Devotional service means that a person offers their body, mind, and words (kaya-mano-vakya) to Krishna. Therefore, Vaishnava sannyasis carry a tridanda (a staff with three branches).
Bhakti rasamrta sindhu
anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ
jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-
śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā
"One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krishna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service."
9 Processes of Bhakti
Šrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.5.23-24
śrī-prahrāda uvāca
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam
Prahlada Maharaja spoke this verse while being a 5-year-old child, when his father, Hiranyakashipu, asked him what good things he had learned in school. In fact, a devotee is not interested in anything except devotional service itself. Puàsärpitä viñëau means that all people can perform service to the Lord: one does not need to be a brahmana or born in India.
Who Can Practice These Methods?
It is necessary to note that these nine actions in themselves do not mean devotional service. They are part of sadhana bhakti or bhajana kriya, which means that to practice these nine methods of devotional service, one must first acquire faith (sraddha) and associate with saintly persons (sadhu sanga). Otherwise, materialists and impersonalists glorify and pray to God, each seeking their own benefit.
To perform bhakti, it is not necessary to follow all nine processes listed by Prahlada Maharaja. If a devotee performs one of these processes without deviation, he will achieve the Lord's mercy. Sometimes we see that when a devotee performs one of the processes, other processes mix into the main one. This is not bad. If a devotee follows one of the nine processes, the other eight processes are already in that one.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains: The word sravana means to pay attention to the sonic descriptions of the Lord's form, qualities, and pastimes. Smaranam means to try to understand about the Lord more and more. Krishna wants everyone to surrender to Him, because everyone is by constitutional nature His servant.
1. Śravaṇam – hearing
Hearing stories about the Lord and the Lord's Names. This is the most important process, because other processes begin with it. First we must hear, to do something ourselves. This is the beginning of devotional service. By hearing the holy name, a devotee realizes the Lord's personal form, His qualities, associates, pastimes. The most important thing is to hear Srimad Bhagavatam.
Example: Maharaja Parikshit, heard Srimad Bhagavatam for seven days and achieved perfection.
2. Kīrtanam – chanting
To repeat or sing – means to speak about Krishna, to repeat his name. Kirtanam means loudly. Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommends chanting the holy name humbler than the grass and more tolerant than a tree.
In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy (Kali yuga), the only means to achieve liberation is chanting the holy names of the Lord. (harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam...). This is the best path of spiritual advancement.
Example: Sukadeva Gosvami, who spoke Srimad Bhagavatam.
3. Smaraṇam – remembering
To remember in one's mind Sri Krishna's name, form, qualities, and pastimes. Jiva Gosvami in "Bhakti Sandarbha" says that remembering is a very detailed investigation in the mind. Remembrance naturally and gradually becomes concentration and meditation (dhyana).
Smaranam development stages: 1) smarana (remembering the name), 2) dharana (concentrating on the form), 3) dhyana (meditating on qualities), 4) dhruvānusmrti (diving into pastimes), 5) samādhi (trance).
Example: Prahlada Maharaja, who always meditated on Krishna.
4. Pāda sevanam – serving the feet
Serving the Lord's lotus feet. This is personal service to the Lord's body. Service to Vaishnavas, Tulasi, Ganga, and Yamuna is also called pada sevanam. It also means to walk around the Diety, and visit holy places.
Example: Lakshmidevi, who constantly massages the Lord's feet.
5. Arcanaṁ – worship
Offering sacrifices, Deity worship, rituals, puja. For this process, a spiritual master is especially important. Arcanam is especially important for grihasthas (householders), because it helps to maintain cleanliness and discipline.
Example: Prithu Maharaja, who performed 99 ashvamedha yajnas.
6. Vandanam – prayers
Offering prayers, bowing down. A devotee sees the Lord's wonderful qualities, which he wants to sing about. Prayers do not mean asking for material things. With prayers one can ask for devotional service.
Example: Akrura, upon arriving to Krishna in Vrindavana.
7. Dāsyaṁ – service
Executing the Lord's orders. Service is not rendered to the Lord's body, but acting by His will. Only by feeling himself as an eternal servant of the Lord, a person can achieve success.
Example: Hanuman, who executed any desire of Ramachandra.
8. Sakhyaṁ – friendship
Friendship with the Lord. To always rely on Krishna and try to do something pleasing for Him. Since friendship is characterized by an intense feeling of love, it is considered higher than dasyam.
Example: Arjuna, who associated with Krishna as a friend.
9. Ātma nivedanam – surrendering oneself
Surrendering one's whole self to the Lord. When a person keeps nothing for himself, giving everything to the Lord. "You can do with me whatever You want... You are still my Lord".
Example: Bali Maharaja, who gave his whole kingdom to Vamanadeva and finally gave himself.
Personalities who achieved perfection
śrī-viṣṇoḥ śravaṇe parīkṣid abhavad vaiyāsakiḥ kīrtane
prahlādaḥ smaraṇe tad-aṅghri-bhajane lakṣmīḥ pṛthuḥ pūjane
akrūras tv abhivandane kapi-patir dāsye 'tha sakhye 'rjunaḥ
sarvasvātma-nivedane balir abhūt kṛṣṇāptir eṣāṁ param
📜 Example of Ambarisha Maharaja
Maharaja Ambarisha always engaged his mind in meditating upon the lotus feet of Krishna, his words described the glories of the Lord, his hands cleansed the Lord's temple, and his ears heard the words spoken by Krishna or about Krishna. He used his eyes to see the Deity of the Lord, Krishna's temple and Krishna's places like Mathura and Vrindavana, he used his sense of touch to touch the bodies of the Lord's devotees, he used his sense of smell to smell the tulasi offered to the Lord. And he used his tongue to taste the prasadam of Krishna. He used his legs to walk to the holy places and the Lord's temple, and his head to bow down to the Lord, and all his desires to serve the Lord 24 hours a day. Indeed, Maharaja Ambarisha never desired anything for his own sense gratification. He engaged all his senses in devotional service, relating his various activities to the Lord. In this way he increased his attachment to the Lord and was completely free from material desires.
Memorize Verse
śrī-prahrāda uvāca
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam
Self-Check Questions
- List in order the nine processes of devotional service in Sanskrit and translation. Briefly describe them.
- List the personalities who achieved perfection through each of the nine processes of devotional service.
Dive Deeper
SB 7.5.23 translation and purport.