the word bhakti comes from the root bhaj, which means to serve (see bhajana). Therefore the primary meaning of the word bhakti is to render service. Sri Rupa Gosvami has described the intrinsic characteristic of bhakti in Sri bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.1.11) as follows:

anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavritam anukulyena krishnanu-silanam bhaktir uttama

"Uttama-bhakti, pure devotional service, is the cultivation of activities that are meant exclusively for the benefit of Sri Krsna, in other words, the uninterrupted flow of service to Krsna, performed through all endeavours of body, mind and speech, and through expression of various spiritual sentiments (bhavas). It is not covered by jnana (knowledge of nirvisesa-brahman, aimed at impersonal liberation) and karma (reward-seeking activity), yoga or austerities; and it is completely free from all desires other than the aspiration to bring happiness to Sri Krsna."

The Original Supreme Lord, Svayam Bhagavan. er ist avatari, the source of all other avataras. His partial manifestation is the Paramatma and His bodily effulgence is the all-pervading brahman. His body is composed of sac-cid-ananda- eternality, knowledge and bliss. He is the personification of all spiritual mellows, raso vai sa. His father is Nanda Maharaja, His mother is Yasoda, His brother is Balarama, and His eternal consort is Srimati Radhika. He is a charming young cowherd boy with a complexion like that of a fresh monsoon raincloud. He wears a brilliant yellow dhoti. a peacock feather on His crown, and a garland of fresh forest flowers. He posseses sixty-four primary transcendental qualities, out of which four are unique to Him alone: venu-madhurya. He attracts the entire world and especially the gopiswith the melodious sound of His flute; rupa-madhurya. He posseses extraordinary beauty which captures the minds of all; prema-madhurya. He is surrounded by intimate loving associates whose prema is completely unbounded by reverence or formality; and lila-madhurya. He performs beautiful and enchanting pastimes, amongst which rasa-lila is the summit.

The spiritual effulgence emanating from the transcendental body of the Lord; the all-pervading, indistinct feature of the Absolute. Depending on the context, this may sometimes refer to the Supreme brahman, Sri Krishna. who is the source of brahman.

spirituelle Wonne, Ekstase, Freude, Glückseligkeit; das, was Sri Bhagavan durch Seine hladini-sakti genießt.

The eternal consort of Sri Krishnaand the embodiment of the hladini-potency. She is known as mahabhava-svarupini, the personification of the highest ecstasy of divine love. She is the source of all the gopis. the queens of Dvaraka. and the Laksmis of Vaikuntha.
Her father is Vrishabhanu Maharaja, Her mother is Kirtida, Her brother is Sridama, and Her younger sister is Ananga Manjari. She has an effulgent, golden complexion and She wears blue garments. She is adornde with unlimited auspicious qualities and is the most dearly beloved of Sri Krishna.

The young cowherd maidens of Vrajaheaded by Srimati Radhikawho serve Krishnain the mood of amorous love. This may also refer to the elderly gopis headed by mother Yasoda who serve Krishnain the mood of parental affection.

The one hundred sixty-eight square mile tract of land where Sri Krishna enacted His earthly pastimes.

Sweetness or beauty. In regard to bhaktithis refers to devotion which is inspired by attraction to Krishnas sweet and intimate feature as a beautiful young cowherd boy. This type of devotion allows for the greatest exchange of love between Him and His bhaktas.

a devotee

(1) Liebe zu Krishna, die äußerst konzentriert ist, das Herz völlig dahinschmelzen läßt und die ein tiefes Gefühl von mamata (Besitzergreifen) bezüglich des Herrn entstehen läßt (das ist die allgemeine Definition von prema, wie sie im Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.4.1 gegeben wird).
(2) Wenn sich rati festigt und von keinem Hindernis gebremst werden kann, ist dies als prema bekannt. Wenn irgendein Grund auftaucht, von dem man sich vorstellen könnte, daß er die Beziehung zwischen Liebhaber und Geliebtem zerstört, ihre Liebesbande aber dennoch völlig unberührt davon bleiben, dann ist eine solch innige Liebesbeziehung als prema bekannt. Wenn sich prema verstärkt, wird sie schrittweise in sneha, mana, pranaya, raga, anuraga und bhava transformiert. (Ujjvala-nilamani, 14.59,63).

• Anhaftung im Allgemeinen
• spirituelle Anhaftung
• eine bestimmte Stufe auf der Entwicklung zu prema, die im Ujjvala-nilamani wie folgt definiert wird: "Trotz eines wiederholten Treffens mit dem Geliebten und obwohl man ihn bereits sehr gut kennt, bewirkt ein stets frisches Gefühl der Hingezogenheit, daß der Geliebte in jedem Augenblick wie eine neue Erfahrung erscheint, als hätte man ihn auf diese Art noch nie kennengelernt. Die Anhaftung, die ein solches Gefühl verursacht, ist als anuraga bekannt."

• (1) union, meeting, connection, combination.
• (2) a spiritual discipline aiming at establishing one's connection with the Supreme.

There are many different branches of yoga such as karma-yoga, jnana-yoga or bhakti-yoga. Unless specified as such, the word yoga usually refers to the astanga-yoga system of Patanjali.