Three categories of bhakti
Sadhana-bhakti is of two types: vaidhi and raganuga. When devotional activity is inspired solely because of the prompting of scriptural injunctions, it is termed as vaidhi-bhakti. No raga, or spontaneous attachment, exists in this case.
There are sixty-four angas, or limbs, of vaidhi bhakti described by Rupa Gosvami. Out of these, five are considered as most powerful: (1) associating with saintly people, (2) singing the Lord‘s name, (3) listening to the recitation of Srimad-Bhagavatam, (4) residing in the holy land of Mathura and (5) serving the deity with reverance. A little contact with any of these can give rise to bhava-bhakti. These limbs of vaidhi-bhakti engage the body, mind and senses in the service of the Lord and are all highly effective in promoting the appearance of bhava-bhakti.
The second type of sadhana-bhakti is called raganuga, which means to follow the mood and attachment of the Lord’s eternal associates, known as ragatmikas . Ragatmikas have a natural raga, or deep absorption in the Lord manifesting out of love. Upon coming into contact with ragatmikas, such as by hearing about them, an adherent may develop a yearning to serve the Lord in the same mood as his model. When this yearning impels one to engage in devotional service, irregardless of scriptural injunction, it is called raganuga-sadhana. Raganuga follows the natural deep sentiments of the adherent and is therefore independent of all outward rules.
Vaidhi-sadhana-bhakti, on the other hand, depends upon the injunctions of scripture and is not necessarily performed with loving sentiment. The difference between these two practices is like the difference between a mother and a maid taking care of a baby. A mother has innate affection for her baby and thus takes care of the child out of her natural attachment, whereas a maid does not have such affection. She merely follows the instructions of her employer. This does not mean that raganuga devotees are averse to scriptural injunctions. The injunctions are meant for those who do not have a natural inclination for devotion. A raganuga devotee does not need them because he has a natural, spontaneous inclination to act favorably towards the Lord and to abstain from anything unfavorable.
The mature stage of sadhana-bhakti is called bhava-bhakti. Bhava is the dawn of prema, or love, which is the perfected stage of bhakti. It is a pure and internal feeling which softens the heart toward the Lord.
Exclusive attachment to the Supreme
The third and highest stage of bhakti is called prema-bhakti. It occurs when bhava becomes intensified and condensed. Prema generates exclusive attachment to the Supreme. It can develop from both vaidhi as well as raganuga-sadhana-bhakti.
Priti, or devotional love for the Lord, is the highest manifestation of bhakti, and thus it is considered as the summum bonum of life. In priti there is absolutely no tinge of desire for personal gratification. A devotee’s love and surrender reach a level that he completely forgets himself while becoming identified with his beloved Lord.
Objects tend to move towards their source, just as water flows towards the ocean. If you burn a candle, the flame always goes up, towards the sun, as air continually moves towards the sky. However, if you throw an object up into the atmosphere, it comes back to the earth. It will be at rest only when it reaches it source, the earth.
Similarly, bhakti can be understood like a river during the rainy season, displaying intense power to reach its goal. Once a person realizes his identity, his mind runs towards the Lord. Since bhakti is the svarupa-sakti of the Lord, the soul is naturally inclined to the Supreme. The Lord is the source of living beings, thus their natural position is to be in union with Him.
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