Cultivation of Bhakti (Devotion) – (Part – II)

 
In the first article on Bhakti titled as “Doctrine of Bhakti (Devotion)” deals with the question “What is Bhakti”. Many philosophers claims the Bhakti cannot be cultivated. Others have given the path to cultivate Bhakti. Selfless devotion is stable only when one has developed balance of emotional and intellectual love. Bhakti matures when the devotee realizes the real form & attributes of Para Brahman (God) and thence develops renunciation from worldly pleasures.
 
Shraddha (firm & unquestioned faith) is essential for Bhakti. Shraddha is generated in the mind of person by the association with holy persons whose conduct and conversations alone can impress a person with the existential nature of the spiritual reality. Shraddha should be attained. Those who have Shraddha are qualified for Bhakti. Religious knowledge and monasticism (religiously mandated behavior) are not essential for development of Bhakti.
 
Bhagavad Purana:
Sri Madhvacharya accepted the authority of Bhagavad Purana and its Navdha Bhakti, both as a discipline to cultivate Bhakti. Navdha Bhakti is nine God-centered actions discussed as under:
 
श्रवणं कीर्तनं विष्णोः स्मरणं पादसेवनम् | अर्चनं वन्दनं दास्यं सख्यमात्मनिवेदनम् ॥ (7.5.23)
(Sravanam, kirtanam, visno, smaranam, pada-sevanam; archanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam atma-nivedanam)

1. Sravana - Hearing recitals and exposition of divine excellences and His glory & Stories. Raja Prakshit listened to the glories of almighty for seven days.
2. Kirtana Singing / hymning / chanting / eulogizing glories & stories of almighty collectively. Shukdev was son of Shri Vyas ji who made discourse of incarnations of the almighty & its stories in Bhagwat Purana to Raja Prakshit.
3. Smarana – Silent & constant remembrance of Him through Japa, meditation etc. to fix of one’s thoughts in god.  Prahlad ji remembered the Vishnu ji constantly and with unwavering faith.
4. Padaseva - Service of the world recognizing it as a Pada or aspect of God.
5. Archana - Worship of His holy images. Shri Prithu ji).
6. Vanadana - Salutation of His presence in all beings. (Shri Akroor ji).  
7. Dasya - Cultivating the attitude of His servant-ship. (Hanuman Ji).
8. Sakhya – Sense of intimacy with Him. (Sudama ji).
9. Atamanivedana – Surrender or unreserved offering of one’s self and everything to Him. (Raja Bali).

 
In Navdha bhakti, first is sravana. But shravan of katha (noble stories) is not sufficient. Whatever is listened should also be meditated (Manan or manthan). After the meditation of katha, it should be practiced.
 
The first six items are practiced as preliminary disciplines or Apara-Bhakti, by which one gets gradually spontaneous love of God without any external stimulation and becomes capable of practicing devotional attitudes and self-surrender. The final stage is called Para-Bhakti. When Atamasamarpana is performed, the first six disciplines become the spontaneous expression of Bhakti with the feeling that one is His Dasa and purpose of His existence is His service.
 
Sixty Four Devotional Disciplines for cultivation of Bhakti:
There are sixty four devotional disciplines for cultivating Bhakti. These disciplines can be clubbed under a few sub-heads which corroborates Navdh which are as under:
Relating to Guru –
1.     Submission to the spiritual teacher (Guru);
2.    Serving the teacher;
3.    Avoiding making too many disciples and getting entangled in their affairs;
4.    Avoiding writing too many books, practicing too many crafts, delivering too many lectures, and involvement in too many disputations;
5.    Receiving, initiation and lessons from him in the devotion to Sri Krishna;
6.    Prostrating before Guru;
 
Relating to Navdha Bhakti:
Saravana (Listening)-
7.    Listening to the recitation of the names of the God (Sahastranama etc.);
8.    Following the scriptures;
9.    Studying the Bhagavata Purana with fellow devotees;
Kirtana (Collective singing):
10. Performing Sankirtana (collective singing);
Smarana (Japa, Meditation)-
11.  Silently repeating the divine name (Japa);
12. Repeating devotional verses;
13. Singing the praise of Krishna;
14. Meditating on the God;
15. Remembering the God always;
Padaseva (Service of deities or Social Service) -
16. Loving the feet of the deity;
17. Serving the devotees (Vaishnava);
18. Using all one’s energies towards performing His works;
19. Serving the deity in all possible ways;
Archana (Worship of deities) -
20.Witnessing the evening and other services at the temple;
21. Dancing before deity;
22.Prostrating before deity;
23.Following the deity in religious processions;
24.Circumambulating the deity in the temples
25.Going to the temple regularly;
26.Reverential service of his image.
27.Worshipping the deity regularly;
28.Respecting Salagrama and other emblems of Vishnu;
29.Avoiding disrespect to the deity as worshipped by others;
30.Observing fast on Ekadasi etc.;
31. Putting on the Vaishnava marks;
32.Stamping the letter ‘Hari’ on the arms;
33.Accepting with devotion flowers, Tulsi etc. offered to the God;
34.Eating with relish what is offered to deity (Prasada);
35.Drinking the water with which the deity is washed;
36.Smelling the fragrance of flowers, incense etc. offered to the deity;
37.Touching the deity;
38.Gazing at the deity;
39.Seeking the God’s grace;

1. Intolerance of criticism of krishna and His devotee;

41. Nurturing Tulsi plants etc., associated with him;
42.Holding devotional festivals according to one’s capacity;
43.Observing monthly vows especially in Kartika;
44.Observing Janamashtmi with special reverence;
Dasya –
45.Adopting the attitude of servant towards the God;
Sakhya (Friendliness) –
46.Adopting a friend’s attitude towards the God;
Atamanivedana –
47.Revealing one’s innermost feelings to the deity;
48.Dedicating oneself to the God;
49.Offering to Him all that is dear to oneself;
50.Absolute self-surrender;
 
Relating to Stay & self-discipline:
51. Abstinence (self-discipline & restraint);
52.Residing in Mathura and other holy places;
53.Living in sacred places of the Vaisnavas;
54.Association with holy persons;
55.Earning only for maintenance and hoarding;
56.Keeping away from atheists and impious men;
57.Avoiding too many ambitious projects;
58.Giving up faulty behavior;
59.Not being overwhelmed by adverse fortune;
60.Not harassing others;
61. Avoiding Savaparadha (disrespectful behavior in worship) – failure to observe the rules of purity, procedure and reverential homage in one’s association with temples of God and holy images (moving irreverently before holy images, indulging in impure or prohibited practices, not contributing according to one’s capacity for worship, eating without offering to God, offering what is eaten already etc.);
62.Avoiding Namaparadha (disrespect to divine name) – slandering saintly persons, ignoring spiritual preceptors, finding faults with scriptures, deliberately sin, resolve to sin, holding an attitude of indifference to divine name, considering oneself superior to the divine name etc.;
63.Using all one’s energies towards performing His works;
64.Maintenance contact with Bhaktas more evolved than oneself. 
 
Reference: Bhakti Schools of Vedanta – by Swami Tapasyananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai.