Is being a SERVANT (Paadha Sevanam) the ONLY way to worship or realize Paramatma?
it is one of the way to worship and realize paramatma.. But not the only way..
There are Gyana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga.
In Gyana Yoga, it talks about 8 Yogic Status to worship and finally realize paramtma at 8th status.
Bharata Yogi was able to achieve success and reached 7th Yogic status, but could not reach the 8th status in his life.
But He fall down in affection on a deer and left his holy body thinking about that deer instead paramtma. Then he born as deer and died. Then again he got human birth and lived in 8th status (Samadhi) from the moment he born and achieved moksha.
In Bhakti Yoga, Being a Servant (Paadha Sevanam) is one way of worship and realize paramatma.
Prahalad says, there are 9 ways of worship under Bhakti Yoga and realize paramatma. (Note: he followed one of way he narrated)
1. Sravanam (hear) is one way of worship and realize paramatma.
(if you see a person, who always likes to hear about Vishnu's quality or his stories 24*7 like parikshit, then understand you are seeing a Bhakti Yogi (a true devotee))
2. Keerthanam (sing/chant) is one way of worship and realize paramatma.
(if you see a person, who always likes to chant and sing about Vishnu's quality or his stories 24*7 like Suka Brahma rishi, then understand you are seeing a Bhakti Yogi (a true devotee))
3. Smaranam (Think) is one way of worship and realize paramatma.
(if you see a person, who always think about Vishnu's quality or his stories 24*7 like prahalad, then understand you are seeing a Bhakti Yogi (a true devotee))
4. Paadha Sevanam (Service) is one way of worship and realize paramatma.
(if you see a person, who always likes to serve at feet of Vishnu without leaving him at any stage 24*7 like lakshmana, then understand you are seeing a Bhakti Yogi (a true devotee))
5. Archana (offer) is one way of worship and realize paramatma.
(if you see a person, who always likes to offer flowers, food, wealth etc., to Vishnu at any stage 24*7 like sabari, then understand you are seeing a Bhakti Yogi (a true devotee))
6. Vandanam (Bow down) is one way of worship and realize paramatma.
(if you see a person, who always likes to fall at the feet of Vishnu at any stage 24*7 like akrura (who fell down to krishna's feet at his 1st sight in vrindavan despite Vishnu who incarnated as krishna being a 7yr old child), then understand you are seeing a Bhakti Yogi (a true devotee))
7. Dhaasya (Slave) is one way of worship and realize paramatma.
(if you see a person, who behave like a slave and always obeys the order of Vishnu without hesitation at any stage 24*7 like hanuman, then understand you are seeing a Bhakti Yogi (a true devotee))
8. Sakya (Friend) is one way of worship and realize paramatma.
(if you see a person, who always treat Vishnu like his friend and ready to give up anything for his friend without leaving him at any stage 24*7 like Arjuna, then understand you are seeing a Bhakti Yogi (a true devotee))
9. Atma Nivedhanam (Complete surrender) is one way of worship and realize paramatma.
(if you see a person, who has guts to give up everything and completely surrender his thought, body, mind, wealth, decision etc., at feet of Vishnu without leaving him at any stage 24*7 like Vibhishana, then understand you are seeing a Bhakti Yogi (a true devotee))
श्रवणं कीर्तनं विष्णो: स्मरणं पादसेवनम् ।
अर्चनं वन्दनं दास्यं सख्यम् आत्मनिवेदनम् ॥
That's Sanathana Dharma.
We can choose any one of this 9 bhakthi Yoga and follow any of these great devotee...
