Notes on the Development of Bhakti

Abstract

The article "NOTES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF BHAKTI" by Frederick M. Smith explores the evolution of bhakti (devotion) in the Indian religious tradition, challenging the notion of a single "mature" form. The article traces the transformation of faith (shraddha) from its Vedic reciprocal nature to the selfless service emphasized in later Vaishnava sects. It highlights the shift in the concept of deity, from remote Vedic gods to personally engaged Puranic avatars, and the re-empowerment of the householder through an accessible spirituality, contrasting with the renunciate ideal. Smith also discusses the sociolinguistics of bhakti, particularly the use of "Vernacular Sanskrit" in texts like the Puranas and Epics to reach broader audiences, and the eventual liberation of bhakti from rigid yogic practices, as exemplified by thinkers like Parashara Bhattar. The article concludes that while orthodox philosophical traditions like Shankaracharya's viewed bhakti as secondary to knowledge, popular devotional movements ultimately prioritized it, shaping its central role in later Hindu traditions.