Akiñcana-bhakti
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
Akiñcana-bhakti literally means ‘devotion that does not ask for anything else’.
The scriptures have two main currents of thought. These are:
The schools of devotion advocate that bhakti is a direct means to mokṣa and state that it is much easier than jñāna.
A devotee of God can cultivate bhakti for several reasons :
- To get over his troubles
- To get wealth, position or pleasures of life
- To realize God
It is the last category that is bhakti in the real sense, the others being just trading in religion. A true devotee of God, called ekāntin, wants Him and Him alone and nothing else. Such a devotion is designated ‘akiñcana-bhakti,’ a devotion that does not want anything else in return from Him.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore