Swami Prahladananda explains the sweet path of devotion (bhakti yoga) for the realization of God. It is a flexible path because the devotee may love and worship God in any way of their choosing. It is therefore considered a much easier path than, say Raja Yoga, which is stricter and more methodical. Swamiji discusses the four main stages of Bhakti Yoga, namely Bhakta, Bhav, Mahabhav and Prem:
1. In the stage of Bhakta (a devotee) - the person gives God a certain role, like that of a friend, a father, a mother, a child, or a beloved, and assumes a corresponding role of a devotee themselves. Thus practicing, the devotee gains pure love for God. Like Sri Ramakrishna used to practice for years taking care of a Ramlal figurine (Lord Rama as a child): feeding, bathing and putting him to sleep.
2. Proceeding thus, the devotee enters the stage of Bhava, where they develop single-minded devotion for their God ideal (Ishta). The love becomes so intense and the mind so one-pointed, that the devotee begins to actually commune with their God - feeling just as real as if they were conversing with any human being. The devotee may enter into Bhava Samadhi, a transcendental state with an indescribable bliss, suffused with love. Sometimes kumbhaka will occur - a stilling of the nerve currents and cessation of breathing. On the outside such a person may appear lifeless. But actually they are in deep bliss.
3. A still higher state is Mahabhava, also called divine madness, or divine ecstasy. It is reserved for special souls, the avataras. It is a descendance of love into the person (as opposed to ascendance). It eradicates the individual's own soul (jiva) and replaces it with the mahashakti (the Great Power). It has the effect of attracting devotees and giving them liberation.
4. And finally Prema - divine love. It comes like a tsunami. The person becomes entirely One with the universe. They no longer have boundaries, they do not distinguish between themselves and others, men or women, different nationalities, "good" or "bad", etc. For this person, there is only Oneness.
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