bhakti: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, academic, religious, technical
Quick answer
What does “bhakti” mean?
In Hinduism, intense personal devotion and loving attachment to a personal deity or spiritual ideal, considered a path to salvation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In Hinduism, intense personal devotion and loving attachment to a personal deity or spiritual ideal, considered a path to salvation.
A term used more broadly in religious studies and comparative spirituality to denote a devotional tradition or orientation, characterized by emotional surrender and personal love for the divine, found in various faiths (e.g., Sikhism, some schools of Buddhism).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. The word is used identically in academic and religious contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
None specific to either variety; connotations are entirely tied to its religious/academic context.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, but equally likely to appear in relevant scholarly or religious texts in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “bhakti” in a Sentence
[to show/have/express] bhakti [for/towards] [deity/person]bhakti [is/forms] [the/a] [path/way] [to salvation]the [practice/cult] of bhaktiVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bhakti” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The devotee seeks to bhakti towards Krishna.
- He spent his life bhakti-ing the goddess.
American English
- The practitioner aims to express bhakti toward the deity.
- She devoted herself to bhaktifying her daily actions.
adverb
British English
- He worshipped bhakti-ly, with full-hearted song.
- They prayed bhakti-fully.
American English
- She sang bhaktī-ly to the divine.
- He served the community bhakti-fully.
adjective
British English
- The bhakti tradition is profoundly emotional.
- He follows a bhakti path.
American English
- Bhaktī movements transformed medieval India.
- She engaged in bhakti practices.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in religious studies, comparative religion, South Asian studies, and philosophy departments. Used with precise technical meaning.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used by individuals discussing Hindu spirituality or yoga philosophy.
Technical
Standard term in Indology, theology, and studies of devotional movements.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bhakti”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bhakti”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bhakti”
- Pronouncing the 'bh' as /b/ + /h/ (it's a single aspirated sound, often simplified to /b/ in English).
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a bhakti'). It is generally uncountable.
- Using it outside of a Hindu/Indian religious context without explanation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but it is related. Bhakti is one of the main paths (yogas) to spiritual liberation in Hinduism, specifically the path of devotion. 'Yoga' is a broader term for spiritual discipline.
While bhakti is primarily directed towards the divine, in some traditions, the guru is seen as a manifestation or conduit of the divine, and thus receives similar devotional reverence.
While the term and its most systematic development are Hindu, similar devotional phenomena exist in other religions, such as Sufism in Islam or Pure Land Buddhism. Scholars may use 'bhakti' comparatively.
Common expressions include chanting the names of the deity (kirtan/japa), singing devotional hymns (bhajan), hearing and telling stories of the deity, pilgrimage, and selfless service (seva) done as an offering.
In Hinduism, intense personal devotion and loving attachment to a personal deity or spiritual ideal, considered a path to salvation.
Bhakti is usually formal, academic, religious, technical in register.
Bhakti: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbʌkti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːkti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable for this specialized term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Back to' the deity with love – 'Bhakti' is 'back-to' God through devoted love.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEVOTION IS A BOND OF LOVE (to a divine parent/lover/friend).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of 'bhakti'?