Similarly, immense faith associated with dedication is called Devotion. [ Bhakti ]
Sraddha (dedication) is the soul of Bhakti.
Sraddha and Bhakti go as hand in gloves. When a spiritual aspirent directs his mind and intellect, totally towards the Almighty, and works, renouncing the fruits of all actions to That
Almighty only, he becomes selfless. This is the first step to climb the ladle of the path of
Devotion. In this Kali Yuga, Bhakti yoga is the easiest tool used, to realise God. This is a simplest tool, which anybody can adopt to enter the spiritual fields speedily. Bhakti towards any field of Knowledge, takes the Bhakta to the acme.
MAYYEVA manamaghasya mayibuddhim NIVESAYA
NIVASISHYATHI MAYYEVA, atha oordhvanasamsayaha......Bhakti yoga, 7th sloka
Remembering Almighty regularly, by any mode, with a contented pure heart,will definitely, brings one into the contact of Almighty. There are many types of practices, to contemplate on the all pervading Devine. Meditation, chanting, praying, worshipping, doing rituals, doing charitable services, etc etc etc ,different modes to express one's Bhakti. All these practices, change an egoistic person to a spiritual person. Actually, spiritual nature helps one to lead a peaceful life, but not a dull life. There is a misconception about spirituality that it may down one's spirits,; this is absolutely wrong. Instead, it enhances one's energies and boosts the spirits. When a person grows spiritually, starts dealing his life with a great composure. Composure comes by calming the mind. Calming the mind comes by orienting the intellect towards the Supreme mind. When one has an unswerving devotion to that which he believes as the Supreme Devine, he gets a link with That. Yes. Now, Devine Energy starts flowing from Cosmos. This is what "Nivashishyasi MAYYEVA " means.
At this stage yogi enters the arena of Cosmic canvas. Connection with Devine establishes.
"The very sence of Yoga is connecting the simple self to that universal Self".
There were many bhaktas who realised and reached the Devine, by following this Bhakti marga. { path of Devition }. There is no restriction for anybody to follow this Bhakti marga.,
Neither age, nor status comes in way, to stop anyone inorder to connect to God. Our Puranas say, even animals too worshipped the Lord and attained moksha. In Siva Puranam, an anecdote explaines how an Elephant, a snake and a spider, worshipped Lord Siva. These two animals and the insect together used to bring flowers, leaves and water to offer the lingakara Siva. Lord Siva, pleased by the overwhelmed devotion of those three creatures, blessed them with Moksha, which means " freedom fromthe cycle of births". This anecdote
is storied as "Kalahasthi mahatmyam" , and inspired many spiritual people to take up Bhakti marga as a tool to connect to God.
An elephant named Gajendra, who was an ordent Bhakta of Lord Vishnu, was saved from the clutches of a crocodile and blessed with Moksha. This is an anecdote in Bhagavatam., titled Gajendra Moksham. The supreme being God is "Marga ha, Neyaha, Nayaha ". God, itself shows the way to reach That ultimate goal, if one has true Devotion. God will take care of ur welfare,; you just be a true devotee. The power of Bhakti is unexplainable. God, Himself
surrenders to the Devotee, when the levels of devotion stand par equal to the power of That
Ultimate Power.
When even animals attain beatitude by Bhakti marga, can't a human attain???Actually, this
human birth is very rare and prescious, and it is meant to attain Mukti [ moksha]. Though
we all know the true purpose of our life, we ignore it, and delay it to old age. Very comfortably, postpone the workout of this regime of Bhakti yoga, finally forget the purpose
totally. That's why Lord Sri Krishna warns Arjuna by saying,
Yasmatu sarveshu kaleshu mamanusmara yuddhacha
Mayyarpitha Mano buddhiryo Mamevyshyastu NA SAMSAYAHA ....
"Fight with ur mind, fix ur mind and intellect on me, you will definitely live in me."
Lord Krishna, the manifestation of the Paramatma., the manifestation of all pervading Devine, advising us this path of Bhakti, as the simplest best tool to workout and Reach him.
Though,many spiritual tools like, Jap,thap, dhyana, yoga, samadhi, upasana guide one to achieve the same purpose, above all stands Bhakti marga as the best.
Bhakti is Anurakthi towards Devine. ( supreme power)
Bhakti is Asakthi towards rakthi.( sensual enjoyments )
Bhakti is Sakthi for Mukthi.
Gitauvacha
