12
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How can one increase bhakti?
Yes, scriptures provide 9 steps of Bhakti known as Navdha Bhakti. In the Ramacharitmanas 3.35 - 3.36, Lord Shri Rama explains Navdha Bhakti to Shabri:
प्रथम भगति संतन्ह कर संगा।
The first ...
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12
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Is it more helpful in any way to worship multiple deities?
As per the advice that most Gurus give, it's not beneficial to worship multiple deities for any particular individual. One must only worship his/her Ishta Devata and stick with it's worship only (...
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11
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Are Sri RamaKrishna's statements about attaining Brahman through Bhakti inline with Adi Shankara?
The single line answer is "Pure bhakthi and Pure Jnana are same".
If you try to study both gurus lives, you will understand that:
Sankaracharya is outwardly jnani but inside he is a pure bhaktha.
...
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10
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What is the difference between Bhakti Yoga & Sharanagati?
Sri Vaishnavas believe there are two paths to Moksha, Bhakti Yoga and Sharanagati (aka Prapatti). Bhakti Yoga is a long and difficult path to Moksha, and it has both Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga as ...
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10
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Who are some great devotees of Lord Ganesha from the scriptures?
Ganesha Purana and some Ganesha-centric scriptures mention few great devotees of Sri Ganesha.
Since i don't have complete Ganesha Purana, i will cite Puranic Encyclopedia by Vettam mani as reference. ...
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10
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Six aspects of surrender mentioned in Pancharatra texts?
Prapatti (or self-surrender) is an important aspect of SrI Vaishnava Teachings. According to pAncarAtra samhitas (Ahirbudhnya samhitA, LakshmI tantra), there are six aspects or angas to prapatti:
...
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How a devotee of God leaves his body for Moksha?
Have a look at the following verse from Kathopanishad's (Kath UP) Tritiya Valli:
ShataichekA cha hridasya nAdyastAsAm murdhAnamabhinihsritaikA |
TayorddhvamAyannmritatvameti vishvanganyA ...
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Is it more helpful in any way to worship multiple deities?
The purpose of worshiping multiple Gods is because of multiple desires fulfillment. For example worship of Indra is done in order to please him for rain. Worship of Kuber is done for the wealth etc. ...
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9
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Why do devotees offer gods own creation as offering to him?
God or Iswara is not gaining anything ,we offer him fruits, flowers and leaves because it pleases us.God doesn't need them so to speak ,as he is the creator and owner of all that exists.Its because ...
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9
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How to progress spiritually without discrimination?
Krishna says in the Gita (IV. 34.) Swami Nikhilananda translator:
Learn it by prostration, by inquiry and by service. The wise, who have seen the Truth, will teach you that Knowledge.
And the ...
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8
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The concept of God in Bhakti Yoga
Good question! This is an advaitic view of Bhakti and Bhakti Yoga.
What is Bhakti
Bhakti means to always think of God. Bhakti Yoga implies constant remebrance of God.
Sri Swami Sivananda says in ...
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What is the difference between Suktam, Strotam, Gayatri and Ashtakam?
There is no purpose behind these classifications it is just a way of dividing stanzas and collection of verses in Sanskrit language.
Suktam/Sukta refers to a vedic hynm of unmanned composition, since ...
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8
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Hanuman and the highest state of Sri Rama bhakti
In the Srimad-Bhagavata and the Vishnu Purana are mentioned the nine forms of Bhakti, which are given as under :-
(1) Sravana -hearing of God's Lilas and stories.
(2) Kirtana- singing of God’s ...
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Does Lord Shiva grant wishes?
Anugraham (bestowing grace) is one of the fundamental characteristic of Lord Shiva. So, Lord Shiva certainly grants wishes. In the scripture also we find many many stories where Lord Shiva grants ...
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Did a devotee curse Lord Vishnu to turn into a stone?
Yes. It was Tulasi who cursed Vishnu to become Saligrama Stone and Tulasi became Gandhaki River and Tulasi plant. Saligrama Stone is Swayambhu representation of Lord Vishnu and one gets many virtues ...
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8
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Original version of Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram bhajan?
The original lyrics of Raghupati Raghava Rajaaram are written by Sri Lakshamanacharya in a religious text titled Shri Nama Ramayanam
Source: Raghupati Raghav Rajaram – The Original Lyrics
Original ...
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7
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Why do devotees offer gods own creation as offering to him?
I would say, its a matter of love. Imagine your 1.5 year old kid(actually I have one now) grabbing some stuff from your plate as you are eating and feeding back to you and showing his tiny teeth. How ...
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What are the different types of Divine love mentioned in the Narada Bhakti Sutras?
The reference to different types of Bhakti or Divine love is found the Shloka 82 of the Narada Bhakti Sutra.
Shloka
|Gunmahatmyasakti roopasakti poojasakti smaranasakti dasyasakti |
|| Sakhyasakti ...
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Is this shlokha from the Garuda Purana? If so, which chapter?
Yes the sloka is from Garuda Puranam (2.49.98).
The following images(& texts) are from the book called Garuda Purana Saaraam(The essence of Garuda Purana).
tŸvat tapo vrataÄ t rthaÄ japa ...
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According to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda, which is more important in attaining moksha- Bhakti or Jnana?
They're equally important.
I'm here quoting some relevant quotes of Swami Vivekananda from The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 3/Bhakti-Yoga/Definition of Bhakti:
There is not really so ...
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7
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What is the difference between Jijnashu and Jnani Bhaktas mentioned in Bhagavad Gita?
According to Adi Sankaracharya commentary on this verse, Jijnashu is one who wants to know the reality of the lord and Jnani is one who already have intellectual knowledge and aspires of liberation.
...
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7
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Is there any statement that bhakti destroys karma?
Here are some verses:
Bhagavata 1.2.15
yad-anudhyāsinā yuktāḥ karma-granthi-nibandhanam | chindanti kovidās
tasya ko na kuryāt kathā-ratim ||
Who will not develop attraction for topics of ...
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Are Sri RamaKrishna's statements about attaining Brahman through Bhakti inline with Adi Shankara?
It is popularly believed that Sankara taught only Jnana. But an examination of his writings reveals otherwise. In his Vivekachudamani, Crest Jewel of Discrimination, Sankara says (Swami Madhavananda ...
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6
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What is the Navavidha Bhakti?
In the Ramacharitmanas 3.35 - 3.36, Lord Shri Rama explains Navdha Bhakti to Shabri:
नवधा भगति कहउँ तोहि पाहीं। सावधान सुनु धरु मन माहीं।।
प्रथम भगति संतन्ह कर संगा।
दुसरि रति मम कथा ...
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6
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Why does Krishna consider/believe the devotee who worship him as saguna superior than who worship as nirguna?
Good question. This love of Lord for His Saguna worshippers is discussed in verse 6.47 also.
There should not be a question of which is better as Lord Himself declares that both attain the God in ...
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What is the story of Jadbharat?
The story from Vishnu Puran (विष्णू पुराण) is-:
Long ago there was a king named Bharata (भरत). His father was Rishabha (ऋषभ) and were living in a place called Shalagrama (शाळग्राम). He was great ...
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How can one increase bhakti?
The answers given are mostly describing what the Navabhida Bhaktis (the 9 types of devotional acts) are. But as far as i can see, you're simply asking "How to increase Bhakti". So, i assume that you ...
- 111k
6
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What are some of the devotional works by Madhusudan Saraswati?
Notable devotional works of Madhusudana Saraswati are:
AnandamandAkinI (आनन्दमन्दाकिनी)
Bhagavad Bhakti Rasayanam (भगवद्भक्तिरसायनम्)
Ishvarapratipattiprakasha (ईश्वरप्रतिपत्तिप्रकाशः)
All are ...
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