Back HomeTable of Contents

Chapter 25 -The Nine Stages of Bhakti Yoga

The nine stages of Bhakti-yoga are described in the Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhvalila, by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as follows:
"In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in associating
with pure devotees. Thereafter one is inititated by the spiritual master and
executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed from all
unwanted habits and becomes finally fixed in devotional service. Thereafter, one
develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sadhana-bhakti, the execution
of devotional service according to the regulative principles. Gradually emotions
intensify, and finally there is an awakening of love. This is the gradual
development of love of Godhead for the devotee interested in Krsna
consciousness."

1. sraddha: faith
2. sadhu-sanga: association with devotees
3. bhajana-kriya: performance of devotional service
4. anartha nivrtti: decreasing of unwanted
attachments
5. nistha: steadiness
6. ruci: taste
7. asakti: attachment
8. bhava: love
9. prema: pure love for Krsna
In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu the science of devotional sevice is explained as
follows:
In the beginning stage there must be a preliminary desire for self-realization.
This will lead one to the platform of desiring to associate with spiritually
advanced persons. The next step is to become initiated by an authorized spiritual
master and to perform devotional service under his guidance. Through the
execution of devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master, one
will become free from all material attachments, achieves steadiness in self

realization and finds taste in hearing about Krsna, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. This taste leads one to further attachment in Krsna consciousness
which is called bhava or the preliminary stage of pure love of Godhead. Pure love
to the Lord is called prema or the supreme perfectional stage in life.
Chapter 24 Nine Processes of Bhakti

Chapter 26 Six favorable &

unfavorable principles

Table of Contents

Copyright 2003 Sanatana Dharma Foundation