Question

How did the meaning of the word bhakti change overtime

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The term "bhakti" has evolved within Indian religious and philosophical contexts. Initially present in the Vedic and Upanishadic periods, it gained prominence through the Bhagavad Gita, where it was emphasized as a path to spiritual liberation. The medieval Bhakti movement (7th to 17th century CE) further transformed bhakti into a personal and direct relationship with the divine, challenging societal norms. In the post-medieval and colonial era, encounters with Western influences diversified interpretations. In the modern era, bhakti has adapted across various spiritual traditions, showcasing its dynamic and evolving nature. Overall, from its early roots in ritualism, bhakti has become a personalized and devotional concept in the rich tapestry of Indian religious thought.

Answer 2

It was originally used in Hinduism, referring to devotion and love for a personal god or a representational god by a devotee. In ancient texts such as the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, the term simply means participation, devotion and love for any endeavor, while in the Bhagavad Gita, it connotes one of the possible paths of spirituality and towards moksha, as in bhakti marga.

Bhakti in Indian religions is "emotional devotionalism", particularly to a personal god or to spiritual ideas. Thus, bhakti requires a relationship between the devotee and the deity. The term also refers to a movement, pioneered by Alvars and Nayanars, that developed around the gods Vishnu (Vaishnavism), Shiva (Shaivism) and Devi (Shaktism) in the second half of the 1st millennium CE.

Bhakti ideas have inspired many popular texts and saint-poets in India. The Bhagavata Purana, for example, is a Krishna-related text associated with the Bhakti movement in Hinduism. Bhakti is also found in other religions practiced in India, and it has influenced interactions between Christianity and Hinduism in the modern era. Nirguni bhakti (devotion to the divine without attributes) is found in Sikhism, as well as Hinduism. Outside India, emotional devotion is found in some Southeast Asian and East Asian Buddhist traditions, and it is sometimes referred to as Bhatti.

According to Michael Pasquier, devotional elements similar to bhakti have been part of various world religions throughout human history. Devotional practices are found in Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism.