Bhakti Worship When Discussing Hinduism, Essay

Though the idea encompasses any personal relationship with and worship of the divine, it is not nearly that inclusive when examined from a holistic viewpoint. Instead, there are divisions in bhakti worship. "The major forms of bhakti are described by Hindus themselves, not only by their special relation to particular forms of deity, but also according to the various moods of the devotee" (Carman 1987, p. 587). In fact, being a bhakta is an experience that can differ tremendously depending on the individual. Some bhaktas are very similar to monks or priests in other religious traditions, in that their entire existence and living is devoted to the expression of religious devotion. Interestingly enough, those bhaktas may be the most outside of the traditional Hindu experience, which focuses on major life events that have very secular elements, such as marriage and childbirth.

"Each combination of bhava and rasa uses a particular human relationship; servant to master or child to parent (respectful subordinate), friend to friend (joking familiarity), parent to child (maternal affection and concern), and beloved to lover (combining elements of the other three relationships in passionate love)" (Carman 1987, p. 587). What this means is that not are the sectarian groups free to choose the modes of expression of their relationship to the divine, but so are the individuals within those groups. The result of all of this individual and group variation is a form of worship that treads a middle ground in Hindu society. Bhakti, with its emphasis on passion, is oftentimes contrasted with the detachment required for practices such as yoga, even though bhakti and yoga are often complimentary practices. This is due to the fact that bhakti and yoga both focus on the importance of transcending the physical world. However, the way that one physically transcends the world always comes back to the idea of the relationship with the divine, and it is this relationship that seperates bhakti from other forms of Hindu religious expression.

References

Carman, J 1987, Bhakti, Encylopedia of Religion,2nd ed., pp. 856-860.

Gonda, J 1987, Indian Religions, Encylopedia of Religion,2nd ed.,…