भक्ति (bhakti)
noun
Primarily a noun meaning devotion or worship, most often in a religious/spiritual sense; also used more loosely for deep devotion to a person, cause, or ideal.
Sense
1
:
religious devotion, worship
noun, feminine
Synonyms: पूजा (poojaa, worship, ritual-focused), श्रद्धा (shraddhaa, reverence/faith), उपासना (upaasnaa, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: भक्ति (bhakti) is the word behind the Bhakti movement, the centuries-long devotional tradition (Kabir, Meera, Tulsidas) that emphasized a personal, loving relationship with God over ritual or caste hierarchy. When Hindus talk about भक्ति भाव (bhakti bhaav, 'a devotional mood/feeling'), they mean that same heart-centered surrender, distinct from mere religious duty.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use भक्ति (bhakti) interchangeably with पूजा (poojaa), but भक्ति (bhakti) is the inner devotional feeling/state, while पूजा (poojaa) is the outward ritual act (lighting a lamp, offering flowers, etc.).
Sample Sentences:
मीरा की कृष्ण के प्रति भक्ति बहुत गहरी थी।
Meera's devotion to Krishna was very deep.
(miiraa kii krishn ke prati bhakti bahut gahrii thii।)
वह हर सुबह भक्ति भाव से मंदिर में पूजा करती है।
She worships at the temple every morning with a devotional heart.
(vah har subah bhakti bhaav se mandir men poojaa kartii hai।)
भक्ति में डूबे हुए भक्त कीर्तन गा रहे थे।
The devotees, immersed in devotion, were singing kirtan.
(bhakti men doobe hue bhakt kiirtan gaa rahe the।)
भगवान की भक्ति करो, तो मन को शांति मिलती है।
Devote yourself to God, and the mind finds peace.
(bhagvaan kii bhakti karo, to man ko shaanti miltii hai।)
काश मुझमें भी उतनी भक्ति होती जितनी तुलसीदास में थी।
If only I had as much devotion as Tulsidas had.
(kaash mujhmen bhii utnii bhakti hotii jitnii tulsiidaas men thii।)
भक्ति आंदोलन ने जाति के भेदभाव को चुनौती दी थी।
The Bhakti movement had challenged caste discrimination.
(bhakti aandolan ne jaati ke bhedbhaav ko chunautii dii thii।)
शायद उसकी भक्ति में कोई दिखावा न हो।
Perhaps there is no pretense in his devotion.
(shaayad uskii bhakti men koii dikhaavaa n ho।)
सच्ची भक्ति से भगवान भी प्रसन्न हो जाते हैं।
Even God is pleased by true devotion.
(sachchii bhakti se bhagvaan bhii prasann ho jaate hain।)
यह भजन विशेष रूप से भक्ति रस से भरा हुआ माना जाता है।
This bhajan is considered especially filled with the essence of devotion.
(yah bhajan vishesh roop se bhakti ras se bharaa huaa maanaa jaataa hai।)
आश्रम में सब कुछ भक्ति और सेवा के इर्द-गिर्द घूमता है।
In the ashram, everything revolves around devotion and service.
(aashram men sab kuchh bhakti aur sevaa ke ird-gird ghoomtaa hai।)
अगर तुम सच्चे मन से भक्ति करोगे, तो तुम्हें आत्मिक संतोष मिलेगा।
If you devote yourself with a true heart, you will find spiritual contentment.
(agar tum sachche man se bhakti karoge, to tumhen aatmik santosh milegaa।)
Sense
2
:
deep devotion or loyalty to a person, cause, or ideal (secular extension)
noun, feminine Takes की (kii) to mark the object of devotion, e.g. देश की भक्ति (desh kii bhakti, 'devotion to the country').
Synonyms: समर्पण (samarpan, surrender/dedication), निष्ठा (nishthaa, loyalty, formal), लगन (lagan, passionate dedication)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the same word stretched beyond temple and God -- you'll hear देशभक्ति (deshbhakti, 'patriotism', literally 'devotion to the country') on Republic Day, or guru भक्ति (guru bhakti, devotion to one's teacher). It signals a totality of commitment, not just liking or respecting something.
Sample Sentences:
उसकी देशभक्ति देखकर सब लोग प्रभावित हो जाते हैं।
Seeing his patriotism, everyone gets impressed.
(uskii deshbhakti dekhkar sab log prabhaavit ho jaate hain।)
शिष्य अपने गुरु के प्रति भक्ति से भरा हुआ था।
The disciple was filled with devotion towards his teacher.
(shishy apne guru ke prati bhakti se bharaa huaa thaa।)
टीम के लिए उसकी भक्ति में कभी कमी नहीं आई।
His devotion to the team never wavered.
(tiim ke lie uskii bhakti men kabhii kamii nahiin aaii।)
सैनिक अपने देश के लिए भक्ति और जान दोनों देते हैं।
Soldiers give both devotion and their lives for their country.
(sainik apne desh ke lie bhakti aur jaan donon dete hain।)
अगर तुम्हारी भक्ति सच्ची होती, तो तुम बीच में काम नहीं छोड़ते।
If your loyalty had been genuine, you wouldn't have abandoned the work halfway.
(agar tumhaarii bhakti sachchii hotii, to tum biich men kaam nahiin chhodte।)
काश उसमें अपने काम के प्रति थोड़ी भक्ति होती।
If only he had a little devotion towards his work.
(kaash usmen apne kaam ke prati thodii bhakti hotii।)
नेताजी की देशभक्ति की कहानियाँ स्कूल की किताबों में पढ़ाई जाती हैं।
Stories of Netaji's patriotism are taught in school textbooks.
(netaajii kii deshbhakti kii kahaaniyaan skool kii kitaabon men padhaaii jaatii hain।)
अपने विचारों के प्रति ऐसी भक्ति रखो कि कोई तुम्हें भटका न सके।
Hold such devotion to your principles that no one can lead you astray.
(apne vichaaron ke prati aisii bhakti rakho ki koii tumhen bhatkaa n sake।)
क्रांतिकारियों की भक्ति सिर्फ नारों में नहीं, उनके बलिदान में दिखती थी।
The revolutionaries' devotion showed not just in slogans but in their sacrifice.
(kraantikaariyon kii bhakti sirph naaron men nahiin, unke balidaan men dikhtii thii।)
पार्टी के प्रति उसकी भक्ति देखकर मुझे थोड़ा अजीब लगा।
Seeing his loyalty towards the party felt a bit strange to me.
(paartii ke prati uskii bhakti dekhkar mujhe thodaa ajiib lagaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
भक्ति
(bhakti)
(sg.f.oblique):
भक्ति
(bhakti)
(pl.f.direct):
भक्तिएँ
(bhaktien)
(pl.f.oblique):
भक्तिओं
(bhaktion)