Practice of Bhakti Yoga by Swami Sivananda

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PRACTICEOFBHAKTI YOGA


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PRAgTIgEOFBHAKTI YOGA

Sui Sauan4i Se:u*nnda.

"c./&bnd,6?HE DTVINE LIFE SOCIETYP.O. SHIVANANDANAGAR_24g L92Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttarakhand, Himalayas, Indiawww. sivdrandaonline. org, www. dlshq. org


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First Edition: L937Second Edition: 1961Third Edition: 2000Fourth Edition: 2OO7Fifth Edition: 2Ol3(1,000 Copies)

@The Divine Life Trust Society

rsBN 81-7052-158-0ES3OO

PRrCE t130/-

Published by Swami Padmanabhananda forThe Divine Life Society, Shivanandanagar, and printed byhim at the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy Press,P. O. Shivanandanagar, Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttarakhand,Himalayas, IndiaFor online orders and Catalogue visit : dlsbooks.org


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OMDedicated toThe Brahma-KumaraDeva Rishi NaradaWho Still Roams AboutIn the Three WorldsWith His TamburaSinging Sriman NarayanaNarayana NarayanaOM


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SRI SWAMI SIVANANDABorn on the 8th September, 1887, in the illustrious family

of Sage Appayya Dikshitar and several other renowned saintsand savants, Sri Swami Sivananda had a natural flair for a lifedevoted to the study and practice of Vedanta. Added to thiswas an inborn eagerness to serve all and an innate feeling ofunity with all mankind.

His passion for service drew him to the medical career;and soon he gravitated to where he thought that his seruicewas most needed. Malaya claimed him. He had earlier beenediting a health journal and wrote extensively on health piob-lems. He discovered that people needed right knowledge mostof all; dissemination of that knowledge he espoused as his ownmission.

It was divine dispensation and the blessing of God uponmankind that the doctor of body and mind renounced his careerand took to a life of renunciation to qualify for ministering to thesoul of man. He settled down at Rishikeshin 1924, practised in-tense auste- rities and shone as a great Yogi, saint, sage andJivanmukta.In L932 Swami Sivananda started theSivanandashram. In 1936 was born The Divine LifeSociety. In 1948 the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy wasorganised. Dissemination of spiritual knowledge andtraining of people in Yoga and Vedanta were their aimand object. In 1950 Swamiji undertook a lightning tour ofIndia and Ceylon. In 1953 Swamiji convened a TVorldParliament of Religions.' Swamiji is the author of over3OO volumes and has disciples all over the world,belonging to all nationalities, religions and creeds. Toread Swamiji's works is to drink at the Fountain ofWisdom Supreme. On 14th July, 1963 Swamiji enteredMahasamadhi. (6)


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PUBLISHERS'NOTEThe present work, "Practice of Bhakti Yoga" is yetanother of Sri Swamiji's thrilling works. Consistent withthe spirit of his earlier works, the revered author hasemployed a language which cannot be easily surpassedfor its simplicity, fluency and spiritual force. Very few

books there are today dealing with Bhakti Yoga thatmake such a marvellously comprehensive survey of thisintricate and elaborate subject with such scientificaccuracy as this book. And we are really proud to claimthis as the first and foremost reason for publishing"Practice of Bhakti Yoga".All the pages of this book ring with the sublime notethat the dire need of the hour is Love, and Love alone.Says the author: "A life without love, faith and devotion isa dreary waste. It is real death. Love is Divine. Love is thegreatest power on earth. It is irresistible. It is Love thatcan really conquer an enemy. Its power is infinite. Itsdepth is unfathomable. Its nature is ineffable. Its glory isindescribable. The essence of religion is Love," andexhorts all his readers to develop pure Love which, ifpossessed even to the magnitude of a ray, can cure all illsand bestow real joy and happiness.If this book should go perchance into the hands ofthe dictators of some of the countries of the world and ifthey should interpret the message in the spirit in which itwas intended byus, then all the ills to which this world isheir today will melt away and there will once againemerge a veritable heaven on earth.May the Lord Krishna, the Source of all Love, theembodiment of Prem, the Lover of Radha, and theProtector of the fallen, bless this war-ridden world andbestow peace, joy, happiness, prosperity and long life for

-THE DIVINELIFE SOCIETY

(7)ever and ever!


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SECRET OF RENUNCIATION1. Renounce (the desires of) this world.2. Renounce (the desires of) the other world.3. Renounce egoism, selfishness, Dehadhyasa(body-idea).4. Renounce the desire for liberation5. Renounce the renunciation itself(Tyaga-abhimana).

FOUR SPIRITUAL GEMS1. REMEMBER THE PAINS OF SAMSARA.2. REMEMBER DEATH.3. REMEMBER THE SAINTS.4. REMEMBER GOD.

1 and 2 will produce Vairagga. 3 will bing inspiration.4 utill cause Darshan of God or attainment ofGod-Consclousness.


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HARI STOTRAYrTffsri 5-q{rmi qffif ghifrsnnt.TTiqq{iM{rrrfl |q+ftfl


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SURYA.NAIIIASKARAs: qf tqrnsrt ftrd,mi qurni Strffii fr*mfui Hqq I{


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ESSENCE OF FOUR YOGASgnpbE)1. Karma YogaGrow Expand SacrificeServe Give Purify2. Bhakti YogaLove Sing SurrenderRemember Weep Worship(Ram Ram Ram)3. Raja YogaControl Subdue Restrain

4. Jnana YogaHear Reflect MeditateEnquire Investigate RatiocinateAssert Know FeelSearch Understand Realise(Om Om Om)

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SAGUNA MEDITATION(M editatian on form uith attibute s)Twelve Formulae

1. God is one.2. God exists.3. God is Love. He is All-merciful.4. He is omniscient (Sarvajna).5. He is omnipotent (Sarva Saktiman).6. He is omnipresent (Sarva Vyapak).7 . He is Sarva-Antaryamin (Inner ruler of a1l).8. He is the support for everything (Sarva-adhara).9. He is endless (Ananta).

10. He is imperishable (Avinasi).11. He is indivisible (Akhanda).12. He is light of lights (Jyotis-Swaroop). He giveslight to sun, moon, stars, lightning and fire.Fix the mind on the image of your Ishta-Devata.Keep the image in the heart or in the space between thetwo eye-brows by closing the eyes or in front of you.Meditate on the above ideas. Repeat mentally Om oryourIshta Mantra or Sri Ram, Hari Om, Sitaram, Om NamahSivaya, Om Namo Narayanaya or Om Namo BhjagavateVaasudevaya or Maha Mantra. Select any formula you

like best. If the mind runs about, bring it back to theimage and rotate the mind from one formula to anotherand finally fix it on one formula. Keep the image of yourIshta also before your mind. After some practice, themind will get concentrated. Meditation and Samadhi willresult eventually. You will have eternal infinite Peace,Bliss and Immortality.{12)


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UNIVERSAL PRAYERO All-pervading, hidden and homogeneous Essence!O adorable Lord of the universe! Thou art witnessing thedrama of this world from behind the screen. Thoudwellest in the hearts of all beings. Thou artself-luminous. Thou art the basis for all these names and

forms. Thou art one without a second. Thy glory isineffable. Thou art the source of all sciences, knowledgeand beauty.I do not know how to worship Thee. I have nostrength to do any kind of Sadhana. I am full ofweaknesses and Doshas. My mind is wavering. Indriyasare powerful and restless. Some say: "Thou art Sakaraand Saguna." Others say: "Thou art Nirakara andNirguna." I don't want to indulge in fighting, discussionsand debates. Give me peace and devotion. Give mestrength to resist temptations and to control this enemyand thief-mind. Let me utilise my body in Thy service.Let me remember Thee always. Let me be ever looking atThy sweet, loving face. Grant me this prayer, O Ocean ofLove!Give me true Viveka and lasting Vairagra. TheVairarya cometh and goeth. Let me be established inPara Vairarya. My self-surrender is not perfect andsincere too. I admit my faults. Not a drop of tear comesout of my eyes. Make me weep for Thee. But make meweep in solitude, when I am alone. Let me not shedcrocodile tears. Then only I can see Thee in my tears. Myheart is harder than flint, steel and diamond. How can Imake it as soft as butter? Give me the heart of Prahladaor Gouranga. This is my fervent prayer. O Lord of Love!Grant me this humble prayer of mine. I am suppliant toThee. I am Thy disciple, Thou art my Guru.

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LORD KRISHNAThere the Yamuna shines brilliantly,Where the blue waters move swiftly.He plays upon the Flute,And 1o! Radha hastens from Barsana.He plays with cow-boys under the Kadamba tree,He does Rasa-Lila in Seva Kunj;He roams in the forests of Brindavan,And moves sometimes to Nandgopa.He perambulates round GovardhanAnd lo! He sits quiefly in Gokul.He enters the houses of Gopis,Breaks the pots and eats the butter.There Yasoda brings a rope to tie Him,Thither He jumps vehemently and smiles!There stands my Brij Raj, Shyam Sundar,The Lord of the three worlds and the joy of Devaki.His Mantra is'Om Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaya.Repeat it constantly and obtain His Grace.Do total self-surrender and sit at your ease.This is the way to real Blessedness.Bhaktas proclaim it with marked boldness.

