Navavidha Bhakti - Nine Types of Bhakti

What is Bhakti?

Bhakti is something one feels in one's heart towards the almighty God. It is a feeling which one must experience oneself. It cannot be taught but can be cultivated. Pure Bhakti is a gift from God based on our previous karma Vasana. Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita, talks about Karma yoga, Gnana Yoga and Bhakti yoga in great detail as the three paths to attain moksha and says, of the three Bhakti yoga is the easiest path to attain God.

#Bhagavad_Gita and #Shrimad_Bhagavatam are authorities in guiding us in our spiritual paths. By reading and understanding what is written in these books, we become spiritually involved and evolved. We read the tenets of Bhakti in Bhagavad Gita and stories of many who attained moksha through bhakti in Shrimad Bhagavatam. By reading scriptures like these, what happens is that, even if there is a small sprout of Bhakti in our hearts it starts blossoming into a veritable garden. Listening to spiritual lectures also helps in deepening our understanding. We realize that Bhakti is an emotional and spiritual attachment to God. It is a belief in which, through love and devotion, we can attain a profound union with the divine.

One who practices Bhakti is a Bhakta. Of the best Bhaktas as per Puranas is Prahlada. He was the son of the asura Hiranyakashipu who proclaimed himself to be the supreme lord of all the worlds, even greater than Lords Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu due to extraordinary boons he got from Brahma after severe penance to become invincible. He had a brother named Hiranyakshan who abducted Booma Devi and hid Her under the oceans. Hiranyakshan was killed by Maha Vishnu in His incarnation of Varaha Avatara when he rescued Boomadevi and placed Her back in Her abode. Hiranyakashipu did not want this to happen to him, that is for anyone to kill him. He wanted to remain unconquered forever. (Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyakshan were the gate keepers of Maha Vishnu in Vaikunta - Jaya and Vijaya who had to take three consecutive births as asuras as a result of a curse from a Maharishi.)

When Hiranyakashipu went to the forests to do severe penance his wife Kayadhu was pregnant. With Hiranyakashipu’s absence, the Devas, led by Indra, seized the opportunity to attack the capital. Indra easily captured it and took Hiranyakashipu’s wife, Kayadhu, prisoner. As he was dragging her away, her cries for help reached Sage Narada, who appeared before Devendra. He found out that Indra planned to kill Kayadhu and the unborn child and chided him for planning to do a heinous crime. Indra said that Hiranyakashipu was giving them untold misery and his son after being born will continue that. Narada replied that the child the queen is bearing is no ordinary one but will become the greatest devotee of Sri Hari. He asked him to spare the child as the three worlds will benefit from him.

Heeding Narada’s advice, Indra spared the child. He apologized to the queen, touched her feet, and left. Narada consoled Kayadhu and took her to his ashram, where he assured her that she would be well cared for by the inmates of the ashram. He promised her that she could return to the palace when her husband returned from his penance. Kayadhu was then entrusted to the care of the elderly ascetic women of the hermitage.

Great sages there held discourses on righteous living and the greatness of God. They ensured that Kayadhu sat near them and listened. The shastras emphasize the importance of pregnant women living in sacred environments so that the atmosphere positively influences the unborn child. The environment decisively shapes a person’s character, whether good or bad. Therefore, the shastras prioritize the surroundings in which a child is brought up.

In the ashram, sometimes Sage Narada would speak to Kayadhu privately, initiating her into noble ideas. While she would occasionally fall asleep during his discourses, the child in her womb listened with great devotion. The child absorbed every word and tried to understand the inner meanings. Although Kayadhu forgot much of what Narada said, the child remembered everything.

Narada spoke about the visible world, the unseen elements, the five senses, the world beyond our senses, and the omnipresent God, Sriman Narayana. He emphasized seeing God through our inner eye and recognizing Him in everything around us. Narada taught the principles of non-harm, universal love, kindness, and selfless service. He advised praying for strength and for those in misery, remaining friendly to everyone, and enduring suffering with grace. He encouraged forgiveness, contentment, and constant remembrance of the Lord’s name.

This imparted a deep understanding of bhakti-yoga, leading to Prahlada being born as a divine child already convinced of God's existence. He was sent to Gurukula at the appropriate age as was the custom. After a few days of attending classes Hiranyakshipu asked Prahlada the best thing he has learned from attending the classes and his reply was in the form of this Slokha.

