Illustration/Devdutt Pattanaik

BHAKTI is translated as devotion. And, generally, devotion is viewed as something feudal, a kind of loyalty, the kind demanded by cult or tribal leaders from their followers. But, in Hinduism, bhakti is a very complex relationship, an emotional highway that connects the devotee to the deity. This takes many forms such as devotion of the friend (sakha bhaav), of the lover (madhurya bhaav), of the parent (vastsalya bhaav), of the servant (daasya bhaav). The most peculiar form of devotion is called reverse devotion, or devotion of the enemy. This is viparit-bhakti.