D E V O T I O N Disciple of Prabhupada Srila Sarasvati Thakura While explaining the eternal duties of the living entities, i.e., ‘Devotional Service’, the path of discharging one’s prescribed duty in Krishna consciousness (Karma Yoga) and the path of attaining Divine Knowledge (Jnan Yoga) have been mentioned in the scriptures, for realizing Godhead. Actually, this explains the abolition of the existence of living entities (jivas). One more modality of Devotional Service is mentioned in the scriptures, that is Devotional Service alloyed with Karma, as it has been instructed in Srimad Bhagavad-Gita:
“yat karosi yadasnasi (“Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, O Son of Kunti, as an offering to me.”)
“dhan paile jaiche sukh bhog paya, (“As by the attainment of wealth, the material desires are fulfilled and thus misery escapes away itself; in the same way, the Divine Love of Krishna blooms in the bosom as the result of devotion and by relishing this higher taste of Divine Love (Krishna-Prema), mundane attachments vanish away. The eradication of poverty and abolition of worldly attachment, though, are not the main purpose of Divine Love. Actually, its main purpose is to relish the transcendental pleasure. The Vedas and other scriptures say that the three great treasures – Krishna, Devotion of Krishna and Love of Krishna are the matter of ultimate relation (sambandh), means (abjhidheya) and ultimate goal (proyojana) respectively. As the result of secondary import (by-product) of His knowledge, the nasty smell of illusory energy (Maya) goes away.”) For understanding or explaining it to others, one has to comprehend the meaning and position of devotion alloyed with action (Karma), knowledge (Jnan) and eightfold yoga (Astanga Yoga). The Lord has said in Srimad Bhagavad-Gita:
“brahma-bhutah prasannatma, (“A transcendentally situated person at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and thus remains ever-joyful. He neither laments nor desires to have anything anytime. He disposes equally towards every living being. Pure Devotional Service onto Me is attained by him in this state.”) Elucidating Devotional Service (Bhakti), Sandilya Muni says – “Sa paranuraktirisvara (Absolute attachment and love to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called Devotional Service.) Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu explains Pure Devotion as follows:
“sarvopadhi vinirmuktam, (“Devotional Service means to serve the master of the senses of the living entities, by involving all the senses, cleaning all mundane dirts from the heart and by giving up material degrees and honours etc,”) Above explanation has been repeated more explicitly in this verse:
“anyabhlasitasunyam Jnanakarmadyanavritam, (“The favorable and desireless transcendental Loving Service to Sri Krishna, without the desire for material benefits through fruitive activities or philosophical speculations, is called Pure Devotion.”) The indispensable nature of Devotional Service has been claimed herein:
“bhaktirvainam nayati, (“Only Devotional Service takes the living entity to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only Devotional Service makes the Godhead visible to the living entity; He is under the control, but only of Devotional Service and thus Devotional Service is topmost.”) Actually, Devotional Service is the absolute Dharma of
the living entity (Jiva).
“adau sraddha tatah sadhu, (“In the beginning, one must have a preliminary desire for attaining Love of Krishna. It will take one to the stage of associating with the spiritually elevated souls. In the next stage, one starts the Devotional Service. This performance wipes out the influence of misdeed. After this, steadiness comes which leads one to the taste for Krishna. The taste leads one further to attachment for Krishna. In its maturity this attachment transforms into Bhava. Then the stage of real Love (Prema) for Krishna comes which is the highest perfectional stage of life.”)
Now again, “Regulated Devotion” (Sadhana Bhakti) has
been classified into following two classes: -
“raghin jan bhaje sastrera agyay, (“According to all the scriptures, the Devotional Service rendered by the people without having spontaneous feelings towards Lord Krishna is called ‘Devotional Service under Regulative Principles’, Vaidhi Bhakti.”) Sri Narada Pancharatra says:
“surarse vihita sastre, (“O Seer-God, the sages call all such activities as ‘Devotional Service under regulative principles’ (Vaidhi Bhakti) which are oriented towards Krishna according to the recommendation of the scriptures.”) To point out the ‘Devotional Service under regulative principles’, it is said referring to the nine fold tenets of Devotional Service mentioned: -
eka anha sadhe keha sadhe bahu anga, (“Some persons practice one limb of devotion, on the other hand, others practice many limbs of devotion. >From the steadiness of faith comes about the pleasing wave of Krishna-Prema.”) Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu glorifies the nine-fold devotional service by citing example of the devotees of the Supreme Lord: -
“sri visnoh sravane parikshit, (“Maharaja Parikshit became perfect by hearing about Krishna, Sukdeva Goswami became perfect by speaking the glories of the Lord, Prahlada Maharaja became perfect by remembering the Lord, Laxmidevi became perfect by serving the Lotus Feet of the Lord. Maharaja Prithu became perfect by worshiping the Lord, Akrura became perfect by offering prayers to the Lord, Hanuman became perfect by serving the Lord, Arjuna became perfect by friendliness to the Lord and Bali Maharaja became perfect by surrendering fully to the Lord.”) After comprehending Vaidhi Bhakti, we can get help from Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu for understanding ‘Ragatmika Bhakti’. It is mentioned there:
“iste svarasiki ragah, (“Extreme immersion in Lord Krishna is called ‘Raga’ and when the devotion to the Lord becomes utmost intense and self-automated it is called ‘Ragatmika Bhakti.’”)
