Bhakti Marga NYC

On the tenth floor of 243 West 30th Street in Chelsea, a bright room has been set aside for a path its tradition calls love and devotion. Bhakti Marga NYC is the first permanent Bhakti Marga space in New York City and, in the organization's own words, the first center of its kind in the world.

Bhakti Marga was founded in 2005 by Paramahamsa Vishwananda, with the stated aim of making ancient spiritual wisdom accessible, practical and relevant in the modern world. The name is Sanskrit for the path of love and devotion, and the pages stress experience over doctrine. The community now has temples, ashrams and centers in over 80 countries. The main American ashram, home to the Paranitya Narasimha Temple, is in Elmira, New York.

The path blends the heart-centered traditions of Bhakti with the ancient lineage of Kriya Yoga, and rests on four arms: Yoga & Meditation, Knowledge, Rituals and Devotional Arts. The core practice is Atma Kriya Yoga, which the center describes as techniques given by Vishwananda through the grace of Mahavatar Babaji. Study draws on the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam, and ceremony includes Puja, Abhishekam and Yajnas.

In the city, the practice is fitted to the hours people have. Classes start as early as 7:30 AM on weekdays. A single week might hold OM chanting, a Friday kirtan open to anyone regardless of singing ability, an introduction to Human Design, facilitated breathwork, or a Navaratri afternoon of Devi Puja, satsang, vegetarian lunch and prasad. Open studios and private rooms can be rented for groups, events and one-to-one sessions.