7-Day Bhakti Yoga Practice Guide

Open your heart to divine love through daily devotional practices from the Bhagavad Gita

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About This Practice

This 7-day program guides you through the heart-opening practices of Bhakti Yoga—the path of divine love. Each day explores a different form of devotion, from hearing and chanting to service and surrender.

Time Commitment: 20-30 minutes morning practice + moments of remembrance throughout the day

Best For: Those seeking emotional connection to spirituality, stress relief through devotion, heart-centered practice

Day 1: Shravana (Hearing)

Theme: Opening Through Sacred Sound
"Those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have."
— Bhagavad Gita 9.22

Morning Practice (20 min)

Shravana means hearing—receiving divine wisdom through sacred sound. Today, open your heart by listening deeply.

Today's Devotional Practice
  • Read 3-5 verses from the Bhagavad Gita aloud, slowly, letting them enter your heart
  • Listen to a recording of Gita chanting or bhajans for 10 minutes
  • Throughout the day, listen to spiritual music or podcasts during commute/tasks
  • Before sleep, read a verse and let it be your last thought
Heart Opening Reflection

As you hear sacred words, imagine them as love letters from the Divine. How does it feel to receive divine communication?

Day 2: Kirtana (Chanting)

Theme: Voice as Prayer
"Among all sacrifices, I am the sacrifice of chanting the holy names."
— Bhagavad Gita 10.25

Morning Practice (25 min)

Kirtana is chanting divine names. The vibration of sacred sound purifies the heart and creates connection with the Divine.

Today's Devotional Practice
  • Chant "Om" 21 times slowly, feeling the vibration in your body
  • Chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra or another sacred name for 10-15 minutes
  • If uncomfortable singing, whisper or mentally repeat with full attention
  • Throughout the day, silently repeat a divine name during routine activities
Heart Opening Reflection

Let each repetition be a call to the Beloved. Feel the name not just in your throat but in your heart. What feelings arise?

Day 3: Smarana (Remembrance)

Theme: Constant Divine Awareness
"Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me, and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail."
— Bhagavad Gita 18.65

Morning Practice (20 min)

Smarana is continuous remembrance of God throughout all activities. Today, practice keeping the Divine in your awareness.

Today's Devotional Practice
  • Set 5-7 reminders throughout the day with simple prompts like "Remember"
  • When the reminder sounds, pause and connect with divine presence for 30 seconds
  • Before each major activity, think: "I do this remembering Krishna"
  • Visualize the Divine watching you lovingly as you go through your day
Heart Opening Reflection

Imagine that God is always present, closer than your own breath. How does this awareness change your actions and words?

Day 4: Archana (Worship)

Theme: Creating Sacred Space
"If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I will accept it."
— Bhagavad Gita 9.26

Morning Practice (25 min)

Archana is formal worship through offerings. Today, create a sacred space and offer something to the Divine with love.

Today's Devotional Practice
  • Create or refresh a small altar—a picture of Krishna, a candle, fresh flowers
  • Offer something simple with love: water, a flower, fruit, or incense
  • Light a candle or lamp and sit before it in loving attention for 10 minutes
  • Offer your breakfast or first meal of the day before eating
Heart Opening Reflection

The offering matters less than the love behind it. Feel your heart opening as you give something, anything, with devotion. What do you wish to offer the Divine?

Day 5: Vandana (Prayer)

Theme: Heart-to-Heart Communication
"I am equally disposed to all beings; there is neither friend nor foe to Me. But those who worship Me with devotion, they are in Me and I am in them."
— Bhagavad Gita 9.29

Morning Practice (20 min)

Vandana is prayer—direct, personal communication with the Divine. Today, speak from your heart to God.

Today's Devotional Practice
  • Begin with gratitude: list 5 things you're thankful for, offering them as praise
  • Speak honestly to God about your struggles, fears, and hopes
  • Ask for guidance, strength, or whatever you need—not as demand but as request
  • End with surrender: "Thy will be done" or "I trust You"
Heart Opening Reflection

Prayer is not about changing God's mind but opening your heart. What would you say to the Divine if you knew you were truly heard?

Day 6: Dasya (Service)

Theme: Living as Divine Servant
"One who is engaged in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature."
— Bhagavad Gita 14.26

Morning Practice (20 min)

Dasya is the attitude of being God's servant. Today, approach everything as service to the Divine.

Today's Devotional Practice
  • Morning dedication: "Today I am Your servant. Guide my hands and heart."
  • See each person you serve (family, colleagues, customers) as God in disguise
  • Perform at least one anonymous act of service without seeking credit
  • When ego resists service, remember: "Serving others is serving God"
Heart Opening Reflection

The ego resists being a servant, but the soul rejoices in it. What happens when you release the need to be served and embrace being of service?

Day 7: Atma-nivedana (Surrender)

Theme: Complete Offering of Self
"Abandon all varieties of dharma and simply surrender unto Me alone. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions; do not fear."
— Bhagavad Gita 18.66

Morning Practice (30 min)

Atma-nivedana is complete self-surrender—the culmination of bhakti. Today, practice offering everything to the Divine.

Today's Devotional Practice
  • In meditation, visualize placing everything at God's feet—your body, mind, possessions, relationships, fears, hopes
  • Say: "I am Yours. Do with me as You will."
  • Throughout the day, when anxiety or desire arises, offer it: "This too I surrender"
  • End the day with complete release of all outcomes to divine will
Week's End Reflection
  • Which form of bhakti felt most natural to me?
  • When did my heart feel most open this week?
  • How has my relationship with the Divine changed?
  • What devotional practice will I continue daily?

Continue Your Devotional Journey

Download the Srimad Gita App for daily devotional verses and bhakti practice reminders.

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Related Resources

Complete Bhakti Yoga Guide 30-Day Reading Program Weekly Karma Yoga Practice Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga Verses on Devotion Verses on Surrender

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