Navavidha Bhakti in Shri Sai Satcharita - 1
Different ways of devotion have been described by various people. I (Hemadpant) will speak briefly of its nature and characteristics during the course of the narration according to my aptitude. (ll86ll – C. 1)
When the horse passed the nine balls of stool, the merchant eagerly went forward to collect them. Similarly the nine-fold devotion, when adopted, gives complete peace of mind. ll100ll 1) Listening 2) Singing the Lord's praises aloud 3) Ramembering Lord Vishnu 4) Serving at His Feet 5) Offering prayers 6) Bowing down before Him 7) Being humble 8) Developing affection and 9) Surrendering the atma - these are the nine ways of devotion. (ll95ll – C. 21)
This was the necklace of nine coins, which had been touched by Baba's hands – indicating the nine types of devotion. This was the way Baba reminded him of it. (ll213ll – C. 33)
Baba said, in reply : "Once a merchant came along and at that time a horse passed nine balls of stool in front of him. ll87ll The merchant was very efficient. He immediately took off his wrap, and spread it out, collected all the balls and tied a knot and was able to achieve concentration of mind." ll88ll The horse is God's grace. This is how the puzzle of the nine-fold devotion could be explained. Without devotion one cannot have a union with God and knowledge will not be acquired. (ll94ll – C. 21)
When you listen to the story of Baba leaving His mortal coil, you will realise the novel way of doing charity, as He had given nine rupees at that time (to Lakshmibai). (ll214ll - C. 33)
Taking out from the pocket once five and then four rupees, He placed them on her hands. This was the last act of Baba. ll119ll Was it indicative of the nine types of devotion, or was it because of the worship of Ambika at Navaratra had been completed and it was the Seemolanghan ? Was it the dakshina of Seemolanghan ? ll120ll Or was Baba giving a reminder of the nine good qualities required of a disciple as told by Sree Krishna to Uddhava of the Shrimad Bhagvat ? (ll121ll – C. 42)
Yet, if one has an acute desire for liberation, then perform only virtuous deeds always. Practise the nine forms of devotion, including listening to His stories etc. and one will be purified from within. (ll57ll - C. 52)
First Step – Sravan Bhakti
- There is no greater devotion than listening to His stories. An attachment to the feet of the Guru is easily created by listening. A pure and clean mind is developed by it from which spirituality arises. (ll21ll – C. 39)
- By listening to His life story, sins will be destroyed. By listening to His life story, destiny will be fought. By listening to His life story, supreme happiness will be achieved effortlessly by the listeners. ll108ll By listening, the heart will become pure; by listening the cycle of birth and death will be avoided; by listening the listeners will achieve Brahman, which can be achieved by performing actions and offering the fruits to Brahman. (ll109ll - C. 17)
- You do not need ceremonies to complete the rituals, you do not need fasting to torture the body; you do not need to visit the tirthas. It is sufficient to listen to the story. ll182ll Genuine love and awareness of the core of devotion will easily lead to the attainment of the highest good; and incorrect knowledge and the knowledge of the two-fold nature will be destroyed. ll183ll You need not make efforts for other means. Let us listen to the Saicharita. It will exhaust all karma, of the past and the present life, which results in rebirth. Not the least effect will remain of them. (ll184ll – C. 3).
- One may listen for a long time but if it just accumulates one layer over another of false knowledge, can it be called the right outcome of listening ? Such listening would be futile. ll43ll How can we call a thing soap if it does not cleanse ? How can it be called listening if it does not remove false knowledge ? ll44ll Such listeners are many. But by listening they develop faith and devotion. But a state of mind whereby a listener has absolute love of God and devotion at the feet of Sai, is rare. (ll42ll - C. 15)
- Listening to the stories with love will dispel all worldly afflictions. Sai, the cloud of mercy, will shower grace; and, complete and pure knowledge will appear. ll180ll Sloth, a wandering mind, attachment to sense-objects and indulgence of the palate - these are the obstacles which come in the way of listening. Steer clear of these and the listening will become a happy experience. (ll181ll - C. 3)
- Listening to the Saicharita purifies the listeners and the narrator always. The merits and the sins are obliterated and both attain salvation. ll32ll If the listeners hear it with complete and concentrated attention, the crossing of the ocean of existence becomes easy, after the bondages of karma are broken. (ll38ll – C. 48)
- "It will cause waves of love and devotion to rise on the ocean of the mind; and, diving into them now and then, will bring up gems of knowledge." ll4ll To describe Baba's pure fame and to listen to it with all your heart, will burn away the sins of the devotees. This makes for easy attainment of salvation. (ll49ll - C. 3)
- While listening, do it with humility. The listeners should only deem that Sai is in their mind. Only then the correct listening is accomplished. Let the oneness be continuous. (ll33ll – C. 50)
- By listening (to the stories) one's own peace will be attained, the deluding fears of the world will be removed, and supreme bliss will be a certainty. Listeners will attain Sadgati truly. (ll6ll – C. 24)
