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Bhakti tradition

Tradition
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The Indian devotional poetry movement emphasizing personal devotion

Detailed Definition
The Bhakti tradition is a devotional movement in Indian poetry spanning from the 7th century onward, emphasizing passionate, personal love for a deity (often Krishna or Shiva) through lyrics in vernacular languages; characterized by emotional intensity, mystical union, and rejection of ritual orthodoxy, Bhakti poets like Mirabai and Kabir used simple, direct verse to express ecstatic surrender, influencing both religious practice and literary aesthetics across South Asia.
Example
Example in poetry:
Mirabai’s bhakti poems: “My eyes long for the sight of my Lord” – devotional longing in Hindi; Kabir’s dohas fuse Hindu-Muslim mysticism: “The flute’s music is in the emptiness”; Contemporary bhakti poetry by Arundhathi Subramaniam reimagines devotion in feminist terms; Bhakti tradition rejects ritual for direct, personal divine encounter; Poems often use simple vernacular and nature metaphors for spiritual truths.
Additional Notes
Hindu devotional poetry tradition emphasizing personal relationship with deity. Indian tradition (6th-17th centuries). Related to devotional verse and mystical poetry. Study regional variations and key poets. Important influence on Indian poetry.
Also Known As
Indian devotional poetry bhakti sant tradition
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