The Smarana Bhakti
Remembering the Divine, Always
Third of the Nine Forms of Bhakti (Navadha Bhakti)
🧠 Introduction: The Devotion of Constant Remembrance
In the sacred journey of Navadha Bhakti — the nine forms of devotion — the third path is deeply personal and profoundly powerful. It is called Smarana Bhakti (स्मरण भक्ति) — the loving remembrance of the Divine.
Unlike Shravana (listening) or Kirtana (singing), Smarana is silent, inward, and continuous. It is the gentle yet unwavering act of keeping God’s name, form, and presence alive in one’s heart and mind — at all times.
When the world becomes loud, Smarana is the inner whisper that says, “I am with You, O Lord.”
📜 Scriptural Foundation of Smarana
Smarana is highlighted in numerous scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, and in the lives of countless saints.
स्मरणं पादसेवनं अर्चनं वन्दनं दास्यम्।
— Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23
Smaranam pāda-sevanam archanam vandanam dāsyam…
Remembrance of the Lord is one of the essential limbs of Bhakti.
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥
— Bhagavad Gita 9.22
Ananyāś chintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate
teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham
To those who constantly think of Me with undivided devotion, I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.
🕉 Simple Meaning: God Himself promises — if you remember Me constantly, I will take care of everything in your life.
🕊️ What is Smarana in Daily Life?
Smarana is not just sitting in meditation or repeating a name occasionally. It is:
- Remembering Krishna while working
- Thinking of Rama while walking
- Recalling Shiva while suffering
- Whispering Devi’s name before sleep
- Smiling at a flower and seeing Narayana
Smarana Bhakti is like the gentle flame of a diya — always burning, always glowing — even if it flickers now and then.
🪔 Why Smarana is a Supreme Practice
- Silent and Accessible – It needs no voice, no ritual, no formal setup. Anyone can do it, anytime.
- Transforms the Mind – What we think repeatedly, we become. Constant remembrance shapes us into divine beings.
- Dissolves Worldly Worry – When the mind remembers God, it forgets fear.
- Strengthens Inner Relationship – It builds an invisible yet unbreakable bond with the Lord.
- Leads to Spontaneous Love – Smarana turns Bhakti into a natural, effortless part of daily living.
🌹 Stories of Smarana Bhakti
✨ Prahlada – The Prince of Remembrance
From the moment he could speak, young Prahlada remembered Narayana. His demon-father Hiranyakashipu tried to kill him many times, but Prahlada was always immersed in Smarana. His chant of “Om Namo Narayanaya” protected him through fire, poison, and violence.
His remembrance was so pure that Narayana Himself manifested as Narasimha to save him.
✨ Akrura – The Devotee in Transit
When Akrura was sent by Kansa to bring Krishna and Balarama from Vrindavan, he journeyed alone in a chariot. But his heart was full of Smarana. He kept imagining Krishna’s face, His lotus eyes, His smile… By the time he reached, he was already in a trance of devotion.
✨ Shabari – The Devotee Who Waited
For years, tribal devotee Shabari awaited Lord Rama. Every single day, she remembered Him, cleaned her hut, and tasted berries to offer only the sweetest ones. Her remembrance was so sincere that Rama came to her uninvited, embraced her, and accepted her love.
🧘♂️ Simple Ways to Practice Smarana Today
Even in the busiest life, you can make Smarana a living experience:
- ✨ Japa: Repeat your Ishta Devata’s name (e.g., “Ram Ram”, “Om Namah Shivaya”)
- 🕉 Manta Beads: Use a mala while commuting or walking
- 📿 Mental Repetition: Think of the name silently during mundane tasks
- 🪷 Photo Remembrance: Keep a picture of the Lord in your room or wallet
- 🌅 Time Anchors: Set reminders for 3–5 times a day to pause and remember
- 🧘♀️ Bhava Smarana: Feel that God is walking beside you, or in your heart
“Yatha smarana, tatha darshana” — As is remembrance, so is the vision.
🕯️ Obstacles to Smarana — and How to Overcome
Smarana may sound simple, but the mind is slippery. Here’s how to overcome distractions:
| Obstacle | Solution |
|---|---|
| Wandering thoughts | Gently bring mind back to the name or form |
| Laziness | Start with small time slots, increase gradually |
| Forgetfulness | Set soft alarms or wear a symbolic bracelet |
| Emotional turmoil | Use remembrance as your anchor during stress |
“Even a flickering remembrance is better than complete forgetfulness.”
💡 The Inner Science of Smarana
From a yogic and psychological view, what we repeatedly think about becomes a neural imprint. When the mind constantly remembers God:
- Brainwaves slow down (calmness)
- Heart rhythm stabilizes (peace)
- Emotions purify (compassion, joy)
- Ego dissolves (surrender)
- Identity shifts (from body to soul)
This is not imagination — it is transformation.
🌼 Smarana Bhakti in the Modern World
We live in a time of continuous mental noise — social media, deadlines, fear, confusion. Amidst all this, Smarana Bhakti is a golden thread we can hold onto.
- While typing: “Shri Krishna” in your mind
- While eating: “This is prasadam”
- While sleeping: “Rama, stay in my heart”
Such small shifts make daily life sacred.
🪷 Final Reflection: The Lord of Your Thoughts
“The name you remember at your last breath
is the name you lived by in every breath.”
Let your remembrance be so deep that even when you’re not consciously thinking of Him, He thinks of you.
As the Bhagavata Purana says:
“He whose heart always remembers the Lord — even in sleep or unconsciousness —
is already blessed, already liberated.”
In Smarana Bhakti, you don’t need to seek God. You remember — and He arrives.