From a satsang with Pt. Umadutt Maharaj, Spiritual Leader of SWAHA Bhakti Jyot and SWAHA Sanatan Brahm
Shree Raam removes the negativities of devotees, their fears of the world, and reduces the suffering of worldly existence. There have been many devotees over the centuries who have sought the protective shelter of the Lord, practised the principle of self-surrender and received the darshan (divine vision) of the Lord, such as Mirabai, Vibheeshan, Sevari, Sutikshan Muni, Prahlad and many others. What was their attitude and philosophy that led to their experience of the Lord? In the Ramayan, Shree Raam speaks to Sevari Maa on the significance of navadha bhakti, the nine forms of devotion that are essential to every devotee. The path of bhakti is the spiritual practice of cultivating an attitude of loving devotion to a personal form of God.
Sevari Maataa was sent to the forest by Matangi Guru, where she would devote herself to the Lord by constantly reciting His name so that she could be blessed with His darshan. She made preparations to welcome the Lord on a daily basis, always expecting that He would arrive. Her belief in the Lord was firm and she practised the principles of constancy (dhriti) and self-surrender (sharanaagati). She persisted in her devotion until, one day, her Lord appeared in the form of Shree Raam. Tears came to her eyes when she saw the Lord and she welcomed Him to her humble hut and they began to converse. She said to Him that she was a woman, without education, of low caste, and without any rank in society. The Lord replied that He does not look at one’s possessions or status, but at the bhakti, the love and devotion in one’s heart for Him. He then explained the nine qualities that one should cultivate to reach the Lord. A devotee who uncovers any one of these nine virtues that already exist in the Self, like fire under ashes, will attain Him. However, it is necessary to clear away the impurities and negativities so that the light may shine from within.
The first form of devotion is satsang: association with holy people, in holy places, involved in the right activities of spiritual responsibilities and duties. Sat means ‘truth’ and sang means ‘association’. It is said that one moment of truth can positively transform an individual. In the Ramayan, Hanumanji went to Lanka in order to search for Sita Maataa. Lankini tried to stop Him from entering and He hit her nose. She said that one moment of satsang with Him transformed her life.
The second virtue is listening to the glories and praises of the Lord with love in our hearts. The true devotee is never satiated by listening to the Lord’s kathas. The ear becomes a depthless pond that no amount of knowledge or katha can fill.
The third virtue is humble service to the feet of the spiritual preceptor. The Guru is one who removes the darkness of ignorance. He is the guide who places us on the spiritual path. He is one who has advanced on the path of spirituality. He teaches us that divinity is the only reality of life and that spirituality is the answer to life’s challenges and difficulties. The satguru, or true guru, is one who in mind, word or act is genuinely concerned with his devotee’s spiritual development. Sevari Maa listened to the advice of her Guru and developed that attitude of bhakti. Similarly, Shree Raam Himself, when he was about to break the bow at Sita’s swayamvar, bowed to Sage Vishwamitra and made mental prostrations to his Guru in Ayodhya, Sage Vasistha.
The fourth virtue: with a guileless purpose, without negativity, sense of ego or false pride, one should glorify and sing the praises of the Lord’s name.
Fifth, chanting His name with steadfast faith is the next step, as is also revealed in the Vedas.
The sixth is to practise self-control, good character, detachment from multiple worldly activities and to always perform one’s duties as a good religious person.
The seventh step is to perceive the world as God Himself and to revere the saints.
The eighth is a state that one arrives at, having followed the previous seven steps, where there is no desire left. One has achieved the gift of perfect peace and contentment with whatever one possesses. In this state, one does not see fault in others, even in a dream.
In the ninth step, the devotee has cultivated full faith in the Lord and attains a childlike simplicity with no hypocrisy or deceit. The devotee develops strong faith in the Lord and does not suffer from the ups and downs of life’s circumstances. One develops the state of equanimity, that is, looking with an equal eye on all experiences, whether good or bad.
Shree Raam stated that even if a devotee follows one of these steps of devotion, he or she would be very dear to the Lord. As devotees, we must inculcate these attitudes within us and, one day, we too shall gain the darshan of the Divine.
