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→भक्तिक्रमः ॥ Stages in Bhakti: Adding content with reference
The commentator Svapneshvara says, this prayer of [[Prahlada (प्रह्लादः)|Prahlada]] that his devotion may remain unshaken shows the necessity of counteracting the attempts to topple it. And therefore, this inquiry into devotion, though ancillary to devotion itself which bears the fruit (in the form of the Highest Good), is also fruitful.<ref name=":0">Swami Harshananda (1984), [https://estudantedavedanta.net/Sandilya_Bhakti_Sutras_Harshananda.pdf Sandilya Bhakti Sutras with Svapnesvara Bhasya], Mysore: University of Mysore.</ref>
The commentator Svapneshvara says, this prayer of [[Prahlada (प्रह्लादः)|Prahlada]] that his devotion may remain unshaken shows the necessity of counteracting the attempts to topple it. And therefore, this inquiry into devotion, though ancillary to devotion itself which bears the fruit (in the form of the Highest Good), is also fruitful.<ref name=":0">Swami Harshananda (1984), [https://estudantedavedanta.net/Sandilya_Bhakti_Sutras_Harshananda.pdf Sandilya Bhakti Sutras with Svapnesvara Bhasya], Mysore: University of Mysore.</ref>
== भक्तिलक्षणम् ॥ What is Bhakti ? ==
== भक्तिलक्षणम् ॥ What is Bhakti ? ==
The Gopis surrendered all their actions at the lotus feet of Shri Krishna. They experienced acute agony even if they missed His presence for a second. With their minds absorbed in Krishna, they rushed forth when they heard His sweet, melodious flute, leaving their houses and house chores half-way, without taking notice of each other. And when Krishna disappeared, they went around asking the trees, creepers, the earth and the deer if they had seen Him. Such is the heights of Vyakulata exhibited by the devotees at the slightest chance of separation from the (thoughts of) supreme. However, this mark of devotion does not in any way contradict the sign of a constant feeling of Bliss in the Self. For, an advanced bhakta, who always rests in the Supreme, has no Viraha and is thus, always in divine bliss.<ref name=":9" />
The Gopis surrendered all their actions at the lotus feet of Shri Krishna. They experienced acute agony even if they missed His presence for a second. With their minds absorbed in Krishna, they rushed forth when they heard His sweet, melodious flute, leaving their houses and house chores half-way, without taking notice of each other. And when Krishna disappeared, they went around asking the trees, creepers, the earth and the deer if they had seen Him. Such is the heights of Vyakulata exhibited by the devotees at the slightest chance of separation from the (thoughts of) supreme. However, this mark of devotion does not in any way contradict the sign of a constant feeling of Bliss in the Self. For, an advanced bhakta, who always rests in the Supreme, has no Viraha and is thus, always in divine bliss.<ref name=":9" />
Thus, the terms bhakti, worship, anuraga, prema, priti, etc. are seen as synonymous to each other.<ref name=":9" />
=== What is not Bhakti ? ===
=== What is not Bhakti ? ===
# आत्मनिवेदनम् । ''ātmanivedanam'' refers to offering oneself and one's belongings completely to his service and care.
# 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>
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>
=== एकादशधा आसक्तिः ॥ Ekadashadha Asakti ===
The Narada Bhakti sutra says that devotion, though one in kind, manifests as attachment of eleven fold forms as follows:
# गुणमाहात्म्यासक्तिः ॥ ''guṇamāhātmyāsaktiḥ -'' Attachment to the attributes and greatness of the Supreme.
# रूपासक्तिः ॥ ''rūpāsaktiḥ -'' Attachment to the beauty of His form
# पूजासक्तिः ॥ ''pūjāsaktiḥ -'' Attachment to His worship
# स्मरणासक्तिः ॥ ''smaraṇāsaktiḥ -'' Attachment to His remembrance
# दास्यासक्तिः ॥ ''dāsyāsaktiḥ -'' Attachment to His service
# सख्यासक्तिः ॥ ''sakhyāsaktiḥ -'' Attachment to His friendship
# कान्तासक्तिः ॥ ''kāntāsaktiḥ -'' Attachment to Him as a beloved
# वात्सल्यासक्तिः ॥ ''vātsalyāsaktiḥ -'' Attachment to parental affection towards Him
# आत्मनिवेदनासक्तिः ॥ ''ātmanivedanāsaktiḥ -'' Attachment to Self-Surrender to Him
# तन्मयतासक्तिः ॥ ''tanmayatāsaktiḥ -'' Attachment to Self-absorption
# परमविरहासक्तिः ॥ ''paramavirahāsaktiḥ -'' Attachment to permanent Self-obliteration
Here, the different bhavas of the devotees towards the Supreme are included. It is said that among the bhavas, the bhakta begins with dasya bhava, attitude of a servant like Hanuman. From there on, climbing up in the ladder of bhakti, he takes up a friendly attitude towards the Supreme (Sakhya bhava) like Arjuna. As his fear vanishes and he claims equality with his object of worship, he slowly develops a bhava of parental affection (Vatsalya bhava) towards the Supreme. That is, he sees Shri Krishna as his son. At this stage, not only do all fears, but also all expectations vanish. The followers of [[Vallabhacharya (वल्लभाचार्यः)|Sri Vallabhacharya’s]] sampradaya entertain this bhava.
It is also said that Kantasakti or Madhurya rasa where the Supreme Being and the devotee become one like a lover and the beloved is the highest stage. However, there is fear of downful in kantasakti, if the devotee is not careful. This bhava is purely mental and hence, a high standard of purity is required in those who take to this bhava.<ref name=":9" />
== भक्तिफलम् ॥ Fruit of Bhakti ==
== भक्तिफलम् ॥ Fruit of Bhakti ==