Nine main kinds of bhakti
Guru will tell us that there are sixty-four kinds of bhakti, among which nine are prominent:
sri-prahlada uvaca
sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam
iti pumsarpita visnau
bhaktis cen nava-laksana
kriyeta bhagavaty addha
tan manye ‘dhitam uttamam
“Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Visnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one’s best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) – these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service.
One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krsna through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.”
Five most important kinds of bhakti
Among these nine kinds of bhakti, five are most important:
sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana.
“One should associate with devotees,
chant the holy name of the Lord,
hear Srimad-Bhagavatam,
reside at Mathura and
worship the Deity with faith and veneration.”
Amongst all devotional activities, if one is not committing offenses and is touched by any of the five limbs – chanting the holy name, being in the association of a qualified Vaisnava or guru, worshiping the Deity very faithfully, living in a holy place like Vrindavana, and hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam – he can attain all success.
sakala-sadhana-srestha ei panca anga
krsna-prema janmaya ei pancera alpa-sanga
“These five limbs of devotional service are the best of all. Even a slight performance of these five awakens love for Krsna.”
This is a section of the book “Brilliant As the Sun”(English).
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