navadha bhakti | नवधा भक्ति
navadha bhakti (Devanagari: नवधा भक्ति ISO15919: navadhā bhakti) are the nine ways of devotion as described by the devotee Prahlada and accepted by Vaishnava spiritual masters (as referenced in Bhagavatam 7.5.23).
🙏 The Nine Practices
- shravanam: hearing (e.g., God's glories or divine discourses)
- kirtanam: chanting (solo or congregational singing of God's names and forms)
- smarana: remembrance (constantly meditating on the Divine)
- dasya: Servitude (serving the Lord with the attitude of a servant)
- sakhya: Friendship (serving the Lord with the attitude of a friend)
- archana: Worship (ritualistic worship of the Deity)
- vandana: Glorification (singing or offering prayers that praise God)
- pada sevanam: Serving the Lotus Feet (personally serving or tending to God's place)
- atma nivedana: Complete Surrender (offering one's self completely to the Lord)
🔑 The Life Force
Out of all these, smarana (remembrance) is considered the life force of the remaining eight practices. Without Smaraṇa, the practice of bhakti will not yield any spiritual benefit.