Narada Bhakti Sutra - Post 87

Dear All, 

Let us continue further on the previous sutra which says,

"[Bhakti, or Divine Love, though in itself one only, manifests itself in the following eleven forms: 

(1) Love of the glorification of the Lord’s blessed qualities,

(2) Love of his enchanting beauty, 

(3) Love of worship, 

(4) Love of constant remembrance, 

(5) Love of service, 

(6) Love of Him as a friend, 

(7) Love of Him as a son, 

(8) Love for Him as that of a wife for her husband, 

(9) Love of self-surrender to Him, 

(10) Love of complete absorption in Him, 

(11) Love of the pain of separation from Him.]".

1) Guna maahatmya Aasakti  (Glorifying Lord's blessed qualities)

In this, the devotee's smouldering Love Divine is constantly fed by the repeated remembrance of the glories and virtues of the Lord.

Narada, Vyaasa, Sukhdev are the devotees who pursued this mode.

2) Roopa Aasakti (Love of his enchanting beauty)



Attachment to Lord's divine form is a path by which devotees reached the highest experience in their spiritual path. 



3)  Love of worship

Constant performance of ritual and worship of the Lord Sree Narayana is a beautiful example of this form of devotion.





4)  Smarana Aasakti (Constant remembrance) 

Prahlada and Dhruva travelled in this path of constant remembrance of Lord. Through their never ceasing remembrance of the Lord, they realized God as Supreme Love.


5)  Dasya Asakthi ( Serving the Lord)

Devotion can also be reached by the unquestionable, reverential devotion of the servant to the master, maintained in the pure heart of the seeker. Hanuman and Vidhura lived this path.

6) Saakhya Aasakti (Loving Lord as friend)

Attachment to the Lord as a friend is yet another path. The attitude of Arjuna, Sudhaama and kuchela fall under thus category.



7) Vaatsalya Aasakti (Parental Love)

The devotee may also reach the great state of supreme love through the devotion of Parental Love. Kausalya, Yasoda, Devaki are those who loved the Lord as their child.




8) Kanta Aasakti (Loving Lord as spouse)

As a beloved it is an attitude of relationship between devotee and the Lord. This is a path wherein the devotee considers herself to be the Lord's beloved, like the eight queens of Krishna, like Sita approaching Lord Rama.

9) Atma nivedana Aasakti (Self surrender)

Complete surrender to the Lord, ready to give one's life, one's very existence to the Lord is indeed a way by which devotion can be invoked, maintained and developed. 

Out of all the 11 mode of Love explained in this sutra, this is the pinnacle and the ultimate stage.

In all other modes or most of the other modes, we can see a duality between the Bhakta and the Bhagawan. 

In Atma nivedanam, the devotee's ego is totally annihilated and the nivedanam is the highest one where, the SELF or the ATMAN (Devotee's real identity) is offered or it merges with BRAHMAN ( Real identity / existence of God).

10) Tanmayata Aasakti (Total absorption in lord)

In this path, Bhakti is developed by constantly trying to feel one's essential oneness with Him without any distinction such as creator and creature, Devotee and the Lord etc. 

Sanat kumara, Yagna valkya are few such beings who travelled in this path.

11) Parama viraha Aasakti 

The devotee feels burning anguish of separation, remembering the Lord constantly in Lord's absence. 

This is the feeling of Gopis of Brindavan when Krishna left Brindavan. 

Thus, according to the nature of each  devotee, the devotee expresses his / her devotion in one's own unique way.

Love.