The love for God that is born in our heart is called bhakti (devotion). In the Indian tradition of devotion five types of feelings for God are approved of. They are:
1.Vatsalya (Affection for a child)
2.Śānta (Serene)
3.Sakhya (Friend)
- Dāsya (Servant of God) and
- Śringār (Beloved).The devotion with Śringār bhāv is also called Madhurā Bhakti. In this type of devotion the devotee worships God as a beloved master just as in Sufi tradition God is worshipped as the beloved.
It is not necessary that marriage should be a hindrance in one’s Śringār or Sakhi bhava for God. The gopis who worshipped God with Sakhi bhava were married, yet they loved Shri Krishna. Really speaking Shri Krishna is the soul of all living beings and it is quite natural for any individual to love his own spiritual self that is his soul. Even in Kaliyug, Mirabai was one such devotee who loved God with Sakhi bhava. Though she was married, her marital status did not obstruct her love for Shri Krishna.
Thus it is not true that marriage of an individual can be an obstacle in one’s Sakhi bhava for God. Nor is it necessary that one has to get married in order to love God with Sakhi bhava. Ultimately, the course of our life depends upon our destiny. A devotee is not perturbed by the external circumstances in his life.
