According to Srila Rupa Goswami, as detailed in his text Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, there are nine progressive stages on the path to devotional perfection. The culmination of these stages is prema, or pure love of Godhead.
These nine stages are often grouped into three broader categories: sadhana-bhakti, bhava-bhakti, and prema-bhakti.
Category 1: Sadhana-bhakti (Devotional service in practice)
This stage is characterized by executing devotional service through the senses according to scriptural rules and the orders of a spiritual master. It consists of seven sub-stages:
Śraddhā (Faith): A spark of faith is ignited, leading one to believe in the reality of the divine and the spiritual path.
Sādhu-saṅga (Association with devotees): One seeks the company of saints and fellow devotees to nurture their budding faith.
Bhajana-kriyā (Performance of devotional service): The individual begins actively engaging in devotional practices like chanting, prayer, and studying scripture.
Anartha-nivṛtti (Decreasing of unwanted attachments): Through consistent practice, the heart is gradually cleansed of material impurities and desires.
Niṣṭhā (Steadiness): The devotee's practice becomes firm and unwavering, no longer pulled back and forth by material distractions.
Ruci (Taste): Devotional practices become a joyful experience rather than just a duty. The devotee develops a genuine taste for serving the divine.
Asakti (Attachment): Taste deepens into a profound personal attachment to Krishna, leading to constant remembrance.
Category 2: Bhava-bhakti (Devotional service in ecstasy)
When asakti intensifies, the seed of love for Krishna sprouts into bhava-bhakti, or ecstatic emotion. This state is free from the influence of material nature and is compared to a single ray of the sun of divine love.
Category 3: Prema-bhakti (Devotional service in pure love of Godhead)
This is the final, most perfect stage, where the ecstatic emotions of bhava fully blossom into prema—pure, selfless, and unconditional love for Godhead. A devotee in this stage is motivated only by the desire to please the Lord, without any expectation of personal gain.