Only Sri Krishna is equal to Sri Krishna. Therefore,
when that unthinkable (achintya) Omnipotent Supreme Personality, Sri Krishna, for whom the scriptures say
“raso vaisah”, becoming the absolute consumer, expands
Himself as the dependent objects (asraya tattva) by
means of his unpercievable power, for relishing His
own pastimes (lila), then these unleashing dependent
objects are called ‘ragatmikas’. Their selfless devotion, alloyed with intense Krishna-serving desire
and resolute attachment towards Krishna, in the form
of the mellow of Vraja-Prema, is called ‘Ragatmika
Bhakti’. The devotion which arises in the heart,
during practicing regulated devotion, after listening
about such devotion performed by the dependents (i.e.,
the residents of Vraja) and becoming their subordinate
out of intense greed (lobha) for gaining such devotion, is called spontaneous devotion
(Raganuga Bhakti).
“ragamayi bhaktir hay ragatmika nam, (“The devotion studded with ‘raga’ is called ‘Ragatmika Bhakti’, very few fortunate people get attracted to such devotion. Ragatmika Bhakti is mainly practiced by Brajvasis. Devotion under such devotees is called spontaneous devotion “Raganuga Bhakti”.) Thus, different types of devotion have been explained here in very abridged manner. But, we must understand that devotion is not the phenomena of body or mind. Devotional Service (Bhakti) is the natural function of the soul. That is why it has been said:
“kriti sadhyata bhavet (“The Devotional Service, which is achieved by the efforts of one’s own, is called Regulated Devotional Service “Sadhana Bhakti”. But the devotion eternally studded to a soul appears in one’s heart gradually. It is the real purpose of Sadhana”.) Devotional Service is the real constitutional position of the living entities. The effort to remanifest it in our hearts is called Sadhana. The spark of eternal knowledge and the bliss coming down to the living entities from Lord Sri Krishna has been forgotten by them. But this eternity is worth regeneration. The Eternal Love of Sri Krishna cannot be attained by any means, other that Pure Devotional Service. In reality, it is already residing within the inner most pure core of one’s heart. But in its bonded position, while remaining the bodily platform, bearing secondary attentions, contemplating mortal belongings and ever planning to enjoy material nature, the Love of Lord Krishna remains dormant. But, when by means of any known or unknown pious activity (Sukriti), one comes in association of real sadhu, then due to the causeless blessings of Spiritual Master and Sadhus, the dormant seed of Devotional Service starts germinating in the form of spiritual faith (Sraddha). Due to the influence of this faith, the heart of a fortunate living entity (jiva) becomes restless and passionate for more and more association of Sadhus (Devotees). Then only, he starts devotional Service under Regulative Principles as prescribed by the Spiritual Master, who is the embodiment of the causeless Mercy of the Lord Himself. When advanced in this path, one receives the gem of independence through Gurudev, in the form of “Raga”. “vaidhi marge rata jane svadhinata ratna dane raga marge karan pravesh” Thus, a living entity gradually advances in the path
of attaining the absolute purpose or attainment of life, i.e., “Krishna-Prema”. Therefore it has been
said – “Gurukripa hi kevalam”(The mercy of the
Spiritual Master is the only hope).
The servant of the servants of Vaishnabas
Aspirant servant of Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga
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But, the living entities (jivas) become really
prosperous only when they attain unalloyed and
selfless devotion. A person devoid of the treasure of
pure devotion (Suddha Bhakti), being deprived of - diurnal, perishable pleasures remain restless due to
the continuos stings of scorpions of fruitive
activities (Karma). Again, sometimes, moving apart
from Lord Krishna, such persons get involved in
egoistic worships or hanker after liberation (moksha)
by practicing eight-fold yogic processes and thus
loose the marvelous opportunity of getting the
timeless wealth of Divine Love. In this way, such
living entities do not attain the real wealth even
after loosing their existence, by becoming one with
the Lord or by falling into the venomous mouth of the
serpent-like liberation. Therefore, devotion is the
only way (method) to attain the Lotus Feet of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna. That is why, all the scriptures have glorified Devotional
Service as the medium of attaining the Lord. It is the
corner stone of the “Abhidheya Tattva”.