Types of Bhakti
Types of Bhakti
Bhakti can be divided in two types:
[based on the desire of Bhakta (devotee)]
1) Sakam Bhakti :-
Devotion with desire for material gains.
2) Nishkam Bhakti :-
without desire for materialistic thing, for
purification of heart.
Types of Bhakti
Bhakti can again be divided into two types :
(based on the form of god/ the way to worship)
1) Saguna Bhakti
2) Nirguna Bhakti
Types of Bhakti
‘Bhakti Rasayan’ grantha describes Bhakti of two
types..
1) Apara Bhakti (Gauņi bhakti)
a) Vaidhi Bhakti
b) Ragatmika Bhakti
2) Para Bhakti
Apara Bhakti
Apara bhakti is the form of Bhakti, where the yogi may
focus on an object or image as a focal point for their
worship. They may also observe rituals and
ceremonies with a focus on God as supreme. Apara
bhakti is also known as vaidhi Bhakti.
Types of Vaidhi Bhakti
Vaidhi Bhakti, also known as Navadha Bhakti, is of nine types.
1) Shravan bhakti:
listening to the names of divine
2) kirtan bhakti :
chanting praise songs in the honour of god
(bhajan, kirtan)
3) smaran bhakti :
meditate on god each & every moment
4) paadsevan bhakti :
service at the feet of Lord
Types of Bhakti
Archan bhakti :
performing rituals
vandan bhakti :
Bowing to the divine/prostration of lord, Praising god
selflessly and with total submission,
- can be through chanting of vaidik mantras , stotra..
Dasya bhakti :
slavish devotion to god
sakhya Bhav :
feel of friendship
Atma-nivedan bhakti :
offering the self completely to god,
surrendering self completely to the divine
Ragatmika Bhakti
When divine prem (love) flows freely without
concern about what anyone thinks and without
societal barriers of any kind or regard for public
criticism. That is Ragatmika Bhakti.
Para Bhakti
The higher form of bhakti, where the Yogi sees and
worship god everywhere and experiences the divine
as manifested in the whole universe. They are able to
express their love and devotion through every action
and encounter in their lives.
Types of Bhakti in NBS
Narada says in his Bhakti sutras that though
Bhakti is a single emotion, it takes eleven
forms ...
These eleven forms are of attachment to the
several aspects of the Lord and in different
roles :-
Types of Bhakti
According to Narada Bhakti sutra,
1) Attachment to the lord’s qualities
(gunamahatmyasakti)
2) Attachment to his beauty (Rupasakti)
3) Attachment to his worship (Pujasakti)
4) Attachment to his remembrance (samaranasakti)
5) Attachment to him as that of a servant to his master
(Dasyasakti)
6) Attachment to him as a friend (sakhyasakti)
7) Attachment to him as a child (Vatsalyasakti)
8) Dealing with him as a lover (Kantasakti)
9) Love for self surrender to him
(Atmanivedanasakti)
10) Attachment to him in form of complete
absorption in him (Tanmayasakti)
11) Attachment to the supreme anguish as a
result of seperation from him (Avirahasakti)
Means to attainment of god realization
1) Renouncing the attachment towards sense
objects
2) serving the great people or men of god
3) giving up the idea of possessiveness
4) resorting to a solitary and holy place
5) overcoming the bondage to the pleasures
of three worlds
Contd...
6) Becoming free from three gunas
7) Giving up the idea of acquisition and
preservation of the objects of enjoyment
8) Giving up the fruits of action
9) renouncing all actions
10) uninterrupted hankering for god
Means to attain Bhakti / God
realization
1) Bhajan
2) Kirtan
3) Through the grace of great souls
4) company of holy persons
5) Discarding the company of unholy persons
6) serving the great spiritual persons
7) giving up the idea of egotism
8) living in solitude
9) uprooting worldly bondages
Contd..
10) Renouncing the idea of obtaining the objects
of world or their preservation
11) Renouncing all the actions and their fruits
Attachment to surrendering one’s self
completely to him ()
8) Attachment to being absorbed in thoughts of
him
9)
