As the festive season begins, Janmashtami, Ganesha Chaturthi, Diwali and various other festivals evoke different feelings within us. The essence of these celebrations is not merely in the external festivities, the decorations, shopping or rituals. At a deeper level, festivals invite us to reflect on what the various Gods and Goddesses represent and, more importantly, what kind of bhāva (emotions) they awaken in our hearts. When we understand the significance of the divine forms we worship, our devotion naturally deepens. Knowledge and devotion complement each other. Merely listening to philosophical lectures and accumulating knowledge is not enough if there is no bhakti-bhāva connecting us to the higher ideal. Jñāna and bhakti are not competing paths; they can work together, and either path, or a combination of both, can lead us towards the same destination. But to truly enjoy the journey, both these paths are important. So, what exactly is bhakti ? In simple terms, bhakti is the...
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