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Charpata PanjarikaBHAJA GOVINDAMpf Sn Sankaracharya)w rilfuq w rilfo{ rilk< rrq rcqAtwn.il qfdRa qrd q fr q fr {qTfr ggw1fr11q 11

O thou ignorant one! Sing Govind, the Narne of theLord, sing Govind, Govind! Worship Govind. When youare in the dying condition, the study of grammar will notprotect you. Therefore, take refuge in the Lord and singGovind, Govind! (1);1

qGmr+fuflffi, fr ildrFr e1sft r {FF: n? uIn childhood you are absorbed in play. Inadolescence you are a slave of lust. In old age you groanunder the burden of family cares. When will you find timeto think of God? (2)si-$.rkd qfui 5qd E$qfrfr;i ff Wqt1dqTfr E"silqfrq5si@nltMan has grown weak. All his organs have becomeold. Hairs have become grey. All teeth have fallen. The oldman walks with the help of a stick. Yet desire has not lefthim, (3)W{fr q{,i gr{fr q{ui sr{fr Erfrwdt Wl{6 {isrt qg gwrt yunrt qrft gsrtttxttBirth, then death, then lyrng in the mother's womb,then birth, then death-in this way goes on the endlessocean of births and deaths. Pray to Lord Krishna, theOcean of Mercy to cross this ocean of births anddeaths. (4)

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ft{qfr ldft qrri yro' ftrftr+qd g{-t-{rd: IslE[: ffi l=s6rygilfi q Sfl--*r.'rg: I l\ I IDays and nights ro11 on. Mornings and eveningscome and go. Seasons rotate. Time plays. Life decays.But alas! the greed of man never leaves him. Thereforetake refuge in the Lord. Sing Govind, Govind! (5)"rftFfrg"Sgkd*n: @:lq{-ddfr q r q{qft IF' sq(frftt' qgfdeq: nq nFor the sake of this belly, what sort of disguise manputs on? One grows Jata on the head, another shaves hishead, another puts on orrnge-coloured robe. Ignorantsees not though he sees. Therefore sing Govind,Govind! (6)qqfu rre m' q.rITFdfiR' g* ft q'' "FRTR: tIf you become old, lust will vanish (there will be noattraction for sensual enjo5rment). Just as a tank is leftwhen the waters dry up, so also you will be deserted byyour relatives when you become poor. If you get the

knowledge of the Self, the Samsara will vanish $ou willbe free from bondage). Therefore sing Govind, Govind! (7)ori qE' gB ,Tr1tr* ggsqqfifrqg: Imrcofterwsd-ddffiwfi T griqr$rqmr: I I / I IIn front there is fire, in back there is sun. In night he

suffers from cold and sleeps by placing his face betweenthe knees. He uses his hands as the begging bowl. Hesleeps underneath tJ:e tree. Yet the desire has not lefthim. (8)15' 1qfdr$dft qd{tt qrdf eilsft q Ipft ttrtqtr(16)


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As long as you earn money, so long will your wife,sons and other relatives love you. When there is noincome, when you are afflicted by disease and old age,nobody will ask you: "Are you all right? How do you do?"Therefore, take refuge in the Lord and sing Govind,Govind! (9){ffi:qhft qffiffi rqt qrmtqtrqtqrrq"

Having clad himself in the rags that are found in thestreets, having gone beyond good and evil and havingfixed the mind in Yoga, the Yogi rejoices like a child and amad man. (10)iltffirr{nftki frunq|zm@r@q-ifrkqnqerierqrrtqqDo not be infatuated by looking at the breasts of fairladies. Whenever its memory flashes in your mind, thinkthat it is nothing but a mass of flesh. Therefore, takerefuge in the Lord and sing Govind, Govind! (11)fri rftdTilq-qEd shi ffiWrff qq;nr* fuii H Arq{q q @t I q? I ISing Gita and Vishnu Sahasrana.ma. Meditatealways on Vishnu. Seek the company of the wise.Distribute your wealth to the poor. (12)qrrqrn-drfifdqetrdrritrqdc{fr Fr*'rfiartulFqfr tq $Iftffiqf ffi T{q qtq q qqtllqt llWhat can Yama do for that man who has studied alittle of Bhagavad Gita, who has drunk a little of Gangawater and who has worshipped Murari at least once? Hewill not fight with you. (13)+-{ci q}q gffi 3rr+rd' HT i qf,ft +} t trkT: IEft

qn tr++ {drrsrt frqd iqffir Hqfurqnqyn(t7l


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Who are you? Who am I? Wherefrom did we come?Who is mother? Who is father? Enquire like this.Renounce this world which is like a dream, Take thisworld of names and forms as worthless. (14)+'T t .6t


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EMOTION NEEDS CULTURINGDevotion is ingrained in every being. Even an atheistis devoted to his atheism. Love dwells in the heart ofevery creature. Without love, life itself cannot exist. Eventhe most cruel-hearted men love something or other.As everything else, this love also needs culturing.

What is the difference between gardens and forests? Inforests, too, there are flowerbeds, there are fruit-bearingtrees. Yet, man is afraid to enter the forest. The earth isstrewn with thorns; there are ominous-looking busheshere and there that hide wild animals. The trees alsogrow haphazardly and a violent storm produces aforest-fire which destroys the entire forest. Not so is thecase of a garden. The plants are beautifully andartistically laid out. There are order, harmony andpruning. The ground is swept clean and you take delightin walking over the lawns. A11 foul-smelling things areremoved from the garden and the sweet fragrance of theflowers wafts around.Similar is the case with love. Love grows wildly in theignorant man's heart. There is the luscious fruit of love ina corner of the heart; but the entire heart is strewn withthorns of hatred, jealousy and so many other viciousqualities that the charm of love is marred. There arebushes of lust, anger and greed which hide within themthe wildest animals. Love lies hidden far beneath and farbeyond reach. It is as good as non-existent. But, in thecase of a true devotee of the Lord, this love has beencultured, and the garden of his heart is cleared of thethorns of vicious qualities, of the bushes of lust, angerand greed. Love of God which is the 'sweetest offragrances wafts from such a heart.Turn yolJr gaze within. Look into your own heart.Find outyour love. Take firm hold of this love. Cultivate itconsciously and deliberately. Find out the thorns and the

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bushes. By intelligent methods, throw them out. Theyhave no place in the beautiful garden of your heart wherethe Lord dwells. See what great preparations you makefor the reception of a king, a Governor or a big leader!How nicely you sweep the roads, how beautifully youdecorate your houses! How much more preparation isnecessary for receiving in the temple of your heart theIord of the Universe, the Governor of the Universe?When you eradicate the vices that lurk within andcultivate virtues, you will more fully manifest the hiddenlove. The great Masters of Bhakti have classified Bhaktiinto five Bhavas. You cari adopt any one of these Bhavasor attitudes towards God. These Bhavas are the naturalsublimated human attitudes of love. You love your child;corespondingly there is the Vatsalya Bhava towardsGod where you treat Him as your child. You love yourfriend; there is the Sakhya Bhava or attitude offriendship towards God. You love your master; there isthe Dasya Bhava where you serve the Lord as yourMaster. You love your husband or wife; there is theMadhurya Bhava where you take the Lord as yourSupreme lover. Some people are loving by nature andtheir love is distributed on all; they have no particularlove-attitude; corresponding to this there is the SantaBhava where the devotee loves the Lord in his heart, inpeaceful contemplation.

Find out where your love lies, whom you love most inthe world. Adopt the same love-attitude towards God,your Indweller, your Lord, your real Friend, who resideswithin your heart. Love for your friends and relations isMoha or deluded attachment. It binds you faster to thewheel of Samsara. It is fleeting and it is fraugtrt with allsorts of unpleasant consequences. Love of God isliberating. It will lead you to perennial bliss andimmortalit5r. It is Bhakti which will bring about anEternal Union between you and the Supreme Lord of theUniverse. It will enable you to realise your identity withHim.

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CONTENTSPublishers'NoteSecret of RenunciationFour Spiritual GemsHari Stotra.Surya-NamaskaraEssence of Four YogasSaguna Meditation .Universal PrayerLord Krishna.Bhaja Govindam .Emotion Needs Culturing.

Chapter 1GOSPEL OF BHAKTI

1. Who Is God?.2. God Exists.3. God Is Immanent4. What Is Bhakti?5. Fruits of Bhakti6. Six Classifications of Bhakti7. Five Classes of Worship8. Five Kinds of Worship9. Five Kinds of Bhava10. Five Thorns in the Bhakti Marga11. Five Internal Enemies12. Five External Enemies13. Four Grades of Bhakti14. Four Classes of l,ove15. Four Kinds of Mukti16. Eight Signs of Bhakti.

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10111213T41519

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17. Requisites for God-realisation18. Characteristics of a Bhakta. 4546

4749525761

Chapter IINAME, FAITH AND LOVE1. Glory of Rama Nam2. Faith Can Work Miracles.3. Yoga of Universal Love4. Krishna's Flute5. Radha-The World Mother

Chapter IIIBIIAKTI AND JNANA1. Philosophy of Pratima 652. Jnani Is the Greatest Bhakta 663. Doctrine of Avatarahood . 684. Mutual Dependence of Bhakti and Jnana 7l5. Akbar's Four Questions 726. Bhakti and Jnana Compared 73

CIIAPTER NBHAKTI SN)HANA1. Practice of Japa-Yoga 752. God Gives Darshan 843. The Secret of Ramayana . 854. Japa of Mahamantra. 875. Meditation on Gayatri 886. How to Do Dhyana? . 977. Manasic Pooja . 988. Anushthana . 999. How to Develop Bhakti. 9910. Secret ofSurrender. 9911. Background ofThought. 10312. How to See God. 10513. Glory of Lord Siva 7O714. Lord Krishna and His Teachings 712

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15.16.L7.18.19.20.27.

Sankirtan Movement . 717Vairagra Maala. 728Science of Worship . 131Bhakti Yoga Sadhana. 137Bhaktas of Chitrakuta 140140hy Should We Believe in God?Where Is the Harm in Not Believing inGod's Existence?. 142Chapter V

OBSTACLES IN GOD.REALISATION1. Introduction .2. Raja-Yoga and Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad .3. Poor Health4. Impure and Immoderate Food5. Doubt .6. Tandri-A1asya.Nidra .7. Manorajya.8. Lack ofa Preceptor9. Vishayasakti.10. Lack of Brahmacharya .11. Name and Fame12. Evil Company13. Tooshnimbhoota14. False Tushti and15. So-called Friends

and Stabdha AvasthasRasasvada

16. Depression . i18. Moral and Spiritual Pride.19. Prejudice, Intolerance and Bigotry20. Shilly-Shallying.21. Easy, Comfortable Pranayama (Sukha Purvak)22. Dllly-Dallyrng.

1441441451.4774874915015i153154157161762163164165165t66L6V1581.69170

24.YLLLy-Yallying. .:: . .'172(23)


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25. Irregularity of Sadhana . 17326. Cessation of Sadhana 17327. Fatlt-finding . L7428. Fear 77529. Force of Old Samskaras 17630. Jealousy . 77632. Backbiting . 17733. Anger. 77834. Tamas or Inertia 18135. Greed. 18236. Moha. 18337. Hatred . L8438. Valediction . 186

SAMAI'HI OR Chapter WcosMrc coNscrousNEss1.2.3.

