Written by Raj Ramachandran

What is Bhakti?

Bhakti holds a very unique and important place on the path of God. It is the unselfish supreme love between God and devotee.

Bhakti removes all worries, anxieties, fears and mental stress.

The term of Bhakti is used in a variety of ways.

• Most Simply, Bhakti refers to the common Religious devotion that is held in the heart of a devoted person of any spiritual faith.
• Bhakti can also refer to the practice of yoga as a spiritual discipline that is meant to bring one to a state of pure love of God.
• Bhakti refers to the perfected state of consciousness, an exclusive and continuous love of god, the natural condition of the soul; eternal enlightened bliss.

Bhakti has a general meaning of attachment, fond of love, devotion also in terms of human relationships, most often in, parent-child, teacher-student (guru-bhakti), friend-friend, beloved-belover.

Lord Krishna said:

I love the peaceful devotee who is neither a source  of agitation in the world, nor agitated by the world. The Bhakti is one
who is friendly and compassionate to all, free of fears, envy, hatred and other annoyances that the world brings; who accepts
the knocks that come their way as the blessings in disguise.

Bhagavad Gita, ch12 v.15

Bejart's Ballet of Bhakti performed by Natalia Sologub and Farukh Ruzimatov

What is Bhakti Yoga?

There are four main paths in yoga:

Karma Yoga

Karma yoga is developing selflessness by performing actions without any expectations of any rewards or results of any kind. The "Discipline of action" is a form of yoga based on the teaching of Bhagavad Gita a sacred Sanskrit scripture of Hinduism.

Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti yoga or devotional yoga is a method of devotion. It shows what kind of devotion and love for god will bring the soul into the  most intimate relationship with god and devotee.

Jnana Yoga

Jnana yoga is the yoga of wisdom. It directs us to come to know the reality of who and what our real self is.
Another name for jnana yoga called gyana yoga.
It is based on Hindu philosophy of non-dualism and vedanta (vedic knowledge)
A similar non-dualistic view of reality is held by many branches of Buddhism and western philosophy.

Raja Yoga

Raja yoga is called Royal yoga and is also known as classical yoga or ashtanga yoga.
It offers a comprehensive method for controlling the wave of thought by turning our mind and physical energy into spiritual.

Raja yoga was first described as an eight-limbed (ashtanga yoga) path in the yoga sutras of Patanjali

Eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga

Yama - code of conduct, self-restraint

Niyama - religious observation, commitments of practice such as study and devotion

Asana - integration of mind and body through physical activity.

Pranayama - regulation of breath leading integration of mind and body.

Pratyahara - abstraction of the senses, withdrawal of the senses of perception from their objects.

Dharana - concentration, one-pointedness of mind.

Samadhi - The quiet state of blissful awareness, super conscious state attained when yogi constantly sees Paramatma in his (jivatma) heart.

Paramatma - is the absolute supreme soul or spirit.
Jivatma
Jiva - alternate is living being or more specifically, the immortal essence of a living organism (human, animal, fish or planet etc.) which survives physical death.
Atma - the higher self.

Samayama - Holding together, tying up, blinding. combined simultaneous practice of concentration meditation and union, a tool to receive deeper knowledge of qualities of the object.

They are sometimes divided into the lower and upper four limbs, the lower ones are from yama to pranayama - being parallel to the lower limbs of hatha yoga. While the upper ones are from pratyahara to samadhi - being specific for the raja yoga. The upper three limbs practised simultaneously constitute the samayama.

How can we practice Bhakti yoga in every day life?

• Devotional singing (bhajan or kirtan)
• Meditation
• Chanting and Mantra (God's name)
• Pujas and Rituals

Bhajan - Group of Devotional Singing

All over the world many groups of people assemble at least once a week at satsangs (spiritual get-togethers) to rejoice at the advent of and pay homage to god or goddess, guru (spiritual saint). Bhajan are normally held at public halls where a make-shift altar is prepared, such that the congregation is facing east and north. A large picture or statue of god, goddess or spritual saint (guru) is placed in the middle of an artistically decorated altar with flowers, candles and oil -lamps. The hall is symbolically divided into two halves with a floral path in the middle leading to the altar. The women and men sit separately on the left and right hand sides of the path respectively, in rows facing the altar.

