What is Bhakti?
Definition and Importance
One can define bhakti based on its origin and historical development in any way that suits her purpose. However, without a definition, bhakti remains merely a sentimental and emotional experience. Going to either of these extremes prevents us from understanding and expressing our faith in the Lord.
Personal Understanding of Bhakti
When I began to use ‘bhakti’ to describe my understanding and expression of faith in the Lord, it often led people to one of two conclusions: either it is a doctrinal, theological, or philosophical term, or it is just a personal emotional experience. I use the term ‘bhakti’ because it helps me understand the teachings of the Muktiveda in Indian terms.
In this sense, bhakti goes beyond ‘faith’ as understood by traditional theological definitions and transcends the limitations of sentiment and emotionalism, although many may misunderstand and misinterpret it. While some may argue about the absence of bhakti in the Hindu Vedas1, it is hard to deny its presence in the Muktiveda.
My Journey of Faith
My faith in the Lord has had a long and diverse journey. It has taken me from Sunday schools to resentment toward Christians, then to encountering the Lord through Tamil servants, to a Bible Institute, a brief stay in a theological college, and now to my personal studies. Despite limited resources and guidance, my goal has been to develop an intellectual understanding of my faith.
When my own reasoning and intellectual understanding failed to grasp several teachings of the Muktiveda that seemed contradictory to me, it was my Hindu tradition that anchored my faith through my personal relationship with the Lord.2 That’s when I understood what bhakti truly means.
The Essence of Bhakti
Bhakti is more than an intellectual understanding of faith based on theological terms expressed through doctrines from the Muktiveda. It is also more than mere emotional sentiment. While faith is important in every respect, it is only one doctrine found in the Muktiveda. Other important concepts include ‘hope’ and ‘love.’3 Without faith, there is no hope, and without hope, faith has no meaning. Love provides a stage for us to express and experience both.
I appreciate this statement by Bishop Bill Frey: “Hope is hearing the music of the future; faith is dancing to it today.”4 Love serves as the stage for both solo and group performances. For me, bhakti encapsulates all three concepts in a single word. Reducing it to mere doctrine, philosophy, theology, or sentiment will prevent one from dancing joyfully and may invite criticism of any dancing at all.
A Personal Example
Let me provide a recent example. After writing Song 259, I thought I wouldn’t share it with anyone, or at least only with those who know Tamil, primarily because it is challenging to translate certain words into English. Particularly, this line is difficult:
இரண்டில் ஒன்று இன்றே பார்க்கணும்.
Today I want to know for sure.
The context of this line reflects a contention with a person with whom I had a quarrel. After becoming tired of the conflict, I said, “Ok, today I want to bring this to an end between us,” meaning we would contest the particular issue, and if we could not reach an amicable agreement, we would have to part ways. “You will remain dead to me, and I will remain the same to you.”
Another challenging line is வம்புக்கு அழைத்தும் மறுப்பது முறையா.
To voluntarily drag a person into a controversy even though he is not interested in it.
However, my bhakti gives me the liberty to express my feelings and thoughts, even at 11:45 at night when I wrote this song. The climax is in the final stanza, which reconciles my faith through bhakti after my contention with the Lord:
ஏதோ ஒருகாரணம் உன்னிடம் உண்டு
There is a reason you have for this
அதைச் சொன்னால் எனக்கு புரியாது என்று
And I cannot understand even if you told me
பொறுமை காக்க நீயும் சொல்கிறாய்
You ask me to keep patience
அதை புரிந்துகொண்டால் நிம்மதி தருகிறாய்.
If I understand this you will give peace.
This expresses my faith that God has a reason for my present life here at Mathigiri (which I am not enjoying much). My hope is that only if I remain patient will He reveal the secret. The evidence for this is the peace I have received through the love of the Lord. All this is understood through one word: bhakti. It is not merely a doctrine or sentiment but my relationship with the Lord.
If this concept is absent in the Muktiveda, then my understanding and interpretation of it are completely wrong.
