The Bhakti movement once ran as a mainstream consciousness in this nation, yet now we have individuals who believe they understand what it means to be a true devotee or bhakt. The Bhakti movement, along with the expressions of bhakti by seekers and devotees, now faces scrutiny from those who identify as fact-checkers, the leftist ecosystem, and pseudo-intellectuals. These groups dismiss the profound significance and diverse expressions of a bhakta towards their master or guru in the name of pseudo-intellectualism.
The whole attempt of the left ecosystem seems to be to ridicule this pure movement and the conscious acceptance of bhakti.
Since the inception of religion and spirituality in Bharat, the objectification of a guru—his words, attire, and physical form—has been deeply revered. The masters who walked this land, their symbolism, and their physical form, in all ways, was made available for the common man to relate and bring a sense of devotion and surrender in their lives.
The guru and his physical form have long served as a bridge for the common devotee to connect with the divine. There are countless examples to illustrate this. However, the Left ecosystem appears determined to undermine the pure and conscious acceptance of bhakti.
Opposing Bhakti But Advocating Modern Fandom
The irony becomes apparent when we examine contemporary fan culture. The woke society readily accepts, and even celebrates, the fervent admiration of celebrities—individuals who often contribute little more than fleeting entertainment or fame. It’s funny how people clamour for an autographed T-shirt from a celebrity with little to offer beyond their fame—that’s called fandom.
People will spend their hard-earned money on pendants, visuals, and merchandise, believing it brings them closer to someone they idolise, who may end up being child abusers, drug addicts, or worse. Or they’ll pay thousands of dollars for event tickets just to laugh or mock the absurdity of the human condition, and call it entertainment or stand-up comedy.
These same celebrities sometimes later reveal themselves to be deeply flawed, embroiled in scandals involving substance abuse or more serious transgressions. Yet, the devotion of their followers rarely faces the same level of scrutiny or derision as that of religious devotees.
Double Standards of Leftist Ecosystem
Yet when someone buys an image of a guru’s feet out of reverence, it’s labelled as andhbhakti—blind devotion. This double standard by the Left raises several pertinent questions:
- Where do we draw the line between admiration and hypocrisy?
- How does the left perceive faith and why it appears highly biased against native culture?
- Do these contradictions arise from our own internal conflicts and lack of acceptance of spirituality?
Bhakti is one of the margs in the Bhagavad Gita and is the path in almost all religions, where followers revere their enlightened beings in a similar way.
In India, for centuries, any yogi who has attained enlightenment is naturally revered by those around him. People, including his disciples, long to be near him or stay connected to his visual form or presence in some manner. However, symbolic worship or reverence for the form or relics of saints and sages is common across all religions and not unique to Indian spiritual saints.
- Muslims revere relics of Prophet Muhammad
- Buddhists worship the relics of the Buddha
- Christians preserve and venerate items associated with Jesus Christ
- Various faiths maintain visual representations of saints and enlightened beings
Does that mean all these people are irrational?
The question then arises: Does this universal inclination toward devotional practices indicate a collective delusion? The answer lies in understanding that devotion is ultimately about where one centres their faith and to whom they choose to surrender. It’s simply a matter of where one’s devotion is directed and to whom.
Throughout history, humanity has consistently shown reverence for those who have demonstrated higher levels of perception, compassion, and enlightenment. This symbolic surrender to elevated beings has been a constant across civilisations and cultures. As long as humanity continues its quest for truth and meaning, this aspect of devotion will endure.
Dropping Moral Superiority and Judgement
Rather than dismissing or ridiculing the various expressions of bhakti, perhaps it’s time for a more nuanced understanding of devotion in all its forms. Whether expressed through traditional religious practices or modern fan culture, the human inclination to revere and connect with something greater than ourselves remains a fundamental aspect of our existence.
The key lies not in judging the form of devotion, but in recognising the universal human need for connection, meaning, and transcendence through all paths available.
The author is Spiritual Writer, Content Creator & Digital Media Educator and Founder, digitaljahidmedia.com. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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