Exactly at the appionted hour service starts. The proceedings begin with the chanting of "AUM" (OM) 3 times. With the the first "AUM" the mind is becalmed by banishing all thoughts. The second "AUM" signals the opening out of the lotus of our hearts. And with the third "AUM" the deity is installed in the lotus. This is followed by an hour of bhajan (devotional singing) by the congregation. Bhajan is a lyrical composition, in any language or mantric composition in Sankrit, to praise the glories of various manifestations of the supreme.

After reciting "AUM" collectively, one of the lead singers starts with a bhajan on Lord Ganesh (elephant-faced god) seeking his blessing to clear all impediments and for a spirtually uplifting session. The congregation repeats the bhajan, in chorus, after the lead singer. In the next hour, through the singing of bhajan, various aspects of god are invoked. The group devotional singing session is concluded with doing the "Aarati" (waving of light) while singing the concluding bhajan "Jaya Jagdish Hare", in chorus.

The congregation disperses after chanting the Shanti mantra, invoking the descent of divine peace on the Earth.

The difference between Kirtan and Bhajan

In kirtan all participants sing together all the way through. It's more simple in melody and lyrics and there is less strain on those who may be hearing the songs for first time, to follow. There is more freedom for the lead singers when they are singing kirtan as opposed to bhajan because with bhajan singing there is a certain fixed structure. The first time through, the bhajan is sung at slow speed. The second time, it is sung a bit faster and the third and final time, faster still.

The purpose of this way of singing is because it is very powerful and generates bhakti by opening the hearts of the singers. This can be compared to athletics, kirtan are a marathon; bhajans are short sprints, both have definite purposes. With bhajan the energy is awakened in a quick way whereas with kirtans the resultant love for god is deepened leading to devotional feelings rising to higher and higher levels of divine Ecstacy.

Meditation

Meditation has been practised by all religions the world over. The idea of meditation is running like wildfire through out the volatile mind stuff of the human race. "Fire",  is when occult in techniques, as it sets pure engery in motion and relates consciousness to life.

Chanting and Mantra

The sound of mantra can lift the believer towards the higher-self (atma). The sound elements of Sanskrit languages are permanent entities and are of everlasting significance. In the recitation of Sanskrit mantras the sound is very important, as it can bring transformation in you while, at the same time, leading you to power and strength. It can be practice in morning or evening.

Puja and Rituals

Puja (pooja)  in Sanskrit means "worship" or "reverence" to God. It is a form of worship that involves physical as well oral and mental activities.

The puja is performed with five offerings to symbolise the five elements of space, air, fire and water. The offerings are pushpa (flowers), dhupa (incence), deepa (light), naivedya (food) and gandha (sandalwood paste).

Puja is performed on many different occasions but most are practised once or twice daily and are performed in temples and gatherings. Puja is also performed in Hindu homes at an altar. Before the puja ceremony, the performer is required to maintain perfect physical and mental purity.

A puja can be in honour of a particular deity. During the puja the performer is supposed to focus completely on God by paying attention to the chosen deity. It is an active way of worshipping, a path of worship appropriate for the active person (karma yogi) as well as the contemplative (jnana yogi). Most surely leads a dedicated practitioner to open our own heart of all spiritual practice.

ASTO MA SAT GAMAYA
TAMASO MA JYOTIR GAMAYA
MRITYOR MA AMRITUM GAMAYA
OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI

"O LORD ! LEAD US FROM UNTRUTH TO TRUTH
FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT
FROM DEATH TO IMMORTALITY
LET THERE BE PEACE PEACE PEACE."