Karen Prentiss offers an interpretive history of bhakti, an influential religious perspective in Hinduism. She argues that although bhakti is mentioned in every contemporary sourcebook on Indian religions, it still lacks an agreed-upon definition. "Devotion" is found to be the most commonly used synonym. Prentiss seeks a new perspective on this elusive concept. Her analysis of Tamil (south Indian) materials leads her to suggest that bhakti be understood as a doctrine
of embodiment. Bhakti, she says, urges people towards active engagement in the worship of God. She proposes that the term "devotion" be replaced by "participation," emphasizing bhakti's call for engagement in worship and the necessity of embodiment to fulfill that obligation. The book ends with two
appendices presenting translations of hymns and an important philosophical text.
- ISBN10 661047205X
- ISBN13 9786610472055
- Publish Date 1 January 2000
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 29 February 2012
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Oxford University Press
- Format eBook
- Language English