More on Bhakti

More on Bhakti

by Swami Sivananda

In the Sivananda Lahari, Sri Sankaracharya explained the nature of Bhakti in the beautiful verse:

Ankolam Nijabijasantatir-ayaskantopalam Suchika,

Sadhvi Naijavibhum Lata Kshitiruham Sindhuh Saridvallabham;

Prapnotiha Yatha Tatha Pasupateh Padaravindadvayam,

Chetovrittirupetya Tishthati Sada Sa Bhaktirityuchyate

Here the Bhakta’s intense love for God is compared to five well-known examples.

The Ankola fruits fall to the ground and the seeds are liberated. But they are instantly and powerfully attracted to the trunk of the mother tree. They move in the direction of the trunk and stick to it.

The needle flies to the magnet, attracted by an irresistible force.

A devout and chaste wife lives constantly in the thought of her husband and his service.

A creeper restlessly searches for a tree to entwine itself; and once it has caught a tree it winds itself round it inextricably as it were, with great affection and love. Even if the creeper is violently pulled away from the tree, the instant it is released it will rush back to the tree and wind itself around it.

The river bouncing towards the ocean surmounts all obstacles and flows ceaselessly till it attains the ocean.

Such should be the devotion of the Bhakta to the Lordconstant, intense and powerful.

NAVAVIDHA-BHAKTI

Sravanam kirtanam vishnoh Smaranam padasevanam;

Archanam vandnam dasyam Sakhyam-atmanivedanam.

Sri Vishnu-Sravane Parikshidabhavad-Vaiyasikah Kirtane,

Prahladah Smarane Tadanghribhajane Lakshmih Prithuh Pujane;

Akrurastvabhivadane-tha Hanuman Dasye-tha Sakhyerjunah,

Sarvasvatmanivedane Balirabhut Kaivalyamesham Padam.

Hearing the Lord’s stories, singing His glories, remembering Him always, serving at His feet, worshipping Him, adoring Him, being His humble servant, being His friend and dedicating one’s all to Him, these are the nine ways of attaining Him.

Parikshit attained Him by hearing His stories; Vyasa’s son by singing His glories; Prahlada by constantly remembering Him. Lakshmi by serving at His feet; Prithu by worshipping Him; Akrura by adoring Him; Hanuman by being His humble servant; and Bali by dedicating his all to Him. All attained salvation equally, though by different methods.

More on Bhakti – Devotion, Surrender, and Divine Love

More on Bhakti helps the seeker understand that devotion is not only an emotion, ritual, song, or outer expression. It is a complete movement of the heart toward the Divine. When devotion becomes sincere, it purifies thoughts, softens the ego, strengthens faith, and changes the whole attitude toward life. The devotee begins to see every duty, every relationship, and every experience as a chance to remember God.

Bhakti begins with love, but it matures into surrender. In the beginning, a person may pray for protection, success, health, peace, or relief from suffering. This is natural. But as the heart becomes purer, devotion becomes less selfish. The devotee no longer seeks only gifts from God; the devotee begins to seek God Himself.

More on Bhakti teaches that the Divine is reached through sincerity more than outer display. A simple prayer offered with a pure heart is spiritually powerful. A grand ritual done with pride may not touch the inner being. God looks at the feeling behind the action. Therefore, humility, purity, and love are more important than show.

Remembrance is a central practice. The mind usually remembers worries, desires, insults, plans, and pleasures. Through devotion, the seeker trains the mind to remember the Divine Name, divine qualities, and divine presence. This remembrance slowly changes the inner atmosphere. The mind that was once restless becomes softer, quieter, and more peaceful.

Prayer is not weakness. It is the opening of the heart to higher strength. A devotee prays not only for worldly needs, but also for purity, patience, forgiveness, wisdom, devotion, and freedom from ego. Prayer gives courage in difficulty and gratitude in success. It reminds the seeker that life is supported by grace.

More on Bhakti also shows the importance of surrender. Surrender does not mean laziness or escape from duty. It means doing one’s best and offering the result to God. The devotee works, serves, thinks, speaks, and acts with sincerity, but does not carry the heavy burden of pride and anxiety. This attitude brings great peace.

The ego is the main obstacle in devotion. It wants recognition, control, superiority, and praise. It becomes hurt quickly and forgives slowly. Bhakti slowly melts this hard ego. When the devotee remembers that all strength, talent, opportunity, and success come through divine grace, pride becomes weaker and humility becomes natural.

Devotion should be expressed through conduct. A person who worships God but speaks harshly, cheats others, nourishes jealousy, or lives selfishly has not understood the depth of the path. True devotion appears as kindness, truthfulness, forgiveness, patience, self-control, compassion, and service. The heart that loves God must also learn to love God’s creation.

More on Bhakti becomes practical through selfless service. Feeding the hungry, helping the sick, comforting the sorrowful, respecting elders, caring for family, and doing one’s work honestly can all become worship. Service removes narrowness and expands the heart. When action is offered to the Divine, ordinary work becomes sacred.

Good company strengthens devotion. The mind is influenced by people, books, music, speech, and surroundings. If the seeker stays among restless and negative influences, faith becomes weak. Satsang, sacred reading, devotional music, mantra repetition, and association with sincere seekers keep the heart inspired and pure.

The devotee should also control speech. The tongue that repeats the Divine Name should not be used for gossip, lies, criticism, or harsh words. Gentle speech is a form of worship. Silence, when practiced wisely, helps the mind remain inward and prayerful. A kind word spoken with love can become an offering to God.

More on Bhakti reminds us that devotion must remain steady in both joy and sorrow. Many remember God when life becomes difficult, but forget Him when comfort returns. Mature devotion remembers the Divine in success and failure, gain and loss, health and illness, praise and blame. Such steady remembrance makes faith deep and strong.

Devotion does not reject knowledge. True love for God opens the heart to wisdom. When the devotee understands that the Divine dwells in all beings, narrowness disappears. The seeker becomes less judgmental and more compassionate. Love expands beyond personal preference and becomes universal goodwill.

The fruit of devotion is inner sweetness. The mind becomes less restless, fear becomes weaker, desire becomes moderate, and the heart becomes lighter. The devotee begins to feel that life is not empty or mechanical. Every breath, every duty, every prayer, and every act of service becomes part of a sacred journey.

In the end, More on Bhakti teaches that devotion is a path of love, remembrance, prayer, surrender, service, humility, purity, and constant faith. When practiced sincerely, it transforms the heart and makes life divine. The devotee moves from selfish seeking to selfless love, from anxiety to trust, and from separation to the joy of spiritual union.

Vairagya and Tyaga