This chapter is the English translation of Gujarati Book Title - Sadhak and Sathi Author - Shri Atmanandji (Dr. Soneji) CHAPTER - 19 PATH OF DEVOTION (Bhakti Margni Aradhana) BACKGROUND The general aim of any aspirant (Sadhaka) would be to raise his self (Atma) up to the status of self realization, through self improvement. There are three paths laid down to attain to this aim. These are the paths of: (1) Knowledge (Jnan), (2) Devotion (Bhakti), and (3) Activity (Yoga). Looking from the absolute point of view, all the three paths are just one. Yet the great saints had defined the different paths of spiritual progress because the aspirants have unique personalities. This unique personality may be due to the individual's circumstances, family background, varied psychic effects of previous lives, present education and so on. GENERAL NATURE OF DEVOTION Devotion or Bhakti may be defined as the experience of admiration, respect and eulogy that arises in our mind towards personalities more virtuous than us on recognizing their human and super-human virtues. In view of one's attraction toward the virtues of the virtuous, one must come to honor and welcome them, be humble and respectful towards them, serve and worship them, admire of their glory and virtues and so on. This would, in due order, lead to purification of one's own feelings. This is the basis of the methodology to be followed in the true development of the path of devotion. The devotion found in common people is not the true devotion of the sage. Common people resort only to conventional external modes of worship of their family priest and family God. This is only a family custom or conventional conduct. Development of real devotion is not possible where the aspirant (Sadhaka) does not know the real nature of the trio: the devotee, the devotion, and God. An enlightened Sadhaka should therefore resort to devotion born out of appropriate and true conviction. SPECIALIZED NATURE OF DEVOTION One who intends to resort to Bhakti (devotion) is a Bhakta - the devotee or Sadhaka or Atma himself. Such a devotee should get himself thoroughly acquainted with the virtues of the preceptor-saint, and of God the Supreme, towards whom he is devoted. An aspirant should experience and express devotion towards a preceptor or Guru who is calm and composed, detached, benevolent in nature and one endowed with purity of knowledge and good character. In a similar manner, towards God, the Supreme, who is detached, and whose virtues of endless knowledge and infinite bliss are fully revealed. Our own faults and weaknesses are calmed down by devotion to God the Supreme, and the enlightened preceptor. Our entire being gets filled with peace and purity on such occasions. Now, the devotee, who is thoroughly acquainted with the virtues of this God and preceptor, practices to adopt their virtues slowly and steadily in his day-to-day life, and thereby inspires himself in the path of self-betterment and self realization. Thus real devotion (Bhakti) is a scientific process of revelation of virtues in one's life, having been delighted by their manifestation in one's God or preceptor. Let us now see in what different types of devotion, the devotee engages himself and thus develops the path of Bhakti. DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVOTION: Spiritual seers and poets have described nine types of Bhakti as under: 1. Attentive Hearing of devotional songs and sermons (Sharvana) 2. Singing of Devotional Songs (Kirtana) 3. Thinking of God, Guru, Religion and Self or Ataman (Chintana) 4. Salutation to God, Guru and Religion (Vandana) 5. Service to God, Guru and Religion (Sevana) 6. Meditation (Dhyana) 7. Humility (Laghuta) 8. Equanimity (Samata) 9. Unity (Ektva) The above mentioned nine types of devotion are well known, and the devotee attains to these by truly practicing to the meaning indicated by the names. Here, it would be enough to state that as the devotee develops the right (Sattva) quality within and develops it truly, the inferior (Tamasika) and worldly (Rajasika) inclinations dwindle in his life, love of God grows deeper. He sees and observes the supreme Godhood in all living beings, and may often experience the outward ecstasy, tears of joy, to dance in devotion, mindless towards his own physical body. This ultimately leads to the oneness of devotee, devotion and God. It also further leads to the higher devotion known as Para- Bhakti and to the highest unequalled devotion known as Ananya - Bhakti. For such continuous spiritual progress, steady, systematic, well-implemented and uninterrupted devotional practice, intense love for God, non-attachment to worldly objects, and frequent association with the saints are essential and should be regularly pursued by the devotee. This fact is observed immediately when we review and study the lives of great devotees. REWARD OF GENUINE DEVOTION One who succeeds in the real path of devotion, attains to the super-human state. He loses all attraction to the things of this world and also of the other worlds. He remains satisfied with his constant devotion to God. No matter what circumstances befall, he considers all of them to be alright and remains equanimous. As he has attained to the higher states of devotion in this manner, his love for God and the spiritual progress thereof, flow unceasingly like the water of river Ganges. Such an enlightened and equanimous devotee remains in a blissful state, continues in the rest of his life the mission of being helpful to one and all, inspiring others also to follow the same path and to taste the divine bliss thereof. GLORY OF THE PATH OF DEVOTION 1. Advance yourself in the devotion of God the Supreme. The wise have praised the pondering on the virtues of God the Supreme with a pure heart, hearing sermons on God, singing his praise and his worship. The devotee should therefore try to adopt all these practices in his life. 2. In this universe, true devotion, an enlightened preceptor, association with the saints and the noble, study of authentic scriptures, and equanimity of vision and true activity (Yoga); all these together have never been attained by us so far, otherwise our present state would not have befallen us. However, let us accept respectfully the proverb, "Better late than never," and work diligently. This will bring us triumphant victory and we shall succeed after all the previous failures of countless births. 