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The term “Bhakti” itself simply means “devotion”. Thus, Bhakti Yoga is the “yoga of universal love”, of abnegation and self-offering to the Supreme — otherwise referred to as the “yoga of devotion”. Here we find the practice of cultivating a humble and devoted service to the Divine, highest nature. The Bhakti yogi, through overflowing and indiscriminate, self-less love, breaks the bonds of the ego and experiences the unity of all things.
Some of the greatest Hindu mystics, such as Jayadeva were Bhakti yogis.
Lord Krishna said:
”I love the peaceful devotee who is neither a source of agitation in the world, nor agitated by the world. The Bhakti is one who is friendly and compassionate to all, free of fear, envy, hatred, and other annoyances that the world brings, who accepts the knocks that come their way as blessings in disguise.”
— Bhagavad Gita, Ch 12, V15
Source: International Yogalayam, http://www.discover-yoga-online.com
The term "bhakti" comes from the Sanskrit root "bhaj sevayam", which means to serve. Ultimately this refers to loving surrender or submission, which is commonly known as "devotion".
The following description was provided by Nikhileshwari Devi.
Bhakti is the process of yoga that actively engages the emotional mind or heart through feeling. Prior to true bhakti practice, a practitioner may have faithful feelings towards the presence of God and express this appreciation through kirtan, the recitation of Sanskrit verses, and other worshipping rituals. However, when a practitioner meets an enlightened bhakti saint, that saint's grace initiates his actual entrance into the path of bhakti.
There are three stages of bhakti. The first stage establishes the inner grace given by the Saint and emphasises understanding and regular practice. This stage is called "sadhana-bhakti" (preliminary bhakti). At the second stage, there is an evolution of one's devotional potential (which is not unlike the evolution of yogic siddhis) and which manifests as a natural awakened stage of love called "bhav-bhakti" (advanced bhakti). In this stage, a pratitioner could enter into states of "prem samadhi" or devotional ecstasy. This is followed by enlightenment in bhakti, which is called "bhagwat-prapti" or God realization, and is referred to as "siddha-bhakti" (final or divine-bhakti). The final stage of bhakti is a divine power that a practitioner receives through grace. At this time, his material bonds or ignorance are eliminated forever and he visualizes and experiences God, forever.
Lord Krishna explained this in the Gita (18/65) to Arjuna, his disciple,
"When your bhakti or loving attachment to Me is complete, then with My final grace I will remove whatever material bonds are binding you, and bestow upon you the state of complete liberation. Then you will be with Me forever."
In fact, enlightenment is possible on all the yoga paths only through bhakti, because it is only through grace that the bonds of Maya (material bondage) are broken, and grace is received only through bhakti. As a result, in the Gita the path to God or the path to ultimate divine bliss is referred to as either dualistic-devotion (dwaita-bhakti) or nondualistic devotion (advaita-bhakti). This means whether you follow a non-dual practice that has as its goal an impersonal attainment of bliss, or a dualistic practice that has as its goal the realization of God's personal form and love, everyone must practice bhakti because this is the process that joins a soul with God, however that divinity is conceived on that particular path.
Nikhileshwari Devi is a sanyasi (ordained) in the Hindu tradition of raganuga bhakti and has been teaching bhakti yoga and kirtan for the last 20 years
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