Elements of Devotion in India 

An Insider's Guide
First Created: November 16, 2002
Page Last Updated: August 20, 2024

Introduction

To understand the many fascinating aspects of Indian culture and life, one must understand the role of devotion in India. Devotion is perhaps the only thing that binds the people of India, superceding such barriers as languages, caste of birth, religious beliefs, and racial diversity. A keen study of the Bhakti concepts leads to the profound understanding of idol and instrument worship prevalent in India, the differences in Indian schools of philosophical thought, and appreciation of great works of Indian poetry.

In this section at Kamat's Potpourri, I will share with you my personal encounters and studies of people's devotion. Like everything on this site, it follows no particular order, and is a random collection of pictures, thoughts, and links.

As a non-believer, you might find these situations, superstitious. As they say,  blind faith is the only faith.

-Vikas Kamat

Table of Contents

• The Seat Worship at Kamat Shop

• The Feedback System of Malenadu

• Ant Feeding Ritual

• The Goddess of Car Accidents

• Dancing for the Gods

• Punishing oneself to appease a deity

• Walking on Fire to Heal Disease

• Non-stop worship or the Sapta Festival

List of Pictures

• Begging as a Devotion to God
• Boy with a spear pierced though his cheek
• Devotee of Melkote
• Devotees at the Footsteps of Gomateswara
• Devotees Cooking for the Durga Pooja
• Devotees Offering Prayers in the Front Yard of their Home
• The Faith Makes The Man
• Flower Offerings to Lord Krishna
• Fruit Offerings for Lord Krishna
• Ganapati Goes Bananas!
• Man Dressed as Woman in Devotion
• Man in Trance while Carrying a "Divine Burden"
• Offerings Made to the Snake Deity
• Priest and his Traveling Temple
• Shoe Offerings to the Betal Spirit
• "Thou Art Everywhere, But I Worship Thee Here"
• Weight of Lord Krishna
• Wet Devotees Waiting to Offer Prayers

See Also:

• Instrument Worship (Ayudhapuja) in India

• Important proponents of the Bhakti Movement in India 

• List of Hindu Gods and Goddesses

• Hinduism Potpourri -- Hindu arts, and culture at Kamat's Potpourri

• Meet Dr. Stephen Huyler of Meeting God