Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti yoga is a term within Hinduism which denotes the spiritual practice of fostering loving devotion to God, called bhakti. Traditionally there are nine forms of bhakti-yoga. Bhakti yoga is generally considered the easiest of the four general paths to liberation, or moksha (the others being Karma, Raja and Jnana Yoga), and especially so within the current age of Kali yuga (according to the Hindu cycle of time). In scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana, bhakti is described as a perfectional stage in itself which surpasses even moksha as a level of spiritual realisation. Hindu movements in which bhakti yoga is the main practice are called bhakti movements.

The 'Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu' (written by Rupa Gosvami) gives the following as the nine primary activities of bhakti, with the instruction that by following all, or just one, of these activities perfectly the aspiring devotee can achieve pure love of God:

1. Hearing about the Lord - singing & chanting God's names (japa), hearing stories from scripture.

2. Glorifying the Lord - describing God's all-attractive features.

3. Remembering the Lord - internal meditation on the Lord's form, activities, names or personality.

4. Serving the lotus feet of the Lord - providing a form of physical service.

5. Worshiping the Lord - deity worship (puja) is a popular form of this within India.

6. Offering prayers to the Lord - any form of prayer offered to please God.

7. Serving the Lord - offering a service for Lord's pleasure, such as preaching activity.

8. Building a friendship with the Lord - having an internal, loving relationship with God.

9. Surrendering everything unto the Lord - surrendering one's thoughts, actions and deeds to God.

These nine principles of devotional service are described as helping the devotee remain constantly in touch with God. The processes of japa and internal meditation on the aspirant devotees's chosen deity form (ishta deva) are especially popular in most bhakti schools. Bhakti is a yoga path, in that its aim is a form of divine, loving union with the Supreme Lord. The exact form of the Lord, or type of union varies between the different schools, but the essence of each process is very similar.