Home

To develop oneself in the path of bhakti, nine types (navadtia bhakti) are prescribed in the Srimadbhagavata (Vll.5.23) Such as: sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam padasevanam vandanam arcanam dasyam sakhyam atmanivedanam.

1. Sravanam is to listen to the lilas or the life history and his grace full deeds. Example: Pariksita, and Narada

2. Kirtanam is chanting of the holy names and his holy deeds and talking of his works and singing of his songs. Like the shower of water cools the heated earth s the utterance of the names of the lord would render the restlessness of ordinary lifet a calm and blissful life.

Example: Suka,Tumburu,Narada and Srichaitanya

3. Smarana is to remember the lord always throughout the day and night in mind and heart so that nothing mundane would disturb and distract the bhakta from hi right path. It is the smarana which brings one sadhaka the divine presence always to go ahead of ones sadhana. It is the japa yoga which is the best form of smarana where the body, life and mind get opportunities to be united at the behest of self.
Example: Prahllada, Dhruva, Gajaraja, Mruguni and Ajamila

4. Pada-sevanam is to serve the divine in all respect. Treat the god as a human being and serve him as his servant.

Example: Hanuman and savari

5. Archanam is to worship the lord in sixteen types the lord is treated by the sadhak in offering oblations to him in flowers, sandalwood paste, incense stic, lamp, obation etc. in sixteen upacaras.
Example: Pruthu, Kubuja, Savari and Ambarisa

6. Vandanam is to decorate the idol and please the lord in all respect. Example: Akrura and Bharata

7. Dasyam a mental state of attainment when the sadhaka thinks himself as a servant of god.
Example: Hanuman and Garuda,

8. Sakhyam a mental state when a sadhaka thinks himself to be the most intimate friend of God
Example: Arjuna, Uddhava, Sudama, Sugriva and Vibhisana


9. Atma nivedanam is absolute self surrender under the feet of the lord. Example: King-vali and Draupadi