THE BHAKTI TRADITION IN HINDUISM BHAKTI YOGA AN OVERVIEW
Keywords:
The Four Yogas (Miirga), Evolution of the Concept of Bhakti in the Indian Tradition, Bhagavata Religion and Vaishnavism, Merits of BhaktiAbstract
Yoga is one of the six orthodox (Asthika) systems of philosophy (darsana) in the Indian tradition. Patanlall, the author of the philosophical text, "Yoga Siitra" details the philosophical approach to the problems of religious experience. The central point dealt with and emphasised in the last chapter (fourth) of his work is that the individual self (Atman. and not just the psychological Ego) attains "release" from the "bondage" and reaches Brahman. the Absolute Reality. This is the religious goal set in Sanatana dharma (Hinduism).
References
Annie Besant, "Hinduism", Ibid. p, 137.
V.S. Agrawala, "Bhakti cult in Ancient India", Bhakti Cult and Ancient Indian Geography, op. cit, p. 23.
N. Hay. "Sri Ramakrishna - Mystic and Spiritual Teacher" -Readings in Cultural Heritage, of India, Sixth edition, (Rajendra Prasad Institute of Communication and Management, Bombay) p. 111.
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Govindacharya, Divine Wisdom of Dravida Saints, p, iii. 7. S.K. Iyengar. Some Contributions etc., pp, 273-74.
S. Radhakrishnan, Indian philosophy, Vol. I. p. 108.
Hiriyanna. Essentials of Indian Philosophy, p. 26. 3. Radhakrishnan, op, cit, p. 525.
