Alla ta’budu ‘illal-lah:
“Serve none but Allah.”
(The Qur’an 11.2)
“By engaging in His devotional service, the living entity is relieved from material existence”, Mahaprabhu added.
(Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 18.193)
Now Mahaprabhu points out that only by engaging in devotional service to the Supreme Lord can one free himself from the miserable material life. In forgetfulness of God one pursues illusory material happiness which bring him nothing but miseries. Actually one cannot achieve happiness without devotional service to the Lord. It awards one real happiness and ultimate perfection of human life. Therefore one who has sufficient intelligence must engage himself in devotional service unto Allah to get freed from the pangs of material life.
So in the Holy Qur’an there are descriptions of different devotional processes: Wa ‘iza sa-’alaka ‘ibadi ‘ani fa-’inni qarib / ‘ujibu da’-watad-da-’i ‘iza da-’ani fal-yastajibu li walyu’-minu bi la-’allahum yar-shudu: “When My servants question you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them). I respond to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they may be led aright.” (2.186)
Fasabih bismi Rabbikal ‘Azim: “So chant the name of your Tremendous Lord.” (69.52)
Alla-zina ‘a-manu wa tatma-’innu qulu-buhum-bi-zik-rillah / ‘ala bi-zik-rillahi tatma-’innul-qulub
Alla-zina ‘amanu wa ‘amilus-salihati tuba la-hum wa husnu ma-’ab:
“Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah. Indeed in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction!
For those who believe and do right, is joy and a beautiful place of (final) return.” (13.28-29)
Wa ‘innallaha Rabbi wa Rabbukum fa’-buduh / haza siratum-mustaqim: “Verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So serve Him. That is the right path.” (19.36)
It is stated in the sura “Al-Baqarah”, or “The Cow”:
Ya-’ayu-han-nasu’-budu Rabba-kumullazi khalaqakum wallazina min-qablikum la-’allakum tataqun: “O mankind! Worship your Lord, Who created you and those who came before you that you may become righteous.” (2.21)
Ustad Abdullah Yusuf Ali writes in this regard:
“Adoration is the act of the highest and humblest reverence and worship. When you get into that relationship with Allah. Who is your Creator and Guardian, your faith produces works of righteousness. It is a chance given you; will you take it? If you do, your whole nature will be transformed.” (9, p. 11)
Furthermore the Holy Qur’an said:
Wasta-’inu bi-sabri wa-salah / wa iinnaha lakabiratun ‘illa ‘alal-khashi-’in: “Seek help in patience and prayers. Truly, it is hard except for those who are humble.” (2.45)
Wa ‘ati-’ullaha wa-rasula la-’allakum turhamun: “Obey Allah and the messenger, that you may obtain mercy.” (3.132)
Wa man-yata-wal-al-laha wa rasulahu wallazina ‘amanu fa-’inna hiz-ballahi humul-galibun: “Those who take Allah, His messenger, and the believers for friends, – it is the party of Allah that must certainly triumph.” (5.56)
Inne ddina ‘inda llahi lislam: “The Religion before Allah is the surrender (to His will and guidance).” (3.19)
One who engages in unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Lord transcends the material nature and is immediately elevated to the spiritual platform. Pure devotional service consists of nine different activities:
1. Hearing the holy name, qualities and glories of the Lord;
2. Chanting the holy name and glories of the Lord;
3. Remembering the Lord;
4. Serving the Lord;
5. Worshipping the Lord;
6. Praying to the Lord;
7. Obeying the orders of the Lord;
8. Maintaining friendship with the Lord;
9. Surrendering everything unto Him.
The first and foremost of all such devotional engagements is hearing about the Lord. This is a very powerful transcendental method for purifying the mind of all misgivings. After the devotee engages in the processes of hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, worshipping, praying, obeying and becomes fixed in these processes, he can later become a devotee capable of rendering spontaneous devotional service, namely maintaining friendship and surrendering everything to the Lord. One can engage in all nine devotional processes, or eight, or seven, or at least one and that will surely make one perfect.
In the Holy Qur’an we can find descriptions about all nine processes of devotional service:
