrakuta, or any otehr sacred place that you like. If not,

do it at your own house. During the last five days do 4,000 Japa. You

can do one lac Japa also daily by sitting in one Asana alone. On the

last day do Havan and feed some Brahmins, Sahus, Sanyasins, near and

dear and poor.

 

Q. How can Nirakara become Sakara?

 

A. Just as water can exist in two states, (formless and with form),

i.e., Niaraka and Sakara, as water and ice, so also Brahman is both

Nirakara and Sakara. Nirakara Brahman takes form just for the sake of

pious meditation of His Bhaktas. Just as air is formless and takes a

form as cyclone so also the formless Brahman assumes form.

 

Q. Are Bhakti and Jnana incompatibles?

 

A. No. Jnana intensifies Bhakti. The fruit of Bhakti is Jnana. Para

Bhakti and Jnana are one. Sri Sankara, a Advaita Jnani was a great

Bhakta of Lord Hari, Hara and Devi. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

worshipped Kali and got Jnana through SWami Totapuri, his Advaita

Guru. Appayya Dikshitar, a famous Jnani was a devout Bhakti of Lord Siva.

 

Q. Is it not better to resort to Bhakti yoga alone?

 

A. Yes, you can take to the practice of Bhakti Yoga only. You can

think of the Lotus Feet of the Lord. All cravings and desires will be

eradicated.

 

Q. What are the two kinds of Bhakti.

 

A. Apara Bhakti or lower devotion and Para Bhakti or higher devotion.

 

Q. What is Para Bhakti?

 

A. The Bhakti of this type sees Hari everywhere and in all objects.

His mind is ever fixed at the lotus feet of the Lord. He has

all-embracing, all-inclusive, universal love. He has not got the least

hatred for any being. He sees the whole world as Visva-Brandavan.

 

Q. What is Sakamya Bhakti?

 

A. The Devotee worships God to get money, son or success in an

undertaking or to free himself from a disease.

 

Q. What is Nishkamya Bhakti?

 

A. The devotee has no expectation of fruits. He wants God and God

alone. It is love for love's sake.

 

Q. What is Vyabhicharini Bhakti?

 

A. To love God for some time and love wife, son, property, etc., i.e.,

the worldly things, for the remaining time.

 

Q. What are the nine modes of Bhakti?

 

A. Sravanam, hearing the Lilas of the Lord, Kirtanam, singing His

praises, Smaranam, remembering God, Padasevanam, worshipping the lotus

feet of God service of humanity, country, poor people, etc.),

Archanam, offering of flowers; Vandanam, prostrations; Dasyam,

service, Sakhyam, friendship, Atmanivedanam, complete surrender.

 

Q. What is the difference between Sneha, Prema, Sraddha and Bhakti?

 

A. The love that is shown to inferiors as children is Sneha. Prema is

love towards equals such as wife and friends. Sraddha is love towards

superiors such as parents, teachers, etc. and Bhakti is devotion to God.

 

Q. What are the five kinds of worship?

 

A. Santa Bhava (quietitude), Dasya Bhava (servitude), Sakhya Bhava

(friendship), Vatsalya Bhava (paternity) and Madhurya Bhava (conjugality).

 

Q. What are the five classes of worship?

 

A. Worship of elements and departed spirits, worship of Rishis, Devas

and Pitrus, worship of Avataras, worship of Saguna Brahman and worship

of Nirguna Brahman.

 

Q. What are the four degrees of Bhakti?

 

A. Tender emotion, warm affection, glowing love and a burning passion.

Another classification is: admiration, attraction, attachment and

supreme love.

 

Q. What are the four kinds of Mukti?

 

A. The Bhakta remains in the Loak wherein Lord Vishnu resides like the

inhabitatnt of a State. This is Salokya Mukti. He remains in close

proximity with the Lord like the attendant of a King. This is Samipya

Mukti. He gets the same form of the Lod like the brother of a Raja or

Yuva-raja. This is Sarupya Mukti. He becomes one with the Lord like

salt or sugar in water. This is Sayujya Mukti.

 

(Taken from the magazine " Voice of Sivananda " , 15 April 2008)