Devotee of the Lord. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

Whoever with Viveka and Vairagya(m), and Vinaya or Vijnana with discrimination and renunciation, with humility and wisdom are aware of the knowledge of Reality, whoever are always immersed in the contemplation of my leela, whoever dwells on my name at the time and under all conditions, and who sheds tears of love whenever the Lord’s name is heard from any lip, they are my genuine Bhaktas. (Prema Vahini, p. 52)

The Lord comes as Avatar when He is anxiously awaited by saints and sages. Sadhu (the pious) prayed---and I have come. My tasks are three, or rather two, since Dharma rakshana (protection of virtue) and Vedarakshana (protection of Vedic culture) are both practically the same. The two are, therefore: Vedarakshana and Bhaktarakshana---fostering of the Vedas and fostering of Bhaktas (devotees). Now, what is Bhakti (devotion)? Who are Bhaktas?

Who are Bhaktas? It is faith, steadiness, virtue, fearlessness, surrender, absence of egoism. Puja done however elaborately and pompously, is sheer waste of time and energy. Why pluck flowers and hasten their death? Some of you go round this Nilayam and satisfy yourselves that you have done so many pradakshinas (circumambulations), but, they can be called so, only when your mind circles this place along with your feet. (SSS Vol.4, p. 6)

Rama‘s commentary on Bhaktas and His Dasas:

During the Treta Yuga, when Narada asked Shri Ramachandra about the nature and characteristics of His Dasas and of the Sadhaka or spiritual aspirants, He answered as below: ‘Listen Oh Narada, men who are My Dasas are full of Love; they always stand by Dharma or righteousness. They speak the Truth. Their hearts melt with mercy. They are devoid of wrong. They avoid sin. Their nature is well-founded. They will renounce everything gladly, They eat in moderation. They are engaged in doing good to others. They have no selfishness. They are worried by no doubts. They will not lend their ears to flattery. They are eager to listen to the praise of the good nature of others. They have beautiful, strong and holy character. Sadhakas are those who endeavour to acquire such qualities and possess such a character.

Now, I shall tell you about those who are Priya to Me. Anyone who is engaged in Japa, Tapas and Vrata, who has Samyama or Self-cont­rol, Niyama or Discipline, anyone who has Faith, Patience, Comradeship, Kindness, and Joy as well as unalloyed Prema towards Me, is Priya to Me.

Now, about My real Bhaktas. Whoever, with Viveka and Vairagya, and Vinaya and Vijnana, with discrimination and renunciation, with humility and wisdom, are aware of the knowledge of Reality, whoever are always immersed in the contemplation of my leela, whoever dwells on My name at all times and under all conditions, and who sheds tears of love whenever the Lord’s name is heard from any lip, they are My genuine Bhaktas.

Thus answered Shri Rama to Narada. So, the Lord will protect in all ways and at all times those who worship Him in complete and uncontaminated Bhakti, just as a mother protects her infants, a cow saves her calf from danger, and the eyelids guard the eye, effortlessly and automatically. When the infant grows up into an adult, the mother will not pay so much attention to its safety. So too, the Lord does not pay much attention to the Jnani. The Saguna Bhakta is like an infant of the Lord. So, it has no strength except the strength of the Lord. For the Jnani, his own strength is enough. Therefore, until one can rely on one’s own strength, one must be an infant in the Lord’s Hands, as a Saguna Bhakta, isn’t it? No one can become a Nirguna Bhakta, without having being a Saguna Bhakta. So, Bhaktas should grow up like infants in the lap of the mother and thereafter, become Jnanis who can rely on their ‘own’ strength and be free. Still, both have the same source of strength, the Mother. Those indeed are really fortunate who grasp this secret of the path of Devotion, who develop one-pointed Bhakti and straighten the traits of their character who trans­form themselves into infants in the lap of the Lord and who gets everything done by him as He wishes.

Therefore, those who yearn to be Dasas, Bhaktas Priyas and Ananya bhaktas should take up the corresponding path and name and act and live accordingly: the Bhakta should develop the above said characteristics of devotion; the Priya should follow the Prema of the Lord; the Ananya bhakta has to surrender completely to the Lord. Mere reading and rolling on the tongue are of no avail. Ananda is the result of Action only. Ananda is not dependent on castes or race or sex. Even in those days, when Shri Rama came to Shabari, she asked him in the following manner, while Shri Rama was gladly partaking the feast of roots arid fruits, selected and reserved by Shabari for him after herself tasting every individual item. ‘Lord! I am but a woman, in addi­tion, I am of feeble intellect. Above all, I am low-born. How can I praise You? I do not know what to do or how!’ Then, Shri Rama smiled and said, ‘Shabari! My mission is only the kinship of Bhakti. I have no kinship of race or caste. Of what use is it to have status, wealth and character, with­out Bhakti? Like the cloud that does not bear rain, which wanders about in the sky, these people without devotion are at the mercy of the winds, however much of status in caste, wealth, power, and fame they may possess. Bhakta; reach me through nine paths; anyone of them, takes them to Me’. Then, Shabari prayed to Sri Rama to tell her about the nine paths, and Sri Rama responded:

Sravanam (Listening to stories of God),

Kirtanam (Singing Name of the Lord),

Vishnohsmaranam (Remembering God),

Padasevanam (Serving the Feet of the Lord),

Vandanam (Reverence toward nature and all life),

Archanam (Ritual Worship),

Dasyam (Path of dedication and surrender),

Sneham (Befriending),

Atmanivedanam (Path of surrender).

If the devotee sincerely practises any one of these paths, he can attain Me. I am bound by these nine forms of Bhakti. That is why you have been able to so easily obtain this opportunity of seeing, touching and speaking with Me, an opportunity which even Yogis find too difficult to get. You have realised Life’s purpose today. See! Today’s Words are only the Words of Yesterday! (Prema Vahini, pp. 51-54)

The two different types of Bhaktas are: the Saguna Bhakta and the Nirguna Bhakta, the votary of the Formful one and the votary of the Formless. The Sadhana of the Formless Godhead alone gives illumination. (GV, p. 202)