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Perfect 🙏 Here’s an expanded comparison table that now includes Nāradiya Bhakti, Regular Bhakti, and Navadhā Bhakti (9 forms of devotion):
| Aspect | Nāradiya Bhakti | Regular Bhakti | Navadhā Bhakti (9 forms) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | Pure, unconditional, selfless love for God (Nārada Bhakti Sūtras) | General devotion towards God, can include desires or rituals | Ninefold path of devotion described in Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Rāmāyaṇa, etc. |
| Nature | Nirguna, Apratihata (without motive, unobstructed) | May be Saguna/Nirguna, often desire-driven | Structured practices expressing devotion |
| Goal | Love itself is both means and end (God-realization through love) | Attain moksha, blessings, or fulfillment of desires | Step-by-step surrender leading to union with God |
| Attitude of Devotee | Only love, no expectation of reward | Reverence, sometimes mixed with desire | Different moods depending on the bhakti form |
| Relation to God | Intimate (friend, parent, child, beloved) | Can be formal or personal | Varies by form (servant, friend, parent, beloved, etc.) |
| Practices | Hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, surrendering (internal focus) | Rituals, puja, yajna, offerings, pilgrimages | 9 forms: 1. Śravaṇa (listening) 2. Kīrtana (chanting) 3. Smaraṇa (remembering) 4. Pāda-sevana (serving the Lord’s feet) 5. Arcana (worshiping image/deity) 6. Vandana (prayer/prostration) 7. Dāsya (servitude) 8. Sakhya (friendship) 9. Ātma-nivedana (complete surrender) |
| Inclusiveness | Open to all, beyond caste/gender | Traditionally bound by social/ritual rules | Open, emphasizes practice over status |
| Scriptural Basis | Nārada Bhakti Sūtras, Bhāgavata Purāṇa | Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Agamas | Bhāgavata Purāṇa (7.5.23–24), Rāmāyaṇa |
| Focus | Love for love’s sake | Devotion as means to other ends | Progressive cultivation of different expressions of love |
✅ In summary:
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Nāradiya Bhakti = pure, selfless love.
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Regular Bhakti = general devotion (sometimes ritualistic or desire-driven).
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Navadhā Bhakti = practical framework of 9 forms to express devotion.
Would you like me to also create a diagram/flowchart showing how Regular Bhakti → Navadhā Bhakti → Nāradiya Bhakti (highest form) are related?
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