श्रीप्रह्राद उवाच

श्रवणं कीर्तनं विष्णोः स्मरणं पादसेवनम् ।

अर्चनं वन्दनं दास्यं सख्यमात्मनिवेदनम् ॥ ७.५.२३ ॥

इति पुंसार्पिता विष्णौ भक्तिश्चेन्नवलक्षणा ।

क्रियते भगवत्यद्धा तन्मन्येऽधीतमुत्तमम् ॥ ७.५.२४ ॥

Shriiprahraada Uvaaca

Shravannam Kiirtanam Vissnnoh Smarannam Paada-Sevanam |

Arcanam Vandanam Daasyam Sakhyam-Aatma-Nivedanam || Shrimad Bhagavatham 7.5.23 ||

Iti Pumsaa-[A]rpitaa Vissnnau Bhaktish-Cen-Nava-Lakssannaa |

Kriyate Bhagavaty[i]-Addhaa Tan-Manye-[A]dhiitam-Uttamam || SB 7.5.24 ||

SB 7.5.23: Sri Prahrada (Prahlada) said:

[1] Hearing [Shravana] and

[2] Chanting [Kirtana] the Names of Lord Vishnu;

[3] Remembering [Smarana] His Leelas (Deeds);

[4] Serving His Lotus Feet [Paada-Sevana];

[5] Worshipping [Arcana] and

[6] Eulogizing [Vandana] Him;

[7] Having the attitude of Servant [Dashya] and

[8] dearest Friend [Sakhya] towards Him, and

[9] Surrendering oneself [Atma-Nivedana] to Him,

SB 7.5.24: In this manner, if a Person (Devotee) offers Lord Vishnu his/her Devotion (Bhakti) having these Nine devotional attributes, That Person (Devotee) truly performs Devotional Service unto the Supreme Lord; That I consider the best thing Learnt (fulfilling the ultimate goal of life).

Hearing this was quite shocking to Hiranyakashipu and he took the teachers to task. They tried their best to change him but he grew to be a more strongly Godfearing boy and also influenced his fellow students in his Gurukulam to worship Sriman Narayanan and not Hiranyakashipu as taught by the teachers there. This enraged Hirayakashipu. He eventually became so angry and upset at his son's devotion to Vishnu that he decided to kill him but each time he attempted to kill the boy, Prahlada was protected by Vishnu's mystical power. Even after several attempts to kill him, Prahlada refused to acknowledge his father as supreme lord of the universe and claimed that Vishnu was all-pervading and omnipresent.

To which Hiranyakashipu pointed to a nearby pillar and asked if 'his Vishnu' is in it. Lord Vishnu in the form of Narasimha (half-man, half-lion), broke open the pillar that he had pointed out with a thunderous sound and appeared before Hiranyakashipu. He killed Hiranyakashipu, ending the world’s suffering. Hiranyakashipu had the boon that he cannot be killed by human, deva or animal, but Narasimha is none of these, as he is a form of Vishnu (a deva) incarnate as part human, part animal. He came at twilight (when it is neither day nor night) killed him on the threshold of a courtyard (neither indoors nor out), keeping him on his thighs (neither earth nor space). Using his nails (neither animate nor inanimate) as weapon, he disemboweled and killed the asura, following all the restrictions he had placed to be "unconquerable"

Even after Hiranyakashipu's death, none of the gods were able to calm Narasimha's fury, not even Shiva. All the gods and goddesses called His consort, the goddess Lakshmi, but she was unable to do so. Then, at the request of Brahma, Prahlada was presented to Narasimha, who finally calmed him by his prayers. Such is the power of a Bhakta, a devotee. The Lord calms down and becomes the compassionate divine one at the presence of a devotee.

Now let us look at the beautiful slokha chanted by Prahalada where he talks about the nine forms of bhakti. Following even one of the nine will lead us to start following all the nine and make us become the best bhaktas.

Sravanam kirtanam visnohsmaranam padasevanamarchanam vandanam dasyamsakhyam atma nivedanam[Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23]

These nine processes are

1. #Sravanam – Hearing about the Lord through Puranas and stories. King Parikshit heard about Krishna for seven days continuously and attained fulfillment in his life. We in our daily routine also we can keep aside some time to listen to Upanyasams. We are in an era where everything comes to where we are. We don't even have to go somewhere to listen to Bhajans, keerthanais and spiritual lectures. They are all now available at the touch of the button and we can listen and re listen until we understand fully what the acharyan is telling us. During the time we are listening our mind is focused on godly thoughts.