3. True devotion is not possible by an individual who is lustful, short-tempered or covetous. Only a heroic person, who does not fear to the fears of the world can possibly become in tune with God the Supreme. 4. The devotee who is pious, alert, impartial, free from worries and one who has renounced all mundane desires, is the lone favorite to God. 5. After careful and wide-ranging thought, we strongly believe that devotion is the best path for spiritual uplift. If the devotion is laid at the feet of great enlightened saints it can lead to liberation 6. Devotion is a desire-yielding tree (Kalpa-taru), a desire-fulfilling cow (Kama-dhenu) that yields the desired reward. The poet Pritam says that one who resorts to this path, experiences no pain and sorrow whatsoever. Services to other living beings, prayer to God, and meditation are all only superfluous if divine love is not blended with them. The poet says that knowledge without devotion has no significance in spiritual life. He further adds that just as the lover is with his beloved, miser is with his wealth, so a real devotee is with God the Supreme by remembering name all the time. With complete affection to God leads one to heroism, the Soul (Atma), ascends progressively to his true state of pure bliss by pondering over its pure virtues. Just as the mirror in hand makes one conscious of one's face, the contemplation and meditation on God or Siddha or Jineshvara makes one conscious of one's true original form. LIVING EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS IN THE PATH OF DEVOTION: (1) Saint Tukaram was a great devotee of Lord Krishna, who lived in the state of Maharashtra, India, in the seventeenth century. He was endowed with the spirit of devotion right from childhood. He gave the name "Vitthal" to Lord Krishna. Every day, his devotion led him on the path of progress towards the Divine. He was famous for his devotional songs which flowed automatically during his intense devotional chanting. These devotional songs became popular and recognized as "Abhanga". When he eulogized God in devotional songs, he got completely engrossed and lost in devotion; and great words of preaching came from the innermost depths of his heart. Rameshvara Bhatt, a renowned scholar of the Vedas and a famous sage heard of Saint Tukaram and his devotional songs "Abhanga". He called him and told him not to compose "Abhanga" (songs), because they did not truly convey the message of Vedas. He also asked him to throw away the "Abhangas" that he had composed in the Indrayani river. Since Rameshvara Bhatt was a scholar and a famous sage, Tukaram followed his instruction but his life turned miserable without his devotional songs to God. He decided to sit in a temple with determination to see God personally or bring an end to his life. Seated on a firm seat in the temple, he became merged in devotion to God. Thirteen days and night passed without food and sleep. Finally God appeared and he had "darshana" of God in the temple of his heart. This led him to experience supreme peace and delight. (2) Jagannathapuri is one of the four holy pilgrimages of Hindus. It is situated in Orrisa, about 500 kilometers from Calcutta. Every twelve years a great religious ceremony is performed and millions of devotees gather to celebrate the function. The chief idol is of Lord (Bhagavan) Jagannath, one form of Lord Krishna. It was the second day of the Hindu month "Ashadha." In the state of Orissa, in the city Jagannathpuri, the procession of Lord Jagannatha was in progress. Faithful devotees in large numbers get together. All were anxious to have a view ("darshan") of the idol of Lord Jagannatha seated in the chariot. A great saint Shree Chaitanya Maha Prabhu arrived to have a darshan of Lord Jagannatha in the procession. His devotees had reserved a standing place from which he could easily see the idol of Lord Jagannath (darshan). However, it became difficult for him to have a clear darshan because in this huge crowd, an old woman climbed on his shoulders for the darshan of Lord Jagannatha. Some devotees saw this and became angry. They started scolding the old woman. However Shree Chaitanya stopped them and said, "Well brothers, this old lady is a real devotee. She was not aware of the fact that she had climbed upon my shoulders. Her desire for darshan was very intense. We will attain to devotion per excellence only when such an acute desire will overtake us and we will forget the consciousness of the body. Then and only then will our lives become blissful." (3) It was the medieval age of the saints and devotees. The tradition of their lives was to bathe in the river Ganges of divine love and become pious and inspire the common people to follow this path and live a godly life in which there is a peace of Self and a total absence of worries. A noble and respected saint was staying in a small, modest and simple house, about five miles away from the city Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan. He had made his life an ideal one by devotion to God, respect to others, plain living, and high thinking. Many aspirants visited this simple house for the darshan of this saint. They derived inspiration from his sermon which was rich in experience. Once a disciple told him, "Well Sir, the queen of Jaipur has arrived to see you. How shall we welcome her?" He replied simply, "Let her come. She comes here as a devotee. No special welcome is required." The disciple brought the queen into the presence of the saint. The queen bowed to the saint and seated on a seat befitting her status. The saint delivered a short sermon. She was delighted and later asked the permission to leave after presenting many golden ornaments as a gift to the saint. The saint protested much but the queen said, "We cannot take back the things that we have given." and left. On the very next day the saint invited the poor and the suffering from the adjoining villages and gave away all the ornaments in charity. The disciples said, "Noble Sir, if you had retained some, we could have used the same for a better welcome for the future guests." The saint expressed to his unflinching devotion to God through these words, "The almighty who gives to us, will give to the guests also." This is the noble life of a saint. It was this saint Nabhaji who wrote the famous work "Bhaktamala" (Devotional Songs).