29-11-14
Revised, 15-7-2024
Gurukulam
Endnotes
1…Traces of the doctrine of bhakti may be discovered even in the Rgvedic hymns and mantras, some of which are full of loving faith in God, particularly in some of the hymns and verses addressed to Varuna and also Indra (Rg.III.43.4, X.42.11 X.112.10–in all of which Indra is called `sakha’ friend and I.104.9, VII.32.26–in both Indra is said to be like a father)…the Vedic sages had reached the stage of sakhya-bhakti, that the form of a wife for the sake of a devotee, that Indra partook soma juice from a devotee who, in the absence of the proper implements for crushing soma stalks, extracted soma juice from soma stalks crushed with the devotee’s own teeth…—P. V. Kane, History of Dharmasastras, Poone, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute vol.V. part.II. Ch.XXIV, p.951.
2. I am proud to call myself a Hindu. There isn’t a perfect identity of any kind (social, cultural, religious, ethnic) that others should wish to own by giving up their birth identity. Every identity is marred with many blemishes. But as the Tamil proverb says: காக்கைக்கும் தன் குஞ்சு பொன்குஞ்சு (“For the crow, its chick is also beautiful”), I am proud of my identity as a Hindu, however unacceptable it may seem to others. There is no point in tracing its sociological origin in the recent past or proving its absence in the historical past. As long as the Constitution of my country recognizes it, I must own it. We cannot live in a ‘no man’s land’; we all have some identity by our birth, however deformed it may be. Even transgender persons are now identified as ‘she’ or ‘he’ and not ‘it,’ and the choice is left to them to determine their personal identity as a third gender.
3. ‘Faith’ is mainly mean ‘trust’ in NT, says Dr. Hoefer. Then I thought about it. I can have trust on anything—inanimate objects. Will this table take this much wait on it; will this later hold my weight etc. Of course, as I said before bhakti could be even for a land like rashtra-bhakti’. But bhakti, mainly means relationship. Even this rashtra bhakti is based on the concept of considering one’s nation as ‘matru-bhumi’ (mother land) or ‘pitru-bhumi’ (father land). So I don’t find any reason why not I use bhakti for my relationship with my Lord.
After this brainstorm I was curious to know what all the information I gathered on this points. Don’t be perplexed. I am not going to give another long list of notes on them. But I will share some important points which I find will endorse my view. If there is anything that is not agreeing with my view, I will share with my response to it.
4. From a sermon preached at The Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge, Penn., September 2001, notes 9, in Kenneth E. Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural Studies in 1 Corinthians, Downers Grove, Illinois, IVP Academic, 2011, p. 477.
Here is the full Song. First in simple English converted from my own English translation and then in Classical English and then original in Tamil
BT Song 259
Simple English Version
1.
What is the use of living on this earth anymore?
What am I going to accomplish in the rest of my life?
Not knowing your will properly,
Somehow, I live in this body that you gave.
2.
I become tired in both body and mind;
I grow weak from fighting with myself.
I don’t have the strength to fight with anyone,
So I have come to fight with you.
3.
Is it right for you to remain like this?
Is it correct for you not to accept my challenge?
Don’t hesitate, thinking that I lack strength;
I come with courage, so don’t run away from me.
4.
Today, I want to know for sure;
I should receive your answer clearly.
When I don’t run away fearing you,
Why do you run away fearing something?
5.
Wherever you go, I won’t let you go;
I won’t be afraid of whatever you do to me.
Can you escape from me?
Is it possible for you once you’ve mingled with me?
6.
Are you deaf, even after I say this much?
Are you dumb, as there is no answer from you?
How much time will you take and delay?
Am I a fool to let you go away from me?
7.
Tell me clearly what you are doing at present;
Why this game of hide and seek?
Whoever closes their eyes and whoever seeks, what is the use?
You don’t understand my troubles.
8.
This does not remain unknown to you;
That I know well.
But there is a secret behind this,
At least tell it to me one time.
9.
But you have your own reason to remain silent;
As I cannot understand if you tell.
You ask me to keep patience;
If I understand this, you will give me peace.
Mathigiri, 27-11-14, 11.45 pm
BT Song 259 There is a secret
Classical Style Version
1.
What purpose remains in dwelling upon this earth?
What shall I achieve in the time left to me?
Unaware of Thy will in its full worth,
Yet in this body Thou hast given, I be.
