Bhagavata

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A text or scripture central to certain Hindu philosophies, focusing on the teachings and stories of Lord Krishna and other deities
2. A collection of narratives that emphasize devotion, ethics, and the nature of the divine within Hindu traditions
3. A significant spiritual work that presents the principles of devotion and the importance of divine love in the context of Hindu belief systems

Etymology: Bhagavata is a Sanskrit adjective meaning "relating to Bhagavat," where Bhagavat is an epithet for the divine, literally "the Blessed One" or "the Lord." The suffix "-a" forms adjectives from nouns, so the word first meant something like "belonging to the Lord" before it was applied to texts, sects, and devotees. The noun form, as in the Bhagavata Purana, names a text that became one of the most widely read works in Hindu devotional literature. The Bhagavata Purana, usually dated somewhere between the 6th and 10th centuries CE (scholars disagree on the exact period), tells of Krishna's life and deeds, from his birth through his childhood in Vrindavan to his later reign. Its most celebrated section, the tenth book, is organized around the idea of bhakti, loving devotion to God, and it presents devotion as more valuable than ritual or ascetic practice. Its story of the young Krishna's playful and intimate relationships with the cowherd community became a foundation for later Vaishnava traditions.

Synonyms: devotee, worshiper, follower