| Essence Of Hinduism |
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HINDU THEISM |
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| Bahya-bhakti, as
the word itself indicates, is external bhakti. That is, it consists of the adoration of
some thing external to ourselves. It is based on the unenlightened
(tamasa) feeling that
God is external to us and that He dwells in a particular locality - a temple or a shrine
or a holy bathing Ghat. Our pilgrimages, and our worship of images, emblems and sacred
books are all examples of Bahya-bhakti. Popular religion does not generally rise above
this level. Ananya-bhakti, as the name indicates, is the exclusive-worship of one's la-devata in the heart. Ananya means 'not another'. Therefore, this type of bhakti is based on the passionate (rajasa) feeling that one's own conception of God is the highest and the best and that it should be clung to with exclusive devotion. It leads to an intense monotheism. It clears the mind of the worshipper of many cobwebs of superstition and gives a healthy direction to the spirit of devotion. To understand the purity and the beauty of monotheistic faith in the Hindu fold one should read the great Ramayana of Tulsi Das, which is so popular in Northern India, or the Saivite hymns of Southern India. But the danger of this type of bhakti is that it may give rise to bigotry and cruelty towards those who have different conceptions of God and different methods of approach. |
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| About Hindu Theism |
