Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti means devotion. Bhakti Yoga is the devotional path to reach the Absolute. The bhakta (devotee) through the chanting of mantras (invocations) and prayers tries to identify his inner self with the Supreme One.
Bhakti is said to be the easiest and the natural way to reach God. Bhakti also has two stages. The preparatory stage and the higher one which is called Para Bhakti. During his course of growth to the Para Bhakti, the bhakta may perchance swerve from the right path and fall into the hideous pit of fanaticism, says Swami Vivekanda, the great Indian philosopher and spiritual leader.
There are many different Bhakti marga schools, all of them hold the same idea that the Absolute cannot be reached by jnana (wisdom) alone. They regard bhakti or devotion as the most effective means to the realization of God.
In Bhagavad Gita, the ancient sacred text of India the Lord Himself says, “Those who remain ever absorbed in My Name, to such devotees I grant Buddhi Yoga – the divine intelligence by which they can reach Me.” However, this also means that while devotion is regarded as the most effective means to reach the Absolute, the role of knowledge cannot be ruled out.
A kind of duality is involved in all the Bhakti marga schools of devotion: the bhakta (devotee) is the finite person and God, the Absolute, represents the infinite.
But at the same time, they also proclaim that the individual soul cannot exist apart from Brahman and hence it is not different from Brahman. However, understanding the distinction between the finite and the Absolute is essential for all Bhakti Yoga votaries.
Bhakti is said to be the easiest and the natural way to reach God. Bhakti also has two stages. The preparatory stage and the higher one which is called Para Bhakti. During his course of growth to the Para Bhakti, the bhakta may perchance swerve from the right path and fall into the hideous pit of fanaticism, says Swami Vivekanda, the great Indian philosopher and spiritual leader.
There are many different Bhakti marga schools, all of them hold the same idea that the Absolute cannot be reached by jnana (wisdom) alone. They regard bhakti or devotion as the most effective means to the realization of God.
In Bhagavad Gita, the ancient sacred text of India the Lord Himself says, “Those who remain ever absorbed in My Name, to such devotees I grant Buddhi Yoga – the divine intelligence by which they can reach Me.” However, this also means that while devotion is regarded as the most effective means to reach the Absolute, the role of knowledge cannot be ruled out.
A kind of duality is involved in all the Bhakti marga schools of devotion: the bhakta (devotee) is the finite person and God, the Absolute, represents the infinite.
But at the same time, they also proclaim that the individual soul cannot exist apart from Brahman and hence it is not different from Brahman. However, understanding the distinction between the finite and the Absolute is essential for all Bhakti Yoga votaries.
1. Shanta Bhava
2. Dasya Bhava
3. Sakhya Bhava
