Bhakti: Devotion

Bhakti is a real, genuine search after God, a search beginning, continuing and ending in love. One single moment of madness of extreme love to God brings us eternal freedom. Devotional service is a process of spiritual understanding. Wherever devotional service exists, the material contamination cannot coexist. The book “Bhakti - Devotion” discusses Bhakti using various approaches. These include:

a) Collection of “Sayings” from the Shastras. The ancient Hindu Shastras such as the Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Puranas, Bhagavad Gita, Shrimad Bhagavata, etc., contain invaluable ‘Sayings’ which are a source of enlightenment.

b) Sage Narada’s Bhakti-aphorisms. Sage Narada describes Bhakti as “intense love to God; when a man gets it, he loves all, hates none; he becomes satisfied for ever.”

c) A discussion of “Bhakti-Yoga - The Path of Devotion”, Chapter 12 of the Bhagavad Gita. This chapter takes us deeper into the concept of Bhakti.

d) “Bhaktas - Devotees” of the Lord. Their lives are a source of inspiration and instill in us a sense of  devotion.

e) Shri Adi Shankaracharya’s devotional song “Bhaja Govindam”. It is enchanting and elevates the mind to a higher plane.

f) Sanskrit Epithets of Lord Krishna and Arjuna used in the Bhagavad Gita. There is great depth in their meanings.