RABINDRANATH TAGORE AND THE BHAKTI TRADITION: A CRITICAL STUDY

Abstract

This research article investigates the Bhakti elements in the works of Rabindranath Tagore, with particular emphasis on Gitanjali (1912) and related lyrical compositions. It argues that Tagore’s poetry represents a profound continuation and transformation of the Indian Bhakti tradition, integrating Vaishnava devotionalism, Upanishadic philosophy,  and  modern spiritual humanism.

The study demonstrates that Tagore’s conception of the Divine is deeply rooted in Bhakti ideals such as love (prema), surrender (prapatti), and intimate communion with God, yet it transcends sectarian boundaries. His devotional voice is neither confined to ritualistic orthodoxy nor limited to doctrinal frameworks; instead, it emerges as a universal spiritual experience expressed through poetic imagination.

Drawing upon close textual analysis of Gitanjali and other works such as The Gardener (1913) and Fruit-Gathering (1916), the article establishes that Tagore reinterprets Bhakti as an inward, dynamic, and aesthetic experience. His poetry becomes a sacred offering, where the human soul seeks union with the infinite through humility, longing, and love.

The central argument of this study is that Tagore stands as a modern Bhakti poet, whose works bridge the medieval devotional tradition and contemporary global spirituality, transforming devotion into a universal language of human and divine unity.