Bhakti movement in henotheistic context where the individual is encouraged to discover his own definition and sense of God. The "Bhagavad Gita", a post-Vedic scripture composed in 5th to 2nd century BCE, introduces "bhakti marga" (the path of faith/devotion) as one of three ways to spiritual freedom and release, the other two being "karma marga" (the path of works) and "jnana marga" (the path of knowledge). In verses 6.31 through 6.47 of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna as an avatar of deity Vishnu, describes "bhakti yoga" and loving devotion, as one of the several paths to the highest spiritual attainments. Shandilya and Narada
Bhakti movement concept of the Ultimate Reality as formless, without attributes or quality. "Saguna" Brahman, in contrast, was envisioned and developed as with form, attributes and quality. The two had parallels in the ancient pantheistic unmanifest and theistic manifest traditions, respectively, and traceable to Arjuna-Krishna dialogue in the Bhagavad Gita. It is the same Brahman, but viewed from two perspectives, one from "Nirguni" knowledge-focus and other from "Saguni" love-focus, united as Krishna in the Gita. "Nirguna" bhakta's poetry were "Jnana-shrayi", or had roots in knowledge. "Saguna" bhakta's poetry were "Prema-shrayi", or with roots in love. In Bhakti, the emphasis is reciprocal love