Message of Prem 190Samadhi. 797Upadesamritam 274Chapter VII

BHATITI SUTRAS OF NARADA1.The Nature of Divine Love2. Definition of Bhakti3. Fruits of Bhakti4. Renunciation5. Different Definitions of Bhakti6. Supremacy of Devotion7. Knowledge and Devotion8. How to Develop Bhakti.9. Glory of the Company of the Wise10. Give Up Evil Company1 1. Who Crosses Maya?

2202212232282472462492512562572592622. Nature of Love

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13.L4.15.16.t7.18.19.20.

Secondary Devotion 263Bhakti Easy to Practise. 263Bhakti and Social Customs. 264Glory of Bhaktas . 266Bhaktas Above Caste and Creed 267lnstructions to Devotees 269Bhakti: The Best Means 273274onclusionChapter WIINSPIRING SONGS OF STVAShatpadi Stotra 276277278279279

28028r281282282283284285285286287287288289289289289289290

Song of SalutationPrayer Song

6. Song of Goal of Life7. Saranagati Song

4. Song of Instructions .5. Song of Jnana Vairagra

1.2.3.

8.9.

t6.t7.18.19.20.22.23.24.

Song of Vairarya.Song of Admonition10. Song of Devotion11. Song of Bhakti and Vairag/a .12. Song ofAbhyasa13. Siva lorrie14. Song of Grace15. The Song of ImmortalitySong of IllusionSong of Freedom

Song of Flute-BearerSong of BansuriwalaSong of Prem21. Song of Siva Tandavam.Song of PrarthanaSong of DarshanSong of Savara Bansiwala(2s)


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25. SongofReal Sadhana 29O26. Song for Developing Will 29727.Songofa Sage 29228. Soham Song 29329. Song of Vedantin . 29430. Song of Antaratma . 29531. Nirugna Song. 29532. Song of a Paramahamsa 29633. Song of Brahma Vichara 29634. Song of Brahma-Mayam 29735' select Dwanis 297

Chapter IXLTVES OF BHAKTAS

1. Mataji Omkareshwari 3O02. samarth Ramdas 3oo3. Pavahari Baba. 30i4. Raidas-The Cobbler Saint. 3015. paltu Das 3O56. charan Das 3067. Srimati Suratkumari Devi 3058. Avadhoot Kesavanandaji. 3089. Sri Swami Narayanji. 30810. Sri Sundarnathii . 308

APPENDIX1. Glory of Womanhood. 3092. A Talk to Sannyasins3. How to Develop Love.4. Glory of Mantra-writing5. Mysterious Self-surrender .

314318319320321. A Soliloquy of the Lord7. Places for Meditation. 3278. Glossary. 323

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Chapter 1GOSPEL OF'BHAKTI

1. Illho Is God?God is Truth. God is love. God is Light of lights. He isan embodiment of eternal bliss, supreme peace andwisdom. He is all-merciful, omniscient, omnipotent andomnipresent. He has neither beginning nor end. He is theSupreme Being or Paramatma. The Gita styles Him asPurushottarna or Supreme Purusha or Mahesvara. Heknows everything in detail (Sarva-vit). He is the supportfor this world, body, mind, Indriyas and Prana. WithoutHim not an atom can move. He is the womb for theVedas. Indra, Agni, Varuna, Vayu and Yama are Hisassistants. Earth, water, fire, air and ether are His fivepowers. Maya is His illusive Sakti.Brahma, Vishnu and Siva are the three aspects ofGod. Brahma is the creative aspect; Vishnu is thepreservative aspect; and Siva is the destructive aspect.There are three other aspects: Virat is the manifestedaspect; Hiranyagarbha is the immangnt aspect; andIsvara is the causal aspect. Virat is the sum total of allphysical bodies; Hiranyagarbha is the sum total of allminds-He is the cosmic mind; and Isvara is the sumtotal of all causal bodies (Karana Sarira).Srishti (creation), Sthiti (preserwation), Samhara(destruction), Tirodhana or Tirobhava (veiling), and

Anugraha (grace) are the five kinds of activities of God.God is the exquisite taste in vimto. He is thesweetness in the words of a beautiful, young lady. He isthe strength in a Pahilvan (wrestler). He is the beauty inthe Himalayan landscape. He is the thrilling melody inmusic. He is the fragrance in jasmine and Champaka. Heis the softness in a velvet5r cushion and silk-cotton. He isthe Prana in body, and intelligence in Antahkarana.(2e)


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30 PRACTICE OF BFIAKTI YOGAEarth denotes His all-supporting nature. Water

proclaims,the message of His purity and sanctit5r. Fireindicates His self-luminous nature. Air signifies Hisomnipotence. Ether heralds His all-pervading nature.Maya is under His perfect control. This is the Upadhi orsubtle body of Isvara.He has the six attributes of divine wisdom (Jnana),dispassion (Virarya), powers (Aisvarya), strength (Bala),wealth (Sri) and fame (Kirti). Hence He is calledBhagavan. He is the absentee landlord of this world' Heis the wire-puller (Sutradhara) of all these physicalbodies of beings. He is the inner Ruler (Antaryamin) of allbeings.He dwells in your heart. He is in you and you are in

Him. He is quite close to you. You were thinking in thebeginning that He could be found only in Mount Kailasa,Ramesvaram, Mecca, Jerusalem, slqr or Heaven. Youhad very vague ideas. This body is His moving temple'The sarrctum sanctantm is the chambers of your ownheart. Close your eyes. Withdraw your Indriyas from thesensual objects. Search Him there with one-pointed mind,devotion and pure love. You will surely find Him. He iswaiting there with outstretched arms to embrace you' Ifyou cannot find Him there, you cannot find Him anywhereelse. God-realisation alone can put an end to theSamsaric wheel of birth and death with its concomitantevils such as birth, growth, disease, death, sorrow, painetc. Eternal happiness can be had only in God. That isthe reason why sages and saints, scriptures and Srutismake a very emphatic statement and lay great stress onthe importance and necessit5r of God-realisation. Bhaktior devotion can help one in the attainment of thisGod-realisation. So I have described in this book thevarious methods to cultivate Bhakti and come face toface with God, taste the nectar of God-consciousnesswhich alone is the summum bonum of human life andhuman endeavour. Purify. Control the Indriyas. Sing His


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GOSPEL OF BHAKTIName. Feel His Presence ever5rwhere, Repeat HiS*l[antra.Meditate on His form. Realise Him. Rejoice in Him. Attainpeace, bliss and immortality.

2. God ExistsThere is a display of intelligence in every inch ofcreation. Who pumps blood in the arteries? Whoconverts food into chyle and red-coloured blood? Who

does the peristalsis in the bowels and stomach and sendsthe faecal matter to the rectum and anus? Who closesand shuts the eye-lids to prevent dust from falling intothe delicate eyes? Who gave intelligence to the cells andglands to secrete semen, milk, bile, saliva, gastric juiceetc., from the blood? Who gave intelligence and power tospermatozoa to move, unite with the ovum in the womband then develop into a foetus? Wherefrom does thisminutest, subtlest substance Jiva as nice as theten-thousandth part of the point of a hair derive thecapacit5r to assume gradually the features, complexionand shape of its parents? What is the power whichsustains it and helps its growth in the mother's womb?Who arranges for milk in the mother's breast befori thechild is born? Who provides food for the litfle frog livinghidden in between the strata of rocks? Who clothed thefruits with skin to prevent contamination from outside?Who divided seasons and Ritus? Who made the water hotbeneath the ice to enable fish to live comfortably in theicy regions of the Himalayas in Gauri Kund and otherplaces? Who has combined four parts of inert nitrogenwith the combustible oxygen gas?At whose command does the sun rise punctually inthe morning and set in the evening? The sun is miles andmiles away from the earth. What a great wonder it is thatfrom such a long distance the sun is able to send light,heat, eneigr and vitality to all living beings inhabitingthis fair earth? There are countless millions of sunsmuch larger than the one that we see but which appearto us as tiny stars on accour-rt of their being remoter than

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32 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAthe sun with which we are acquainted. It takes millionsof years for the light to reach this earth from these stars.Velocity of light is 1,86,000 miles per second. Light fromdistant stars has not yet reached us even now. What amarvel it is! A11 these stars, planets and satellites arerevolving in the sky in fixed orbits from day to day, monthto month and year to year under immutable definitelaws.

Now the question arises whether all thisorganisation is the work of some intelligent Creatorbehind or is the product of a fortuitous combination ofparticles of matter, Anus, ParamaAnus, DviAnus, atomsand molecules? It is the former hypothesis that appealsto our intellect. The Vedas also quite endorse the verdictof our reason. They emphatically declare that the sunand the moon, heaven and earth were created by God.Who supplies water to the trees, flowers, variousshrubs etc., that are found in the forests? Who is thisunseen, untiring gardener who works without wages orany sort of remuneration? Who gives nourishment intime to tigers, lions, birds, fishes, plants, insects andworms? How is it that only human beings are born ofhuman beings, birds of birds, beasts of beasts, tigers oftigers, dogs of dogs, horses of horses, elephants ofelephants, ants of ants, bears of bears, mules of mules,an exact copy oftheir parents in every respect? From atiny seed there springs a huge banyan tree that can giveshelter to tl:ousands of persons! From a tiny seed therecomes out a big mango tree that gives abundance ofluscious fruits! What is that power that supports andnourishes these trees? What is that hidden andmiraculous power that brings out a huge form with hair,fingers, toes, nose, teeth, ears, legs, thighs etc., out ofone drop of semen? What is that power that brings amighty tree with foliage, flowers, twigs and fruits out of atiny seed?

