BHAKTI

Bhakti is the path of devotion as opposed to the path of knowledge (jnana marga) and the path of works (karma marga) in Vedanta. 

The Bhagavad Gita is the first major expression of bhakti.  It centers on the adoration of Vishnu, who appears in the person of Krishna, the charioteer, in the work.  Other popular deities worshipped in bhakti are Shiva and Shakti.

When the bhakti movement first began to gain popularity, it attracted brahmins (priestly caste) in large numbers.  However, since it disregarded traditional Vedic rituals, often ignored caste differences--many of the bhakti saints and leaders were of the lowest castes--and emphasized devotion over, especially, knowledge, bhakti fell out of favor with brahmins. And brahmins traditionally favored calm speculation when it came to religious matters, compared to bhakti which preferred mystical exuberance.

Bhakti is essentially the religion of the masses of India, since it enables the individual to approach the Divine directly and to become a part of his/her all-encompassing love.