Navdha Bhakti - 9 Forms Of Devotion

Earlier in the Satayuga, Bhakt Prahlad had revealed the NINE means of devotion to his father Hiranyakashipu (Bhagwatpuran-7.5.22). Then in Tretayaga, Lord Ram disclosed Navdha Bhakti to Ma Shabari for awakening the devotion. In BhagavatPuran, Prahlad’s father Hiranyakashipu asks him what he had learnt in Gurukul from his teacher. Then Prahlad describes 9 forms of devotion. This is what Prahlad says:

9 forms of devotion in BhagwatPuran

Sravanam keerthanam vishnoh smaranam paadasevanam
Archanam vandanam daasyam sakhyam aatmanivedanam

Ithi pumsaarpithavishnau bhakthischet nava lakshana
Kriyathe bhagavathyadhyaatmanye adheethamuttamam


Explantion:

Prahlad tells his father that there are 9 forms of devotion. They are:

1. Sravaṇa - 'listening' to the scriptural stories of Krishna.

2. keertana- 'praising' and group singing for the lord),

3. smaraṇa- 'remembering' or fixing the mind on Bhagwan Vishnu

4. pada-sevana- rendering service

5. archana (worshiping the lord),

6. vandana (paying homage),

7. dasya (servitude),

8. sakhya (friendship), and

9. atma-nivedana (complete surrender of the self).

During his 14 years of exile, when Lord Rama has been searching for her consort, Devi Sita whom the demon king Ravana had kidnapped and taken prisoner at Ashoka Vatika in his capital Lanka. Sri Ram & Lakshman reached the ashram of Matang Muni near Pampa Lake located in south India, where his ardent devotee Ma Shabri warmly greeted both the brothers. She belonged to a scheduled caste tribe named ‘Bheel’, and that’s why she was doubtful whether Shri Ram would visit her. All the time she used to chant the mantra, (hymn) 'Sri Ram’ specified by her guru. Rishi Matang blessed her a boon that one day Shri Ram would come to her house.

Finally, one day Shri Ram came to her cottage. Lord told Shabari that there is no need to be very knowledgeable or to be born in a high lineage to do my devotion. For devotion, only love is the foremost fascination. Shri Ram describes 9 form of devotion to Shabri. They are:

1. Satsang (company of the saints)

Pratham Bhagati Santan kar sangaa

The first step to devotion (Bhakti) is to keep company of the saints (Satsang). Make a coterie of Lord-loving Vaishnavas. You associate the Mahatmas, sages who are in love with the Supreme Soul. You will be cherished by the company you keep. The soul wanes due to nuisance and enhances with Satsang.

2. Love in my sacred Katha and Preaching

Doosri rati mam kathaa prasangaa

The second step is to enjoy listening to legends/discourses pertaining to the Lord from the mouth of the great learned saints or great men. One who listens to the Bhagavad Katha acquires self-knowledge that he belongs to God only. His whole worries & concerns are to be taken care of by his God. Listening to the Kathas calms the mind.

3. Acharyopasana or Serving the Guru

Gurupad pankaj seva, teesri bhakti amaan

Selfless service to the Guru’s lotus feet without any pride is the third step. There is a Kabir's lyrical verse- guru Govind dou khade , kake laagun paaon. Balihari guru aapne , govind diyo milay.
We should be constantly aware that guru-Seva is a service unto God and therefore we should perform each activity as our spiritual practice. Serve such a saint - a Sadguru in whose company, some sins are wiped away, some devotion is invoked. When we do Guru Seva, we get an opportunity to become aware of our personality defects and ego manifestations, and we can take steps towards eliminating them.

4. Acclaim or praise the virtues of the Divine (Kirtan)

Chouthi Bhagati mam gun gaan, karai kapat tajee gaan

The fourth step is to earnestly sing praises of the Lord’s virtues with a heart clear of guile, deceit or hypocrisy.
Do not waste your precious time criticizing & denouncing or praising & lauding anyone while you are sitting in solitude. Pray, contemplate & Invoke only God. While living in this world, the mind is not rotten merely by seeing & thinking, but it is decayed by contemplating the world. That's why devotees and wise people sing the divine virtues of God continuously. This improves the mind, awakens love in the Lord.

5. Chant my Mantra and have firm faith in me (manan)

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

Chanting My Name with steadfast faith is the fifth step as the Vedas reveal. After contemplating the directives of God, Shri Ram instructs to understand & implement them worthily.
You hold on to any mantra of God. Shri Ram disclosed that his mantra (Ram Mantra) is very divine and powerful. When you get free time, then do the practice of reciting the name - hare ram, hare ram- hare Krishna, hare Krishna, only then will you be able to reminisce the name in the last hours of your life.

6. Control of the senses

Chattha dasa seela birati bahu karmaa, nirat nirantara sajjan dharma

The sixth, is to practice self-control, good character, detachment from manifold activities and always follow the duties as good religious person.
To awaken love in God, it is very important to follow the rules which are mentioned in the scriptures – Yama (restraint), Niyama(following rules), Asana(yogasana), Pranayama(breathing control), Pratyahara (withdrawl of the senses). Do service with love and dedication.

7. Perceive Lord in all living beings

Saatvam sam mohi main jag dekhaa, motey sant adhik kar lekhaa

The seventh step is to perceive the world as God Himself and regard the saints higher than the Lord.
Keep the feeling that my sovereign deity is present in all living beings. Comprehend the whole world with equanimity in god.

8. Contentment:

Aathvam jathaa laabh santoshaa, sapneu nahin, dekhai par doshaa

The eighth, is a state where there is no desire left, but the gift of perfect peace and contentment with whatever one has. In this state one does not see fault in others, even in his/her dreams.
Have detachment from more deeds & worldly actions, greed, and profit.

9. Simple Living and High thinking

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

In this state, one has full faith in the Lord, and becomes (child-like) simple with no hypocrisy or deceit. The devotee has strong faith in the Lord with neither exaltation or depression in any life circumstance (but becomes equanimous).
Serve God with utmost devotion without any deceit, manipulation, or treachery, in simple nature. consider God as the master and self as his servant with utmost trust & faith.

Conclusion

Even today if one practices on these means with utmost faith, devotion, respect, selfless service, then his love and devotion to God will always be intact & will continue to grow.