Again how wonderful is the human machine! Howharmoniously all the organs work in unison in the


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GOSPEL OF BHAKTIeconomy of nature! In the Gita this body is known as "thenine-gated city" (Nauaduarapura). In summer the skinworks energetically to throw off all impurities of the body.In winter the kidneys work hard to eliminate theimpurities of the blood and to relieve the over-workedskin. The endocrine glands, pituitary, pineal, adrenalswork in perfect harmony in manufacturing the internalsecretions to help the metabolic process of the body andits growth and structure.It is a great marvel to see the working of the nervoussystem under the control of the brain and the movementof the a{ferent and efferent impulses through the spinalcord. There is magnificent electric battery within, withswitch-board and wires. The operator is the Inner Ruler(Antaryamin), who controls and supervises everything.He is the supervisor (Upadrashta), permitter (Anumanta)and the great Lord (Mahesvara). look again at the heartand lungs which work under the direct control of tJ:ebrain! How wonderful are these vital organs of life? Canany scientist manufacture any of these organs, tissues,fibres, tendons or cells in his boasted laboratory with hisboasted intellect? How harmoniously the differentsystems of the body work without any rest, murmur orgrumble! Howvery beautifully the different centres in thebrain such as the vision-centre, the auditory-centre, thecentre for smell and so on do their functions! One isstruck with awe and amazement as he begins to thinkseriously on the working of this delicate humanmachinery. To think that this most wonderfulmechanism is the result and product of a fortuitouscombination of particles of matter or atoms is simplyabsurd and illogical indeed! It has been doubtless,moulded and fashioned by some architect who isinfrnitely more skilful, more intelligent and morepowerful than these ordinaqr architects who buildmansions, palaces and bungalows. Remember this pointwell. That architect is God or Isvara or Creator. Call Him

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34 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAby whatever narne you may please. It does not mattermuch.Then again look at the miraculous powers of themind! In the Kena Upanishad the Iirst verse begins: "Whois the Director of the mind?"

There is the play of Divine Hand here also. Can mybrother psychologist manufacture a mind in his boastedlaboratory? Look at the various faculties of themind-power of discrimination, power of judgement,power of reasoning, retentive power, power ofimagrnation, cogitative faculty, power of reflection, andso on and so forth! No one but God can create such apowerful and miraculous mind.Karma or action is non-sentient. Who is thedispenser of fruits of actions? Who fixes the span of life?Some live for 120 years while some others live for only 1.0years. How do you explain these variegated appearancesof this universe? Some are born decrepits. Some aresandows. Some are kings, earls and millionaires whereassome others are peasants and beggars. Some are bornblind, deaf and dumb. Some are beautiful. Some areugly. Some are fools, some are intellectual giants andsages. Some are rogues and dacoits. Some are mar$rrsand honest men. The theory of Karma and the presenceof God who awards fruits of actions with justice toeverybody can alone satisff these above questions.

It is obvious that ever since the beginning of creationsome miraculous power has been at work in every climeand at every age and that it will continue to work forever.You can call this "Mysterious Power", the all-pervadingIntelligence or by any name you choose. CalI Him "Fatherin Heaven", t'Jehovah", "A11ah", "Substance", "Essence","Brahman", "Ahur-Mazda".It is all the same.This Intelligence is Truth. This Intelligence is purelove or God. He is Jnana Svaroopa or embodiment ofwisdom. He is Jnanamaya or full of knowledge. He isSvayam Jyotis or self-luminous. He is Svayambhu or


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GOSPEL OF BHAKTIself-existent. He is Svatantra or independent. He existsin the past, present and future. He is unchanging orNirvikara. He is Auang-Mano-Gochara or beyond speechand mind. He is Sat-Chit-Ananda orExistence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute. He is Omniscient,Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Supreme Being.He can be realised by meditation with a pure,one-pointed heart. O my dear friends, will you stillremain sceptics, materialists and atheists or spiritualgiants? Bowyour head with humility and sincerity at thelotus-feet of the All-Wise Creator. You will get His Grace.Do not delay even a second to approach Him. Purify.Pray. Sing. Meditate. Realise.

3. God Is ImmanentAs I have said already, God is an absentee landlordof this world. He is hiding Himself within these objects.He is remaining within these objects. He is the Indwellerand inter-penetrating Presence or Essence or Substance,the intelligent and creative principle of the universeitself. This is a fundamental conception of pantheism.

You will find in the Svetasvatara Upanishad:q+i }e' rdr1tg {6: Effi Edqilanrffr Iq,qf?aq' s{WrRrdrq, {TrS +f,r' add fr$qg rr"One shining Being sits hidden in every creature,pervading all, the Inner Self of all beings, the watcher of

all acts, abiding in all created things, the witness, theheart, the absolute, free of all attributes."Just as oil is hidden in seed, butter in milk, mind inbrain, foetus in the womb, sun behind the clouds, fire inwood, sugar or salt in water, scent in buds, sound in thegramophonic records, gold in quarts, microbes in blood,so also God is hidden in all these beings and forms. Justas you see the bacilli of cholera, typhoid fever,consumption or any other disease as for that matter

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36 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAthrough the powerful lens of microscope, so also you cansee God through the eye of intuition (Jnana Chakshus).The first Sloka of the Isavasya Upanishad beginswith: "Is*uasgam-idam saruafit-A\l these movable andimmovable objects are indwelt by the Lord." In the KattraUpanishad (I-iii-l2) you will find: "Bsln sarueshubhuteshu gudlw-atnta..-This Atman is hidden in allbeings." He who has a sha4r, subfle, pure intellect can seeHim.God is full of mercy, love and compassion. He hasbeen described as "Ocean of Mercy." His mercy flows likethe streams of the Ganga and the Yamuna. He isdepicted as having sold Himself to His devotees, so tosay. He willingly suffers endless pain in the eyes of theworld in order to alleviate the sufferings of His devotees.He bears the scar left on His chest by the kick of Bhriguas an ornament. He wears the skulls of His devotees as agarland round His neck. He ran with lightning speed tosave the modesty of Draupadi from being outraged.

He apologised and begged pardon of Prahlada in thefollowing words:"O dear, you were too tender of age and too delicateof body to stand the terrible tortures inflicted on yourperson by your hot-headed father. A parallel of hisatrocious deed I have never seen. Pray, therefore excuseme if I was late in coming to your rescue."You are all aware of the dyingJatayu in the lap of Sri

Rama, who caressed the bird which was mortallywounded in its heroic efforts to rescue Sita from theclutches of the demon Hrg, Ravana. He wiped off thedust on its body with the trusses of His hair. Mark herethe unique, tender affection of Sri Rama towards Hisdevotees!God becomes a slave of His devotees. Lord Krishna

says: "l am not in My control. I am under the completecontrol of My Bhaktas. They have taken entire


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GOSPEL OF BHAKTIpossession of My heart. How can I leave them when theyhave renounced everything for My sake only?"Lord Rama carried the palanquin of His devotee, SriTlagaraja of Tiruva5rur, the late reputedsongster-Bhakta. He carried water in a vessel for Hisablution. He is ever waiting for a chance to serve you inthe same way. May His blessings be upon us all!

4. Itrhat Is Bhakti?Bhakti is the slender thread of Prem or love thatbinds the heart of a devotee with the lotus feet of theI,ord. Bhakti is intense devotion and supremeattachment to God. Bhakti is supreme love for God. It isthe spontaneous outpouring of Prem towards theBeloved. It is pure, unselfish, divine love or SuddhaPrem. It is love for love's sake. There is not a bit ofbargaining or expectation of anything here. This higherfeeling is indescribable in words. It has to be sincerelyexperienced by the devotee. Bhakti is a sacred, higheremotion with sublime sentiments that unites t]:edevotees with the Lord.

Sandilya defines Para Bhakti or preliminarydevotion as supreme attachment to God. "saparanuraktirishuare.'"ParaAnurakti" is intense attachment or love forGod. The Narada Pancharatna defines it as realisation ofGod alone as 'mine" accompanied by deep love for Himwithout attachment to any other object in the world. It isundivided love for God in which He alone is felt as "mine".A distinction is drawn by some later devotionalliterature between Bhakti and Prem. Bhakti isspontaneous attachment to God. The devotee is entirelypossessed by Him. He is absorbed in Him. Prem is ttrecrowning consummation of Bhakti. It is the mostconcentrated love for God which is fuIl of the mostintense attachment and purifies the heart thoroughly.Love of God is the completion and perfection of devotion.

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38 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGALove between husband and wife is physical, selfish

and h5pocritical. It is not constant. It is carnal passiononly. It is sexual appetite. It is tinged with loweremotions. It is of a bestial nature. It is finite. But DivineLove is infinite, pure, all-pervading and everlasting.There is no question of divorce here. There is no internalunion between husband and wife in reality in the vastmajorit5r of cases. Savitri and Satyavan, Atri andAnasuya,are very, very rare in these days. As husbandsand wives are extremelyunited only for selfish ends thereis only some show of smile and external love, it is all mereshow only. As there is no real union in their heart ofhearts, there are always some kind of friction, rupture,wr5r faces and hot words in every house. If the husbanddoes not supply his wife with the necklace and silk sarishe demands and take her to the cinema, there will beregular tug-of-war and fighting in the house. Can youcall this real love? It is merceDarY, commercial, business.On account of lust men have lost their integrity,independence and dignity. They have become slaves ofwomen. What a pitiable spectacle you see! The key is withthe wife and even for few rupees the husband has tostretch his hands to her. Still he "/"y" under delusionand intoxication of passion: "I have'a sweet, loving wife.She is really a Mira. She can be really worshipped."Robert J. Ingersoll, the great philosopher definesLove as follows:

"Love is the only bow on life's dark cloud. It is theMorning and the Evening Star. It shines upon the cradleof the babe and sheds its radiance upon the quiet tomb.It is the mother of art, inspirer of poet, patriot andphilosopher. It was the first to dream of immortality. Itfills the world with melody, for Music is the voice of l,ove.It is the perfume of the wondrous flower-the heart.Without it we are less than beasts but with it earth isheaven and we are gods in embryo."


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40 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAsandal-paste to the Murti and offers flowers, Arghya,Naivedya, etc. He has no expanded heart. He is sectarian.He dislikes other kinds of Bhaktas who worship otherDevatas.

