Navavidha Bhakti- Nine types of Devotion

               Bhakti means devotion and Bhakti Yoga means the devotional path of Yoga. In Bhakti Yoga emotions become devotions and the spiritual energy of bhakta(the devotee) is channelled towards the Lord. The thoughts or actions or words that are completely directed towards the Lord and the outside or material world is completely shut off for the devotee. In this extreme stage of devotion,you don't care about what is happening around you, you don't care about your surrounding places and you may even forget about yourselves. Here all your activities are performed as an offering to the Lord. In Srimad Bhagavatam, nine forms of Bhakti are stated.

         The first form of Bhakti is Shravanam which means hearing the names or glories of Lord. Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas Vishnu purana and Shiva purana contain stories and victories of the Lord. Hearing and understanding these stories helps you to get closer to the Lord. Parikshit maharaj used to listen to Shrimad Bhagavatham which is being narrated by Shuka Maharshi is a good example for Shravanam.

      Second form of Bhakthi  is Keerthanam or chanting the glories of God. Chanting names of Lords like Rama Rama Rama or Krishna Krishna Krishna or Narayana Narayana Narayana again and again is considered as Keerthanam in bhakthi Yoga.In many hindu temples in India peoples come and  join together to chant stories of Lord in the form of stanzas early morning and in the evening. Narada Muni chanting Narayana Narayana Narayana to worship Lord Vishnu is a good example for Keerthanam.

    Smaranam is the constant remembering of God. When you have an attachment with an object or person or an incident, you always try to remember it. Here remembering about God at all times improves your attachment with the Lord.the constant remembrance of Lord Vishnu by prahlada is the reason for the formation of Narasimhavatharam helped to save his life from hiranyakashipu.

                Next is pada sevanam or serving the Lord's feet. We usually kneel down and touch the feet of our teachers or gurus to express our gratitude. In some temples, the Lord's footprints are kept and we pray in front of those footprints.The worship of Lord Vishnu's feet by Devi Mahalakshmi is a good example for Pada sevanam.

            Archanam is worshipping the Lord. It is usually done by offering flowers, fruits and leaves or even by offering water to the Lord.It doesn't mean that you give something to the God which is costlier in the market. Anything given to the Lord as an offering with complete devotion and mindfulness is accepted by the Lord. Pushparchana conducted in temples is a good example for Archanam in Bhakti Yoga.

                Vandanam in Bhakti Yoga means offering obeissance unto the Lord. Here you express your gratitude to God for all that you have and all your duties are done as a gratitude to God. You say thanks to God for the food you get to eat. You say thank God if you get any help. You say thank God if you get a good job etc.. Akrura worship for Lord Krishna can be pointed out as a good example for Vandana bhakti.

                Dasyam is serving the Lord as his servant. Here you just consider yourself as the servant of the Lord and whatever the Lord needs, you fulfil it with happiness. If your Guru asks for any help, you fulfill it and you will get their blessings. Serving the Lord as a servant helps to become closer to the Lord.the best example for this is Hanuman serving Lord Rama in Ramayana.

    Another form of Bhakti Yoga is Sakhyam or developing friendship with God. Here each moment of your life , your sorrows, your happiness and your difficulties, everything related to your life will be shared with the Lord just like your friend. Arjuna accompanying Lord Krishna is  a good example for Sakhya bhakti.

           The last and the final type of Bhakti is Atma Nivedanam. Atma Nivedanam is like surrendering to the Lord. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says surrender all your Karmas and Dharmas totally and I will liberate you from all your sins. The story of Mahabali and Vamana Maharshi is a good example for Atma Nivedanam.                      

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