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→भक्तिफलम् ॥ Fruit of Bhakti: Adding content with reference
=== पराभक्तिः अपराभक्तिश्च ॥ Para Bhakti and Apara Bhakti ===
=== पराभक्तिः अपराभक्तिश्च ॥ Para Bhakti and Apara Bhakti ===
Bhakti is of two kinds, viz., Para-Bhakti (higher Bhakti) and Apara Bhakti (lower or ritualistic Bhakti).
Bhakti is of two kinds, viz., Para-Bhakti (higher Bhakti) and Apara Bhakti (lower or ritualistic Bhakti).
* Apara Bhakti consists of Ritualistic worship that is formal in nature and is referred to as Vaidhi or Gauni Bhakti. Thus, Vaidhi Bhakti is a type of devotion depending on external aids. The one who does ritualistic worship adores a pratīka (symbol) or a pratimā (image), does Puja with flowers and sandal paste, offers incense, waves the lamp before the Supreme, offers Naivedya or food for Him, etc. Through this ritualistic worship, the mind becomes purer and purer and the aspirant gradually develops love for the Supreme.
* Apara Bhakti consists of Ritualistic worship that is formal in nature and is referred to as Vaidhi or Gauni Bhakti. Thus, Vaidhi Bhakti is a type of devotion depending on external aids. The one who does ritualistic worship adores a pratīka (symbol) or a pratimā (image), does Puja with flowers and sandal paste, offers incense, waves the lamp before the Supreme, offers Naivedya or food for Him, etc. Through this ritualistic worship, the mind becomes purer and purer and the aspirant gradually develops love for the Supreme.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />
In fact, highlighting that it is the devotion beneath the offerings that pleases Him, Shri Krishna in the 9th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita says,<blockquote>पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति । तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ॥९.२६॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Chapter 9 (Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga)]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati । tadahaṁ bhaktyupahr̥tamaśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ ॥9.26॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Whoever offers Me with devotion and a pure mind (heart), a leaf, a flower, a fruit or a little water—I accept (this offering).<ref name=":7">Swami Sivananda (2000), [https://holybooks-lichtenbergpress.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/BHAGAVAD-GITA-By-SRI-SWAMI-SIVANANDA.pdf Bhagavad Gita], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref>
From Vaidhi Bhakti, he passes on to Ragatmika Bhakti or Prema Bhakti. He beholds the whole world as the Lord. The ideas of good and bad, right and wrong, etc., vanish. He sees the Lord in a rogue, dacoit, cobra, scorpion, ant, dog, tree, log of wood, block of stone, sun, moon, stars, fire, water, earth, etc. His vision or experience baffles description. Thus, the aspirant who worships the idol in the beginning beholds the Lord everywhere and develops Para Bhakti.
From Vaidhi Bhakti, he passes on to Ragatmika Bhakti or Prema Bhakti. He beholds the whole world as the Lord. The ideas of good and bad, right and wrong, etc., vanish. He sees the Lord in a rogue, dacoit, cobra, scorpion, ant, dog, tree, log of wood, block of stone, sun, moon, stars, fire, water, earth, etc. His vision or experience baffles description. Thus, the aspirant who worships the idol in the beginning beholds the Lord everywhere and develops Para Bhakti.
