--- title: Atma Kriya Yoga is Bhakti-Yoga description: In Atma Kriya Yoga, we try to awaken something deep within. That awakening is divinity. It is Him, inside of us, that we are trying to reconnect with. image: https://blog.bhaktimarga.org/hubfs/jlcircle.jpeg --- [![Bhakti Marga](https://blog.bhaktimarga.org/hubfs/BHAKTI_MARGA_MAY_2021/Image/logo.svg)](https://www.bhaktimarga.org/) - The Master ### The Living Master **Paramahamsa Sri Swami Vishwananda** He knows God. He was born that way. 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Love is the way and the goal and this is what every *yogi* is striving to finally realise. They need that understanding to complete their spiritual journey. It is the only thing that works in the most difficult stages of our spiritual journey, the only tool that can help us take the last leap, and the very thing that calls God to provide His grace to reach God. In the twelfth chapter of the *Bhagavad Gita*, Krishna emphasises the superiority of *bhakti-yoga* over all types of spiritual disciplines. He says ‘Fill your mind with me; love me; serve me; worship me always. Seeking me in your heart, you will at last be united with me.’ [Atma Kriya Yoga](https://bhaktimarga.org/yoga-meditation/) might just be the simplest way to do just that. In 2007, [Mahavatar Babaji and Paramahamsa Vishwananda](https://paramahamsavishwananda.com/the-master/kriya-yoga-master)gave Atma Kriya Yoga as the most powerful *yoga* system. It accelerates a person’s spiritual journey so they can return back to the Paramatma, to their home, in this lifetime.  The most important component of Atma Kriya Yoga is the devotion and love that brings purpose to our spiritual practices. It is how we rise in love. [Atma Kriya Yoga is rooted in the grace to express all nine forms of bhakti: s*hravana bhakti, kirtana bhakti, smarana bhakti, padaseva bhakti, archana bhakti, vandana bhakti, dasya bhakti, sakhya bhakti and atmanivedan bhakti.*](https://blog.bhaktimarga.org/bhakti-yoga-for-beginners)And it ultimately leads us through a profound inner transformation. ## The Inner Transformation Brought About By Bhakti-yoga In His book [*Just Love: A Journey into the Heart of God*](https://bhaktimarga.org/product/just-love-a-journey-into-the-heart-of-god/), Paramahamsa Vishwananda relates a conversation He had with a group of *kriya-yogis*. 'You have all been practising *kriya* for 20 years, but I don’t see any realisation inside you.’ And they agreed. Their practice was mechanical. But therein lies the difference between just doing your meditation, and what happens when you infuse it with devotion. Atma Kriya Yoga is about the inner transformation you go through. It’s all about getting to know who you are in truth. It’s easy to say and even accept on faith that we are the *atma*, but that means very little if anything at all until we really realise it. To know the *atma* as the true Self is to let go of the ego and pride we’ve accumulated through many lives. > ‘Mahavatar Babaji wanted people to elevate beyond that, to be free from the ego, to free your mind from all the things that you have accumulated, and let that mind transform.’ - Paramahamsa Vishwananda All throughout the [*Bhagavad Gita*](https://bhaktimarga.org/product/bhagavad-gita-essentials/), Krishna instructs Arjuna to become a *yogi,* to transform His mind, and above all, to have devotion for Him and keep his mind focused on Him. But a *yogi* is not someone who sits in a cave or isolates themselves for ages. You do not need to run away from the life you have in order to become a *yogi*.  A *yogi* is one who is constantly absorbed in the Divine. They are continuously absorbed in the Lord’s Love, they are continuously absorbed in the service. They are not concerned about anything else. Their only focus and their only aim is the Love of God.  The further we delve into the relationship that we have with God, the easier it becomes to notice that there are only three things which are eternal in life: God, the soul and the love relationship in between. In Atma Kriya Yoga, we are trying to awaken something deep within. That awakening is divinity, it is God. It is Him, inside of us, that we are trying to reconnect with. That divinity has a personality and form. It is real like any relationship and in Atma Kriya Yoga we refer to God in this way as Narayana. We chant the mantra *om namo narayanaya* to connect with Him, long for Him and be with Him once again. ## Infusing Your Meditation with Bhakti 1. Study *Navada-bhakti*: By studying the nine forms of *bhakti* that correspond to the practices of Atma Kriya Yoga, you can deepen your *sadhana* and experience Divine Love in your practice.  2. Lose Expectations: When you lose expectations, what you’re left with is acceptance. It’s the acceptance of exactly what your meditation looks like today. That’s when the true beauty of your practice will begin to reveal itself. 3. Set an Intention: Pray for *bhakti* to fill your heart. Meditation is your time to cultivate your Love relationship with God, focus on that and be present in Love. You do not have to run away to a cave or an ashram to become a *yogi*. Learning to live spiritually, no matter where you are, is a key part of spiritual advancement and transformation. Learn how with our free guide on living spiritually in the material world.   [![Download Your Guide to Living Spiritually](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/8952526/ccde1eee-f35c-4145-b9bf-1a900eb38608.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/8952526/ccde1eee-f35c-4145-b9bf-1a900eb38608) ## MORE ARTICLES Yoga & Meditation ### Mahavatar Babaji and the Grace of the Masters Atma Kriya Yoga carries the divine grace of all the kriya-yoga masters, including Mahavatar Babaji a. 14 September 2023 3 min read Yoga & Meditation ### Dive into the Heart of Meditation Atma Kriya Yoga is about experiencing true love and lasting happiness by diving into the heart of Di. 14 September 2023 5 min read Yoga & Meditation ### Attaining Realisation Through Love The ultimate aim of our human existence is to attain God-realisation. Atma Kriya Yoga gives you a wa. 14 September 2023 4 min read Yoga & Meditation ### What makes Atma Kriya Yoga unique? Atma Kriya Yoga gives you a lived experience of unconditional Divine Love. It is not merely a medita. 14 September 2023 3 min read [See More Articles](https://blog.bhaktimarga.org) **BEFORE COMING TO VISIT PLEASE READ THE RULES** [read the complete guidelines](https://theashram.bhaktimarga.org/news/updated-guidelines-visiting-ashram). ![bhaktimarga-brand-gold-vertical](https://blog.bhaktimarga.org/hubfs/BHAKTI_MARGA_MAY_2021/Image/bhaktimarga-brand-gold-vertical.svg) ### BHAKTI MARGA WEBSITES - [Paramahamsa Vishwananda](https://www.paramahamsavishwananda.com/) - [Just Love Festival](https://www.justlovefestival.org/) - [The Ashram - Shree Peetha Nilaya](https://theashram.bhaktimarga.org/) ### CONTACT AND FOLLOW - [Help Centre](https://pages.bhaktimarga.org/help-centre) - [Subscribe to Newsletter](https://www.bhaktimarga.org/newsletter/subscribe) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/bhaktimarga108/) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/bhaktimarga/) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/BhaktiMarga108) - [Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/bhaktimarga/sets/) - [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRA5DC4xf7slRF8W7taZ-fQ) © 2026 Bhakti Event GmbH. 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