View source for Navavidha Bhakti (नवविधाभक्तिः)

In the Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 7, Adhyaya 5) when Hiranyakashipu asks Prahlada to recite some of the excellent passages learnt well by him from what his teacher has taught him through the years, he elaborates on the nine forms of bhakti as follows:<blockquote>श्रवणं कीर्तनं विष्णोः स्मरणं पादसेवनम् । अर्चनं वन्दनं दास्यं सख्यमात्मनिवेदनम् ॥७.५.२३॥<ref name=":8">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 5]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pādasevanam । arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyamātmanivedanam ॥7.5.23॥''</blockquote>Meaning: There are nine forms of devotion to Vishnu -
#श्रवणम् । ''śravaṇam'' refers to listening to the names, stories etc. of Vishnu
#कीर्तनम् । ''kīrtanam'' refers to singing of his name and glories
#स्मरणम् । ''smaraṇaṁ'' means to remember him (his name)
#पादसेवनम् । ''pādasevanam'' refers to rendering service to him
#अर्चनम् । ''arcanaṁ'' means to worship him
#वन्दनम् । ''vandanaṁ'' refers to paying obeisance to him
#दास्यम् । ''dāsyaṁ'' refers to the intent of dedicating all of one's actions to him
#सख्यम् । ''sakhyam'' refers to the ability of one to confide in him as a friend
#आत्मनिवेदनम् । ''ātmanivedanam'' refers to offering oneself and one's belongings completely to his service and care.
Prahlada further states that offering oneself completely to Vishnu and performing this nine-fold devotion is regarded as the highest type of learning. In fact, complete dedication as described above, is in fact the precedent to real devotion.<ref>[https://cloudup.com/cUT0LxhA6uF The Bhagavata Purana (Part III)], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref><blockquote>इति पुंसार्पिता विष्णौ भक्तिश्चेन्नवलक्षणा | क्रियेत भगवत्यद्धा तन्मन्येऽधीतमुत्तमम् ||२४||<ref name=":8" /></blockquote><blockquote>''iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau bhaktiścennavalakṣaṇā | kriyeta bhagavatyaddhā tanmanye'dhītamuttamam ||24||''</blockquote>

== श्रवणम् ॥ Shravanam ==
Shravanam refers to listening to the names, stories etc. of Vishnu. Process of transformation within the heart is described beautifully in the following five verses of the Bhagavata Purana. 

श्रृण्वतां स्वकथां कृष्णः पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः । हृद्यन्तःस्थो ह्यभद्राणि विधुनोति सुहृत्सताम् ॥ १७ ॥

नष्टप्रायेष्वभद्रेषु नित्यं भागवतसेवया । भगवति उत्तमश्लोके भक्तिर्भवति नैष्ठिकी ॥ १८ ॥

तदा रजस्तमोभावाः कामलोभादयश्च ये । चेत एतैरनाविद्धं स्थितं सत्त्वे प्रसीदति ॥ १९ ॥

एवं प्रसन्नमनसो भगवद्‍भक्तियोगतः । भगवत् तत्त्वविज्ञानं मुक्तसङ्गस्य जायते ॥ २० ॥

भिद्यते हृदयग्रन्थिः छिद्यन्ते सर्वसंशयाः । क्षीयन्ते चास्य कर्माणि दृष्ट एवात्मनीश्वरे ॥ २१ ॥<ref name=":0">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 2]</ref>

Meaning: The reason is that Krishna, hearing and glorifying (whose episodes) is meritorious and who is the well-wisher of the good, exists in the hearts of the listeners to His narratives and shakes off all evil

When Evils are all but destroyed by continuous services of the devotees of the Lord (or the study of the Bhagavata) firm devotion to the Lord of excellent fame, is generated.

Then, mind, not being affected by perturbations (qualities or aspects) like Passions (rajas) and Ignorance (tamas) and by desire, avarice and others, and being stabilised in goodness, is quietened (soothed).

Thus the knowledge of the reality of the Lord is produced in the person whose mind is pacified and who has freed himself from attachment through the devotion of the Supreme Lord.

