Stages of Devotional Service (Bhakti)

3 Stages of Bhakti

Sadhana bhakti – practical devotional service, which in turn is divided into:
- Vaidhi sadhana bhakti – regulated practice of devotional service. The main characteristic is fear and respect for Vedic injunctions.
- Raganuga sadhana bhakti – spontaneous practice of devotional service. Its main characteristic is intense desire (laulyam) and longing to serve Krishna. Raganuga bhakti is performed in two ways:
  - su siddha deha – with spiritual body perceived in meditation;
  - su sadhaka deha – with material body, following the instructions of the spiritual master.
Bhava bhakti – ecstatic devotional service;
Prema bhakti – devotional service in love.

Each of these stages has its own symptoms and gives different results. The path of Vaidhi sadhana bhakti is very long and difficult, but it does not require prior qualification. The path of Raganuga sadhana bhakti is fast and easy, but the soul must be very pure.

Bhagavad-gyta 9.22

ananyāś cintayanto māṁ

ye janāḥ paryupāsate

teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ

yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham

"But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have."

3 Forms of Bhakti

Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that there are three ways to perform devotional service:

1. Aropa-siddha-bhakti

Endeavors which are indirectly attributed with the qualities of bhakti. Activity which by nature is not pure bhakti, but the results of which are offered to the Lord (e.g. karma-yoga). This is sakama-bhakti – devotional service mixed with material desires.

2. Sanga-siddha-bhakti

Endeavors associated with bhakti or favorable to cultivating bhakti (e.g. compassion, cleanliness, austerity). They are considered associates of bhakti, but by themselves without bhakti do not have a direct relationship with God.

3. Svarūpa-siddha-bhakti

Endeavors purely consisting of uttama-bhakti. All endeavors of body, words, and mind which are related to Krishna and performed exclusively for His pleasure (shravanam, kirtanam, etc.).

Goal and Means

Sambandha

Connection / Relationship

All living entities are eternally connected with God. We are His fragmental parts and servants.

Abhideya

Process / Method

Scientific practice (sadhana) following the authorities, which allows to restore the connection with God.

Prayojana

Goal / Result

Pure love for God (prema) and mutual loving relationship with Him.

Leaves of Bhakti Plant

Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.1.17) describes 6 symptoms of Bhakti yoga:

• Kleśa-ghnī – Destroys all material suffering.
• Śubha-dā – Bestows the beginning of all auspiciousness.
• Mokṣa-laghutā-kṛt – Belittles the value of liberation (moksha).
• Su-durlabhā – Rarely achieved.
• Sāndrānanda-viśeṣātmā – Provides condensed transcendental pleasure.
• Śrī-kṛṣṇākarṣiṇī – Attracts Krishna Himself.

9 Stages of Devotional Service

Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.4.15-16

ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-

saṅgo 'tha bhajana-kriyā

tato 'nartha-nivṛttiḥ syāt

tato niṣṭhā rucis tataḥ

athāsaktis tato bhāvas

tataḥ premābhyudañcati

1. Śraddhā

Faith

2. Sādhu saṅga

Association with devotees

3. Bhajana kriyā

Performace of service

4. Anartha nivṛtti

Cleansing of unwanted things

5. Niṣṭhā

Steadiness

6. Ruci

Taste

7. Āsakti

Attachment

8. Bhāva

Ecstasy

9. Prema

Pure Love

Description of Stages

1. Śraddhā (Faith)

At the very beginning, one must acquire faith in the Vedas and Scriptures. This faith arises from reading shastras or hearing shastras from knowledgeable people. It also means that a person must desire to engage in the activity described in the scriptures. Then we say that a person has begun to believe in God.

Adau shraddha means that before sraddha – faith, there is contact with sadhu. This contact arises due to past sukriti – the stock of pious deeds. Sukriti is of two types: paramarthika – allowing bhakti to appear, and laukika – giving material results.

Note: The Vedas do not call the opinion that God exists and created the world as faith. Sraddha is called the conviction that we are connected with God and by doing what He tells us, we will be able to reach Him.

2. Sādhu saṅga (Association)

Sadhu is called a person who has completely dedicated their life to Krishna. Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 22.54 says that one moment of association with a sadhu grants all perfection of life. Following the guru's instructions, one associates with devotees of one's level and seeks shelter with more realized souls.

3 Classes of Uttama-bhagavatas:

Bhagavat-pārşada-deha-prāpt – achieved spiritual forms suitable for serving the Lord.
Nirdhūta-kaşāya – have no traces of material desires, even though they are in a material body.
Mūrcchita-kaşāya – traces of material desires still remain in the heart, but they are in a dormant state.

Sadhu-sanga also means diksha (spiritual initiation) and shiksha (instructions).

3. Bhajana kriyā (Practice)

In the next stage, the devotee begins to perform one or another form of service. This stage is called bhajana kriya – regulated stage of devotional service. During it, the devotee, regulated by the spiritual master, learns to serve Krishna.

Bhajana kriya consists of two stages: 1) unsteady – anishthita and 2) steady – nishthita.

