Bhakti, derived from Sanskrit (भक्ति) and Pali (bhatti), is a term commonly used in Indian religions, encompassing concepts such as "attachment, participation, fondness for, homage, faith, love, devotion, worship, and purity". Within Indian religious contexts, it can denote loving devotion towards a personal God (such as Krishna or Devi), a formless ultimate reality (like Nirguna Brahman or the Sikh God), or an enlightened being (like a Buddha, a bodhisattva, or a guru). Bhakti often manifests as a profoundly emotional devotion rooted in the relationship between a devotee and the object of their devotion.

The term has early appearances in texts such as the Buddhist Theragatha and, in ancient scriptures like the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, signifies participation, devotion, and love for any pursuit. In the Bhagavad Gita, it represents one of the paths towards spirituality and moksha, referred to as bhakti marga.

Bhakti concepts have inspired numerous texts and saint-poets in India, with the Bhagavata Purana being an example associated with the Bhakti movement in Hinduism. Bhakti is not confined to Hinduism and has also influenced other religions practiced in India. Nirguni bhakti, emphasizing devotion to the divine without attributes, is present in Sikhism and Hinduism. Beyond India, emotional devotion is observed in some Southeast Asian and East Asian Buddhist traditions.

The term also denotes a movement initiated by the Tamil Alvars and Nayanars, focusing on gods such as Vishnu (Vaishnavism), Shiva (Shaivism), and Devi (Shaktism) in the latter part of the 1st millennium CE.

Devotional elements akin to bhakti have been integral to various world religions throughout history. Devotional practices are evident in Christianity, Islam, some branches of Buddhism, and Judaism.