As soon as the Supreme Lord is seen within oneself, his knot (of ego) in the heart/mind is cut asunder, all doubts are solved and his actions (good or bad, of the previous period which are not exhausted by enjoying the fruits) are annihilated.<ref name=":1">[https://estudantedavedanta.net/The-Bhagavata-purana-Part-1.pdf The Bhagavata Purana (Part I)], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref>

शुश्रूषोः श्रद्दधानस्य वासुदेवकथारुचिः । स्यान्महत्सेवया विप्राः पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणात् ॥ १६ ॥<ref name=":0" />

Meaning: Oh Brahmanas ! Love about the narratives of Vasudeva will be generated in (persons) desirous of hearing (or devoted to service) and full of faith, by performing holy pilgrimages and through the service of the great (holy) people.<ref name=":1" />

== कीर्तनम् ॥ Keertanam ==
Keertanam refers to singing of his name and glories.

भगवत आदिपुरुषस्य नारायणस्य नामोच्चारणमात्रेण निर्धूतकलिर्भवतीति ॥ १ ॥ 

हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे । हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे ॥

इति षोडशकं नाम्नां कलिकल्मषनाशनम् । नातः परतरोपायः सर्ववेदेषु दृश्यते ॥<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D Kali Santarana Upanishad]</ref>

Meaning: At the end of the Dvapara Yuga sage Narada approached Brahma and requested him to enlighten him on the path he should follow to alleviate the detrimental effects of Kali Yuga. Brahma said that by way of taking the name of the supreme Lord Narayana, all the tribulations of Kali Yuga will be washed away. These sixteen names to be chanted are as -

“Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare”<ref>Bijoy Ghosh (2018), [https://www.anantaajournal.com/archives/2018/vol4issue1/PartB/4-1-22-454.pdf A Critical study of the Vaisnavaite Upanisads of later origin], International Journal of Sanskrit Research.</ref>

हरिनामपरान् मर्त्यान् न कलिर्बाधते क्वचित् ॥१२६॥ हरेर्नामैव नामैव नामैव मम जीवनम् । कलौ नास्त्येव नास्त्येव नास्त्येव गतिरन्यथा ॥१२७॥<ref>Pandita Hrishikeshashastri (1975), [https://archive.org/details/BrihanNaradiyaPurana/page/n561/mode/1up Brhannaradiya Puranam], Varanasi: Chaukhamba Amarabharati Prakashan.</ref>

== स्मरणम् ॥ Smaranam ==
Smaranam means to remember him (his name).

नारायणपराः सर्वे न कुतश्चन बिभ्यति । स्वर्गापवर्गनरकेषु अपि तुल्यार्थदर्शिनः ॥ २८ ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 6, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AC/%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%AD Adhyaya 17]</ref>

Meaning: Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of Narayana, never fear any condition of life. For them svarga, apavarga (liberation) and naraka are all the same.<ref>A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1976), [http://prabhupadabooks.com/pdf/SB6.3.pdf Srimad Bhagavatam (Sixth Canto)], Bombay: The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.</ref>

== पादसेवनम् ॥ Padasevanam ==
Padasevanam refers to rendering service to him. 

ध्वजवज्राङ्‌कुशाम्भोजैः चिह्नितैरङ्‌घ्रिभिर्व्रजम् । शोभयन्तौ महात्मानौ सानुक्रोशस्मितेक्षणौ ॥ ३० ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%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%A9%E0%A5%AE Adhyaya 38]</ref>

Meaning: The great noble pair of brothers ornamented the ground in Vraja with the prints of their feet marked with the signs of a banner, a Vajra, a goad and a lotus and their smiling eyes expressed compassion.<ref name=":2">[https://cloudup.com/cv8FRMpN9T8 The Bhagavata Purana (Part IV)], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref>

समाश्रिता ये पदपल्लवप्लवं महत्पदं पुण्ययशो मुरारेः ।

भवाम्बुधिर्वत्सपदं परं पदं पदं पदं यद् विपदां न तेषाम् ॥ ५८ ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%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%AA Adhyaya 14]</ref>

