NINE FORMS OF BHAKTHI

SUBHASHITHAM : 080
NINE FORMS OF BHAKTHI

श्रवणं कीर्तनं विष्णोः स्मरणं पादसेवनम् ।

अर्चनं वन्दन दास्यं संख्यमात्मनिवेदनम् ॥ SB 7.5.23)

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ    smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam I

arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ   sakhyam ātma-nivedanam  II    

Srimad Bhagavatham elaborates nine forms of bhakti which, if cultivated and practiced regularly will no doubt lead us closer to the lord: 

The nine forms of devotion are:

1.Shravanam – Hearing the names and glories of the Lord  

2.Keertanam – Chanting His glories

3.Smaranam – Remembering the Lord   

4.Paada sevanam – Serving the Lord’s feet

5.Archanam – Worshiping the Lord  

6.Vandanam – Offering obeisance unto the Lord

7.Daasyam – Serving the Lord as His servant   

8.Sakhyam – Developing friendship with the Lord

9.Aatma Nivedanam – Total surrender of oneself to the Lord 

 There is an excellent sloka describing the nine forms of bhakthi ,identifying each one with a character in Ramayana:

धन्या रामकथा श्रुतौतु  हनुमान् वल्मीक भूः कीर्तने ,   

संस्मरणेसीता ततैव भरतः श्री पादुका सेवने ,

अर्चायां सबरी  प्रणाम करणे लङ्काधिपो लक्ष्मणः 

 दास्ये सख्यकृते अर्कजः तनुकृत त्राणे जटायुः नवः II

1.Sravanam- Hanuman  2. Keertanaa- Valmiki  3. Smarana – Sita devi  4. Pada sevanam-Bharatha 5.Archana- Sabari  6. Vandanam –Vibhishana  7. Daasyam- Lakshmana 8. Sakhyam- Sugreeva 9. Atma nivedanam- Jatayu

उद्घाटित नवद्वारे पञ्जरे विहगोSनीलः I

यत् तिष्टति तदाश्चर्यं प्रयाणे विरस्मयः कुतः II

That vital breath of a bird remains in cage ( of the body ) with nine exits open is matter for wonder; where is the surprise if it makes its exit ?

नवद्वारमिदं वेश्म त्रिस्थूणं पञ्चसाक्षिकम् I

क्षेत्राधिष्टितं विद्वान् यो वेद स परः कविः II  Vidura niti

This house has nine doors, three pillars, five attendants and is presided by the soul. The learned man who knows this is a great sage of philosophical wisdom. We have similar sentiments expressed in srimad bhagavad gita :

सर्वकर्माणि मनसा संन्यस्यास्ते सुखं वशी |

नवद्वारे पुरे देही नैव कुर्वन्न कारयन् || 13||

sarva-karmāṇi manasā sannyasyāste sukhaṁ vaśhī

nava-dvāre pure dehī naiva kurvan na kārayan

BG 5.13: Having mindfully renounced all actions, the conqueror remains established in bliss. The embodied one, in the city with nine gates, neither acts nor causes to act. 

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH