अनन्य भक्ति
ananya bhakti
Devotion that does not scatter in other directions and turns to the Lord alone; the tradition's name for the idea of Gita 7.17.
Ananya bhakti (अनन्य भक्ति) means devotion that turns to the Lord alone and is not scattered elsewhere. This is the tradition's name, not a two-word phrase taken verbatim from the Gita. The idea appears in the Gita as devotion "to the One alone" (Gita 7.17), and in another verse as the undivided devotion by which the Lord can be known in truth, seen and entered (Gita 11.54).
In chapter 7 it is the mark of the wise devotee: he is always joined to the Lord, his devotion is to the One alone, and the Lord is exceedingly dear to him as he is to the Lord. The other three kinds of devotee come to the Lord for something; for him the Lord Himself is the goal (Gita 7.18).
Common misreading: that "undivided" means disrespect for others. Undivided means the mind is not split; it does not mean looking down on anyone.
Better sense: the mind resting on the Lord undivided. The devotee does not come for a thing but for the Lord, and the love runs both ways.
The whole topic is in Four Kinds of Devotees.
Key shlokas
Related terms
Articles using this concept
Simple
- Do I Have to Carry Everything Alone? What the Gita Says
- Have I Done Too Much Wrong for God to Accept Me? What the Gita Says
- Is It Wrong to Remember God Only in Trouble?
- You Do Everything Right and God Still Feels Far: What the Gita Says
- क्या सारा बोझ अकेले उठाना पड़ेगा? गीता का उत्तर HI
- क्या सिर्फ़ मुसीबत में भगवान को याद करना ग़लत है? HI
- मैंने बहुत ग़लतियाँ की हैं, क्या भगवान अब भी अपनाएँगे? गीता का उत्तर HI
- सब कुछ करके भी भगवान दूर लगें, तो गीता क्या कहती है HI
In Depth
- Gita 11.52-55 Verse by Verse: How the Lord Is Reached and the Five Marks of the Devotee
- Great Souls and the Lord's Care: Gita 9.13-15 and 9.22 Verse by Verse
- How a Person of Very Bad Conduct Counts as Righteous: Gita 9.30-34 Verse by Verse
- Who Are the Four Kinds of Devotees? Gita 7.16-19 Verse by Verse
- गीता 11.52-55 श्लोक-दर-श्लोक: भगवान किससे मिलते हैं और भक्त के पाँच लक्षण HI
- चार प्रकार के भक्त कौन हैं: गीता 7.16-19 श्लोक दर श्लोक HI
- बहुत बुरा आचरण करने वाला भी भक्ति से साधु कैसे? गीता 9.30-34, श्लोक-दर-श्लोक HI
- महात्मा और योगक्षेम: गीता 9.13-15 और 9.22 श्लोक दर श्लोक HI
Deeper
- Gita 11.52-55: The Rare Sight of the Lord, Undivided Devotion and the Hard Questions, a Close Reading
- Gita 7.16-19 Explained: The Four Devotees and the Wise One Closest to the Lord
- Gita 9.22: Who Does the Lord Take Care Of, and How? A Close Reading of 9.13-15 and 9.22
- Gita 9.30-34: What 'Wholly Devoted' and 'Quickly Righteous' Mean, a Close Reading
- गीता 11.52-55: अनन्य भक्ति से ही दर्शन, कठिन प्रश्न और टीकाकारों की धाराएँ HI
- गीता 7.16-19 की व्याख्या: चार भक्त और ज्ञानी भक्त की निकटता HI
- गीता 9.22 का अर्थ: भगवान किसका योगक्षेम वहन करते हैं? श्लोक 9.13-15 और 9.22 की व्याख्या HI
- गीता 9.30-34 की व्याख्या: 'अनन्य भाव' और 'शीघ्र धर्मात्मा' का ठीक अर्थ, कठिन प्रश्न और टीकाकारों की धाराएँ HI
Other pieces
- By Devotion Alone: Quick Summary
- Even the Worst Offender: Quick Summary
- Four Kinds of Devotees: Quick Summary
- The Steadfast Devotee and Divine Care: Quick Summary
- By Devotion Alone
- Even the Worst Offender
- Four Kinds of Devotees
- The Steadfast Devotee and Divine Care
- अनन्य भक्त का योगक्षेम HI
- अनन्य भक्ति से HI
- चार प्रकार के भक्त HI
- दुराचारी भी भक्त HI
- अनन्य भक्त का योगक्षेम: त्वरित सार HI
- अनन्य भक्ति से: त्वरित सार HI
- चार प्रकार के भक्त: त्वरित सार HI
- दुराचारी भी भक्त: त्वरित सार HI