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Jagadguruttam’s Teachings: How to Practice Bhakti for Shri Radha Krishna?

Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat
17 January 2026
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By Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

There are three eternal entities: God, the individual soul and maya. The individual soul has been under the bondage of maya since time immemorial; and this is the root cause of all our sorrow and suffering. Even though there are many prevalent spiritual disciplines in the world today, none will free you from the bondage of maya except the path of devotion.  While traversing this path, an aspirant encounters the intriguing dilemma of how to practise devotion correctly.

In our scriptures, many types of devotional processes have been described.  For example, in the crest jewel of all Puranas, the Bhagwatam, the most learned sage, Ved Vyasa, who classified the Vedas and composed all eighteen Puranas, has described one, five, nine, eleven and up to thirty types of devotional practices at different places.  Nevertheless, most spiritual teachers recommend the nine processes of devotional practice, navadha bhakti as revealed by the child-devotee Prahlada to his fellow beings.  

Saint Tulsidas in the Ramayana also describes nine kinds of devotional processes as recommended by Lord Rama to the great devotee Shabari.  However, Shukadeva Paramahamsa advised King Parikshit to practice only three: shravana, kirtana and smarana i.e. listening to spiritual principles from one’s Spiritual Master, singing the glories of the Lord or chanting His holy name, and loving meditation.

Shri Maharaj Ji also advocates the practice of these three kinds of devotional processes. He attributes a name to the combination of all these three – Bhaktiyoga Sadhana.  He further states that the essence of all the scriptures is to lovingly meditate on God, regardless of the process, and hence there are not only three, but innumerable types of devotional practices.  In whatever way, one can absorb his mind in loving meditation on  God, it becomes a type of devotion in itself.

For example, one devotee sings the glories of God being fully absorbed in His loving remembrance, while another offers Him a variety of delicacies totally, oblivious of the outer world.  One chooses to decorate the Deities installed in a temple, while another is equally absorbed meditating on decorating his self-created image of God in his mind, or contemplating upon some other sweet loving pastimes, and so on.

Shree Krishna loves a soul in the same way with the same feelings and to the same extent as the soul loves him.  It may seem incomprehensible and bizarre to us now but it is a fact, as stated in the Gita.  We can love Shree Krishna in many ways.  You can love him as your master, friend, son or beloved and he reciprocates in the same manner. The choice is all yours.

If you worship him as your master,  he happily accepts your service.  If you want him to be your friend, he is more than ready to hold your hand and become your best buddy.   If little baby Krishna appeals to you, then he will become your son.  However, if you love him as your beloved, he reciprocates and becomes your lover and soulmate. This is what the Gopis experienced in Madhurya bhao, the highest bhakti state, where all boundaries were crossed. That should be our ultimate goal. 

There are four important Bhaos or relationships in which we can love Shree Krishna; namely as our master (Dasya bhao), friend (Sakhya bhao), son (Vatsalya bhao) or beloved (Madhurya bhao).  The highest bhao is Madhurya bhao in which the soul considers God as his beloved.  In this bhao, besides considering God as your beloved, you are free to consider God as a friend, son or master.  This is unlike other bhaos which have many restrictions. Since a human mind always craves for change,  Madhurya bhao is most appealing as it is totally devoid of any discipline.  The mind gets the freedom to flit from one bhao to another at will. That should be our ultimate aim.

‘Rupdhyan’ or meditation on the form of God is the most easiest thing to do.  God gives us full liberty to create any form of his to our liking.   You can visualise him as  tall, short, dark, fair, young, old;  in fact anything that appeals to you.   You can dress him up in any type of costume or ornaments that you wish. However, you should  visualise him in a living form;  walking, moving, talking, etc. Make him real in your mind’s eye and then lovingly call out to him and shed tears. This is the very heart of Bhakti.

Chanting the names of God without humility and roopdhyan is like a body without life – literally a dead body. Chanting without tears is mere parrot-like repetition. God gives results only when the mind is involved. He does not consider physical actions. The more humble you are, the closer you will get to God. That is the golden rule of devotion.

Remind yourself that you are an eternal servant of Shri Krishna, and that He is your eternal Master.  In your heart of hearts, feel the presence of Shri Radha Krishna as if They are personally present before you, and then meditate on Their loving form.  You may even transport your subtle body to Their divine abode, Golok and then meditate upon their blissful form.

Visualise them performing any of Their innumerable pastimes, remembering to incorporate Their unlimited divine qualities, such as being causelessly merciful, infinitely kind and compassionate and the protectors of humble fallen souls.

Never forget that Shri Krishna, His names, qualities, pastimes, abodes and His saints are all one and same.  In fact they are all Shri Krishna Himself.

In your spare time, chant the divine name of Shri Radha Krishna with each and every breath. Relinquish all bad habits, including finding faults in others and criticizing people – even those who may seem deserving of criticism. Renounce all desires for recognition and admiration, as well as feelings of dejection, discouragement, or lethargy. Refrain from associating with excessively materialistic or worldly-minded people. Failure to do so results in kusang – the company of influences that leave negative impressions on the mind. As far as possible, keep yourself away from all such tendencies and associations.

Last, but by no means least, one must completely avoid committing the unpardonable spiritual offence of nāmāparādha – that is, harbouring any negative feelings or criticism toward Shri Krishna, His divine names, forms, qualities, abodes, or His Saints.

There is no single, fixed method for engaging the mind in the loving remembrance of the Lord. Any method that effectively attaches the mind to God is called bhakti. Our sole aim is to attach the mind to God – not to the senses. The mind may be attached in any manner whatsoever. Iron and a touchstone need only come into contact; it does not matter whether they strike each other forcefully or touch gently – the iron will inevitably turn into gold.

Therefore, do not limit yourself to any one form of devotion. Love Shri Radha Krishna in your own way. Let this one feeling grow to absolute perfection:  “Shri Radha Krishna alone are my all-in-all.”

By Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

(Credits: Spirituality in Daily Living)

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A brief introduction of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj*

(Known by His devotees as Shri Maharaj Ji)

The original title of Jagadguruttam (Greatest Spiritual Teacher of the World) was bestowed upon Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on January 14, 1957, by Kashi Vidvat Parishad (a council of 500 greatest scholars saints of India). He composed divine texts like Prem Ras Madira, Prem Ras Siddhant, and Radha Govind Geet to lead us on the right path of devotion. He also gave priceless monuments as gifts to the world which include Bhakti Mandir located in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, Prem Mandir located in Vrindavan Dham, and Kirti Mandir located in Barsana Dham. Shri Maharaj Ji also built hospitals for the impoverished, the Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Vrindavan, Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Barsana, and another one in Pratapgarh. All three help millions of underprivileged to gain free access to medical care. His Kindergarten, School, and College for impoverished girls Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education is located in Kunda and provides completely free education. To stay updated with all the news and events of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, visit www.jkp.org.in/jkpwhatsapp.