Unsteady performance of devotional service is of 6 types:

1. Utsaha mayi – false self-confidence. The neophyte thinks he can do everything.
2. Ghana tarala (thick-thin) – sporadic endeavors. One moment studying seriously, the next rejecting everything.
3. Vyudha vikalpa – indecision. When a devotee does not know what to choose: renunciation or family.
4. Višaya sangara – struggle with Maya. Constant struggle with previously acquired desires.
5. Niyamakšama – inability to keep vows. Making new vows daily and breaking them.
6. Taranga rangini – enjoying the waves. Desire to achieve pleasure (fame, wealth) through devotional service.

4. Anartha nivṛtti (Cleansing)

Anartha means "unnecessary", "that which has no value". Nivriti means "to cleanse", "to eliminate". This is a process during which all impurities are cleansed from the heart.

4 Types of Anarthas:

1. Duškrtottha – arising from sinful activities

These are results of past sins:

Avidya – ignorance (forgetting that you are a servant).
Asmita – false ego (identifying oneself with the body).
Raga – attachment to objects providing sense gratification.
Dveša – hatred for unpleasant objects.
Abhiniveša – fear of death and attachment to the body.

2. Sukrtottha – arising from pious activities

This is attachment to material pleasures (bhukti) or desire for liberation (mukti) by merging into God.

3. Aparadhottha – arising from offenses

This is the greatest obstacle. Offenses are of 4 types:

Krišna-svarupa-aparadha – offenses to the Deity.
Nama-aparadha – 10 offenses to the Holy Name:
- To criticize devotees.
- To consider demigods equal to the Lord.
- To disobey the spiritual master.
- To criticize Vedic scriptures.
- To consider the glory of the holy name exaggerated.
- To create own interpretations.
- To sin expecting the name to purify.
- To consider chanting as pious activity (karma-kanda).
- To preach about the name to the faithless.
- To not have full faith and maintain material attachments.
Deva-aparadha – offenses to demigods (to disrespect them).
Dživa-aparadha – offenses to other living entities (violence, envy).

4. Bhaktyottha – arising from devotional service

If bhakti is performed improperly, a desire may arise to get: Labha (profit), Puja (honor), Pratištha (fame/prestige). These are weeds that choke the bhakti plant.

Stages of vanishing of Anarthas:

Ekadeša vartini – a small part of anarthas vanishes (during Bhajana kriya).
Bahu deša vartini – the majority vanishes (in Nishtha stage).
Prayiki – almost all vanish (in Ruchi and Asakti stages).
Purna – completely vanish (in Bhava stage).
Atyantiki – absolutely vanish (in Prema stage).

5. Niṣṭhā (Steadiness)

Nishtha means firm, uninterrupted endeavor to serve the Lord. In this stage anarthas (impurities) are almost gone. Devotee does not deviate from the path.

However, even in this stage 5 obstacles (distractions) may appear:

Laya – sleepiness (while hearing or chanting).
Vikšepa – distraction (talks about mundane topics).
Apratipatti – indifference (inability to perform kirtan with calm mind).
Kašaya – tendency for anger, greed, or honor.
Rasavada – taste for material pleasures, when we cannot give up sense gratification.

Nishtha is of two types: sakshat (direct service) and vastu-vishaya (qualities related to devotion: tolerance, compassion).

6. Ruci (Taste)

Upon attaining Ruchi, a genuine taste for hearing and chanting about the Lord awakens. The taste is so strong that the devotee forgets everything around him.

Ruchi is of two types:
1) Bhavastu apekshini – dependent on details (e.g., good kirtan, tasty prasadam).
2) Bhavastu anapekshini – independent of externals (taste for the essence itself, regardless of quality).

7. Āsakti (Attachment)

This is a deep attachment to Krishna and His devotees. In this stage, the devotee practices service spontaneously, without effort. The mind naturally runs to Krishna.

In this stage, the devotee no longer cares about his bodily needs at all, as he is completely absorbed in service.

8. Bhāva (Ecstasy)

Bhava is the first rays of love for God (like dawn before sunrise). The heart becomes completely pure (suddha-sattva-visheshatma).

9 Symptoms of Bhava Bhakti:

1. Kšanti – tolerance.
2. Avyartha-kalatvam – valuing time.
3. Virakti – detachment from pleasures.
4. Mana-šunyata – humility (pridelessness).
5. Aša-bandhah – firm faith in Krishna's mercy.
6. Samutkantha – intense desire to serve.
7. Nama-gane-sanda-ruci – taste for chanting the Holy Name.
8. Asaktis-tad-gunakhyane – attachment to describing His qualities.
9. Priti-tad-vasati-sthale – love for the Lord's abode.

9. Prema (Pure Love)

This is the highest stage of perfection. When bhava completely softens the heart and a strong sense of possessiveness towards Krishna (mamata) appears – this is called Prema.

Prema is of two types:

Mahatmya-jnana-prema – love with knowledge of majesty (in Vaikuntha).
Kevala-prema – pure, sweet love without knowledge of majesty (in Vrindavana).

In this stage, the devotee sees Krishna everywhere and always. He feels infinite bliss in serving Him.

Self-Check Questions

List the three stages of bhakti.
List the nine stages of devotional service in Sanskrit and English.
Explain what is sraddha and sadhu sanga.