* Para Bhakti (or higher Bhakti) is advanced type of devotion that transcends all convention. A devotee of this type knows no rule. He does not perform any external worship. He beholds his Lord everywhere, in every object. His heart is saturated with love for the Supreme. His state is ineffable. He attains the pinnacle of bliss. He radiates love, purity and joy wherever he goes and inspires all who come in contact with him.<ref name=":5" /><ref>Swami Ramarajyam, [https://www.gitasupersite.iitk.ac.in/sites/default/files/Version-2.1.pdf The Narada Bhakti Sutra], Rishikesh: Divine Life Society.</ref>
* Para Bhakti (or higher Bhakti) is advanced type of devotion that transcends all convention. A devotee of this type knows no rule. He does not perform any external worship. He beholds his Lord everywhere, in every object. His heart is saturated with love for the Supreme. His state is ineffable. He attains the pinnacle of bliss. He radiates love, purity and joy wherever he goes and inspires all who come in contact with him.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">Swami Ramarajyam, [https://www.gitasupersite.iitk.ac.in/sites/default/files/Version-2.1.pdf The Narada Bhakti Sutra], Rishikesh: Divine Life Society.</ref>
In fact, Para Bhakti or the highest devotion is actually the devotion that arises after the realisation of the Supreme Being. And Apara Bhakti or the lower devotion, also known as Gauni Bhakti is the means thereof that is of the form of chanting the Lord's name, singing His glories, etc.<ref name=":0" />
In fact, Para Bhakti or the highest devotion is actually the devotion that arises after the realisation of the Supreme Being. And Apara Bhakti or the lower devotion, also known as Gauni Bhakti is the means thereof that is of the form of chanting the Lord's name, singing His glories, etc.<ref name=":0" />
After describing Shishupala's uninterrupted hatred for Vishnu (Sri Krishna), the Vishnu Purana says, <blockquote>अयं हि भगवान् कीर्त्तितः संस्मृतश्च द्वेषानुबन्धेनापि अखिलसुरासुरदुर्लभं फलं प्रयच्छति किमुत सम्यग्भक्तिमताम् ॥ ४,१५.१७ ॥<ref>Vishnu Puranam, Amsha 4, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 15]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''ayaṁ hi bhagavān kīrttitaḥ saṁsmr̥taśca dveṣānubandhenāpi akhilasurāsuradurlabhaṁ phalaṁ prayacchati kimuta samyagbhaktimatām ॥ 4,15.17 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Bhagavan, even if named or remembered with uninterrupted hatred, will confer the boon that is hard to be obtained even by deities and demons. Then, how much more will He reward those who possess perfect devotion ?
After describing Shishupala's uninterrupted hatred for Vishnu (Sri Krishna), the Vishnu Purana says, <blockquote>अयं हि भगवान् कीर्त्तितः संस्मृतश्च द्वेषानुबन्धेनापि अखिलसुरासुरदुर्लभं फलं प्रयच्छति किमुत सम्यग्भक्तिमताम् ॥ ४,१५.१७ ॥<ref>Vishnu Puranam, Amsha 4, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 15]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''ayaṁ hi bhagavān kīrttitaḥ saṁsmr̥taśca dveṣānubandhenāpi akhilasurāsuradurlabhaṁ phalaṁ prayacchati kimuta samyagbhaktimatām ॥ 4,15.17 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Bhagavan, even if named or remembered with uninterrupted hatred, will confer the boon that is hard to be obtained even by deities and demons. Then, how much more will He reward those who possess perfect devotion ?
Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita says, <blockquote>भक्त्या मामभिजानाति यावान्यश्चास्मि तत्त्वतः । ततो मां तत्त्वतो ज्ञात्वा विशते तदनन्तरम् ॥१८.५५॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga)]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''bhaktyā māmabhijānāti yāvānyaścāsmi tattvataḥ । tato māṁ tattvato jñātvā viśate tadanantaram ॥18.55॥''</blockquote>Meaning: By devotion he knows Me in truth, what and who I am; and knowing Me in truth, he forthwith enters into the Supreme.<ref name=":7" />
Thus, many treatises declared [[Moksha (मोक्षः)|Moksha]] as the reward.
In the Shandilya Bhakti Sutra Bhashya, it is said that attachment to the Supreme Self in the form of devotion becomes the cause of destruction of birth and re-birth by removing the limitations of the jiva.<ref name=":1" />
In the Shandilya Bhakti Sutra Bhashya, it is said that attachment to the Supreme Self in the form of devotion becomes the cause of destruction of birth and re-birth by removing the limitations of the jiva.<ref name=":1" />