The beginning of Bhakti


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

The beginning of Bhakti

The Beginning of Bhakti: This was also the time when the worship of certain deities, which became a central feature of later Hinduism, gained in importance. These deities included Shiva, Vishnu, and goddesses such as Durga. These deities were worshiped through Bhakti, an idea that became very popular at this time. Bhakti is generally understood as a person’s devotion to his or her chosen deity. Anybody, whether rich or poor, belonging to the so-called ‘high’ or ‘low’ castes, man or woman, could follow the path of Bhakti.

According to this system of belief, if a devotee worships the chosen deity with a pure heart, the deity will appear in the form in which he or she may desire. So, the deity could be thought of as a human being, lion, tree or any other form. Once this idea gained acceptance; artists made beautiful images of these deities.

Because the deities were special, these images of the deity were often placed within special homes, places that we describe as temples

Why ordinary people were attracted to Bhakti

  • Bhakti comes from the Sanskrit team 'bhaj' meaning 'to derive or share'. This suggests an intimate, two -way relationship between the deity and the devotee.
  • Bhakti is directed towards Bhagavat which is often translated as God but also means one who possesses and shares bhaga, literally 'good fortune' or 'bliss'
  • The devotee, known as the bhakta or the bhagvata shares his or her chosen deity's bhaga.
  • Bhakti is generally understood as a person's devotion to his or her chosen deity. Anybody whether rich or poor belonging to the so called 'high' or 'low' caste, man or women could follow the path of Bhakti.
  • According to this system ,that if a devotee worships the chosen deity with a pure heart the deity will appear in the form in which he or she may desire. So, the deity could be thought of as a human being ,lion ,tree or any other form.
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