The Bhavs of Devotional Practice

Reflection Questions: What does Bhav Mean? What is the Importance of Bhav in Devotion? What are the Bhavs of Devotional Practice? How do We Develop the Bhavs of Devotion? Over the years, we have all learned from Swamiji that God alone is our eternal and selfless relative, and that the ultimate goal or purpose of our life is to attain God-realization through exclusive, constant, and selfless service for His pleasure. Even though this journey spans across lifetimes, it is never too late to start to learn ways o intensify devotional love for God/Guru. Novice spiritual aspirants may find it very difficult to cultivate devotional bhav if they either worship the formless aspect of God or are not tuned to the concept of developing a loving relationship with God. When we worship God with Aishwarya bhav, it is difficult to develop a loving relationship because the heart is filled with awe and reverence for God. Then, the mind focuses on propriety of conduct, which creates a mental distance from God rather than developing an intimate relationship with Him. How can we develop an intimate relationship with God? When we listen to God’s sweet leelas or pastimes with faith, meditate on them with wonderment, and repeatedly practice the sentiments of gratitude for His graces, we can grow in devotional love. The bottom line is to nurture the bhav that “God alone is mine and I am His alone.” This type of bhav will help to attach the mind to God/Guru while detaching it from the material world. What does Bhav Mean?

Swamiji says, “Bhav is the richness of the sentiment we possess.” Our devotion is defined by the quality of our bhav. There is no limit to the extent to which we can keep increasing the devotional sentiments. When a soul develops a deep yearning to be close to God with the intent of serving Him with the body, mind and soul, the devotional sentiments that awaken, are referred to as bhav. When we develop positive thoughts toward God, His saints (including the Guru) and his devotees, souls become more capable of developing devotional bhavs.  In Bhakti Shatak (Verse 70), Jagadguruttam Shree Kripalu ji Maharaj noted: Sabai sarasa rasa dwārikā, mathurā aru braja māhiñ madhura, madhuratara, madhuratama, rasa brajarasa sama nāhiñ “The divine bliss of God is immensely sweet in all his forms. Yet, there is a gradation in it—the bliss of his Dwaraka pastimes is sweet, the bliss of his Mathura pastimes is sweeter, and the bliss of his Braj pastimes is the sweetest.” What is the Importance of Bhav in Devotion? The pastimes of Braj are founded on devotional sentiments where the devotee feels an intimate and personal relationship with God. The mind contemplates on devotional thoughts like: “That Shree Krishna who tends the cows, is mine and I am His. That Shree Krishna who pulled Arjun out from a state of dejection into enlightenment, will also be there for me when I need His guidance. That Shree Krishna who filled the hearts of the dry Gyanis with devotional love, will help me to develop the bhav that He is mine and I am His.”  There are several such scripts to fill the mind with devotional sentiments in Golden Rules for Living Your Best Life (p. 77).  Swamiji teaches us that there are five bhavs of devotional practice. They are the pathways to enable us to attach our mind to God. For example, Uddhav ji, the cowherd boys, Nand-Yashoda, and the gopis of Braj loved Krishna in different bhavs. Such bhavs are characteristic of an intimate personal relationship with God. They are infinitely sweeter and more beneficial for increasing our love and devotion for God.  What are the Bhavs of Devotional Practice? The most important part of sadhana (see the Best Way to Practice Sadhana in the August 2022 issue of Samarpan) is to remember God with love in any of the bhavs that captures the mind. The Shant Bhav is not desirable if the goal is to develop an intimate and loving relationship with God. All other bhavs will help to increase the longing to meet and serve God with love and devotion. Click here to read more. How do We Develop the Bhavs of Devotion? Stories or kathas are always a source of inspiration because we can relate to the characters in some way or the other. We present four stories to illustrate the four types of bhavs that constitute a loving relationship with God - Click here to read more.

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