Yielding completely to God is called Atma nivedan. One’s faith should be so deep in God, that one submerges oneself fully in Him. In the Ramacharitamanas, it says “By the systematic practice of Navadha bhakti, one can reach a point of total self-surrender.”
Navadha Bhakti means nine-fold devotion. It is a concept of devotion that outlines the nine different ways a devotee can connect with and express their love for God. It is given in detail in the Srimad Bhagavatam and these nine forms are ways to follow a path to spiritual growth and liberation.
- Shravanam (Hearing): Listening to the scriptures.
- Kirtananam (Singing): Glorifying God through hymns.
- Smaranam (Remembering): Continuously remembering God’s name and presence.
- Pada-sevenam (Serving the feet): Serving God through service to his devotees and representatives.
- Archanam (Worship): Offering prayers and rituals to God.
- Vandanam (Salutation): Prostrating and offering prayers to God.
- Dasyam (Servitude): Serving God as a devoted servant.
- Sakhyam (Friendship): Cultivating a relationship of friendship with God.
- Atmanivedanam (Self-surrender): Complete surrender of one’s self to God.
Dear ones, start with sincerity and select a form of devotion, remembering that surrender is totally dependent on God’s grace.
Satsang and Bhakti
Before self-surrender can take place, the entire personality, has to be rearranged. Self-surrender is an inborn quality. For surrender one requires innocence, but one has lost this purity. The heart, mind and intellect have become tough and rigid. Satsang is necessary and it is a powerful tool. One must understand one’s relationship with God and practice Bhakti.
Kabir said,
God’s home was the house of love, and one had to carry one’s head in one’s hands in order to enter.
Surrender is totally dependent on God’s grace. Surrender is the experience of conceding one’s ego, which is standing in between one and one’s divinity. It is in between one and one’s own guru. It is in between yourself and your Self.
Extracted from Upasana, compiled from the teachings of Swami Sivananda Saraswati and Swami Satyananda Saraswati.
Aim Hrim Klim