Bhakti Yoga: What Is It?

AGRITA CHHIBER

Although it may appear that the term “yoga” has only recently come to be associated with contortionist poses practised by healthy, non-disabled, white bodies in idyllic settings, that is far from the whole scope of what this rich discipline has to offer.

The actual physical positions make up a very little portion of the practise. In actuality, many types of yoga don’t even call for doing positions.

When we go back to the word’s origin, “yoga,” we find the root “yuj-,” which means “to yoke, bind, or connect.“

All yoga styles and schools share the need to feel connected to something more than ourselves, despite the fact that there are numerous lineages of yoga, each with their own approaches and goals.

It may be claimed that Bhakti yoga, or the yoga of devotion, is the form of yoga that is most committed to that pursuit.

Bhakti yoga is frequently referred to as the path of devotion or the yoga of love.

In addition to being a well-known Bhakti yoga instructor, Nubia Teixeira is the author of “Yoga and the Art of Mudras.” The Bhakti yoga path, according to Teixeira, consists of “different practises that support one’s heart to express love in any and many different devotional ways.”

The word “bhakti” derives from the root “bhaj,” which meaning “to pray” or “to share.”

Depending on your lineage, there may be a strong emphasis on a particular deity or the Divine, although many contemporary researchers and instructors today define Bhakti yoga in a much more universal way. They view it as the pursuit of unwavering love for everyone and everything.

What were Bhakti yoga’s beginnings?

Ever since thought and critical reasoning have been part of human culture, people have been interested in the Divine.

Many of the mantras and prayers that Bhakti yoga practitioners say have their roots in the Vedas, the earliest Hindu scriptures and the first texts of yogic teaching (1500 B.C.).

Bhakti yoga is also mentioned in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad.

The Upanishads are a collection of commentaries on the Vedas that were written over a long period of time, roughly between the first century B.C. and the year 1400 C.E. “Bhakti” is defined as “devotion and love for any endeavour” (not only specifically seeking the Divine) in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad (1).

However, some yoga instructors believe that Bhakti yoga was initially introduced as its own branch of yoga in the Bhagavad Gita, a poem that can be found in India’s ancient epic, the Mahabharata (written sometime between the first and second century C.E.) (2).

The Bhagavad Gita, which translates as “the song of God,” discusses the four margas, or paths, of yoga. Which are:

Karma Yoga, the altruistic service branch of yoga
Jnana Yoga, often known as the yoga of learning
Raja Yoga, which follows Patanjali’s eight-limbed method, teaches how to master the mind.
Bhakti Yoga, the devotional kind of yoga

It’s important to note that, despite Hinduism’s widespread use of other gods, the Bhagavad Gita is particularly dedicated to Lord Krishna. Because of this, other instructors include the Puranas, which were composed between 400 and 1500 C.E., as additional essential Bhakti yoga literature (3).

There are supposedly 18 Puranas dedicated to various deities, though the exact number varies depending on the source.

How is Bhakti yoga practised?

You don’t even need a mat to practise this kind of yoga, despite the fact that it is currently available at well-known studios. In actuality, your heart is all you really need.

Bhakti yoga makes use of a wide range of contemplative practises and rituals, in contrast to many other varieties of yoga that are concentrated on the physical motions (asana) or specific breathing or meditation techniques.

These days, Bhakti yoga is frequently practised in classrooms with other types of yoga. For instance, a class named Bhakti Flow Yoga might be scheduled, which combines physical postures with Bhakti components like mantra or kirtan (devotional singing).

Teixeira refers to her yoga and bhakti classes as “Hatha & Bhakti.” She teaches asana weaved with several Bhakti practises in them, including hastabhinaya, which is a form of storytelling through hand gestures.

Bhakti yoga’s advantages

There are several advantages to engaging in this profound, meditative, and thankful style of yoga. Bhakti yoga has a number of advantages, including:

More cheerful

A recent study discovered that even online chanting appears to have significant psychosocial advantages, demonstrating the power of collective song. Group music and chanting have long been related to increased mood and psychological well-being.

An impression of wellbeing

Studies have shown for many years that prayer is associated with an increase in the subjective well-being of those who pray.

Decreased tension

Despite the paucity of evidence, recent discoveries relate mantra meditation to decreased stress. Hatha yoga, a kind of yoga that emphasises movement, is frequently linked to a decrease in stress, therefore hybrid classes like Bhakti Flow or Hatha & Bhakti Yoga may also offer these advantages.

Increased ability for attention

According to a 2017 study, hoping that a situation would become better helped people focus less on their fears and improved their general ability to maintain their attention on the things they wanted to.

Yoga is sometimes misunderstood as being very spiritual and God-focused. While there is a devotional component to bhakti, the ultimate goal is to create all we do out of love.

Yoga includes everything from sending good vibes to those who are experiencing turmoil throughout the world to praying for future family members, reciting mantras, placing photos on an altar, reading your favourite poet, and even practising self-love.

Agrita Chhibber is from Jammu.

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