Meaning: To those who resort to the boat in the form of the foliage like tender feet of Krishna, the slayer of demon Mura, of revered reputation - the final abode of the great sages, etc. - the ocean of samsara is as shallow as the footprint of a calf. They attain to the highest region (vaikuntha) from which they never revert to the Samsara, the region of miseries.<ref name=":2" />

... का विरमेत तत्पदात् चलापि यच्छ्रीर्न जहाति कर्हिचित् ॥ ३३ ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%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%A7 Adhyaya 11]</ref>

Meaning: Who can desist from his feet which the goddess of prosperity (Lakshmi), though always restless and moving by nature, never forsakes ?<ref name=":1" /><ref>A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1972), Srimad Bhagavatam ([https://cloudup.com/cMuqmy19XWo First Canto, Part Two]), Bombay: The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.</ref>

== अर्चनम् ॥ Archanam ==
Archanam means to worship 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 name=":5">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>

यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति । तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम् ॥७.२१॥<ref name=":3">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%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Chapter 7 (Jnana Vijnana Yoga)]</ref>

Meaning: Whatsoever form any devotee desires to worship with faith - that (same) faith of his I make firm and unflinching.<ref name=":7" />

== वन्दनम् ॥ Vandanam ==
Vandanam refers to paying obeisance to him. 

चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन । आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ ॥७.१६॥

तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त एकभक्तिर्विशिष्यते । प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः ॥७.१७॥<ref name=":3" />

Meaning: Four kinds of virtuous men worship Me, O Arjuna ! They are the distressed, the seeker of knowledge, the seeker of wealth and the wise, O lord of the Bharatas ! 

Of them, the wise, ever steadfast and devoted to the One, excels (is the best); for, I am exceedingly dear to the wise and he is dear to Me.<ref name=":7" />

नमस्ते वासुदेवाय सर्वभूतक्षयाय च । हृषीकेश नमस्तुभ्यं प्रपन्नं पाहि मां प्रभो ॥ ३० ॥<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%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%AA%E0%A5%A6 Adhyaya 40]</ref>

Meaning: Salutations to Lord Vasudeva, the asylum of all beings. Oh Lord of sense-organs ! I bow down to yhou. Oh Lord ! Be pleased to protect me who have approached your feet.<ref name=":2" />

नमस्ये पुरुषं त्वाऽऽद्यं ईश्वरं प्रकृतेः परम् । अलक्ष्यं सर्वभूतानां अन्तर्बहिरवस्थितम् ॥ १८ ॥<ref name=":4">Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AE Adhyaya 8]</ref>

Meaning: I bow down to you the First (the cause of world) Man, the Lord (of the universe), beyond Prakrti, imperceptible yet pervading all beings from within and without.<ref name=":1" />

विपदः सन्तु ताः शश्वत् तत्र तत्र जगद्‍गुरो । भवतो दर्शनं यत्स्याद् अपुनर्भवदर्शनम् ॥ २५ ॥<ref name=":4" />

Meaning: Oh Master of the Universe ! May there always be calamity at every step (if in every such calamity we are blest with) your sight which relieves people from the cycle of re-births.<ref name=":1" />

== दास्यम् ॥ Dasyam ==
Dasyam refers to the intent of dedicating all of one's actions to him.

== सख्यम् ॥ Sakhyam ==
Sakhyam refers to the ability of one to confide in him as a friend.

सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति ।

अजानता महिमानं तवेदं मया प्रमादात्प्रणयेन वापि ॥११.४१॥<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%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Chapter 11 (Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga)]</ref>

Meaning: Whatever I have presumptuously uttered from love or carelessness, addressing Thee as O Krishna! O Yadava! O Friend! regarding Thee merely as a friend, unknowing of this, Thy greatness.<ref name=":7" />

== आत्मनिवेदनम् ॥ Atmanivedanam ==
Atmanivedanam refers to offering oneself and one's belongings completely to his service and care. 

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते । तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥९.२२॥<ref name=":5" />

Meaning: To those men who worship Me alone, thinking of no other, of those ever united, I secure what is not already possessed and preserve what they already possess.<ref name=":7" /><ref>https://divyapracharam.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/navavidha-bhakti-the-9-forms-of-devotion-to-attain-the-supreme-lord/</ref>

== References ==
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