Bhakti yoga is a designation that often needs clarification, particularly here the West, where our inclination is to envision yoga as being either a physical exercise (hatha) or a meditation process aimed at peacefulness. Yoga literally means union with God, and Bhakti translates as “devotion”.
Even this specific nomenclature invokes misinterpretation due to the widespread perception of Hinduism as being both a polytheistic and impersonal religion. In fact, Hinduism is not a religion so much as it is a cultural designation. In reality, Vaisnavas (practitioners of Bhakti) are the largest single denomination amongst Hindus, and many non-Hindus are also Vaisnava. All Vaisnavas believe in the one Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just as in Christianity there are many separate churches, Vaisnavas also identify with different “sampradayas”. Each sampradaya (or lineage) holds its own subtly unique philosophical position on the personal conception of God (Krsna/Visnu). The fundamental differentiation falls into two categories: Personalism (the Vaisnavas) vs. Impersonalism (the Shankarites).
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