It is a path of devotion and love to God, to everything that was created - to people, as well as animals and all of nature. Anyone can follow the path of bhakti yoga regardless of their nationality or creed, young or old, poor or rich.

Bhakti yoga also means worshiping the form of God. God is everywhere. It is within us and outside of us. We are connected to him by a fine thread of love. God is universal love. Love and Divine grace surround us all and permeate us, but we are not aware of it. When we realize this and experience God's love, we will no longer wish for anything else. Then we will know the meaning of true love for God.

A person without bhakti is like a fish without water, like a bird without wings, a night without moon and stars. All beings need love. Through it we feel protected and happy, like a child lying in the arms of a mother or like a pilgrim who has finally reached his goal after a long and difficult journey.

There are two kinds of bhakti

• apara bhakti - love based on desire and ego

• para bhakti - universal love for all equally

A devotee accepts everything that comes his way as a gift from God. He has no wishes and expectations, he surrenders himself completely to God's will. He copes with every life situation that fate puts him in front of and accepts it. His prayer is: "Thy will be done."

But until we reach such a high level of love for God, our bhakti gets mixed with selfish thoughts. It means that we really love God, but at the same time we expect something from him. Many people turn to God when pains and worries afflict them. Others pray for material things, money, fame or career. However, we should still keep in mind that once we leave this world, we will have to leave all possessions in it because they have no real and lasting value. A person walking a spiritual path prays for wisdom and knowledge of God. However, we often create an internal image of God in advance - an idea of how we think God should look, how he should behave, and so we are not at all open and ready to accept his true form.

Sage Narada describes the nine components of bhakti yoga in the Bhakti Sutras:

I. satsang - good spiritual company

II. hari katha - hearing and reading about God

III. shraddha - faith

IV. isvara bhajan - singing songs about God

V. mantra japa - repetition of God's name

VI. shama dama - detachment of the senses from worldly things and their control

VII. santó ká ádar - showing respect to people who dedicated their lives to God

VIII. santosha – satisfaction

XI. isvara pranidhana - devotion to God

There is no spiritual path without bhakti. If a student does not love his field of study, he will hardly finish his studies. Similarly, we will be able to endure and overcome all obstacles only if we are filled with love and devotion to our exercises, if we firmly stick to our path and keep our goal in mind. Without LOVE for all creatures and without devotion to God, we cannot unite with him.