navavidha -i-

nine modes of bhakti
are described not only in Ramayana [750BCE?...]
but in Srimad Bhagavatam [1100AD?...] as well !

first mode of bhakti, in Ramayana, is
association with love-intoxicated devotees and righteous people
fellowship with saints

in Srimad Bhagavatam
this more or less returns as...

SAKHYAM:
cultivation of friend-sentiment with God and Guru
as was the relationship of Krishna and Arjuna

this is however not the first stage of bhakti
but the one before last !

~bron~