Continuing his discourse on Bhakthi or devotion Krishna says, " Arjuna! offer devotion according to the dictates of scriptures. Don't be the slave of your mind.
Follow the mandates of the Vedas and 'Varnasrama Dharma' Adi Sankara
has defined Bhakti as merging of the mind with Lord Siva. It is similar
to the seeds of the ' udugu' tree attaching themselves to the tree
itself; Like a magnet drawing the iron filings; like a chaste woman (
pativrata) following her husband; like the rivers that flow into the sea
the Devotee merges himself into the Lord!
Bhakthi or devotion is of three kinds. The worst type is that which prays for one's own happiness in this and the other world. The second is devotion aspiring for personal salvation or moksha. The third and the best is devotion for the sake of devotion! Sri Kulasekhara Azwar in his " Mukunda Mala" prays not for the four 'purusharthas' but for the perennial devotion unto His lotus feet irrespective of the number of births he may have!
Bhakthi can be classified into NINE KInds:
1 Sravanam--Hearing the name of the Lord.
2 Keethanam--Singing His praise
3 Smaranam--Repeating the name of the Lord
4 Pada sevanam--Serving at the feet of the Lord
5 Archanam--Worship of the Lord
6 Vandanam--Offering obbaisance
7 Dasyam--Serving the Lord
8 Sakhyam--Friendship with the Lord
9 Atma Nivedanam--Total surender to the lord.
In Krutha yuga DHYANA was needed for moksha or salvation. In Treta Yuga yagnas and other karmas were performed for moksha. But in Kali Yuga it is enough if we sing the praise of the Lord! All the accumulated sins of many Births are destroyed by the repetition of the name of the Lord says NARADA, one of the greatest devotees of the Lord! Lord Vishnu tells Narada, " I do not reside in my abode Vaikunta or in the hearts of Yogis; I reside in places where my bhaktas sing in my praise!" In the Bhagavatha purana, a brahmin, Ajamila, was given to evil and immoral ways. But in his last moments he called his son NARAYANA to come to his side. Uttering the Name of the Lord in his terminal stage gave him moksha or salvation! A chief of robbers addressed his band on how to execute their job. He directed, " Vane charamo, vasucha haramo,nadistharamo, nabhayam smaramaha"---Go to the forest, plunder wealth, cross the river, don't be afraid. It is said that the robber chief attained mukti as he repeated the name "RAMA" four times though unwittingly!
Sankara says that the "RA" sound expels all our sins and "MA" sound slaps the door against all sins! God's name is the magnet that attracts God himself! Jayadeva, a great Bengali devotee used to worship God till He, in
the picture before him nodded His
head! Saint Thyagaraja sang with extreme devotion and had the vision of
his Lord Sri Rama! Lord Krishna is believed to have appeared before
Purandara Dasa to enjoy his Kirtanas! Swami Vivekananda saw Rama by
repeating His name as per the directions of his mentor, sri Ramakrishna!
God's name has intrinsic value and transforms Man into a great bhakta
in the long run!
Bhakthi or devotion is of three kinds. The worst type is that which prays for one's own happiness in this and the other world. The second is devotion aspiring for personal salvation or moksha. The third and the best is devotion for the sake of devotion! Sri Kulasekhara Azwar in his " Mukunda Mala" prays not for the four 'purusharthas' but for the perennial devotion unto His lotus feet irrespective of the number of births he may have!
Bhakthi can be classified into NINE KInds:
1 Sravanam--Hearing the name of the Lord.
2 Keethanam--Singing His praise
3 Smaranam--Repeating the name of the Lord
4 Pada sevanam--Serving at the feet of the Lord
5 Archanam--Worship of the Lord
6 Vandanam--Offering obbaisance
7 Dasyam--Serving the Lord
8 Sakhyam--Friendship with the Lord
9 Atma Nivedanam--Total surender to the lord.
In Krutha yuga DHYANA was needed for moksha or salvation. In Treta Yuga yagnas and other karmas were performed for moksha. But in Kali Yuga it is enough if we sing the praise of the Lord! All the accumulated sins of many Births are destroyed by the repetition of the name of the Lord says NARADA, one of the greatest devotees of the Lord! Lord Vishnu tells Narada, " I do not reside in my abode Vaikunta or in the hearts of Yogis; I reside in places where my bhaktas sing in my praise!" In the Bhagavatha purana, a brahmin, Ajamila, was given to evil and immoral ways. But in his last moments he called his son NARAYANA to come to his side. Uttering the Name of the Lord in his terminal stage gave him moksha or salvation! A chief of robbers addressed his band on how to execute their job. He directed, " Vane charamo, vasucha haramo,nadistharamo, nabhayam smaramaha"---Go to the forest, plunder wealth, cross the river, don't be afraid. It is said that the robber chief attained mukti as he repeated the name "RAMA" four times though unwittingly!
Sankara says that the "RA" sound expels all our sins and "MA" sound slaps the door against all sins! God's name is the magnet that attracts God himself! Jayadeva, a great Bengali devotee used to worship God till He, in
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