Para Bhakti is Nirguna Bhakti which is free from thethree Gunas. It is the spontaneous, unbroken flow ofpure love towards God. It is Ahaituki (free from any sortof motive) altogether. It is Ar5ravahita or unmeditateddevotion towards God. This type of devotee does not carefor divine Vibhutis even if they are oflered. He wants thelotus feet of the Lord. He does not want even KaivalyaMukti or absolute independence. He wants to serve God'He wants to see His face always. He wants pure divinelove. God is the be-all and end-all of the devotee of ParaBhakti.A devotee of Para Bhakti type is all-embracing andall-inclusive. He has cosmic love or Visva Prem. Thewhole world is Vrindavana for him. He does not visittemples for worship. He sees his Ishtam ever5rwhere' Hehas equal vision. He has no hatred for any object. Hewelcomes snakes, pain, disease and suffering asmessengers of God. His mind is ever fixed at the lotus feetof the Lord. His Prem flows like oil in one continuouscurrent. Para Bhakti is Jnana only. This is the highestculminating point in devotion. Nama Dev, Tukararn,Rama Das, T\rlasidas and Hafiz had Para Bhakti.In Ragatmika Bhakti there a-re no fetters, shacklesor barriers of customs or rules of society. There is no

binding of any sort. There is an absolutely free flow ofdivine Prem. The devotee cares not a jot for publicopinion. He is above public criticisms. He is as simple asa child. He pours forth exuberantly his love towards hisBeloved. The devotee is intoxicated with divine Prem.Whereas in Vaidhi Bhakti the devotee observes rules andceremonies and has certain restrictions. Thesimple-hearted cow-maids of Vrindavana and Mira hadRagatmika Bhakti. Though Mira was a Rani, she nevercared for the opinion of the public and her relations and


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GOSPEL OF BHAKTIhusband. When she was under intoxication of KrishnaPrem she danced in the streets and open places amidstmen and ordinary people. Ordinary people were not ableto gauge the depths of her heart. Even Bhaktas were notable to fathom out the recesses of her innermostchambers of heart, the depth of her unbounded love forLord Krishna. Her thrilling devotional songs which bringtears from the eyes of the hearers bespeak clearly theexalted state of her heart that was deeply saturated withthe nectar of devotion towards Lord Krishna. She says: "Ihave none else for me besides my Giridhar Gopal." Cananyone fully understand the God-intoxicated Mira?

Showing devotion to God for getting riches or son orremoval of sufferings from diseases is Sakamya Bhakti.Sakamya Bhakti will eventually terminate in NishkamyaBhakti. Prahlada only had Nishkamya Bhakti from thevery beginning. Even the boy Dhruva had only SakamyaBhakti. It was for getting dominion that he retired intothe forest on the advice of his mother in the beginning. Itwas only later on that he developed Nishkamya Bhaktiafter he had Darshan of Hari. A11 his desires meltedaway.To love God for sometime and then wife, childrenand property for sometime is Vyabhicharini Bhakti. Tolove God and God alone for ever and ever isAvyabhicharini Bhakti. Mark this carefully!In Sattvic Bhakti the quality of Sattva predominatesin the Bhakta. He worships God to please Him, to destroyVasanas etc. All these tfrree types of Bhakti aresecondary devotion only.In Rajasic Bhakti the quality of Rajas predominatesin the devotee. He worships God to get estates, wealth,narne and fame.In Tamasic Bhakti the quality of Tamaspredominates in the devotee. He is actuated by wrath,arrogance, jealousy and malice in showing devotion toGod. To worship God for destroying one's enemy and for

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42 PRACTICE OF BHAINI YOGAgetting success in an enterprise through unlawful meansis Tamasic Bhakti. The thief prays to God: "O GodGanesha! Let me get something tonight. I will offer Thee1OO cocoanuts." This is Tamasic Bhakti.Sandilya also mentions of primary Bhakti andsecondary Bhakti. The primary devotion is theattachment to the Lord. It is single-minded devotion. It isone-pointed, whole- hearted devotion to God (EkantaBhava). Primarydevotion is the principal, because othersare subservient to it.

According to the Gita [VII-16), there are four kinds ofBhaktas. "Fourfold in division a-re the righteous oneswho worship Me, O Arjuna! The distressed, the seeker forknowledge, the selfish and the wise." The devotion of thedistressed, the seeker for knowledge and the selfish manis after all secondar5r as they have ulterior, selfishmotives in view. But the devotion of the wise is pure andabsolutely unselfish. It is Para Bhakti or primarydevotion. He has undivided love and whole-hearteddevotion to the Lord. He is eternally united with Him.God is the dearest to him and he is the dearest to God.Lord Krishna says: "Noble are all these but I hold thew'ise as verily Myself; he self-united is fixed on Me, thehighest path" (Gita: VII-18).

Prahalada later on meditated on his own Self as LordHari. This is Abheda Bhakti. This is the advanced stageof devotion.When a devotee has devotion for Lord Hari, LordSiva, Devi, Lord Rama, Lord Krishna and thinks thatLord Hari is Siva, Rama, Devi or Krishna this isSamarasa Bhakti. He has equal vision. This is alsoadvanced stage of devotion. He makes no differencebetween Rama and Krishna, between Siva and Hari,between Krishna and Devi. He knows and feels that

Radha, Sita and Durga are all inseparable Saktis of LordKrishna, Rama and Siva respectively.


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GOSPEL OF BHAKTI 43Narada also classifies Bhakti into two kinds,

primary and secondary. Secondar5r devotion is of threekinds according to Sattva, Rajas and Tamas in thedevotee. Or it is of three kinds according as the devoteesare the distressed (Aartha), the seeker after knowledge(Jijnasu) and the selfish (Artharthi).Just as you see wood alone in chairs, tables, doors,windows, bed-steads, clay alone in earthen jars, pots andjugs, so also see Lord Krishna alone in all these namesand forms. This is Ananya Bhakti. Para Bhakti, AnanyaBhakti, Aryabhicharini Bhakti are one and the same.

7. Five Classes of WorshipRishis ofyore have prescribed five classes of worshipto the predominating Tattva in a man or woman. They

are worship of Sri Ganesha, Lord Siva, Lord Hari, Saktiand Surya. If Prithivi (earth) Tattva is predominant, oneshould worship Sri Ganesha. If Apas (water) ispredominant, he should worship Hari. If Agni (fire) ispredominant, he should worship Surya; if Vayu (air) ispredominant he should worship Sakti and if Akasa(ether) is predominant he should worship Lord Siva.8. Five Kinds of Worship

There is another classification according to thecapacity of the individual. Some worship elementals andlower spirits. These worshippers are Tamasic people.Some worship Pitris or forefathers and Rishis and Devas.Some worship Avataras as Lord Krishna and Rama.Some Worship Saguna Brahman. Advanced studentsworship Nirakara, Nirguna, A'uyakta, SatchidanandaBrahman of the Upanishads. These are the five kinds ofworship.

9. Five Kinds of BhavaThe five kinds of Bhava are: Shanta Bhava, Dasya

Bhava, Sakhya Bhava, Vatsalya Bhava and MadhuryaBhava. Dasya Bhava is for the beginners. Madhurya


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44 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGABhava is most difficult. It is a mode of Vedantic Sadhana.It is merging in the Beloved. In Vatsalya Bhava, Shanta,Dasya and Sakhya Bhavas are hidden. In Sakhya Bhava,Shanta and Dasya Bhavas are hidden. In Dasya Bhava,Shanta Bhava is hidden.

1O. Five Thorns in the Bhakti MargaThe five thorns that are found in the path of Bhaktiare Abhimana of caste, learning, position, beauty andyouth. These thorns should be removed completely if onewants to have God-consciousness.

11. Five Internal EnemiesThe five internal enemies that stand in the way of

developing Bhakti are lust, anger, greed, infatuated loveand hatred. These should be destroyed byBrahmacharla, Kshama, disinterestedness, Vichara,pure love and service.12. Five External Enemies

The five external enemies of Bhakti are cinema, badcompany, obscene songs, Rajasic food and novels thatdeal with sex and passion. These five items should beshunned ruthlessly if you want to grow in devotion.13. Four Grades ofBhakti

The four grades of Bhakti are tender emotion, warmaffection, glowing love and burning passion; oradmiration for God, attraction, attachment and supremelove.

14. Four Classes of LoveThe four classes of love are Sneha for inferiors likechildren, Prem for equals like wife or friends, Sraddha in

superiors such as teachers or parents and Bhakti forGod.


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GOSPEL OF BHAKTI15. Four Kinds of Mukti

The Bhakta remains in the Loka where Lord Vishnuresides like an inhabitant of a state. This is SalolryaMukti. In Samipya Mukti, the Bhakta remains in closeproximity with the Lord like the attendant of a king. InSarupya Mukti, he gets the same form like that of theLord like the brother of a king. In Sayujya Mukti, hebecomes one with the Lord like salt and water. This is thehighest rung in the ladder of Bhakti Yoga.

16. Eight Signs of BhaktiAsrupata (tears), Pulaka (horripilation), Kampana(twisting of muscles), crying, laughing, sweating,Moorcha (fainting) and Svarabhanga (inability to

speak)-these are the signs noticed when a Bhaktadevelops Bhakti to a higher degree.17. Requisites for God-realisation

The important requisites for quick realisation of Godare: (1) Bhakti should be of a Nishkamya type. (2) Itshould be Arryabhicharini. (3) It should be continuouslike the flow of oil from one vessel to another(Tailadharavat). (a) The aspirant should strictly observeright conduct (Sadachara). (5) He should have extremeearnestness and sincerity of purpose for Darshan of God,burning Vairagra and Vichara. He should have the samefeeling like that of a man who wants the doctor forremoval of a foreign body in the eye, like the child in ariver who shrieks for coming outside, like the fish out ofwater which flutters about for re-entry into the water,.like the man who runs for the fire-brigade when hishouse is on fire, like the young wife who pines formeeting her husband who is expected to arrive from aforeign land after a long separation of twelve years. Thenalone he will have Darshan of God.

