12th chapter: verse 1 is about Bhakti Yoga – the path of devotion. Gita classifies spiritual practices in three categories depending on the temperament of the person. Those who are intellectual in nature and have complete sense control can pursue Jnana Yoga. Those involved in action can pursue Karma Yoga by performing all actions with detachment and unselfishness. The third path is Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion.

Narada Bhakti Sutra defines Bhakti as the “nature of supreme, unselfish love for God”. In Bhakti, we give a spiritual orientation to our natural emotions and feelings – we divert these emotions towards God. In Bhakti tradition, one can look upon God with various attitudes – as Mother, father, child or friend. When we divert our emotions towards God, we get a feeling of inner richness, joy, fulfillment, and contentment.

Inner contentment is not the absence of dis-satisfaction. It is called Santosha in Sanskrit. Inner contentment is the first sign of a true devotee. A true devotee can never be bitter towards anyone.

Bhagavata Purana is one of the Hindu classics on bhakti. It was written by Vyasa and has over 18,000 verses divided into twelve skandhas and 335 chapters. Vyasa wrote the Bhagavata Purana on the advice of Narada to help the common man get inner spiritual contentment.

1st verse: Arjuna asks: “Some people worship God with name and form – they chant and pray. Others worship the imperishable, the unmanifest. Which is better?”

Arjuna’s question comes from a conflict he is facing. From earlier chapters, Arjuna knew that there are two ways of looking upon God. (1) God as the creator and protector, who listens to our prayers (2) God as the all-pervading divine spirit, that is Nirakara, transcending names and forms. Arjuna thought he could choose between God with form or God without form.

It is not a matter of our intellectual choice. It is a matter of our own spiritual evolution. A ten-year-old boy has to attend primary school first – he cannot just choose to go to a University. Similarly, in the beginning of our spiritual journey, we worship God with rituals. As we evolve, our idea of God also evolves. Upon the highest realization, we see the presence of God within and outside the place of worship.

If our mind is pure and we have total sense control, then we can feel the presence of the divine everywhere. Just believing that God is everywhere is not enough – it has to become our own spiritual experience. It is not philosophy – it is a matter of our own spiritual experience.

A university professor does not have to learn alphabets – he naturally uses them. He does not reject alphabets but transcends the need to learn them. Similarly, at the highest spiritual level, one transcends rituals - he does not reject them.

Shankaracharya is the greatest teacher of Advaita. He taught that the highest devotee is one who feels the presence of God everywhere and spiritualizes all his secular activities. The essence of his teachings is that we can transcend rituals. The same Shankaracharya wrote the most wonderful devotional poems in Sanskrit, praising God with form.

Under Bhakti tradition, even hatred can be directed towards God – with the constant thought of a divine idea, divinity enters our hearts.

In the Bhagavata Purana, Prahlada is one of the greatest devotees, and was born to a demon, Hiranyakashipu. He teaches Navadha Bhakti to his friends. Under Navadha Bhakti, one follows nine disciplines: Sravanam (Hearing about God ), Kirtanam (Chanting His Name and Glory), Vishnu smaranam (Remembering Him), Pada sevanam (Serving His Lotus Feet), Archanam (Worshipping Him), Vandanam (Prostrating before Him), Dasyam (Being His Servant), Sakhyam (Befriending Him), and Atma Nivedanam (Offering Oneself to Him).

Our ego can also be given a spiritual orientation. We can be proud that we are devotees. If we do not direct our ego towards good channels, it will go towards negative ones. Whatever we do, do as an offering. Then spiritual qualities will come to us. Finally, we can transcend ego.