Bhakti is love for God. Man shows love
for God for different reasons. There are many types of bhakti. There is Materialistic Love
for God – Sakamya Bhakti and the Spiritual Love for God –Nishkamya Bhakti.
We worship God for all the gifts that
He showers on us. When we pray for a job or promotion it is Sakamya Bhakti. We
seek God for healing of diseases, good health, a loving wife, sons and
daughters to carry on the lineage, house and properties, business and big
bucks, fast cars, faster mobiles and fastest internet and many such desires. We chase God with an endless
shop -list of wishes throughout the year. We do mantra japa, many
rounds of prayers, visit Gurus, temples, churches and holy places, give donations
and try to please God so that He grants us our everlasting demands. Most of us
fall in the category of Sakamya bhakti. There is nothing wrong in asking God to
grant our desires and doing sincere prayers and worship in order to get our
wishes fulfilled. It is always better to ask God and work hard and receive the
fruits of our worship rather than fall at the feet of men!
Nishkamya bhakti is to worship God for
the sake of love of God. There are no wishes or desires involved here. There is
no Christmas wish list. The bhakta loves God for sake of Love. A very small
band of lovers of God fall in this category. When the bhakta finally
understands that the gifts from God may fulfil ones desires but never give the
everlasting peace or love he yearns for, he lets go off the wish- list and
gifts he seeks and loves God for sake of God.
When we have this continuous communion of love with God internally, a
huge transformation takes place in our lives.
We are filled with the light and love of God. His knowledge, compassion,
detachment, courage, bliss, contentment fill us. We receive many powers called
Siddhis. We experience the Supreme Power within ourselves and see it in all of
creation.
Another classification of bhakti is
Apara Bhakti and Para Bhakti. Apara Bhakti is for beginners. It is going to the
places of worship, light candles or incense sticks, offering of flowers and
prayers, offering of food or naivaidyam , looking at the holy image of God
or Holy Book or Holy Direction with
reverence. The Bhakta offers regular worship or rituals to his favourite form
of God and is convinced he can please the Supreme through that form only. He
becomes rigid in his approach. He will not accept the other forms of God or
other forms of worship. He believes he is superior to all others in his way of
worship. His heart is not expanded. He is narrow in thinking. He develops a
super ego due to the spiritual techniques he practices. We can recognise such
people all around us.
Worshipping of God in any form and any
manner is rewarding. It has to yield rewards sooner or later. After a long
period of Apara bhakti, the bhakta develops Para Bhakti. This is the highest
form of Bhakti where the bhakta sees God as All Powerful and All pervading and
Present everywhere in the Universe. He knows and experiences the truth that the
Power of God has manifested everywhere in all forms in the Universe. He sees
the Light of God everywhere. Every breath he takes, each movement he makes,
each time he sips water or eats food – all remind him of the Grace of God. His
mind is always engaged in the internal worship of God through every action and
moment of life. Every leaf which flutters in the breeze and every flower which
blossoms, the feel of sunlight on his face and the breeze on his body makes his
soul go on its knees and offer thanksgiving and love to God.
Bhakti is also divided into Gauna
Bhakti and Mukhya Bhakti. Gauna Bhakti is materialistic and of lower type.
Mukhya Bhakti is the higher level of Bhakti.
All of us start at the lower levels and step by step we move towards the higher levels of bhakti. Steady practices and discipline is essential if we need to reach our goal of Highest Love for God. Our ego and our everlasting desires do not permit us to love God for sake of God. We have a trader relationship with God where we present a list of items desired and do prayers or pooja for to obtain it. And God help God if even one item is not received as per the specified standards! Our Ego will not permit us to accept whatever is given by God is for our own good. We are sure we know what is best for us and demand it of God. Anger, lust, greed, pride, vengefulness, attachment crowd into our mind and hearts and does not permit the presence of God to manifest. We need to stay dedicated to the Siddha Mantra of SitaRam and meditation and overcome the vagaries of mind. Only when these lowly qualities leave us we remain peaceful and healthy. Then we can focus on our worship and learn to love God for sake of God