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46 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGA18. Characteristics of a Bhakta

A devotee has equal vision for all. He has no enmityfor anybody. He has exemplary character. He has noattachment for anybody, place or thing. He has not gotthe idea of "mine-ness". He has a balanced state of mindin pain and pleasure, heat and cold, praise and censure.He regards money as pieces of stone. He has neitheranger nor lust. He regards all ladies as his own sisters ormother. The name of Hari is always on his lips. He hasalways inner life or Antarmukha Vritti. He is full ofShanti and Joy."These blessed Bhaktas sometimes weep in lovingmemory of God, sometimes they laugh, sometimesrejoice, sometimes they talk mysterious things that aretranscendental, sometimes they dance in divine ecstasythat is simply indescribable, sometimes they singmelodiously His praises and G1ory, sometimes theyimitate the actions of Lord and sometimes they sit quietand enjoy the highest bliss of the Self." (SrimadBhagauata-)


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Chapter IINAME, FAITH AND LOVE

1. Glory of Rama NamWhat is that thing which is superior to Rama even?It is Rau Natu. How? Sri Hanuman told Sri Rama: "O MyLord, there is something superior to Thee." Sri Rama was

quite astonished. He asked Hanuman: "What is ttratthing, O Hanuman, which is superior to Me?" Hanumanreplied: "Hey Prabho, Thou hadst crossed the river withthe help of a boat. But I crossed the ocean with the help of(and the power and strength o0 Thy Name only. Name isindeed superior to Thee."Mahatma Gandhi says: "You must learn to take the

name of Rama with full devotion and faith. When youstudy the Ramayana, you will learn from Tulasidas thedivine power of that blessed Name."You might ask me why I tell you to use the wordRAMA and not one of the mrny other names of the Creator.True, His Names are as mrny as and more than the leaveson the yonder tree and I might for instance askyou to usethe word God. But what meaning, what associationswould it have for you here? In order to enable you to feelanything when repeating the word GoD, I should have toteach you some English. I should have to explain to youthe foreign people's thoughts and associations."But in telling you to repeat the name of Reue, I amgrvingyou a name worshipped since the beginning of timeby the people of tl:is land, a name familiar to the veryanimals and birds, the very stones of Hindustan throughso many thousands of years. You all know the story ofAhalya? No, I see you don't. But you will soon learn itwhen you study the Ramayana. You will learn how a stoneby the roadside sprang to life at the touch of Rama's footas he passed by. You must learn to repeat the blessed

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NAME, FAITH AND LOVEknowledge, peace and immortality right now, this verysecond.Kabir says: "If any one utters Reua NAIr,t even indream, I would like to make a pair of shoes out of my skinfor his daily rlse."

Who can describe the glory of God's Name? Who canreally comprehend the greatness and splendour of theholy Names of the Lord? Even Lord Siva's consort,Parvati failed to describe in adequate terms the very truesignificance and grandeur of God's Name. When onesings His Name or hears It sung, he is unconsciouslyraised to sublime spiritual heights. He loses hisbody-consciousness. He is immersed in joy and drinksdeep the divine nectar of immortality. He gets divineintoxication. Repetition of God's Name enables thedevotee to feel the Divine Presence, the Divine Glory andthe Divine consciousness within himself and alsoever5rwhere. How sweet is Hari's Name! How powerful isGod's Name! What arr arnount of joy and peace andstrength it brings to one who repeats His Name! Blessedindeed are those who repeat God's Name for they will befreed from the wheel of birth and death and attainParama Ananda and immortality.2. Faith Can Work Miracles

Faith in God is the first step to God-realisation. Notan iota of progress is ever possible in the path ofspirituality without faith. The faith must be a living faith.It must be unwavering faith. Lack of faith is a stumblingblock in the path of realisation. Faith develops intoBhakti or devotion to God. Faith is the gateway to theKingdom of God. It is the threshold to the Knowledge ofGod. Faith gives strength and removes anxieties anduneasiness of mind. Faith is therefore a powerful mentaltonic.Faith is an important qualification for an aspirant inthe path of spirituality. Students of all Yogas, whether ofKarma, Bhakti, Raja and Jnana, should possess this

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PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAfundamental virtue. No faith, no devotion. No faith, noJnana. The Sanskrit equivalent of faith is "Sraddha" or"Visvas." The student should have faith in the existenceof God, in the teachings of his Guru, in the Vedas and hisown self. The whole world runs on faith only. The Rajahas taith in his Diwan. The husband has faith in his wife.The shop-keeper has faith in his customers. The patienthas faith in his doctor. The client has faittr in his lawyer.The engineer has faith in his head-clerk.Faith is one of the important items in theShad-Sampat or sixfold virtues of the four means ofsalvation or Sadhana Chatushtaya in the path of Jnana.Even Patanjali Maharshi, the exponent of Raja Yogaphilosophy lays much stress on faith. He says: "Sra.ddhaueerya smriti samadhi pryjn*purualca itnresharr-toothers (this Samadhi) comes through faith, enerry,memory, concentration and discrimination of the real."(I-20.) He has placed Sraddha (faith) in the very beginningof this Sutra. He has given prominence to this. If a manhas faith, then energr, memory etc., come by themselves.He will collect all his energies and remember the ultimateTattva and will exert to realise the basic Reality. Let merepeat the words of the Gita here. "He who is full of faithobtaineth wisdom, and he also who hath mastery over hissenses; and having obtained wisdom he goeth swiftly tothe Supreme Peace. But the ignorant, faithless, doubtingself goeth to destruction; nor this world, nor that beyond,nor happiness is there for the doubting self." (IV, 39-40)

"Some by meditation behold the Self in the self bythe Self; others by the Sankhya Yoga and others by theYoga of action. Others also ignorant of this having heardof it form others, worship; and these also cross beyonddeath, adhering to what they had heard." ftllll,24'251Dhruva had faith in the words of his mother. So heretired into the forest, did severe Tapas and came face toface with Lord Hari. The milk-maid had faith in the wordsof the Pandit who said: "Thousands have easily crossedthe ocean by a single Name of God. Could you not cross


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NAME, FAITH AND LOVEthis tiny stream?" and crossed the river by reciting HisName, whereas the faithless Pandit who preached aboutthe power of the Name to the milk-maid was on the pointof drowning when he himself tried to cross the river onthe strength of the Name after seeing the marvellousspectacle of the girl's crossing the river by repeatingRAMA Narra. Prahalada had unswerving faith on Narayana.And so he had His Grace. Fire was transmuted into ice bythe Name of Hari. Mira had absolute faith on her GiridharGopal. And so poison was changed into nectar."Life is faith and illumination. Without faith it islame, without illumination it is blind. We need today thecreative force of faith, the faith that discerns withoutlogic, the faith that electrifies, the faith that removes allbarriers and obstacles from its path and is anxious to fillus with divine enthusiasm and to give expression to thedivine in man. Be strong in faith and be complete in thelight faith enkindles in the heart... If the power of intellectcan discern the ideals of life, the power of faith retainsthem and makes them active in us. The delight of life is inthe constant striving for actualising the ideal, and unlesswe cErn claim the touch of divine faith in us, we do not seethe joy of a new creation, a new realisation, a new life, anew dream."

Bad company, lust, greed, infatuated love for wife,son and propert5r, and unwholesome food are theenemies of faith. They spoil the intellect, cloud theunderstanding and destroy memory. They producewrong Samskaras or impressions in the mind and renderthe intellect gross and impure.Study of Bhagavata, Ramayana, Gita, Upanishads,Yoga Vasishtha; the elevating company of Sadhus andMahatmas; service of saints; stay at Prayag, Rishikesh,Ayodhya, Vrindavana, Gangotri, Badrinarayar5 prayer;Japa or recitation of Mantra; Kirtan or singing His Name;meditation; remembrance of saints and sages who haverealised God and study of their teachings; fasting;pilgrimage; personal contact of a Guru can sow the seed

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52 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAof faith in a man and increase it also til1it becomes quitefirm and unshakable.Look at the perfect faith of the boy Nama Dev! Hisfather asked him to place a dish of food before Vittobha(Lord Krishna at Pandharpur). Nama Dev placed theplate before the Murthy and asked the Deity to eat it. Hewept bitterlywhen the Murthy kept quiet. After sometimeLord Krishna came out of the Murthy in the form of a boyand ate the food. The boy brought back the plate empty.The father asked: "Nama Dev, where is the food?" The boyreplied: "My Vittobha has eaten it." Such is the power ofreal faith.The rare achievements of Visvamitra Rishi in hisTapas and Yoga, the success of Napoleon in the field ofbattle, the attainments of Mahatma Gandhi in his KarmaYoga and practice of Yama, the awe-inspiring majestyand the soul-stirring magnanimity and the grandeur andnobility of great personages like Tulasidas, Ramdas, SriDattatreya, Sri Sankara, Vamadev and Jada Bharata areall due to the work of that simple secret called FAITH.Faith can work miracles. Faith can work wonders.Faith can move mountains. Faith can reach a realmwhere reason dare not enter. There is nothing impossibleunder the sun for the man of faith to accomplish. Havetherefore absolute and unshakable faith in God, in thepower of Rerraeueu, in the Vedas and the scriptures and inthe teachings of your Guru and, last but not the least, inyour own self. This is the master-key for success in lifeand God-realisation or attainment of DivineConsciousness.

