Know Here About Bhakti Yoga

One of the most effective yoga styles to help you reach enlightenment is Bhakti yoga. The word Bhakti means devotion or love and helps you as a Bhakt (Devotee) unite with the Divine. It is one of the easiest yogic paths for you to unite the mind, body, and spirit.

On the one hand, Hatha yoga requires you to have a flexible body and Raja yoga requires a disciplined mind. However, the only requirement for Bhakti yoga is having an open heart filled with love and compassion for others. In other words, Jnana yoga (Yoga of knowledge or wisdom) comes to you naturally if you practice Bhakti yoga.

With that said, let us now understand a bit as to what Bhakti yoga is.

Bhakti Yoga – In Brief

 

Bhakti yoga is a deep spiritual practice that relies heavily on Hindu deities. Every deity is seen as representing a human aspect of the true Godhead. It is similar to how the saints in other religions represent certain attributes of God. You can join a yoga teacher certification to know more about this form of yoga.

Although if you are a westerner then using Hindu deities might put you off this practice. However, the use of Hindu deities is not a necessity for Bhakti Yoga. All you do is find your object of devotion to achieve union with the Divine.

You should know there are a total of 9 practices in Bhakti Yoga that you can do independently or in combination. Moreover, each of these aspects creates a specific feeling that appeals to you on a spiritual level. Read further to know what these are.

Bhakti Yoga – The 9 Limbs

 

Given below are nine limbs of Bhakti yoga you should know about.

1. Shravana

This is the practice of listening to holy scriptures especially those told by a revered saint or a true devotee.

2. Smarana

This limb requires you to remember the divine by meditating on its name and form.

3. Archana

Ritual worship of the Divine with sacred havan or homa (fire offering). You should enroll in a Yoga Alliance certification program to know more about this limb of Bhakti Yoga.

4. Dasya

Unmoving devotion towards the Divine by including cultivation of serving the will of God and not your ego.

5. Atmanivedana

This is your complete surrender to the Divine.

6. Kirtana

It refers to the singing of devotional songs and hymns done usually in group settings.

7. Padasevana

As the name suggests, this is service at the feet of the Divine. You should include Karma Yoga with utmost devotion to feel the presence of the higher being in your life.

8. Vandana

This is the act of lying stretched down on the ground in front of an image or any other representation of God. You can enroll in a yoga teacher certification to know more about this limb of Bhakti yoga.

9. Sakhya

This refers to a relationship of friendship established between the Divine and you as a devotee.

Unfortunately, you might be a bit confused as how you can inculcate Bhakti Yoga in your daily life.

Bhakti Yoga In Daily Life

 

Divine love helps you make human love more accessible. On the one hand, you have human love driven by ego, whereas divine love is selfless and giving. You can completely transform every relationship in your life by deepening your connection with the Divine.

Cultivating deep virtues like faith, compassion, humility, and truthfulness you start to become a clearer reflection of the Divine. A useful way for you to experience the Divine using Bhakti Yoga is expanding your attitude by treating others the same way you like to be treated by others.

For example, when you notice someone having a bad day at work or home give them help by listening to what is bothering them with a compassionate heart. In short, you can always connect with the Divine by following good values and virtues in daily life.

Conclusion

Do you know which is the most popular limb of Bhakti Yoga in western nations? It is Kirtana. On top of that, Bhakti yoga removes jealousy, hatred, anger, lust, egoism, pride, and arrogance from your being. The final goal of this form of yoga is total surrender to the Divine. Bhakti Yoga helps you overcome numerous negative emotions like anger, lust, and ego. You should enroll in a reputed yoga teacher certification to acquire in-depth knowledge of this yoga form.

Read More:- 6 Reasons to Join a YTT School in India