2. #Kirtanam – Vedic scriptures describe how Ajamila became famous for his ultimate atonement by helplessly calling the name of "Narayana," a holy name of Lord Hari. Devotional texts also state that anyone who chants the holy names of God, regardless of their past sins, can be freed from Karma and achieve spiritual liberation, making the chanting a path to a profound spiritual renown. Examples of Kirtanam include the continuous recitation of divine names by figures like Narada Muni and Maharishi Sukadeva, who narrated the Srimad-Bhagavatam in an ecstatic outpouring of divine love. In the current age of Kali Yuga, the chanting of the holy name is considered the best and most effective method for spiritual realization. The holy name is non-different from God Himself, and it is believed to purify the consciousness of the chanter, nullifying past sins and leading to a purified heart and love of God.

3. #smaranam means remembrance, remembering, or recollection, often specifically referring to the spiritual practice of constantly remembering a deity, holy name, or spiritual concept, as exemplified by Prahlada's remembrance of Krishna despite torture, or Narada's constant recollection of Narayana. This practice can involve focusing the mind on a particular form of the Lord or engaging in the mental recitation of a sacred name, like "Govindanama smaranam" (remembering the holy name of Govinda). Hanuman's unwavering remembrance of Rama is cited as a true example of smaranam, as he could not spend a moment without thinking of his deity. In advanced stages, smaranam can involve concentrating the mind on a particular form of the divine and withdrawing attention from material attachments, an example of deep contemplation or perfect meditation. Smaranam is a key step in the path of devotion (Bhakti Yoga), where constant remembrance of the divine purifies the heart. 

   
   

4. #Padasevanam Being intensely attached to thinking and serving Lord’s lotus feet. Pada means feet. By hearing and chanting one remembers the Lord. The perfection of remembering is when one constantly thinks of the lotus feet of the Lord. This process includes other activities like - a. Seeing the form of the Lord b. Touching the form of the Lord c. Circumambulating (walking around in a circle) the Deity or a temple of the Lord. d. Bathing in the Ganges River. e. Performing Tulasi Puja. f. Visiting holy places like Jagannatha Puri, Dvaraka and Mathura is also Pada-Sevanam. Some of these items, like bathing in the Ganges River and going to the holy places don’t seem very practical to us. Wherever there is a temple of the Lord, it is considered to be as good to visit and circumambulate. #LakshmiDevi, the consort of Lord Narayana, is a perfect example of someone doing the process of pada-sevanam. She is well known for always massaging the lotus feet of Lord Narayana. She is an ideal wife, taking care of the Lord in every detail. Besides massaging His lotus feet, and fans him while He eats. She applies cooling sandalwood pulp on His face and sets His bed and sitting places for Him. In this way, she is always engaged in the Lord’s service.

5. #Archanam Archana, is the ritual offering of worship to the Divine, often involving chanting mantras and offering flowers, scents, food, and other items to a deity's form, whether an idol or a mental image. An example of Archana is the worship offered by King Prithu, who used all the resources available to him in devotion to the Lord. The worship is directed at a specific form of the deity, which is seen not just as a statue but as a living manifestation of God. Archana is not limited to physical actions. It can also be a mental offering, where the devotee mentally offers flowers or recites the deity's names, demonstrating a pure and devotional focus. A fundamental requirement for Archana is faith in the heart of the devotee.

6. #Vandanam–  Prayer and Prostration. Vandanam is bowing down in humility, offering heartfelt prayers at the feet of the Divine. It is the act of surrendering pride and ego, recognizing the Lord as the only refuge. Gajendra Moksha is the classic example. When the elephant king Gajendra was caught by a crocodile, he struggled in vain. At last, with a lotus in his trunk, he surrendered completely and prayed to Lord Vishnu. Answering his cry, the Lord Himself rushed on Garuda, rescued him, and granted liberation. Vandanam isn’t limited to humans; even animals, with pure hearts, can offer prayers and receive divine grace. Vandanam teaches us that a single prayer offered in total surrender can call down divine grace and freedom.