3. Yoga of Universal LoveThere is no virtue higher than Love, there is notreasure higher than Love, there is no knowledge higherthan Love, there is no Dharma higher than Love, there isno religion higher than Love because Love is Truth, Loveis God. This world has come out of Love, this world existsin Love and this world ultimately dissolves in Love. God


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PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAuniversal brotherhood and tries to unite all through thecommon thread of cosmic love. Love is a great leveller.There is no power on earth greater than Love. You canconquer this world even if you have a ray of this divinecommodity which is absolutely free from even a tinge ofselfishness. Pure love is a rare gift of God. It is the fruit ofone's untiring service of humanity and incalculablevirtuous actions in several incarnations. It is a rarecommodity indeed.He who possesses even a ray of this is averitable godon earth. He is a mighty potentate. St. Paul says:"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angelsand if I have no love, I am become as sounding brass or atinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecyand understand all mysteries and all knowledge, thoughI have all faith so that I could remove mountains andhave not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all mygoods to feed the poor and though I give my body to beburned and have not love it profiteth me nothing."True religion does not consist of ritualisticobsenrances, baths and pilgrimages but in loving all.Cosmic love is all-embracing and all-inclusive. In purelove no one is shut out from its warm embrace. It is wideenough to include the humblest of us, from the tiny antto the mighty elephant, from the condemned prisoner tothe mighty emperor, from the worst scoundrel to thereputed saint on the surface of this earth. It is hatredthat separates man from man, nation from nation andcountry from country. It is pride and egoism that divide aman from another man. Hatred, pride, egoism are mentalcreations. They are the products of ignorance only. Theycannot stand before pure love. Just as darkness isdispelled by the penetrating rays of the burning sun, soalso jealousy, hatred and egoism are dispelled by therays of divine Prem..It is easy to talk of universal love. But when youcome to the practical field, you obviously show signs offailure. If anybody talks ill of you and uses harsh words,


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NAME, FAITH AND LOVEat once you are thrown out of balance. You get irritatedand show an angry face and pay him in the sarae coin.Where is universal love? You do not like to part with yourpossessions when you see people in distress. A man whois struggling to develop cosmic love and realise Himthrough love, cannot keep anything for himself morethan he actually needs for keeping the life going. He willsacrifice even this little to serve a needy one and undergoprivation and suffering willingly with much pleasure. Hewill rejoice that God has given him a rare opporhrnity toserve Him. People talk of universal love but are veryniggardly in action. They show only lip-sympathy andlip-love. This is absolute hypocrisy. Those who havedeveloped pure, cosmic love are vry, very rare in thisworld. But those who talk of universal love are plenty. Hewho tries to develop universal love should try to possessvarious SatMc virtues such as Kshama, patience,perseverrnce, tolerance, generosity, straightforward-ness, mercy, truthfulness, Ahimsa, Brahmacharya,Nirabhimanata, etc. He should serve humanityuntiringly with a disinterested, selfless spirit for manyyears. He has to kill his little self ruthlessly. He mustbear calmly insults and injuries. Then only there is theprospect of cultivating cosmic love. Otherwise it is allvain and flowery talk and idle-gossiping only. It is sugarin paper or tiger in the carpet.

Pure divine love consciously felt and spontaneouslydirected towards all beings including animals and birdsis indeed the direct result of one's vision or realisation ofthe Supreme Being. [,et me repeat here the words ofBhagavan Sri Krishna: "He who seeth Me eve4rwhere andseeth ever5rthing in Me, of him I never lose hold and heshall never lose hold of Me" (Gita: VI-30). "The self-harmonised by Yoga, seeth the Self abiding in all beings,all beings in the Self; everywhere he seeth the same"t\n-291.

How can that Yogi of pure love who has this grandvision of cosmic consciousness hate another, abuse

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NAME, FAITH AND LOVEMay the divine flame of Love grow brighter in you all!

May we all feel universal brotherhood and cultivateuniversal love! Maywe all recognise God in all beings andsee God in all faces! May we share what we possess withothers! Maywe speak at all times sweet and lovingwords!May we serve humanity untiringly with sweet love! Maythe cultivation of universal love be the goal of life! Maywenot forget the Flute-Bearer of Vrindavana, theembodiment of Prem, the Joy and Solace of life! May wesing His Name like Radha and repeat His Mantra 'OmNamo Bhagavate Vaasudevaya' at all times! May Hisblessing be upon us all!

4. Krishna's FluteThere stands my Bansiwala with Flute in His hands

underneath the Kadamba tree on the banks of theYamuna in Vrindavana, my sweet, beloved Krishna,Lover of Radha, the Joy and Solace of my life, myImmortal Friend. On a moon-lit night He playedmelodiously on His Flute. All the Gopis thronged in frontof Him in a breathless state. Some were boiling the milk.Some were nursing their children. Some were servingtheir husbands. All left their works half done and rushedimpetuously with dishevelled hair in a disorderly state toKrishna to hear His sweet Flute. Krishna was theirall-in-all. Without Krishna they could not live even for asecond.

The ways of Krishna are always crooked. He standscrooked. He holds the Flute in a crooked manner.Vrindavana where he lives is full of crooked gullies. TheYamuna is crooked. His behaviour is crooked. He is fullof crooked politics. His philosophy is crooked. Yet He isthe most sublime, the most charming personality, anembodiment of Prem, a perfect Yogi. He isPoorna-Avatarawith sixteen rays. It is very, very diflicultto understand Him.Amongst all saints, prophets and teachers, SriKrishna and Sri Sankara are the ideal ones. They were

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58 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAperfect masters. They were Karma Yogis, Bhaktas, RajaYogis and Jnana Yogis. They preached Karma, UpasanaYoga and Jnana. Lord Krishna drove the chariot in thebatfle-field and danced with the Gopis in the shadyretreats of Vrindavana and taught Yoga and Jnana toUddhava and Arjuna. The four Yogas are blended in HisGita or the lmmortal Song. Sri Sankara fought with theBuddhists, did Parakaya-Pravesa in the body of the Rqiaof Benares, sang hymns to Hari and Dakshinamurthy,established Mutts in four centres of India, founded theAdvaita philosophy, defeated Mandana Misra and didDik-Vijaya. The world has not yet produced such abrilliant genius as Sankara. This is perfection. This isintegral development of head, heart and hand.

No man is a perfect male and no woman is a perfectfemale. There is always a mixture of masculine andfeminine qualities in both. There are some males inwhom the feminine elements are predominant in theircharacter. Examples are many in the world. Even so noman is absolutely rational or absolutely emotional. Thereis a mixture of both. One may be more rational and inhim the faculty of reason may be more developed and theother may be more emotional and in him the heart maybe more developed. Some foolish, dry Vedantins whopose themselves as "Advaita Vadins" dislike Sankirtanand speak ill of Sankirtan and Nritya. Swami RamaTirtha, a fine example of a Vedantin, danced inBrahmapuri forests when he was in divine ecstatic moodwith ghunguru tted to his feet. He had a harmoniouscombination of head and heart. lord Gouranga was agenius. He was a master of Nyaya. He also did Nritya andSankirtan. He developed his head and heart. Nritya is anexact science. Nritya is Adhyatmic and celestial. Thefounders of this science are Lord Krishna and lord Siva.You will have to exhibit the six Bhavas in your Natanam(dance). These are Utpatti (creation), Vinasa (destruction),Gati (movement), Agati (stability), Vidya (knowledge) andAvidya (ignorance). Mark how lord Krishna stands with


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NAME, FAITH AND LOVEFlute in His hands showing these six Bhavas. O dry,one-sided Vedantins! Give up cavilling. Learn to be wise.Give up dry, idle talking. Develop head, heart and handand attain perfection. There is no iota of hope for yoursalvation till you develop your heart. Dear friends, bearthis in mind always!Krishna's Flute is the symbol of the freedom orPranava. He has preached Prem through His Flute. Hehas created this world out of the Dhvani Oluxann thatproceeds from His Flute. He stands on the right big'toe.This signifies ttre Upanishadic utterance: "Ekameuaduitigam Brahma---one without a second." He showsthree curves while standing. This represents the threeGunas by which he has created this world. He gazes atRadha and puts the Prakriti in motion. He is the primummobile. The lotus on which He stands, stands for theuniverse.In the esoteric sense heart is the Vrindavana. Mindis Radha. Gopis are the nerves and the Indriyas. Anahatasounds that proceed from the heart are the melodioussongs that come out of Krishna's Flute. SahasraraChakra is the Param Dhama. Lord Krishna is ParaBrahman. The five Koshas are the five fortresses. Pranasare the gate-keepers. The Shad-Chakras are the gates.Immortality is the Yamuna. Crown of the head isKadamba tree. Mind melts in Brahman. Radha is unitedwith Krishna. This is Rasa Lila.

Radha asked Krishna: "O My dear! Why do you lovethe flute more than me? What virtuous actions has itdone so that it can remain in close contact with yourlips? Kindly explain to me, my [,ord, the secret of this. Iam eager to hear." Sri Krishna said: "This flute is verydear to Me. It has got some wonderful virtues. It hasemptied off its egoism before I began to play. It has madeits inner hollow quite void and I can bring out any kind oftune, Raga or Ragini, to my pleasure and sweet will. Ifyou also behave towards Me in exactly the same manneras this flute, if you remove your egoism completely and

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60 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAmake perfect self-surrender, then I shall also love you inthe same manner as I love this flute."This body also is the flute of Lord Krishna in themacrocosm. If you can destroy your egoism and maketotal self-surrender, unreseryed Atma-Nivedana to theLord, He willplay on this body-flute nicely and bring outmelodious tunes. Your will will become merged in HisWill. He will work unhampered through yourinstruments, body, mind and Indriyas. You can rest verypeacefully then without cares, worries and anxieties. Youcan watch the play of the universe as a Sakshi. Thenyour Sadhana will go on by leaps and bounds, becausethe divine will or divine grace itself will work throughyou. You need not do any Sadhana at all. But make theself-surrender from the core of your heart with all yourbeing (Sarva Bhavana). Learn the lesson from the fluteand follow its ways. If you have done completeSaranagati at the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna you havealready reached the realm of peace, the Kingdom ofImmortality, the dominion of eternal bliss andeverlasting sunshine. You have found out a joy thatnever fades, a life that never decays nor dies. You havereached the other shore of fearlessness, which is beyonddarkness, doubt, grief, sorrow, pain and delusion.

O my dear children of immortality! Lord Krishna isstill roaming about in the gullies of the Vrindavana. Youcan find Him in the Seva Kunja in the Kunja gullies ifyoureally want Him. He is the Brij Raj, unprecedentedmonarch of the three worlds. He is waiting withoutstretched hands to embrace you with His warm lovein His sweet bosom as He did with Mira, Surdas andothers in days ofyore. Purifyyour mind, destroyyour evilVasanas and egoism. Hear once more the flute of theBansiwala, Banke-Bihari of Vrindavana, His ImmortalSong of Gita and allow Him to play on this body-flute ofyours. Lose not this rare opportunity. It is very difficult toget this human body.


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62 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAimage in her mind than that of Krishna. She took herbirth to teach the world the true relationship of the loverand beloved, the secret of Madhurya Bhava or MadhuryaRasa, which is only essence of Vedanta.

The gist of the Rasa Lila is essence of devotion (ParaBhakti) or oneness, the merging of the lover and thebeloved. The secret of Rasa Lila is that men or womenwhile remaining in the world and doing all sorts ofactivities can develop Krishna-Prem and can realiseGodhead at their very threshold. It teaches: 'Give themind to God, just as Radha did, and the hands to work.Sing. Dance in Divine ecstasy. But forget Him not."

