Types of Bhakti (Worship) According to Srimanta Sankardeva

Bhakti or Devotion is classified by Sankaradeva into different modes in his book the Bhaktiratnakar, the Bhagavata-purana and the Kirtanaghosa.In the Kirtanaghosa; Bhakti is divided into nine modes- just like the Bhagavata-purana. 

Prahlad carit

In the section Prahlad carit, Prahlad told his father regarding devotion –

 

sravana kirtan                                   smarana visnura

arsana padasevana

dasya sakhya                                   vandana visnura

kariba dehappana

navabidha bhakti                             visnuta achari

sehise patha uttama.

 

(Hearing, prayer, remembrance, service, worshiping, adoring, attitude to serve, friendly attitude and self surrender are the nine modes of bhakti)

 

Bhagavata

Sankaradeva puts utmost importance to the shravana and kirtana forms of devotion. In the Bhagavata, Sankaradeva says –

 

Yadyapi bhakti navabidha madhavara

Sravana kirtan tato maha sresthatara

 

(Although there are nine kinds of devotion of madhava sravana and kirtana are the best among them)

 

Kirtanaghosa

The Kirtanaghosa also supports this view –

 

Krisna-katha sravanata sudha haiba mana

Sarvadaye karibeka Krisnara kirtana.

-(Prahlad carit)

(The mind will be purified by hearing accounts of Krisna's deeds. Sing about Krisna's glory everyday)

 Bhakti Ratnakar

In Bhakti Ratnakar, bhakti is again classified on another basis into highest devotion (uttam bhakti), intimate or all-loving devotion (antaranga bhakti), absolute devotion (nirguna bhakti), and purely, emotional or loving devotion (saprema bhakti).