bhakta

Bhakta is a Sanskrit term meaning "devotee" or "worshipper." In Hindu usage, a bhakta is a person devoted to a personal god and often engages in devotion through singing, prayer, and ritual. The word derives from bhaj, meaning to adore or worship, and signifies being surrendered or attached in love to the divine.

The bhakti tradition, or bhakti movement, emerged in ancient and medieval India and emphasized a direct, personal relationship with the divine over formal ritual or priestly authority. In Tamil Nadu, the Alvars (devotees of Vishnu) and Nayanars (devotees of Shiva) laid early foundations for bhakti poetry and practice. In later centuries, poets and saints across the subcontinent expressed devotion in vernacular languages to deities such as Krishna, Rama, Shiva, or Devi. Notable figures include Meera Bai, Ravidas, Surdas, Tulsidas, Tukaram, Basavanna, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, among others. The movement influenced various Hindu traditions and, in some regions, intersected with social reform and reformist currents.

In Hindu philosophy, bhakti is one of several paths to moksha, emphasizing heartfelt, loving devotion and a personal relationship with a deity. Bhakti can be directed toward different traditions, including Vaishnava bhakti (to Vishnu or Krishna), Shaiva bhakti (to Shiva), and Shakta bhakti (to Devi). Practices commonly associated with bhakti include kirtan (devotional singing), bhajan (prayer songs), temple worship, pilgrimages, and satsang (spiritual gatherings).

Today, bhakta remains a widely used term for devotees; it also appears as a given name or surname in various Indian communities. The concept continues to influence religious practice, literature, and music in contemporary Hindu culture.