From the beginning practice of bhakti to advanced devotion...

From the beginning practice of bhakti to advanced devotion, called prapatti, self-effacement is an intricate part of Hindu, even all Indian, culture. Bhakti yoga is embodied in Patanjali's Yoga Darshana in the second limb, niyamas (observances), as devotion (Ishvarapranidhana). Bhakti yoga is practiced in many Hindu schools, and highly developed in Vaishnavism as a spiritual path in itself, leading to perfection and liberation.

In Saiva Siddhanta, its cultivation is the primary focus during the kriya pada (stage of worship). See: bhakti yoga, prapatti, sacrifice, surrender, yajna. Bharat: n (Sanskrit) "He who supports, maintains or bears a burden." The ancient and original name of Indian lands and the constitutional name of independent India. (Bharat In Hindi.) Also, Bharatavarsha "land of Bharata," a legendary monarch and sage. bhashya: n (Sanskrit) "Speech, discussion." Commentary on a text.

Hindu philosophies are largely founded upon the interpretations, or bhashyas, of primary scripture. Other types of commentaries include: vritti, a brief commentary on aphorisms; tippani, like a vritti but less formal, explains difficult words or phrases; varttika, a critical study and elaboration of a bhashya; and tika or vyakhyana, an explanation of a bhashya or shastra in simpler language. Bhaskara: n (Sanskrit) Philosopher (ca 950).

His Bhaskarabhashya, a commentary on the Brahma Sutras, was the first elaborate criticism of Shankara's Advaitic doctrine of avidya-maya. See: Shankara,Vedanta, Vishishtadvaita. Bhavalinga: n (Sanskrit) "Mark of existence." Siva beyond space and time. See: atattva, Parasiva, Sivalinga,Vira Saivism.

bhedabheda: n (Sanskrit) "Difference-nondifference." A term in Vedanta which means that soul and world are identical with and yet different from God, in the same way that the waves of an ocean can be seen as being nondifferent from the ocean, yet they are not the ocean, only a part of it. See: Vedanta.

Bhogarishi: nu (Sanskrit) One of the 18 siddhas of Saiva tradition, an alchemist and tantrika yogi, associated with the Palani Hills Murugan temple in South India, who created the Dandayuthapaniswami murti from nine poisonous metals. He is thought by some to still reside there in a cave. Chinese historical records suggest that he came from China. See: siddha, siddhi, tantric. Bhojadeva Paramara: nu (Sanskrit) ite king, poet, artist and theologian of Gujarat (1018-1060). Author of Tattvaprakasha.