Devotion (Bhakti) - True Dedication

By Devotion here we mean loyalty or dedication towards God. We all seem to love God for one reason or the other. A student after taking an exam goes to a temple and prays for better results. A business man seeking a good and profitable deal shows his or her reverence by offering money at a temple and so on. But this is far from devotion as visits to a temple stop by most of these people if they encounter failure.

True Devotion is unconditional and is not limited to material gains or achievements. These days true devotion is very rare also.

The Hindi word Bhakti is translated in English as Devotion and one who practices bhakti viz. a devotee is called Bhakta and to follow devotion as a spiritual path is called Bhakti Marga.

In Hinduism there are names for different traditions of bhakti for example those who worship Vishnu and His avatars (divine incarnations) are called Vaishnavas. Those who worship Shiva and other related gods and goddesses are called Shaivas and so on.

The holy book Srimadbhagvadgita tells that every person depending upon his or her state of evolution has three gunas or qualities in varying proportions. These are Tamas, Rajas and Satva.Tamasguna corresponds to ignorance, Rajas to passion and Satvaguna corresponds to righteousness.

True devotion dawns upon a person when the Satvaguna dominates.

We have selected some helpful and practical tips which will increase Satvaguna and thereby devotion towards God.

Tip1: One easy and sure way of increasing devotion is to fill your heart with gratitude. Give thanks for every help or act of kindness by others. Thank God, by sitting in a calm and quite place, for all the opportunities and bounties showered on you.

Tip2: Recite the Gayetri Mantra by sitting in a quite place. It will fill your heart with bliss and increase your devotion.

Tip3: Burn a piece of camphor every night in your room. This helps in increasing SatvicGuna and also purifies the room.

Tip4: One easy way of increasing devotion is by forming a habit of offering everything to God first. This habit will emotionally bind you with the supreme source of everything. For example as you sit for meals, close your eyes and pray, ‘Oh my lord God please accept this food, I offer it to thee’.

Tip5: Listening to devotional songs (bhajans) helps in tuning your mind to God and filling your heart with devotion.

Tip6: Take part in Kirtans (practice of reciting, worshiping and singing in groups) and satsangas (company of truth through attending a discourse by some learned devotees). These are very effective in increasing devotion.

Tip7: Feed the poor and hungry persons. By serving the down- trodden you will get rid of false pride which is an obstacle in the path of devotion.

Tip8: Look at the picture of Sri Hanumaan for five minutes continuously and then close your eyes and meditate, let your mind go blank. With practice your consciousness will expand. Expansion of consciousness increases devotion.