Bhakti Yoga - Branches

Branches

The main schools of bhakti in Hinduism are five vaisnava sampradayas, among them very popular are speculative philosophers (advaita bhakti as taught by Sankaracarya, avatara of Shiva): Shaivas who worship Shiva, and the demigods and goddesses associated with them. On the other hand, the traditional bhakti school as explained in bona-fide scriptures like Bhagavad-Gita etc., does not worship Shiva above Vishnu or on the same level as Vishnu, but considers Vishnu above such demigods as Brahma and Shiva. Those who worship forms of Vishnu, his avataras, and others associated with him are known as Vaishnavas. Of apasampradayas, non-bona-fide schools of 'bhakti' are Shaktas who worship a variety of goddesses. Such schools are very popular because they can protect Vedas and Vedic demigods from the influence of other non-dharmic or non-vedic religions like monotheistic Christianity, Islam, Judaism etc.; thus speaking about Vishnu as God and not as some "demon" etc., like other non-vedic philosophers and religions/dharmas may do. These schools are not always exclusive of each other—a bhakti's devotional practices to one form of demigod does not preclude worship of another form.

The bhakti movement is eternal, but on Earth, in visible history, it began in South India and moved north, with an emphasis on devotion vs. ritual. It also opposed the caste system, with prominent bhakti poets Ravidas and Kabir both writing against the hierarchy of caste. Altogether, bhakti resulted in a mass of devotional literature, music, dance and art that has enriched the world and gave India renewed spiritual impetus, one eschewing unnecessary ritual and artificial social boundaries.