Bhakti in the Bhägavata Purana

Abstract

Thomas J. Hopkins discusses the Bhagavata Purana as a foundational text of Vaisnava bhakti, noting its influence on emotional devotion to Kṛṣṇa. Drawing on Friedhelm Hardy’s work, he argues that the text incorporates and expands upon Tamil Alvar poetry, especially the theme of viraha-bhakti (love-in-separation), absent in earlier Sanskrit texts. This fusion of Tamil emotionalism with Sanskrit narrative helped shape later movements like Caitanya Vaisnavism.