Bhakti yoga: Difference between revisions

The tradition has ancient roots. Bhakti is mentioned in the ''[[Shvetashvatara Upanishad]]'' where it simply means participation, devotion and love for any endeavor.<ref>Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814684}}, page 326</ref><ref>Max Muller, [https://archive.org/stream/upanishads02ml#page/266/mode/2up Shvetashvatara Upanishad], The Upanishads, Part II, Oxford University Press, page 267</ref> ''Bhakti yoga'' as one of three spiritual paths for salvation is discussed in depth by the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.<ref>John Lochtefeld (2014), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Rosen Publishing New York, {{ISBN|978-0823922871}}, pages 98-100, also see articles on bhaktimārga and jnanamārga</ref><ref name="Klostermaier">{{cite book|last=Klostermaier|first=Klaus|author-link=Klaus Klostermaier|title=A survey of Hinduism|publisher=SUNY Press|year=1989|pages=210–212|isbn=978-0-88706-807-2}}</ref><ref>Karen Pechelis (2014), The Embodiment of Bhakti, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0195351903}}, pages 14-15, 37-38</ref>

The term ''yoga'' literally means "union, yoke", and in this context connotes a path or practice for "salvation, liberation".<ref name="Brannigan2010p18" /> The ''yoga'' referred to here is the "joining together, union" of one's ''[[Atman (Hinduism)|Atman]]'' (true self) with the concept of Supreme ''[[Brahman]]'' (true Reality).<ref name="Brannigan2010p18" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Prabhupada|first=His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami|title=Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14 Verse 27|url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/14/27/|access-date=2020-07-25|website=vedabase.io|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Prabhupada|first=His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami|title=Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Verse 54|url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/18/54/|access-date=2020-07-25|website=vedabase.io|language=en}}</ref>

Bhakti yoga is one of three ''yoga''yogas taught in ''Bhagavad Gita''.<ref name="Brannigan2010p18" /> ''Bhakti yoga'' is a devotee's loving devotion to a personal god as the path for spirituality.<ref name=bishop47 /> The other two paths are ''jnana yoga'' and ''karma'' yoga. ''Jnana'' yoga is the path of wisdom where the individual pursues knowledge and introspective self-understanding as spiritual practice, and ''karma yoga'' is the path of virtuous action (karma) where one acts without expecting rewards or consequences, also known as ''[[Nishkama Karma|nishkama karma]]''.<ref name="Brannigan2010p18">{{cite book|author=Michael C. Brannigan|title=Striking a Balance: A Primer in Traditional Asian Values|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=axvPxswqNLQC&pg=PA18| year=2010| publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-7391-3846-5|pages=18–22}}</ref><ref name=bishop47>{{cite book|author=Gordon S. Wakefield|title=The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ga815P6vxygC&pg=PA46|year=1983|publisher=WJK Press|isbn=978-0-664-22170-6|pages=46–47}}</ref> Later, new movements within Hinduism added [[raja yoga]] as the fourth spiritual path, but this is not universally accepted as distinct to other three.<ref>{{cite book|author=Roderick Hindery|title=Comparative Ethics in Hindu and Buddhist Traditions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-FswBLvTkvQC |year=1978|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0866-9|pages=26–27}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=George D. Chryssides|title=Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WA12nHRtmAwC |year=2012|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-8108-6194-7|page=285}}</ref>

The ''Bhagavata Purana'' is a popular and influential text in the Vaishnavism traditions,. and itIt discusses [[Ishvara]] pranidhana (devotion to a personal god).<ref name="Bryant2017" /> The Sanskrit text presents various modes of bhakti specifically to incarnations of [[Vishnu]], particularly in terms of "Narayana, Krishna". According to Edwin Bryant, and other scholars,<ref>{{cite book|author=Lloyd Pflueger|editor=Knut A. Jacobsen|title=Theory and Practice of Yoga : 'Essays in Honour of Gerald James Larson|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jPK2spNnwm4C&pg=PA36|year=2008|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-3232-9|pages=36–44}}</ref> the Bhakti yoga taught in this text is inspired by''[[Yoga Sutras of Patanjali]]'' and ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'', and they focus on "the ultimate truths of the individual self and its loving relationship with a personal god".<ref name="Bryant2017" /><ref>{{cite book|author=Gregor Maehle|title=Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f9ygWu2xM3QC&pg=PA160|year=2011|publisher=New World Library|isbn=978-1-57731-986-3|pages=160–163}}</ref> The presentation in the ''Bhagavata Purana'' is not in abstract terms, but through "charming and delightful tales that capture the heart and mind", the goal of Bhakti yoga, states Bryant.<ref name="Bryant2017">{{cite book|author=Edwin F. Bryant|title=Bhakti Yoga: Tales and Teachings from the Bhagavata Purana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2c-_DQAAQBAJ|year=2017|publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux|isbn=978-0-374-71439-0|pages=1–7}}</ref>

Bhakti oftoward the goddess is another significant tradition, one found in [[Shaktism]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Laura Amazzone|title=Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PM_TNDu8NHUC&pg=PA45|year=2012|publisher=University Press of America|isbn=978-0-7618-5314-5|pages=45–51}}</ref> The theology of oneness and unity of "the divine Goddess and the devotee", their eternal fearless love for each other is a theme found in ''Devi Gita'', a text embedded inside the ''[[Devi-Bhagavata Purana]]''. The specific Bhakti yoga practices amongst Shakta are similar to those in other traditions of Hinduism.<ref>{{cite book|author=C. Mackenzie Brown|title=The Devi Gita: The Song of the Goddess: A Translation, Annotation, and Commentary|date=11 September 1998|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HZVhvra-n9wC |publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-7914-9773-9|pages=208–210}}</ref><ref name="McDaniel2004p11">{{cite book|author=June McDaniel|title=Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West Bengal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=caeJpIj9SdkC&pg=PA11 |year=2004|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-534713-5|pages=11–13, 209–221, 265–266}}</ref> The Shakta devotion is common in eastern states of India, particularly [[West Bengal]]. The personal god here varies, and includes [[Durga]], [[Tara (Buddhism)|Tara Ma]] (Buddhist influence), [[Kali]] and to a lesser extent [[Saraswati]], [[Lakshmi]], [[Bharat Mata]] (land goddess), according to June McDaniel.<ref name="McDaniel2004p11" />

These nine principles of devotional service were incorporated by [[Rupa Goswami]] linked to [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] as integral to spiritual practice focused on Krishna.<ref name="Halberman" /> The gopis practiced these forms of bhakti when they were separated from Shri Krishna.<ref name="Halberman" />

Rupa Goswami and [[Jiva Goswami]] have offered significant commentary on bhakti. Rupa defines bhakti as "Bhakti is said to be service to Krishna, by means of the senses. This service is free of all limitations, dedicated to Him and pure [of self-motive]."{{cite quote}} Jiva aligns closely with this, stating that bhakti is the preeminent path to attaining perfection through service. The ultimate expression of bhakti is service to Krishna.<ref name="Bryant2017" />