Even the Sufis have admiration and devotion forRadha and Krishna. Their philosophy is founded onRadha's Prem to l,ord Krishna. They try to develop thesarne Bhava which Radha had towards Lord Krishna.Every nerve, every atom, every cell, every tissue,every pore in the skin of the body of Radha vibrated theName of Krishna. She could never forget Him even forone millionth part of a second. She never slept at night.She was singing Lord Krishna's Name throughout thenight. She was a Gudakeshi, one who conquered sleeplike Arjuna and Lakshmana. A litfle Dhvani from theflute of Krishna at dead of night would intoxicate herwith Krishna-Prem and would bring her out into thedense forest to hear His sweet, heart-rending music ofthe soul, the melody of Omkara. No power on earth couldstop her. She taught to the world the glst ofself-surrender, the very core of the highest Bhakti orAtma-Nivedana Bhakti, the highest rung in the ladder ofdevotion which begins from the first step of Dasya Bhavaor the relation of master and servant and culminates incomplete merging by total and perfect Saranagati. Thename Radha stands for Atma-Nivedana or offering ofheart, soul, mind, and the whole being (Sarva Bhava) atthe Lotus-Feet of the Lord, just as the name Hanumanstands for the spirit of perfect and supreme service to theLord.


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64 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAKadamba forests of Vrindavana, and on the banks of theYamuna. Lo! Now She is there with Her Lord in theMahavana! Ifyou have the eyes of devotion, the real innereye of intuition, you can see Her and Her Lord also. Shehas got the Surma or col\rrium to open your blind eyes.She dwells in the chambers of your heart. Run to Herwith all Bhava and devotion, right now, this very second.Don't delay even for a second. Delay is practical death.She is waiting on the banks of the Yamuna, to embraceyou with outstretched hands. Find Her out. Thirst forHer Darshan. Make yourself fit to approach Her LotusFeet. Melt in Her Prem. Purify your heart by singing HerName. Weep sincerely for Her Darshan in solitude. Praynow: "O Mother Radha! When will that blessed day cometo me to sit at Your Lotus Feet? I am Thine. All is Thine.Thy Will be done, my Mother! Beloved of Lord Krishna!Blesrs Me!" Shed sincere tears of Joy and Prem for Her.Let us sing Her Name now with Bhava, faith and Prem:Jaya Radhe Jay a Rodhe RadheJaga Radhe Jaga Si Radhe,Jaya Krbhnalaya Kri,shna KrbhnaJaya Krbhnalago Sri Krbhna-

May Radha, the World Mother, the sweet untiringWorld Nurse help us in developing Bhakti or Prem! MayShe guide us in our daily activities of life. May Sheintroduce us to Her Beloved Lord Krishna, the holder ofGovardhan! May She explain to us the full secret of RasaLila! May She train us to become qualified students topartake in the Divine Rasa Lila of Seva Kunja atVrindavana that is going on daily even now and to drinkthe Krishna-Prema-Rasa or Nectar of Immortality! Maythe blessings of Sri Radha Krishna be upon us all!


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Chapter IIIBHAKTI AND JNANA1. Philosophy of Pratima

Pratima is a substitute or symbol. For a beginnerPratima is an absolute necessity. Byworshipping an idolIsvara is pleased. The Pratima is made up of fiveelements. Five elements constitute the body of the Lord.The idol remains an idol; but the worship goes to theLord. Just as a man is pleased by shaking hands with hisfriends by touching a small portion of his body, so alsoGod is pleased when a small portion of His Virat (cosmic)body is worshipped. Just as the child develops thematernal Bhava (mother-feeling) by playing with itsimaginary toy-child made up of rags, and suckling it inan imaginary murnner, so also the devotee develops thefeeling of devotion by worshipping the Pratima and byconcentrating upon it. Pictures, drawing, etc., are only aform of Pratima.A reputed baron of NewYork came to me one evening

for an interview. During the course of conversation thebaron said: "Swamiji, I have no faith in image-worship. Itis all foolishness." The private secreta4r of the baron whowas also with him had a photo of the baron in hispocket-diary. I took the photo and asked the privatesecretar5r to spit on it. The secretarJr was struck aghast.He hesitated and looked at the baron. I againcommanded him: *Go on, spit at the picture. Quick." Thesecreta4l said: "Swamiji, the baron is my master. I servehim. How can I spit at the picture? This is his image. Icannot do this ignoble act. I respect him in this picture." Isaid to him: "This is only a paper. This is not the realbaron. It cannot talk, move or eat." Then the secretarysaid: "Anyhow, I see my baron in this picture. This meanact would affect my feelings as well as wound the feelings(6s)


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PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAof my master. I cannot spit." I said to the baron: "Lookhere, my friend! Your secretarJi loves and respects yourphoto. He associates your presence with the picturealthough it is just a bit of paper. Is this notimage-worship? Even so, the devotee associates theattributes of God with the image and feels His presenceor immanence there. He finds it easy to concentrate hismind on the image. The mind wants a concrete prop tolean upon in the beginning stage of practice. Do you seethe point now, my dear baron?" The baron replied:"Revered Swamiji! You are quite right. My eyes areopened now. I am quite convinced. kay, pardon me."

2. Jnani Is the Greatest BhaktaBhagavan Sri Sankaracha4ra defines Bhalrti asdevotion unto Atman. You cannot entirely separateBhakti from Jnana. When Bhaldi matures, it becomestransmuted into Jnana. A real Jnani is a devotee of l,ordHari, Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, Lord Siva, Durga,Sarasvati, Lakshmi, Lord Jesus and Buddha. He is aSamarasa Bhakta. Some ignorant people think that aJnani is dry man and has no devotion. This is a sad

mistake. A Jnani has a very, very large heart. Go throughthe hymns of Sri Sankaracharya and try to gauge thedepth of his devotion. Go through the writings of SriAppaya Dikshitar and measure the magnanimousdepths of his unbounded devotion.Swami Rama Tirtha was a Jnani. Was he not aBhakta of Lord Krishna? If a Vedantin excludes Bhakti,remember, he has not really grasped and understoodVedanta. The same Nirguna Brahman manifests with alittle Maya in a corner as Saguna Brahman for the piousworship of His devotees. Isvara is His Tatastha Lakshanaonly.Lord Krishna takes a Jnani as a first-class Bhakta."Of these, the wise, constantly harmonised, worshippingthe One, is the best; I am supremely dear to the wise, andhe is dear to Me. Noble are all these but I hold the wise as


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BHAKTI AND JNANAverily Myself; he self-united, is fixed on Me, the highestpath." (Gita: VII-17, 18.)Bhakti is not divorced from Jnana. On the contrar5rJnana intensifies Bhakti. He who has knowledge ofVedanta is well established in his devotion. He is steadyand firm. Some ignorant people say that if a Bhaktastudies Vedanta, he will lose his devotion. This is wrong.Study of Vedanta is an auxiliary to increase and developone's devotion. The devotion of a man proficient inVedantic literature is well-grounded. Bhakti and Jnanaare like the two wings of a bird to help one to fly untoBrahman, to the summit of Mukti.Hear this story with rapt attention. Sukadev was aperfect Jnani. He was an Avadhoota. How is it then thathe studied the Bhagavata and held Katha for seven daysfor Raja Parikshit? This is a wonder of wonders! A perfectJnani was absorbed in his Brahmanishtha but he carnedown from his heights and preached devotion. Did helose his Atma-Jnana? What is the truth here? Sri VedaVyasa wrote the eighteen Puranas for the benefit of theworld. He wrote the Mahabharata which deals more withPrawitti. Yet he was not satisfied in his heart of hearts.He was quite uneasy and restless. Narada metVyasa andenquired: "What is the matter with you, O Vyasa? Youare in a sunken, depressed mood." Vyasa spoke out hisheart. Then Narada said: "You will have to write a bookwhich treats of Krishna-Prem and the Lilas of LordKrishna. Then only you will have peace of mind." ThenVyasa wrote the Bhagavata, a book that overbrims withBhakti Rasa and Kirtan of Hari. Rishis studiedBhagavata and held Kathas in a lonely forest in thevicinity of Sukadev's hermitage. Sukadevwas very muchattracted towards the Katha of the Rishis. He directlyproceeded to his father and studied the Bhagavata underhim. Then only he taught Bhagavata to Raja Parikshit.

Look at the devotion of Sukadev! From this incidentit is quite clear that devotion and Jnana are inseparable

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68 PRACTICE OF BHAKTI YOGAand a Jnani is greatest Bhakta and those Vedantins whospeak ill of devotion are deluded, ignorant persons.

3. Doctrine ofAvatarahoodGod takes a human form for elevating humanbeings. There is descent of God for the ascent of man.This is known as Avatara or incarnation of God. In theGita (IV-6, 7, 8l you will find: "Though unborn, theimperishable Self, and also the Lord of all beings,brooding over nature, which is Mine ourn, yet I am bornthrough My own power. Whenever there is decay ofrighteousness, then I Myself come forth. For theprotection of tJle good, for the destruction of evil-doers,for the sake of firmly establishing righteousness, I amborn from age to age."There are various kinds of Avataras: (1)Poorna-avatara, (21 Amsa-avatara and (3)Avesha-avatara. Lord Krishna was a Poorna-avatara, asyou already know, with sixteen rays. Lord Rama was anAvatara of fourteen rays. Sri Sankaracharya was anAmsa-avatara. Avataras generally proceed from Brahma,Vishnu and Siva. They cannot come out of IsvaraHimself. Just as a tailor who makes coats for others canmake a coat for himself also, God who has created thebodies for otJrers, can create a body for Himself as well.There is no difficulty. He is omnipotent and omniscient.As He has control over Maya, He is fully conscious of Hisdivine nature though He assumes a form. Still He isinfinite and unconditioned.Lord Krishna told Arjuna that this was the ancientand imperishable Yoga which he taught to Vivasvan theSun-God; Vivasvan taught it to Manu; Manu taught it toIkshvaku and so it was handed down through Paramparafrom royal sage to royal sage till i

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Practice of Bhakti Yoga by Swami Sivananda