sädhana-bhakti

devotional service in practice.

NOD ch.2
 Three catagories of devotional
service
• Sadhana bhakti- in practice
• Bhava bhakti- in ecstacy
Some might argue that there should be only two catagories nl., sadhana
bhakti and sadhya(goal)/prema bhakti. In Bhava Bhakti remains a trace of
offense committed to a vaisnava, therefore there is klesa-distress and
vighna-impediments. BRSBindhu pg22

• Prema bhakti- in pure love

One who is always fully immersed in activities related to Sri Krsna, whio is
completely unacqainted with impediments, vighna or material distress,
klesa, and who incessantly tastes the bliss of prema is called a siddha
bhakta BRS 2.1.280

This klesa is of 5 types; avidya-ignorance,asmita-false ego,raga-attachment,

dvesa-hatred,abhinivesa-perseverance in bodily enjoyment.
 We require natural attraction to
take up devotional service
• Generally it is a continuation from:
– previous life
• But even if there is no continuity:
– by taking up instruction pure devotees
• NOD page 19
 sädhana-bhakti
devotional service in practice
• Practice means employing our senses in some particular type
of work. Therefore devotional service in practice means
utilizing our different sensory organs in service to Kåñëa.
Some of the senses are meant for acquiring knowledge, and
some are meant for executing the conclusions of our thinking,
feeling and willing. So practice means employing both the
mind and the senses in practical devotional service. This
practice is not for developing something artificial. For
example, a child learns or practices to walk. This walking is
not unnatural. The walking capacity is there originally in the
child, and simply by a little practice he walks very nicely.
Similarly, devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the
natural instinct of every living entity. NOD Ch2, pg.20
 kåti-sädhyä bhavet sädhya-
bhävä sä sädhanäbhidhä
nitya-siddhasya bhävasya
präkaöyaà hådi sädhyatä
• kåti-sädhyä—which is to be executed by the senses; bhavet—should be; sädhya-bhävä—
by which love of Godhead is acquired; sä—that; sädhana-abhidhä—called sädhana-
bhakti, or devotional service in practice; nitya-siddhasya—which is eternally present;
bhävasya—of love of Godhead; präkaöyam—the awakening; hådi—in the heart;
sädhyatä—potentiality.

• “‘When transcendental devotional service, by which love for

Kåñëa is attained, is executed by the senses, it is called
sädhana-bhakti, or the regulative discharge of devotional
service. Such devotion eternally exists within the heart of
every living entity. The awakening of this eternal devotion is
the potentiality of devotional service in practice.’ BRS1.2.2
To develop our innate capacity for devo-
tional service through sädhana-bhakti
• Every living entity under the spell of material energy is held to be
in an abnormal condition of madness. In Çrémad-Bhägavatam it is
said, "Generally, the conditioned soul is mad, because he is always
engaged in activities which are the causes of bondage and
suffering." Spirit soul in his original condition is joyful, blissful,
eternal and full of knowledge. Only by his implication in material
activities has he become miserable, temporary and full of
ignorance. This is due to vikarma. Vikarma means "actions which
should not be done." Therefore, we must practice sädhana-bhakti—
which means to offer maìgala-ärati (Deity worship) in the morning,
to refrain from certain material activities, to offer obeisances to the
spiritual master and to follow many other rules and regulations
which will be discussed here one after another. These practices will
help one become cured of madness. As a man's mental disease is
cured by the directions of a psychiatrist, so this sädhana-bhakti
cures the conditioned soul of his madness under the spell of mäyä,
material illusion. NOD pg.20/21
Two Divisions of Sadhana-bhakti

Vaidhi Raganuga

According to Spontaneous
regulative
principles
 DEFINITION OF VAIDHI BHAKTI
yatra rägän aväptatvät
pravåttir upajäyate
çäsanenaiva çästrasya
sä vaidhé bhaktir ucyate
• When there is no attachment or no
spontaneous loving service to the Lord,
and one is engaged in the service of the
Lord simply out of obedience to the order
of the spiritual master or in pursuance of
the scriptures, such obligatory service is
called vaidhi-bhakti. BRS 1.2.6
 Chief Regulative Principle
smartavyaù satataà viñëur
vismartavyo na jätucit
sarve vidhi-niñedhäù syur • Vidhi
etayor eva kiìkaräù
“‘Kåñëa is the origin of – rules
Lord Viñëu. He should
always be remembered and
never forgotten at any time.
All the rules and
prohibitions mentioned in
• Nisedha
the çästras should be the
servants of these two – prohibitions
principles.’
 Nisedha-prohibitions
Such as;

• Avoidance of sin
• Abandonment of apathy toward the Lord
• Atonement of sins

are attendants of this chief regulative

principle BRSBindhu pg.120
 Varna & Asrama
Varnas Asramas

• Brahmanas <Head> • Sannyasis

• Ksatriyas <Arms> • Vanaprastha
• Vaisyas <Waist> • Grhasta
• Sudras <Legs> • Brahmacari