Bhakti Yoga

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Yoginamapi sarvesham madgatenantaratmana |
Sraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa meyukta tamo matah ||

- Bhagavad-Gita 6:47

Meaning: Even among all the yogis, he who adores Me with his mind fixed on Me and with faith, he is considered by Me to be the best of the yogis.

Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion. It is devotion to the Divine in any form (Saguna) or non-form (Nirguna). The word bhakti is derived from the root word bhaj that means to adore, serve, love or to be devoted. Bhakta is also derived from the same root word and it means the person who practices bhakti yoga, the one who feels devotion. Narada in his bhakti aphorisms says that bhakti is a feeling of intense love for the Supreme.

Bhakti or devotion should be free of egoism or expectation of reward. With this freedom, bhakti fulfils one purpose of yoga; to dissolve the ego and to find the self. The steady flame of bhakti,love consumes impurities like hatred, anger, greed, pride, and other destructive emotions.

Bhakti yoga is divided into two forms according to the Srimadbhagavatha Purana.

Ragatmika Bhakti: An attachment to God. A bhakta can feel experience levels in ragatmika bhakti. They are:

• Stambha - Devoid of movement
• Sweda - Perspiration with excitement
• Romanchana - Total happiness
• Swarabhanga - Suspension of speech
• Kampa - Trembling
• Vivarna - Change of color
• Asru - Bursting into tears
• Pralaya - State of unconsciousness

Para-Bhakti: The higher stage of bhakti; it is the path of transient love. The higher stages of Para-Bhakti are:

• Swarupa Gyana
• Nirvikalpa Samadhi
• Paravairaga

Methods of Unfolding Bhakti:

The following methods are mentioned in the Vishnu Purana:

• Shravana - Hearing stories about divine incarnations like Rama and Krishna
• Kirtana - Chanting names of divinity
• Smarana - Continual remembrance of divinity in any form
• Padasevana - The service of a guru or service done in the name of the divine
• Archana - Offerings
• Bandhana - Mental worship of every being in the form of the divine
• Dashya - The feeling of being the servant of the divine
• Sakhya - The attitude of friendship
• Atma Nivedana - A total surrender of self

Results of the practice of bhakti Yoga are as follows:

• Salokya - Understanding anything as it is
• Samipya - Being nearer to God
• Sarupya - Having the same shape as God
• Sayujya - Samadhi, completely realized state