2.
Both body and mind grow weary in my plight;
I weaken myself through this inner strife.
Lacking strength to combat any outward fight,
Thus, I approach Thee to contest for life.
3.
Is it just for Thee to linger in such way?
Is it right to deny my challenge’s call?
Do not falter, fearing my strength may sway;
With courage I stand; please do not hide at all.
4.
This day I seek to know with utmost grace;
I wish to hear Thy answer crystal clear.
If I stand firm and do not flee in haste,
Why dost Thou retreat, consumed by fear?
5.
Wherever Thou dost wander, I shall hold;
I fear not what Thou mayest do to me.
Canst Thou escape from my relentless hold?
Is it feasible once mingled we be?
6.
Art Thou deaf, despite my many earnest pleas?
Art Thou mute, as silence is Thy reply?
How long shall I endure such delays,
Am I a fool to let Thee drift and fly?
7.
Tell me plainly what actions dost Thou take;
What purpose lies within this game we play?
Whoever shuts their eyes, whoe’er may seek,
What value holds this shadowed display?
8.
This does not escape Thy knowing gaze;
Of this, I hold a firm and steadfast view.
Yet there lies a secret beneath the haze;
At least once, reveal it all to me, true.
9.
Yet Thou hast reasons for Thy silence deep;
As understanding flees from words imparted.
Thou bid’st me wait with patience, not to weep;
If I grasp this, my spirit shall be charted.
Mathigiri, 27-11-14, 11.45 pm
BT Song 259 ரகசியம் உள்ளது
1.
இருந்தென்ன ஆவது இனி இந்த உலகிலே
ஏது நான் செய்வது எஞ்சிய வாழ்விலே
ஏது தான் உன் சித்தம் அதை நான் அறியாமலே
என்னவோ வாழ்கிறேன் நீ தந்த உடலிலே
2.
உடலாலே மனதாலே ஓய்ந்துமே போனேன்
என்னோடு போராடி தளர்ந்துமே போனேன்
எவரோடும் போராட பலனற்று போனேன்
அதனால் உன்னோடு போராட வந்தேன்
3.
இப்படி நீ ஒதுங்கி இருப்பது சரியா
வம்புக்கு அழைத்தும் மறுப்பது முறையா
தெம்பில்லை என்னிடம் என்று நீ தயங்காதே
துணிந்து நான் வந்த பின் ஓடி நீ மறையாதே
4.
இரண்டில் ஒன்று இன்றே பார்க்கணும்
என்ன உன் பதில் அதை நான் கேட்கணும்
உனக்கு பயந்து நான் ஓடாத போது
எதற்கு பயந்து நீ ஓடுறாய் கூறு
5.
எங்கே போனாலும் உன்னை விடமாட்டேன்
என்ன நீ செய்தாலும் பயப்படமாட்டேன்
என்னிடமிருந்து நீ தப்பிக்க முடியுமா
என்னுடன் கலந்த பின் உனக்கது இயலுமா
6.
இவ்வளவு சொல்லியும் நீ என்ன செவிடா
ஏதும் பதில் இல்லை நீ என்ன ஊமையா
எத்தனை காலம் நீ தாமதித்தாலும்
உன்னை விட்டிட நான் என்ன மோழையா
7.
என்ன நீ செய்கிறாய் தெளிவாகச் சொல்லு
ஏன் இந்த கண்ணாமூச்சி விளையாட்டு
யார் மூடி என்ன யார் தேடி என்ன
என் பாடு உனக்கு என்றுமே புரியாது
8.
புரியாமல் உனக்கு இது என்றும் இல்லை
அதுவும் எனக்கு புரியாமல் இல்லை
இதற்குப் பின் இரகசியம் உள்ளது
அதை மட்டுமாவது ஒருமுறை கூறு
9.
ஏதோ ஒரு காரணம் உன்னிடம் உண்டு
அதைச் சொன்னால் எனக்கு புரியாது என்று
பொறுமை காக்க நீயும் சொல்கிறாய்
அதை புரிந்துகொண்டால் நிம்மதி தருகிறாய்.
மத்திகிரி, 27-11-2014, இரவு 11.45
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3-12-14
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