Path of love and devotion. A conjunction (in astrological terms) of devotion. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

Bhakti yoga is the direct path to God. It is the easy way. All others are useless. There are six types of Bhakti. Madhura(m) means sweet. This is the highest type. In this the devotee sees everything as God. (CWBSSB, p. 134)

In teaching this Yoga (Bhakti Yoga) to Arjuna, Krishna gave it in three steps:

mat-karma-krn mat-paramo

mad-bhaktah sanga-varjitah

nirvairah sarva-bhutesu

yah sa mam eti pandava

(Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 11 verse 55)

The first and foremost is:

Work for Me! (Mat-karma-krn).

You must understand that whatever work you may perform in this physical world, it is already associated with the Lord, for He is the supreme master of this world. Recognising this truth, regard every activity you undertake as being done directly for the Lord.

The second step is:

For My sake alone! (Mat-paramo).

In other words, whatever you are doing, you are not doing it for your own good. Up to this point you have been thinking only about yourself. But who are you? Krishna said, ‘It is I who am shining in you’. The word ‘I’ does not belong to the body. It emanates from the higher Self, from the Atma itself. This ‘I’ should not be associated with the body or the mind or the intuitive faculty or any other aspect of the individual, for it transcends all these limitations and relates to the unlimited Atma alone. When you associate your limited self with this ‘I’ it is but a reflection of the one Atma. Whatever you have been doing has been for the satisfaction of the Atma alone. Not realising this sacred truth, you have been caught up and swept by delusion. Krishna told Arjuna, ‘Whatever you do, do it for My satisfaction, for My sake. Perform everything on My behalf. Act as My agent: Realise that everything you do is for My sake alone’. This ‘My’ or ‘I’ refers to the Atma.

The third step is:

Be devoted to Me (Mat-bhaktaha).

You have to understand the inner secret of this directive. Devotion is the expression of love. ‘The emotion which is called love emanates from the Atma. Love is synonymous with Atma. Love has nothing at all to do with worldly feelings and secular things. Love, which is just another word for devotion; is the very name of the Atma. This principle of love emanating from the core of the heart must saturate every action, word and thought. This will happen when you think that everything you do, say or think is for the satisfaction of the Lord alone. (DBG, p. 7)

Bhakti Yoga itself means being always in union with God. Bhakti Yoga teaches the need to practice steadiness of the mind under all circumstances. It speaks of being resolute, making a firm commitment to practice the spiritual teachings in your daily life; and it also teaches Santrupti, being always contented. (DBG, p. 13)

The two paths of Bhakthi Yoga

Man has to engage himself in activity, for his upkeep, as well as for the sake of happiness. But he has to choose his activity intelligently and without over-involvement in its consequences. Use the activity to earn what is really good. Seek something supreme, something of the highest value, something that is beyond diminution and decline – that is true bhakti (devotion). Bhakti is the love and longing directed to the attainment of such a goal. The means adopted for this are Karma (activity). They are known as Karma Yoga; for Karma becomes Karma Yoga, when activity is disciplined, dedicated and demarcated with skill. True love directed towards God can reveal His reality and grant the highest Jnana (Supreme Wisdom).

A tree has a trunk and the trunk branches far and wide, into boughs, with leaves and flowers. Karma Yoga is the trunk for the tree of life; the branches, leaves and. the fragrant flowers symbolise the Bhakti Yoga; and the ripe fruit and the sweetness, therein, is the Jnana Yoga, the Wisdom. If the tree yields no fruit and if the fruit is not sweet, then, it could as well not grow at all.

Bhakti can flow along two paths - Saguna Bhakti and Nirguna Bhakti. When you feel that God is far away, far higher, far beyond you and when you plead for mercy, petition for Grace, and pray for boons, it is Saguna---you adore Him as Lord and Master, as Guardian and Saviour; you go through the ceremonials of praise, propitiation and prostration, submission and service. But when you practise the discipline of seeing Him in all beings, as the core of every cell or atom, alive and aware, and experience Unity with all Creation (for Creation is but His body and you are also in it and of it) then, it is Nirguna. The Nirguna is the contemplation on the sugar; the Saguna is the adoration of some sugar doll, which has caught your fancy and attracted your love and loyalty. (SSS Vol.12)