7. #Dasyam– Dasyam means considering oneself as an eternal servant of the Lord and serving God with a servant mood. Acharya of Dasyam is Lord Hanuman, a dear servant of Sri Rama, Hanuman followed all the orders of Shri Ramchandra despite all kinds of difficulties. Serving and worshipping the Murtis in temples, sweeping the temples, meditating on God and mentally serving Him like a slave, serving the saints and the sages, serving the devotees of God, serving poor and sick people who are forms of God, is also included in Dasya Bhakti. This attitude is a path to spiritual freedom and bliss, as the soul finds shelter in God rather than material things.

8. #Sakhyam– "sakhyam" means friendship, companionship, or intimacy. The term emphasizes a deep, personal bond of affection, trust, and closeness between individuals. In a religious context, especially within Vaishnavism, it describes a particular form of Bhakti, or devotion, where the devotee fosters a close, friendly relationship with the Supreme Lord, engaging in activities and exchanging feelings as equals. Devotees in the mood of sakhyam would, for example, consider God their friend and participate in activities like playing games with Him, just as Arjuna considered Sri Krishna his friend. 

9. #Atmanivedanam - Atma-nivedanam is the final and highest form of #Nava_Vidha_Bhakti (nine processes of devotion), involving the complete and utter surrender of one's "self" – including body, mind, words, and possessions – to the Supreme Lord. Examples include Bali, who gave his entire kingdom and even his head to Vamana Avataram and Jatayu, the bird who sacrificed his life for Lord Rama. It is the ultimate stage of devotion where a devotee offers everything they are and have to the Divine, without holding anything back. This refers to the spirit (soul), mind, and body, and all worldly possessions and relationships. The devotee lives solely for the Supreme Lord, recognizing Him as the ultimate owner of everything and accepting His will in all matters, whether good or bad.

Is bhakti difficult? No, not at all. A mother sees no difficulties while taking care of her child; this is because her love for her child is unconditional. Similarly, a devotee has spontaneous attraction for Krishna. This unconditional love makes him remember the Lord even in a difficult situation like a battlefield.

tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣumām anusmara yudhya camayy arpita-mano-buddhirmām evaiṣyasy asaṁśayaḥ[BG 8.7]

“Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krishna and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me, and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.”

Once Duryodhana, in order to show off his opulence, employed many expert chefs in preparing thousands of food stuffs for Krishna. He arrogantly thought that Krishna was a cowherd boy and He would at best know how to eat butter. He decided to show Krishna how many varieties of foodstuffs one can enjoy. But when Krishna arrived, He did not even look at those preparations. He went to the house of Vidura, who was a dear devotee of the Lord. Vidura was not there but Vidura’s wife, also a dear devotee of the Lord, was present. Seeing the Lord at home, she became overjoyed and anxious to serve Him. In her excitement and anxiety, she began serving the Lord with some bananas that were lying in her kitchen. However, she was so excited that as she was peeling off the bananas, she kept throwing off the bananas and feeding the peels to Krishna. And Krishna was actually eating those banana peels!

From this story, we can see how Krishna accepts our emotions or bhava. He relishes our feelings for Him. Vidura's wife was in ecstasy because she could not believe that Krishna had come to her small cottage. Though she could not serve the Lord properly in her ecstasy and served Him banana peels, she was overwhelmed with emotions of pure love for the Lord and that pure feeling attracted the Lord. He is not attracted by all the opulence one may possess because ultimately all that opulence belongs to Krishna.

Krishna concludes the Bhagavad Gita with the following verse:

sarva-dharmän parityajyamam ekam saranam vrajaaham tvämsarva-päpebhyomokshayishyami ma sucah[BG 18.66]

The Sanskrit verse from the Gita translates to: "Abandon all dharmas (duties, ways of life) and take refuge in Me alone. I will liberate you from all sins; do not grieve". This is Lord Krishna's pivotal instruction to Arjuna, assuring him that complete surrender to God will lead to freedom from the consequences of all actions and the burden of worry. This complete surrender is possible only with abundance of unconditional love for God stemming out of Bhakti.

Bhagavad Gita is the dictionary and Srimad Bhagavatam is the encyclopaedia to properly understand the process of bhakti. But Prahalada has succinctly said what bhakti is and how to attain it in the small verse of Nava Vidha Bhakti Slokam.

sravanam kirtanam visnoh

smaranam pada-sevanam

arcanam vandanam dasyam

sakhyam atma-nivedanam

Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam

Acharyan Thiruvatikale Charanam